Anton takes up the rear, keeping an eye out for danger.
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As ever, Raiden is somewhere in the middle, following probably Rav's lead, hand on hilt.
Uriah follows behind.
Thelma begins picking up the odd scene and notices nothing in her depression when the halfling deftly snags one of the pieces of serving-ware.
Scram expertly climbs to the surface, finding himself in an alley. The sounds of war still can be heard in the distance but Scram determines that the party seems to be behind the main line of fighting. He sees no sign of the barbarians but knowing they are out there somewhere, keeps his senses sharp as he calls all clear to Ravv.
Once out of the sewer, the party is able to find wood from a nearby collapsed building to construct a pyre.
As Soleil watches Tick’s body burn, she speaks to the group, but keeps her eyes fixed on the flames. “I should tell you the truth. My clan name isn’t Finchfib. It’s Tanner... Tick is my nephew. I didn’t know he had died until his friend delivered the ashes directly to our shrine—placed right in my hands. The night that Red Wizard stole the ashes, I was actually on my way to steal them myself. But he got there first. My plan was to return the ashes to his mother and father.”
Soleil wipes a tear from her cheek. She takes a deep sigh. “I don’t care about Thay or Szass Tam or Mulmaster or this stupid war. I just want to go home.”
She looks to everyone “Does anyone else want to say something? To pay their respects?”
Rav steps up, I didn't know Tanner personally. I had only heard of his exploits through the Enclave. He was the best of us. He could have beaten those Thayan bastards easily, were it not for the collateral damage that he would have caused. He sacrificed himself so that others, less fortunate, could live.
The young paladin looks around at the gathered, He was loved and a hero to many of us in the Emerald Enclave, and maybe more to some of us, looking at Thelma, May he be reincarnated into the great weave and come back to us someday... soon.
Ravvek looks a little embarrassed then shrugs and steps aside.
Sashah stands with his head bowed toward the pyre. Between his wide brimmed hat and full beard, much of his face is not visible. When he speaks up, his voice somber but resolute, "Zis is time for thought. Ve could make rash decision. Ve could rush forvard vith no plan but anger or sorrow guiding. Zis vould make Tick death in vain. Zese vizards are as evil as zey are crafty. Zey target Tick for to cause us to lose concentration. Tick vas great varrior, but not only vun. Zere vill be more to rise. It is not single droplet zat make vave, but many. Take but vun out and vave is still strong."
Sashah lakes a long breath and continues, "Zese vizards, zey spit on zhe magic giver. Zey pollute her and her purpose. Zough Tick may not have venerated her, she vas surely pleased by his life. Tick contributed much, and, as such, it time for him to go home. He vill rest until called on again. May he rest peacefully."
Again Tick's voice comes "I'm not dead yet...really..." from nearby before "Sorry, just kidding, couldn't resist." a strange grin like contortion behind his mustache.
Anton makes a silent prayer to Ilmater to ease the suffering of those lamenting the Tick's passing, but remains vigilant in keeping an eye out for threats.
Zayless chuckles at Scram's antics. "Probably too soon."
You both spoke well. Raiden says to Ravvek and Sashah. He tries to glare at Scram but there's a smirk to go with it.
Soleil seems pleased with your words and even acknowledges Scram with a slieight smile.
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Small woodland animals of the High Forest treat you like royalty
OK, so we go back now, right? I've no desire to be in this hellish war zone any longer than we need to. He pauses. Unless of course we can be of help here. But clearly he wants to go.
Once the pyre has completely burned and consumed the body, Soleil scoops the ashes and places them back into the urn.
Scram and Anton’s attentive eyes see a group of familiar barbarians appear on a distant roof. Surely too far in the distance to be of concern. Soleil smiles and holds up the urn. Finally! But at that moment, a raven swoops down and grabs the urn by its handle. The barbarians see this as well and begin to cheer as the raven flies toward them to deliver the urn.
But then . . .
You hear singing, faint at first and then louder. A young black dragon flies with a Red Wizard riding upon her. They are heading in the direction of the barricade. You recognize the rider as the infamous Zilora, a stern, cruel woman and an evoker of great renown. The Thayan sigil tattoos upon her body look almost like black flames. In contrast, the dragon is manically upbeat. The dragon appears to revel in the chaos and destruction.
The dragon sings an upbeat, jovial song.*
With the war, you’ve got
Mulmaster in shambles, and
I’m the flame to light that candle.
The factions feed the flames.
With the war, full stock of buildings in tatters,
My lair’s almost together.
Ruins are my domain.
Now we fly to—
Gonna blow that barricade through!
Nothing they can do—
Gonna blow that barricade through!
“Koff! Koff! Ack!”
The raven inadvertently flies into the dragon’s mouth, while the dragon is singing. The dragon gags and coughs a bit and then swallows the raven—and urn—down her throat. You can almost hear a collective sigh of disappointment from the Honey Badgers on the distant roof.
Soleil curses in gnomish. “Magra!” Magra, indeed.
Ravvek quickly pulls his bow from his back and in a deft movement, strings it, all the while ranging the shot...
Scram watches the body burn then be taken away and chomped down by the dragon, shocked "...ok, now hes dead for sure." he concedes.
.
Zayless cureses a vile string of filth that even Scram and Uriah look over. He roars and lets out a blast of eldritch power aimed at the raven. It soars off harmlessly as he doesn't want to pick a fight with a dragon. He speaks frustratedly to the air, "Why did you send me on this fruitless exploit?"
The story of my life Master Zayless. Uriah quips
Time to find a tavern, sing a song or two, and find a comely maid.
Well sh....what she said. pointing to Soleil. Now what?
"Uriah seems to have a good plan. Don't worry Rav we will probably not meet any devil skanks. well not any literal DEVIL . . . anyway we'll have fun."
Yep, let's go find a tavern.
Anton shakes his head and follows the others to the tavern, where he will quietly sip water, meditating while the others pollute their bodies.
Suddenly Scram jumps in front of everyone holding his hands up to stop them "Hold it everyone, I have something to say...maybe...maybe...weesh...weenot.." he seems to be stuttering, unable to get the words out. He glances around himself, startled and utterly confused.
"Aha!" slapping himself in the face a few times "Hold up chaps, just hear me out...weesh...weenot...gosh!" again as soon as he tries to say whatever hes trying to say, the words just simply can not be formulated by the mouth of Scramsax. He jumps on the balls of his feet frustratedly.
Finally his face goes dark red as he forces every fiber of his being into his words. You are 100 percent sure he will fail and his head will explode just moments before "Maybe! We! Not! GO! tch...t...TAVERN!" and with that he lets out a huge sigh of relief as the oxygen returns to his brain mass.
"I mean they stole our shit. Let's get em! We gotta get em, right Rav?" drawing his blade.
The dragon lands one of the dock piers below to clear it’s throat.
Didja see what happened? A DRAGON ATE the urn! We're no match for a giant flying death-lizard. And especially not one with some Thayan wizard on it. He pauses and looks at the others. Unless you got some way to ground that beast? And allies to help fight? And... he trails off, gauging the effect of Scram's, uh, rallying speech as it were.
"Ah yeah, guess you're right. As long as the barbarians don't have it..." he leans a bit closer whispering "Probably best not to let Thelma know that Ticks final resting place will be a steamy pile of dragon dung...best save that tidbit for the loremasters, eh?"
Ravvek looks stern, If that's what we need to do to lay Tanner to rest, then it's what we have to do. Take the wizard first, if possible. I think that we should attempt to get closer before presenting ourselves as a threat...
The avenger looks to his party, I can't ask you all to follow me on this suicide mission...
Anton looks at Rav. He looks at the dragon. Then back at Rav, pondering if it will be necessary to knock the Paladin out to keep him from killing himself.
Sashah's face becomes hardened and serious behind his great beard. "I vill try to hold off vizard. Ve need someone to rally barbarians." After saying this he grabs the amulet around his neck in one hand, says a quick prayer and begins walking toward the dragon and wizard.
Zayless looks at the others helplessly.
"Wait we are rushing a dragon and splitting up.?"
The rider seems confused and begins looking around for signs of danger with the grounded dragon exposed as it were.
Soleil curses again and heads toward the docks.
Scramsax draws his silvered rapier, examining the blade in some inner dialogue, glistening the sunlight off his mustache finally mumbling "...well, after all, its come to this." forcing a laugh "...then don't ask, Avenger, you'll not owe us later." before heading into battle with his friends.
Very well, Anton says. I believe I earned the respect of the tribe by attacking their strongest warrior. I will convince them to join the battle.
With that Anton races toward the barbarians.
Raiden hopes this works. He watches Anton rush off towards the barbarians, and then nonchalantly follows after Soleil and Sashah, hoping not to raise the dragon and rider's alarm prematurely.
Ravvek nods to Scram, Anton, Raiden, and Uriah, I will back up Sashah with some stealth... Hurry and may Meilikki aid you.
Zayless looks at Anton and realizes he can't keep up with him. He mumbles, "Not sure which fool hardy plan to support." He follows after the others toward the dragon.
Scram hunches into an even more compact package, advancing through the war-torn streets...never taking his eyes from the dragon's maw.
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When Anton reaches the barbarians, he climbs atop a crumbling wall to were he can see the entire tribe.
Noble Honey Badgers! he shouts. See me, a fellow warrior, and hear my words!
All know of the ferocity and bravery of your people, but still many look down upon you. 'The Honey Badgers give not a s#!t' they say.
But today… today you have a chance to prove not just your courage, but your virtue.
Anton points toward the dragon. Yon wyrm is a threat to all who dwell in these lands, and it allies itself with the cowardly wizards of Thay. Moreover, it has stolen the ashes of Tick Tary Tanner, which you lay claim to. Will you do as those who lack respect for your people expect, and leave to save your own hides? Or will you defy them and join the battle?
Some may think it foolish to rush toward death, but what is better than a glorious death? A death that bards will sing of even after your great grandchildren's grandchildren are old and gray.
He points out the beefy warrior. We have fought against each other. Now will you fight with me brother? Will you rage against those who dismiss you? Will you tell them that the Honey Badgers do indeed give a s#!t?
He looks up and down the ranks. What say you?
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Uriah looks around confusedly
I'm not fighting a dragon. he says
Zayless yells back, "But the stories Uriah!"
The main group head toward the pier trying not to alert the dragon while Anton moves to rally support.
The barbarians seem to heed the call to battle and begin climbing or jumping down from the roof of the building they were standing on. One of them begins a chant of war in thier native tongue.
Zilora from atop the back of her dragon sees the exchange and the barbarians stirring into a fervor. Smiling she calls out. ”Hah! Come to meet your deaths. You are far from the front lines, and no one will come to save you from the fury of Zilora and Ger’tethjzan!” At this point she glances over and sees some of the others and her attitude change.