With Marisol's timely intervention, Flint blood stays in his body where it belongs and he's able to stay on his feet. The healing serum takes effect rapidly, partially closing up his surface wounds and leaving him only grievously injured rather than fatally.
|||| INIT ||||
Belmarniss (5 spdmg, 6 hpdmg)
Sammad (7 hp dmg)
Marisol (4 hp dmg, stiffened)
Ordyt (25 dmg)
Flint (28 dmg)
Green Spellcaster (12 dmg)
Red Soldier (10 dmg)
Just waiting on Bel's actions. I'll bot later tonight.
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As Bel is struck by the soldier, Sammad moves near her. "Hang in there, Bel! Can't deliver Iomedae's justice if you keel over, right?"
"I don't intend to let Flint martyr himself before I get a chance to!" Belmarniss retorts as she strikes after the retreating caster!
Failing that, Belmarniss steps over to Flint and grabs a serum out of her pack.
Unfortunately, Bel's quick swing as the spellcaster flees is a little too slow and the woman ducks under her blade.
The spellcaster continues to flee, at first taking a wary step away from Flint before sprinting back toward the eastern door at the end of the hall. As she flees, she shouts out "Trinipol, they're here! We couldn't hold them! Open the door!" There's no immediate response to her shout.
The red soldier, remaining professional despite her wounds, slashes calmly at Marisol and lands a shallow cut . She repositions to block easy access to the spellcaster and to avoid getting surrounded. As she steps into the hallway, a halo of light appears above her head.
The door to the east slides open with a hiss. Beyond, you catch sight of a massive room with a cupola ceiling. The sounds of a chorus of confused voices rise up, asking questions like "What's all this fighting Trinipol? You said we'd be safe here!" Meanwhile, other voices call for help!
|||| INIT ||||
Belmarniss (5 spdmg, 6 hpdmg)
Sammad (7 hp dmg)
Marisol (4 dmg, 4 hp dmg, stiffened)
Ordyt (25 dmg)
Flint (28 dmg)
Green Spellcaster (12 dmg)
Red Soldier (10 dmg)
A weary but determined glint of solar power glows in Flint's eyes as he takes a slash at the red soldier with his solar dueling blade (still set for stun), then he wisely steps back (a guarded step), limping on his wounded leg, to allow others better position to attack.
"Thanks, Mari," says Flint, earnestly but quickly.
"Sounds like an opportunity for diplomacy up ahead ambassador..." Flint says to Sammad, his words pinched by the pain of his wounds.
Sammad sighs at Flint, watching Marisol pull him back from the brink. "Captain, I'm starting to think you should invest in better armor...or maybe a gun."
Seeing the soldier blocking the door, Sammad aims his weapon at her. He squints at the halo that appears over her. He mutters as he makes his shot, "Funny, you don't seem like an angel to me..."
Sammad sighs at Flint, watching Marisol pull him back from the brink. "Captain, I'm starting to think you should invest in better armor...or maybe a gun."
Seeing the soldier blocking the door, Sammad aims his weapon at her. He squints at the halo that appears over her. He mutters as he makes his shot, "Funny, you don't seem like an angel to me..."
[dice=Hail Pistol]1d20+3
[dice=Cold+Piercing]1d6
The flat of Flint's weapon rebounds off the red soldier's head and she collapses into unconsciousness. Moments later Sammad's hail pistol delivers the spellcaster a cut to her shoulder as the projectile skims by.
|||| INIT ||||
Belmarniss (5 spdmg, 6 hpdmg)
Sammad (7 hp dmg)
Marisol (4 dmg, 4 hp dmg, stiffened)
Ordyt (25 dmg)
Flint (28 dmg)
Green Spellcaster (12 dmg)
Red Soldier (KO)
"Any time, Cap. Now if you can just stop...getting...shot..." she trails off, lining up another shot. She winces as she pulls too hard on the trigger, throwing her aim off.
Leaning slightly on the bank of computers beside him, Flint counters with a wry smile, just happy to still be alive, "I would prefer that, Mari, and the shocking and slicing too..."
"Are any of those serums left, captain? I took a few hits as well..." Ordyt moves to Flint's size, careful to avoid stepping into Mari & Sammad's lanes of fire.
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"Feel free to attack if you have nonlethal weapons--she attacked us, after all--but I'd rather not jeopardize the upcoming negotiations," responds Flint, indicating to Belmarniss that she should hand the serum to Ordyt.
"But those people calling for help--they must be the DCI scientists we are here to save! We must go...now...before they..." Flint, weakened by his wounds, slumps wearily against the computer panel, but his eyes reflect only grim determination.
Marisol's shot misses, but you hear it ricochet off the ceiling of the eastern room. A half dozen shouts of alarm accompany the bullet. A firm, confident voice you recognize as Trinipol's calls out "These are the terrorists I warned you about, sirs and madams. The ones that have been killing our people indiscriminately. We will do our best to protect you, but I ask you to remain calm so that the Brass Dragons can hold the line."
The hubbub of concerned voices is punctuated by shouts of "Help!" from somewhere deeper within the cavernous room.
The spellcaster holds a hand against her worst wound as she staggers out of the hallway and into the room to the east. She turns the corner and out of sight. From your current vantage point, you can't see anyone in the room beyond, but you can tell that the majority of the room is at a lower elevation than your current level. The door however remains open.
Out of Combat for now...
Taking quick stock of the situation, Mari speaks in an uncharacteristically serious tone. "We need to hurry, there's no telling what he'll do to the hostages if we wait. Flint, Ordyt, use the serums, you're banged up." She finishes loading more rounds into her rifle and turns to Belmarniss and Sammad. "This time, I go through first, you next, then our two martyrs. I've got a couple more tricks to push us across the finish line."
Ordyt removes his helmet and jabs the serum's needle into the side of his neck, letting out a small sigh of relief as the worst of his worst injuries rapidly close.
"I don't think we have time to waste, so I'll back your plan, Mari."
Taking the serum, Flint pushes himself from the wall and moves to follow the others, but he can’t let Trinipol’s words go unanswered. ”Liar!” he calls into the room, ”We are trying to save Asanatown for all its residents. Trinipol is using the psychic surge as an excuse to sell our freedom to the Brass Dragons, even murdering his own soldiers we spared in battle to make us look bad. We are here to save you from them!
Sammad glances into the room beyond, then over to Marisol. "If you're willing, Marisol, then I'll back you."
He readies his weapon, then turns to the others. "Well, shall we finish this, friends?"
"Ready when you are."
With a boost from one of the other party members, Marisol gets up to one of the ceiling panels in the halo-granting hallway and uses her toolkit to pry open a ceiling tile. Behind it lies an array of dense cabling. She studies the grid for a few moments and comes to a conclusion on how to set up a surge. While it'll need to be triggered manually, it should set off a flash of light in the large central room a second or two after crossing two of the wires... if all goes well.
Flint starts smiling, and there is a twinkle in his eye. Everyone who has been with him more than a few days knows this...means...shenanigans. The two ladies hashing the light panel see a quick hushed conversation between Flint and Ordyt, with multiple gestures towards the bookcase. This could get interesting.
Smiling at Belmarniss, Flint says quietly, "They will fire as soon as we enter the room. I was thinking Ordyt and I could lead the way with that already-damaged bookcase...though a quick breather might be in order, first."
"I wouldn't say no to that. The two of you could definitely use one." As she says this, Mari pokes her head around the corner to look down the hallway.
Looking over at Sammad, Flint says, ”Ready to start up negotiations, Ambassador?”. Flint leans heavily against the wall, occasionally throwing in a comment in support of Sammad.
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Sammad steps up to the hallway door and calls out, "Is anyone listening out there? If you are, you should know that our primary concern is rescuing the scientists-we've even left your people alive when possible, just to be pleasant. I'm hoping somebody is willing to negotiate, perhaps even the illustrious Trinipol himself?"
From the other room, Trinipol orates with conviction "The so-called scientists here are under our protection. So long as they abandon their dangerous and subversive research, no harm will come of them. The same can not be said for you fiends."
"You terrorists have no grounds to negotiate. You've left death and destruction in your wake, killing noble patriots of Asanatown. Now you invade the very heart of the town's civic society, and you dare to call for negotiation? What could you possibly even offer. That you'll spare our lives?" He scoffs at the possibility. "Even should we believe you, the Collective has the upper hand. We have no reason to grant your requests."
Flint adds to to conversation, saying, ”We are offering you the chance to be tried for your crimes against the people of Asanatown. You have no authority here beyond the force of arms you have used to overthrow the free civic society and replace it with a military state controlled by the Brass Dragon thugs. You have threatened and kidnapped those who do not belong to your preferred race used the crisis of the psychic phenomenon as an excuse to illegally usurp the legitimate civic authority.”
Continuing, Flint says, ”People are scared, and rightly so, but what have you done? The scientists who are trying to find a way to resist the psychic wave are kidnapped and threatened because—should they succeed—your reign of fear will collapse on itself. You are the tool of the terrorist, Trinipol, a useful pawn in propagating fear among the people so they can accumulate power. The Brass Dragons are the enforcers of your criminal and racist uprising, yet for whom are they really working? Ask yourself, why did they consent to work for you so cheaply? Do you think you will be in charge when they are done? Their secret masters are the true terrorists, sowing fear, hatred, and xenophobia. “
”The free people of Asanatown will never consent to your rule, Trinipol, and the terrorists behind your Brass Dragon thugs will discard you as soon as you are no longer useful. You have this one chance, Trinipol, to surrender, tell the truth of this whole criminal operation, and we promise you will receive a fair trial from the true civil authorities in the clear light of the Burning Mother’s justice. If you persist, however, in holding captive the very scientists best able to find a remedy to this psychic phenomenon, we will be forced to come rescue them and cannot guarantee your safety,” he finishes.
Flint adds to to conversation, saying, ”We are offering you the chance to be tried for your crimes against the people of Asanatown. You have no authority here beyond the force of arms you have used to overthrow the free civic society and replace it with a military state controlled by the Brass Dragon thugs. You have threatened and kidnapped those who do not belong to your preferred race used the crisis of the psychic phenomenon as an excuse to illegally usurp the legitimate civic authority.”
"A chance to be tried? A chance to be tried? The Collective has protected the people, protected the council, protected Asanatown, from radical elements like yourselves. Asanatown is still governed by the Council, we've simply helped them take the decisive action that was needed." Trinipol's outrage keeps him talking, though his willingness to continue seems to be wearing thin.
Continuing, Flint says, ”People are scared, and rightly so, but what have you done? The scientists who are trying to find a way to resist the psychic wave are kidnapped and threatened because—should they succeed—your reign of fear will collapse on itself. You are the tool of the terrorist, Trinipol, a useful pawn in propagating fear among the people so they can accumulate power. The Brass Dragons are the enforcers of your criminal and racist uprising, yet for whom are they really working? Ask yourself, why did they consent to work for you so cheaply? Do you think you will be in charge when they are done? Their secret masters are the true terrorists, sowing fear, hatred, and xenophobia. “
The mention of the Brass Dragons draws his attention. "The Brass Dragons support us because they believe in our goals. Their leadership is experienced. They understand that not all important decisions can be made through polite discussion. And they offered their aid freely, understanding that a safe Asanatown is a benefit to all of the Burning Archipelago."
”The free people of Asanatown will never consent to your rule, Trinipol, and the terrorists behind your Brass Dragon thugs will discard you as soon as you are no longer useful. You have this one chance, Trinipol, to surrender, tell the truth of this whole criminal operation, and we promise you will receive a fair trial from the true civil authorities in the clear light of the Burning Mother’s justice. If you persist, however, in holding captive the very scientists best able to find a remedy to this psychic phenomenon, we will be forced to come rescue them and cannot guarantee your safety,” he finishes.
"The people of Asanatown already support us. And once we have dealt with the town's dangerous elements, the Council will return to order. The Collective, of course, will remain as their right hand - keeping kind watch over the people." The turn towards an ultimatum in Flint's words leads Trinipol to laugh "As for your own deluded goals, you would be best served surrendering yourselves. That would be quickest."
Continuing on this line of discussion seems to only be spurring him to take action against you.
"You can't possibly be naive enough to believe that," Ordyt scoffs. "Sure, sure, a veteran mercenary company offered its services to you out of the goodness of their hearts. You're more likely to get a laser bolt to the back of the head before all this is said and done, because someone is paying them. If it isn't you, then you're just someone else's pawn."
"As for you having the upper hand...well, let's think about that a minute. Your jackboots have been running all over town, trying to run us down. Us! A couple of do-gooders who docked in yesterday and started taking your Collective apart. Maybe you come storming down that hall and kill us, but we're nobodies. How will the Collective fare when the Sarenite troops come knocking, and your mercs cut their losses and run? We're just the beginning, Trinipol, and you're already teetering on the edge."
The oread pauses to let that sink in a moment. "For what it's worth, you standing trial isn't a hill I feel a need to die on. You could leave. I wouldn't try to stop you--I'm interesting in restoring peace and saving lives, if letting the Collective withdraw accomplishes that then I'm content. Showdowns to the death are for holovids."
Mari winces at Ordyt's choice of words, but says nothing, choosing to keep her attention on possible action from the Collective.
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"We've SEEN your finance records, Trinipol. We KNOW the Collective wouldn't have had the numbers to pull this off without the Brass Dragons lowering their rates and offering their services on the cheap. That discount isn't going to last forever, and neither is your money if commerce here in Asanatown remains under the lockdown you're trying to maintain. You've trapped yourself in a financial web of your own making! When the Dragons' real bosses come to collect on the debt you owe them, what do you think they're going to take as collateral when you can't come up with the creds? Asanatown itself! I've seen enough Apostaean corporate treachery throughout my life to know how this goes. They tricked you into putting the noose around your own neck willingly, but there's still time to get it off before they pull it tight and hang you with it!"
Flint adds to Belmarniss’ comments, saying, ”You know that the Brass Dragons murdered their own at the police station to make us look like murderers, right Trinipol? This is *after* everyone that was in the jail saw us take the alive and bound ersatz police officers Into the cells that we freed the innocents from, and then we left with the freed prisoners! Are these really the people you want to ally yourself with, that you want to place in command over Asanatown’s citizens? I want to believe that you think you are doing the best for the people, but think carefully...How did you get the authority to overthrow the council and proclaim yourself warlord over the city? Whoever propped you up can tear you down just as quickly once you are no longer useful.”
Flint gestures to Mari, indicating that she should make sure she is recording this...
"You can't possibly be naive enough to believe that," Ordyt scoffs. "Sure, sure, a veteran mercenary company offered its services to you out of the goodness of their hearts. You're more likely to get a laser bolt to the back of the head before all this is said and done, because someone is paying them. If it isn't you, then you're just someone else's pawn."
"The Brass Dragons are not some common thugs, as much as you'd like it to be otherwise. They have principles. Dignity. Concepts foreign to you." Trinipol seems dismissive of your claim.
"As for you having the upper hand...well, let's think about that a minute. Your jackboots have been running all over town, trying to run us down. Us! A couple of do-gooders who docked in yesterday and started taking your Collective apart. Maybe you come storming down that hall and kill us, but we're nobodies. How will the Collective fare when the Sarenite troops come knocking, and your mercs cut their losses and run? We're just the beginning, Trinipol, and you're already teetering on the edge."
Trinipol fumes over your comments over the Collective's incompetence. It neither went over well nor did it get him talking. The comment about Sarenite troops coming on the other hand has him responding "You're fooling yourselves if you think the Sarenite elements in Dawnshore will help you and the other aliens. They understand the value of law and order."
The oread pauses to let that sink in a moment. "For what it's worth, you standing trial isn't a hill I feel a need to die on. You could leave. I wouldn't try to stop you--I'm interesting in restoring peace and saving lives, if letting the Collective withdraw accomplishes that then I'm content. Showdowns to the death are for holovids."
The offer of letting him go fires Trinipol up. "Peace will be restored the moment you're willing to submit. How many lives would have been saved had you done so earlier? This could all have been over and done with in an orderly fashion if you terrorists and some other radicals simply understood their role. To leave."
"We've SEEN your finance records, Trinipol. We KNOW the Collective wouldn't have had the numbers to pull this off without the Brass Dragons lowering their rates and offering their services on the cheap. That discount isn't going to last forever, and neither is your money if commerce here in Asanatown remains under the lockdown you're trying to maintain. You've trapped yourself in a financial web of your own making! When the Dragons' real bosses come to collect on the debt you owe them, what do you think they're going to take as collateral when you can't come up with the creds? Asanatown itself! I've seen enough Apostaean corporate treachery throughout my life to know how this goes. They tricked you into putting the noose around your own neck willingly, but there's still time to get it off before they pull it tight and hang you with it!"
The economic angle engages Trinipol on a different front "Of course Asanatown's commerce will be hit in the short term. But once we're free of the elements dragging us down, the town will enter a new renaissance. As for the Dragons, your desperation is showing, imagining that they will turn on us. You would like that, wouldn't you?"
Flint adds to Belmarniss’ comments, saying, ”You know that the Brass Dragons murdered their own at the police station to make us look like murderers, right Trinipol? This is *after* everyone that was in the jail saw us take the alive and bound ersatz police officers Into the cells that we freed the innocents from, and then we left with the freed prisoners! Are these really the people you want to ally yourself with, that you want to place in command over Asanatown’s citizens? I want to believe that you think you are doing the best for the people, but think carefully...How did you get the authority to overthrow the council and proclaim yourself warlord over the city? Whoever propped you up can tear you down just as quickly once you are no longer useful.”
"What nonsense. Why would they do such a thing? Now you're simply grasping at straws. Next you'll tell me that the Dragons killed Chamas or Moya or Nalahi." The topic of the Brass Dragons has worn thin, Trinipol's patience evaporating.
"So you admit you have no authority to take over Asanatown except by force of arms. And who is the terrorist? YOU are! YOU are terrorizing everyone who does not belong to your psychic race. YOU are the one speaking nonsense. We have dozens of witnesses to the survival of all the ersatz policemen except one who sadly died in the fight," says Flint.
He adds, "We have tried to avoid taking life whenever possible--not an easy thing to do with your troups out for blood. Here is one lying in the hallway who nearly cut off my leg, but I nonetheless saved his life. We have no quarrel with those who think they are serving the people but are mislead by your vendetta against the citizens who are not Lashunta. Let the innocent scientists go, then either surrender to the council or run yourself, as you see fit. Just don't send more people to die to perpetuate your racist ideology."