Priyya is floored that Fel would try to entertain her since she was largely joking... and even more surprised when he shows real skill as a singer. She laughs with delight at his antics, determined to provide him with a little reciprocal 'entertainment' later in the evening.
Yvonne smiles as much from Priyya's delight as her enjoyment of a song that she's actually not heard before. "A remarkable man do you have, Priyya. Never-ceasing to amaze!"
Priyya smiles at the Drake leader. "He does hold many surprises! I had no idea that singing was one of his talents." She shakes her head in amazement and amusement.
”There now, ‘Lis, you don’t have to walk this path alone any longer. I will walk it with you, and if you need a shoulder, or wing to lean on, well then that is what angels are for. Maybe that is what Súmalya is trying to show you.”
Mal scratches his head, a dumbfounded look on his face, That man can SING!
He turns to regard Darkmane, "I guess your entertainment's taken care of, then."
Priyya turns an evil grin on Mal and says in a passable baritone imitation of a Diabolic Lord, "Dance for me, Thrall! Dance, my soulless puppet! Mwhahahaha!"
Yesterday's rains have seen a thick fog laid upon Brahmvil this morning. While it is not yet hot when you rise for the day, it is sticky and you have the feeling it's going to be a muggy day.
Your suspicions bear out, and it proves to be a sticky day with hazy skies covering the plains like a thick wool blanket. Judging the passage of time is possible only by counting off the posts driven into the ground at regular intervals marking the passage of the miles between towns. The entire day passes with neither sun nor moons ever breaking thru.
Shortly before dusk, your caravan closes in on the City of Dunwaar. Unlike Valehaven whose central hill put the entire city on display, making it rise up above its surroundings, this easternmost city of Elsmyr Dale seems flat and dull by comparison. It's one saving grace is that it at least was built alongside a sizable lake which serves to improve Alis' mood somewhat. Another contrast to Valehaven are the ominous wooden hoardings, greyed by wind and weather, that seem to be permanently installed upon all of the city walls as if Dunwaar were constantly expecting a siege. Given the arrays of moats, earthworks, another other defenses arrayed to the east and south, you wonder if that's not too far from the truth.
Upon your arrival, the gate guards shift uneasily seeing both Captain Stallings and Yvonne. "Captain, Milady, is there some urgent business that sees you both come to Dunwaar?"
Stallings replies, "Yes, indeed, although it's of no concern to the Count. The Drakes have some routine business in Malatesta but I thought I'd ride along and make some surprise inspections. You men look uneasy, there something you want to be telling me?"
"N– no sir! Well, nothing that you need to worry over. Just some increased hostilities between rival factions here the past couple days, but nothing Captain Monroe doesn't have under control, sir."
"I see," Stallings says, "so it's just my reputation that has you all on edge is that it? Come on now son, I ain't got all day. Level with me!"
"Ho, Stallings!" a voice booms out from atop the city's western barbican. "Hell of a time to pick a visit, you old goat. Bring me some reinforcements, did you?"
"Monroe, you snake," Stallings grins, "you wouldn't know what to do with real soldiers if I put 'em in formation and painted an giant X on the backside of a dragon!"
Monroe, who looks to be perhaps 10 years younger than Stallings, wearing heavy plate armor cracks a grin and says, "Well maybe if you had any we could put it to the test, so I guess it's a moot point now, huh?"
The captain of Dunwaar's city guard waves away his subordinates and after exchanging a good bit of friendly banter with his counterpart from Valehaven says, "Well you picked on hell of a time to visit. I don't know what the hell prompted it, but two nights ago, all hell broke loose between the city's 'labor unions' . Remember that old lumber baron Jacob Quailworthy? Big ass mansion down by the lake? Well, his place and a couple blocks around it are now prime real estate for developers. Whole damn section of the city burnt to the ground!"
Stallings swears under his breath as his friend continues. "Yup. Near as we can tell, the old miser must have had a business deal go bad and he was gonna clear out of town with everyone's wages and just torch his place to make it look like an accident. Only one of his maids got wind of it and talked to her hubby I guess. Found the old bastard cooked to death under a pile of molten gold. Near as I can figure, some sucker with more principles than greed knocked him out and then piled sacks of coin atop him. When the flames reached him, there was nothing he could do... Pretty f$&*ed up way to go, huh?"
"Anyway, city's under martial law right now until we've cracked enough skulls and stomped enough balls to get things back in order. If the Drakes just need to stay for one night, you can have 'em hole up in the barracks by the south gate. I'm sure my men could use a song or two..."
Lureene looks over to Alis, Felmor, and Yvonne, and tries to look inconspicuous, at least as much as it was for her, in other words not much. She keeps her face neutral, but listens carefully to the interplay between Stallings and Monroe.
Noting the time frame of the start of the troubles, she realizes it started when they had left Valehaven. This cannot be a coincidence! She thinks.
Felmor glances about him, as an uneasy feeling comes over him. He looks over to Alis and outside at Priyya, and loosens his sword in his scabbard, thankful his movements are concealed from those around him.
Sensing something odd, Priyya walks Saija forward towards the warriors. She looks to Monroe, "Do you require our assistance, Captain?"
Mal's nose picks up on a strange odor... like the smell of fear diluted in water.
He stays put, but has Talvyra follow Darkmane forward.
"Hmm?" Monroe sizes Priyya up noting the scimitar, bow, headdress, and the way she handles Saija. He removes his helmet revealing his short-cropped, salt and pepper hair. "Thank you, ma'am, but it looks like you have your own mission you're tending to. Wouldn't be very hospitable of Dunwaar to go putting others out just because of our own issues. Appreciate the offer though..."
Monroe pauses for a moment, looking at Priyya, then Mal, and lastly Yvonne and Stallings. "Wait a second here..." his voice drops to a whisper and he leans in closer. "You guys have an awful lot of guards and support staff and that carriage isn't for transporting cargo. Just who are you escorting there, an ambassador to the Sultan of Xerech?"
"Hmm?" Monroe sizes Priyya up noting the scimitar, bow, headdress, and the way she handles Saija. He removes his helmet revealing his short-cropped, salt and pepper hair. "Thank you, ma'am, but it looks like you have your own mission you're tending to. Wouldn't be very hospitable of Dunwaar to go putting others out just because of our own issues."
"Captain, I am a Warrior-Priestess of Alita - involving myself in other people's issues is what I do."
Monroe pauses for a moment, looking at Priyya, then Mal, and lastly Yvonne and Stallings. "Wait a second here..." his voice drops to a whisper and he leans in closer. "You guys have an awful lot of guards and support staff and that carriage isn't for transporting cargo. Just who are you escorting there, an ambassador to the Sultan of Xerech?"
Priyya smiles, amused. "I am the only Xerakai in our troop, Captain. As for our cargo..." Recognizing that Stallings and Yvonne know more about the political situation, people, and social niceties here... she defers to them to answer or not answer Monroe's question.
"Ah well that's a bit different then. Given your gear and intensity I thought that you were protecting a charge already. Are you simply journeying with this group on your own then?"
Yvonne exchanges a glance with Captain Stallings and says to Monroe, "The agenda of our client is her own. However, Count and Captain both have need to know who thru their gate passes. The Princess of Silverwake, Alis Kirmoon, and her retainers are our charges."
Lureene glances back at Alis, a concerned look in her eyes, remembering the contents of the letter Lady Kale had written earlier. When she had shown the letter to Lureene, the winged beauty had been certain that someone from the Ruby Coil had instigated it, and was expecting some trouble, but certainly not the destruction of a business rival, along with a gang war. On top of that, add martial law, and it was certainly a powder keg!
Now, she peeks through the carriage curtain, and feels a palpable sense of unease, but she blames the Knight Captain for that. Now, she notices Yvonne talking with the others, and her sense of unease grows stronger….
"Ah well that's a bit different then. Given your gear and intensity I thought that you were protecting a charge already. Are you simply journeying with this group on your own then?"
"I am intense, Captain; it is just my way. As for my journey, I am part of this group but my quest may lead me away from it at some point. I really don't know. We are now touching on matters spiritual and religious, Captain, which cannot be easily explained. For the moment, I am with these good folks for the forseeable future. Does that answer your question?"
At Yvonne and Priyya's words, Captain Monroe rubs his brow with the thumb and forefinger of his left hand, and he grumbles something nearly inaudible beneath his breath.
Perception Checks
Monroe looks up with a chagrined look and says, "Alright, even for a princess rolling thru here, it's pretty unusual for another captain to just just pay a social visit. Anything been going on in Valehaven that I need to know about? Not that I don't enjoy being in the dark, but the Count prefers I know where things stand. In the meantime, let's get your group in here so we can seal the gates for the night and get you over to the castle. Not that I'm not diligent in my barrack inspections, but that's no place for a princess and company..."
Priyya tries not to smile, responding sympathetically, "We'll try not to tax you any further than we already have, Captain... Father Khorus willing." She gives him another smile and leads Saija past him as directed.
Priyya chuckles to herself, wondering at the peculiarities of life. Normally, I'd walk into a town... no fanfare; no questions. Now, every time we approach a place, it's a diplomatic incident with heralds and trumpets. How odd.
While your caravan makes its procession thru Dunwaar's western gate, Priyya, Yvonne, Mal, and Stallings, quickly inundate Captain Monroe with more bad news than he could have reasonably anticipated. All things considered, he takes it fairly well.
" Are the Iri-Thunin going to come howling across the plains at us next? Do you know how many noblemen and rich bastards who might as well be nobles, profess to be big game hunters here? Damn near all of them! If I tried to bring in every last one and hold them for interrogation, there would be no one left to run the city!"
The captain groans and claps his helmet back over his head, his voice reverberating as he mounts a barded warhorse. "Come on, the sun's almost set. Let's get her highness' party into the castle before the sky cracks open and it starts raining snails. Seal the gate and keep to your posts. If you see anyone not in a uniform out past curfew, if you see anyone who isn't a guard carrying a torch or incendiaries, if a horde of screwball gnomes with over-sized hammers appear... practice your marksmanship!"
Stallings does his best to keep a straight face at his junior's melodrama and simply calls out to your guards, "Men, look sharp and lift your feet. It's only another few minutes to Count Quailworthy's castle. Let's show Captain Monroe how it's done!"
"Janus' balls and Keva's ass!"
Priyya looks darkly at Monroe for a moment. Her tone is measured, "Captain, did I mention I serve Alita - Janus' and Keva's daughter?"
Monroe doesn't bother turning around but remarks, "Sorry, but there's a waiting list to kick my ass, and I think the gods are ahead of you. Don't worry though, it seems to be moving along at a good clip..."
With that, he spurs his steed onward and you head out thru the streets as locals quickly scurry indoors as the last rays of the sun slip behind the city walls.
Priyya's eyes widen, startled, then she bursts out laughing. "Well said, Captain! Though I had no intention of kicking your ass. Just giving you something to consider before you start using such colorful expressions around the princess."
"Then I'm much obliged to you, ma'am! I'll try not to offend her highness with my speech, although I'm afraid I can't help my looks unless I leave the helm on... damned either way it seems."
While it is difficult to hear anything over the clatter of iron-shod wheels and hooves, and over a dozen pairs of booted feet upon the cobblestones, you can't help but feel that you are being watched as you ride thru the shadowy streets.
Perception Checks
Priyya's hand tightens on her bow. She whispers a quick warning to Mal about the shadowy figures. She then trots closer to the two Captains and points at a large building in the distance. She says, as if asking a question, "There are three armed men trying to remain unseen over there." She casts her eyes in the figures' direction and smiles at the Captains, engaged in a 'friendly' conversation. "Shall I put arrows into them?"
Picking up on Priyya's lead, Monroe gives a loud laugh and slaps his thigh. "Yeah, that's what my wife says!"
Under his breath he whispers, "Damn woman, you've got some good eyes on you, with these shadows I can't see a damned thing. Well, if they aren't soldiers and they're armed and out after curfew then they know they're asking for it. Stick it to 'em!"
Easily seeing and hearing your approach (even if they are too far away to tell bluff from banter), one of the men shouts a warning and starts running. The other two behind him turn to see the approaching caravan and sling insults reaching for bricks. One of them shouts, ""
The man throws his brick, but it lands far short of your group. He then turns to run away.
Seeing the bluff blown, Mal raises his fist to stop the wagons, "OIL! This place reeks of oil. Beware flames!"
Priyya curses her lack of forethought. Aiiieeee! If I had blunt arrows, I could take this fellow down without risk of killing him.
Priyya fires a shot at the 'Anti-Imperialist' fellow, then whisper quick draws a second arrow while shouting.
"STAY where you are citizen or I'll shoot again!"
To Hit:
Damage:
If the man doesn't immediately surrender, she puts another arrow down range.
To Hit:
Damage:
"OIL! This place reeks of oil. Beware flames!"
Magic 8-Ball:
"STAY where you are citizen or I'll shoot again!"
Priyya's first shot takes the man to the pavement. The other who was with him screams out, ""
From down the adjacent alleyways, you hear shouting, and from the rooftops and second story windows he spies movement.
As his change takes place, he hisses an order to Little Sister to help protect Priyya - as Alis has Felmore close at hand already.
At the cry of "Oil!" and all the movement in windows, roofs, and alleys Priyya draws her bowstring back to her cheek and begins covering the high-ground and any alleys she can see. She will call out if she sees anyone with a brand or some way to light the oil.
Lureene hears the sound of combat opening up, and quickly chants a protective spell. She then instructs Grak to take off and see if there are any airborne targets.
She whispers back to Alis, "I think she will protect you well, as will I."
Grak launches himself airborne on the silent command of his Mistress, his golden wings gleaming in the fading sunlight.
Inside the Carriage, Alis sighs and looks out the window. "You know, just once I would like to be able to enter a city without it being a diplomatic incident... No fanfare, no riots, no heralds. How annoying." Looking at Felmor and Lureene in the darkened carriage, she remarks, "On the bright side though, there's a good chance things are about to get exciting again. Anyone want to place bets?"
Alis fingers the journal in which she'd been writing a new song. Seemingly absentmindedly and murmers, "Luck, be a lady tonight."
"Luck, be a lady tonight."
Felmor has no desire to be trapped in the Carriage like before, so he moves to open the door, and climbs to the top of the carriage, hoisting his heavy xbow for a shot.
Reflex Saves DC 16
At Mal's warning, everyone freezes, uncertain as to where the oil is spread. The carriage jerks to a halt sending Alis tumbling to the floor and knocking Felmor off the carriage and onto his back. Lureene just barely manages to keep her footing.
Initiative Rolls
, Felmor, Stallings, Lureene, Yvonne, Enemies, Priyya, Mal, Monroe, Drakes & Soldiers
"What the–" Already being on the ground, Alis gets her legs back beneath her and crouches so as the use the sides of the carriage for cover. She slips her sewing kit back out from under her seat and cocks it, ready to fire if the need presents itself.
, Stallings, Lureene, Yvonne, Enemies, Priyya, Mal, Monroe, Drakes & Soldiers; Alis
Felmor mtters a sailor's curse, and climbs to his feet. Looking for a source of cover, he slides over to the carriage side, and crouches for cover. Then he draws his heavy crossbow, and scans above him for a target.
Felmor gets to his feet putting his back against the carriage for cover as he arms his crossbow.
Stallings stifles a curse and spurs his horse forward and out of the oil, drawing his longsword as he does. "Monroe, what the hell is this imperialist crap they're going on about?"
The Captain of Valehaven readies to try and break-up any charges from the mob that sounds to be closing in about your position.
, Lureene, Yvonne, Enemies, Priyya, Mal, Monroe, Drakes & Soldiers; Alis, Felmor, Stallings
Lureene peeks out of the carriage window, and looks for signs of the mob taht is getting closer. She decides a friend is really needed now...
Grak continues his flight upwards...
Priyya, nudging Saija with her knees, encourages the spirited young mare to sidestep out of any oil.