Andor closes the door and moves around the corner back in the effigy crypt.
“Que los relámpagos arrasen las tierras de mis enemigos, mientras que la tempestad agita sus naves para que floten.”
The Varisian translation is:
Round #1:
Andor
--
Yellow Sczarni
--
Sleeping Sword
Loam Yin
Lady Vulpina
--
Green Sczarni
--
Korum
Kala + Stinky
, do something cool!
|
"Uh, you are surrendering the advantage! We have superior numbers, but you allow the enemy time to entrench their position and summon reinforcement. We must strike like the thunderbolt.... zzzz.... zzzz....."
Sleeping Sword quietly admonishes Andor and Lady Vulpina before leaning against the corridor wall and snoozing.
Loam draws the outline of an ✨eldritch shield, but not her weapon.
"I believe we have a misunderstanding. I have been sent from the top to inspect the work you are doing."
“Oh, why didn’t you say you were from the top earlier?”
The voice from behind the door continues hospitably. “Do come in!”
“I promise we won’t shoot you.”
Round #1/2:
Andor
--
Yellow Sczarni
--
Loam Yin
Lady Vulpina
--
Green Sczarni
--
Sleeping Sword
Korum
Kala + Stinky
are go!
Andor drinks!
The Sleeping Sword thinks (and waits) …
Round #1/2:
Andor
--
Yellow Sczarni
--
Loam Yin
Lady Vulpina
--
Green Sczarni
--
Sleeping Sword
Korum
Kala + Stinky
whatcha got?
|
"We could consider waiting for any of their own magic to run out before enchanting our stuff and going in. No? Alright then, let's get to work."
Weapon at the ready Korum stands behind the dhampir. I may not be able to strike this one down, but nothing in the rules that says I can't use him as a shield.
|
At the back, Kala sighs. This is going beautifully, she sarcastically muses. Her head jerks slightly as an idea pops into her head. Before she can think herself out of it, she taps Sleeping Sword on the shoulder, just enough to rouse him, and jerks her thumb to indicate that she is going back the way they came. Drawing her shortbow, she ascends the stairs and steps just barely into the secret side passage. Before turning the corner into the viewing area, she crouches down so as to avoid making herself a target for one of those lovely crossbows.
“So are you coming in? I’ve never met a shy Sczarni Quality Assurance inspector before.”
“Or are you a City Workplace Health and Safety Officer? I trust you’ve brought ID.”
Korum prepares to do his paladin-thing once the door is opened.
Kala assigns herself Overwatch Duty, moving back into the secret passage with her bow drawn.
➵
From the chamber next door comes the ECHOING BOOOM of , crackle of ⚡ electricity ⚡ and of storm wind.
This is accompanied by the SCREAMS of several panicked humanoids.
Round #2:
Andor
--
Yellow Sczarni
--
Sleeping Sword
Loam Yin
Lady Vulpina
--
Green Sczarni
--
Korum
Kala + Stinky
are up!
I
(R) Versace to go!
“We do this for TALDOR!”
Lady Vulpina opens the door and as she expects, a couple of crossbow quarrels fly her way!
She notices the older youths standing together behind the work bench on the upper tier in the east. While the younger ones remain more-or-less in the same position.
However, one pair is being attacked by a small humanoid figure composed wholly of water. Both are cowering and screaming, though one lad appears to have been beaten brutally by the critter.
Round #2:
Andor
--
Yellow Sczarni
--
Sleeping Sword
Loam Yin
Lady Vulpina
--
Green Sczarni
--
Korum
Kala + Stinky
do it for Taldor!
I
(R) Versace to go!
|
|
Vulpina twirls out of the way of the bolts (and makes it look easy!). Sighing, she shakes her head.
”And to think, I hoped we might settle this without violence,” she says, tut-tutting like a schoolteacher who has just been narrowly missed by a pair of spitballs. ”If you have no desire to die, I would recommend you do away with your... wet friend, here,” she says, gesturing toward the watery creature.
"Nada to do with us, Signorina."
The Sczarni's mate shakes his head in agreement. "You'll have to take it up with Gozreh."
|
|
At the sounds of screaming and thunder, Sleeping Sword lunges forwards.
"Lies. They lie as easily as they breathe. I heard you invoking Gozreh, sczarni! Perhaps if you speak the second line of the stanza you may banish this creature?"
Sleeping Sword staggers into the room with surprising speed and agility, his stumbling gait more than sufficient to bring him up to the elemental with a graceful leap onto the work desk adjacent.
"May the storm spare us in our humility."
The monk holds his katana ready to strike.
Sleeping Sword allows the Hunger to surface for a moment. His mouth opens, showing his rows of sharp, crooked teeth.
Loam strides into the chamber and blows a chunk of salty ice from the core of the water creature.
"You must see reason,"
“Hey, ese. How you feel if some fool invaded your home, huh?”
"May the storm spare us in our humility."
As the last word passes Sleeping Sword’s lips, the storm winds die, the lightning fizzles and the THUNDER quietens. The Water Elemental does an about face and marches back into the gigantic mouth of the frieze of the Old Man where it dissolves into the water flowing from its lips.
"Surrender now. You don't know what you're facing." His mouth opens, showing his rows of sharp, crooked teeth.
“What even are you, Old Man?”
Yellow bandana turns to address Loam while his partner tugs a lever to reload his light crossbow.
“Not only are you trespassing, Señora Rata. You threaten to murder us with demonios nocturnos?”
Green bandana fires a bolt at Sleeping Sword, which the monk (presumably) deflects from the air.
Yellow *gasps* and traces Desna's Wings over his heart. “Where is a paladin when you need one, huh?”
With his antagonist dispelled, the beaten Sczarni kid rises and rushes to the doorway where his progress is blocked by Lady Vulpina.
He begins crying as he stands in the entrance. “Por favor, let me pass, signorina!”
Round #2/3:
Andor
--
Yellow Sczarni
--
Sleeping Sword
Loam Yin
Lady Vulpina
--
Green Sczarni
--
Korum
Kala + Stinky
do something filthy sick!
(R) Versace to go!
|
|
Kala could hear stuff going on, but not clearly, and couldn't see it. She steps up to the window with her bow drawn, eyeing the situation so she can select a target. Unfortunately, all she can see through the window slot are the elemental dissipating into the water and the young lads cowering under the table. Of course. Worthless. Useless. Stupid. She continues her mental refrain of self-deprecation, barely registering her grandmother's voice in her head, as she retraces her steps in haste to catch up to the others.
|
|
What, back? Already? What are we doing, Kala? Sigh. All right, but you'd better give me a treat soon. I'm starving! Stinky trundles after her, sniffing occasionally up towards her meat-pocket. Mmmm... He begins drooling just thinking about those hard, dried, meaty bits, and how they get softer and more flavorful as they soak in his saliva. Oh yeahhhh....
While demonstrating alchemist abilities are … an acquired taste, Andor’s movements blurrr.
Discovering she no longer has a shot, Kala retraces her steps with a hungry beast hot on her heels.
Speaketh its name and a paladin doth appear, though he doesn’t put the Fear of Shelyn in the Sczarni rogues.
“You don’t understand, Homes.”
“How could you? You’re a mercenary. You take the Giatano’s contract to kill us for money.”
“Miguel is my brother. Uncle Titus may not be Blood, but he is Family.”
“He rescue me and my brother from the streets of Riddleport, where we were used by any dirt-bag with a sword. That breeds love. That breeds loyalty. We will die for him, mano.”
“What about you? Would you die for your assassin compadres? Do you even know them?”
“What about your kapteo? You love him, boss?”
“We do.”
Andor
--
Yellow Sczarni
--
Sleeping Sword
Loam Yin
Lady Vulpina
--
Yellow Sczarni
Green Sczarni
--
Korum
Kala + Stinky
do something cool!
(R) Versace to go!
|
Loam is confused and unsure of these people's mentality. Usually preferring to assert her own truth (often in the form of hurtful magic), the urge grips her. She starts forward, but doesn't shoot yet. "You've said you would die for this, and by some accounts, you should. I may hold you to these words until you renounce them."
She continues edging towards the pair of bandanas, hoping to try a nonlethal attack first. But her head snaps back the way she came at Lady Vulpina's pronouncement, some confusion abated. "What? Stay your weapon, the child shouldn't pay their price!" She has heard some of the Lady's famous bluffs, but can't bring herself to call this one...if it is a trick?
|
|
Korum levels the adamantine blade of his glaive at the side of Vulpina's throat. "Lady, I know we just met and all, but don't think for a minute you're gonna murder this kid. You might be bluffin', and you might not. Like I said, I don't know you. However, you heard me swear an oath that I ain't allowin' no more harm coming to ANY citizen. This kid counts." As the silence hangs in the air, "He's outta the fight. Off limits. You wanna shoot a combatant, fine. This kid is dumb enough to try and kill you from there, end him then. But until such time, he keeps breathing." His eyes bore into the back of her head, his voice challenging her to turn and meet his gaze. "I gotta code. I ain't livin' fer me. My life belongs to somethin' much greater. And that power tells me in no uncertain terms that rules matter. So, tell me, what's yer code sayin'?"
|
|
Korum eases his blade back, "Maybe, but all of yours ain't gettin' this kid killed today. Don't think I'll loose a wink of sleep over it."
The paladin stares at the youth, "Kid, you just got a gift. Your brains could've easily been sprayed all over that room just now. Take it for the sign it is. Or don't. But if you screw this up, I will find out, I will find you and I will end you. Now get outta here."
|
|
"And they think I'm the monster. Uh, your kapteo has been framing our family for crimes committed by yours. This cannot stand. We will speak with Uncle Titus and bring this to an end. He will explain the reasons for his actions, and then he will stop or be stopped.
Your loyalty is admirable. But I do not think you know your master's plans. Do not die for them. As you say, he is not - *Blood.* Your own Blood calls to you" as it calls to me "lay down your arms, take these youngsters with you, and go. You will not get another chance."
Sleeping Sword advances as he speaks.
Loam moves closer to the stairs (and prevaricates a little).
Lady Vulpina and Ser Korum settle their differences the way Taldan aristocrats have for centuries.
“Now get outta here.”
He doesn’t need telling twice.
The youth slips past the Pathfinder standoff, rushes north down the clear lane beside Kala and Stinky, and disappears up the stairs without saying a word.
“Uh, your kapteo has been framing our family for crimes committed by yours.”
“Aaaah, you must be Pathfinders!”
Yellow bandana drops his crossbow and draws a short sword. “How do you know Uncle Titus is behind your recent troubles, Old Man?”
The youth levels his blade at Sleeping Sword but doesn’t strike. “Let me guess …”
Green bandana works his crossbow’s lever, loads a quarrel and takes a step to the south.
“Jacek and Coralina Giatano told you.”
Andor
Sleeping Sword
Loam Yin
Lady Vulpina
--
Yellow Sczarni
Green Sczarni
--
Korum
Kala + Stinky
|
|
Vulpina walks into the room, her eyes sweeping over the terrified children. She draws her blade as she walks past them, the rasp of metal quiet in comparison to the conversation.
"It is far easier to work with those who do not fire upon sight of us," points out Vulpina. "If you truly believe you are in the right here, I would not recommend such hostility."
She stands tall at the base of the stairs, an imposing figure: moneyed, well-trained, and clearly having little regard for rules of engagement.
|
|
"Your alternative is to be defeated in a truly undignified manner," Loam adds. "This is your final warning from me. But if you realize your position during the fight, I will accept surrender." She has made her way up the stairs and points her gun right at her foe's face. Her whole body is craned to do so.
|
|
Kala, having witnessed the tense exchange between Korum and Lady Vulpina, lowers her bow as the kid rushes past. No need to scare the kid. He's had enough of that already. Now, finally, she can get into the action. "Stinky, heel." Bow now drawn, she slides past Korum into the room, moving like a well-trained warrior, immediately assessing threat potential from all she sees and dismissing all but the two older thugs on the stage and noting that no one is fighting at the moment. Tension hangs in the air as people spout their words, but Kala wants to FIGHT. She's felt out of her depth too long. There's been too much talking, and not enough ACTION. She wants a chance for her and Stinky to truly shine, working together to bring down a foe. It will be glorious, and it will feel RIGHT.
But... On a subconscious level, Kala remembers all the times she or Stinky almost died in such a fight. This causes a disquiet within her lust for battle, causing a hesitation that allows diplomatic attempts a chance for success. Deep down, she knows that losing Stinky would destroy her, and losing her would mean Stinky would be abandoned far from his home.
Once she's halfway up the stairs, her impressive height allows her easy aim at the vagabonds on the level above her. Now, if only nothing was in her way...
|
|
Hm. Lotsa wetness in here. Those younguns smell scared. They look scared, huddling in the water under those tables. Are they scared of us? I guess I shouldn't bite them. Is there anything here I can bite? I'm hungry. And I guess you're not giving me a treat, since you're using both your hands to hold that bow-thing. Sigh. Stinky's rump wags back and forth as he splashes along behind Kala to the stairs.
As he passes Lady Vulpina, he wrinkles his nose. Whew. She smells all flowery. Bleh. I like how you smell better, Kala. You smell like meat. Speaking of which... He glances up at her hopefully, a tiny whine issuing from his throat. Unfortunately, Kala doesn't seem to notice. Figures. Too busy.
|
|
"Uh, it seems that having run away at first, our Andor now wants to stab someone. So you, my sczarni friends, have very limited time remaining in which to surrender.
You are correct that the Giatano twins are involved. But to our knowledge they have not yet lied to us. But you have. You summoned the water elemental knowingly, and then denied it to our faces. You did harm to your own people by that summoning, since you had no control over the creature. Now you want us to think that you are not the bad guys?
What reason do we have to believe you?"
|
Andor eyes the pale sleeper and the paladin.
“I am very sorry for being so silent! I just do not share my fellow Tien citizen’s enthusiasm for threatening innocents and also do not share our Paladin’s fable for protecting people who have decided to fight alongside traitors and criminals! After everyone of those guys is lying on the ground, we can discuss who is friend and who is for!“ he says in a nonchalant attitude.
He then looks a little ashamed but resilient nonetheless.
|
|
Looking at the gaping wound in Andor's latest 'adversary', "I'd say you have a pretty loose definition of 'fight'. No one here seems to pose much of a threat. And for the record, all we have actually witnessed are frightened people defending themselves from intruders. That is to say, us. Also, we only have the word of a local gang about what goes on down here. Seems you've already made up your mind about their guilt without any hard evidence. That's still a thing, right? Evidence?" He continues to walk, "It must be easy being an investigator when all you do is question corpses and make up the truth."
He nods his head, "Yeah, seems pretty easy. Maybe if my fable falls through, I can start makin' stuff up too." He puts his hand up like he's viewing a sign on the side of a building. "I can see it now. Fallen Fable Investigator, Liar for Hire."
|
|
"Uh, there is a little more to it than that, good Korum. One of these 'elders' summoned a water elemental without knowing how to control it - and the creature injured one of the youths. And then the 'elder' lied about having done so.
The Way of the Sleeping Sword says: fix your mind on Truth, hold firm to Virtue."
Sleeping Sword maintains his defensive stance, his eyes on the older gangsters.
|
|
Korum wastes little time countering the dhampir's argument. "Desperate measures, accidents and poor judgement do not make for 'traitors and criminals'. Dumb? Yes. Dangerous? Certainly. Criminal behavior? Hard to say. I agree that this looks like a cross between a evil lair and a sweatshop. However, as of this moment, all of their behavior has been in direct response to our presence." Fix yer Truth on that, deadman.
The Pathfinders move into the workshop, each ratcheting up the tension or attempting to reduce it in their own way.
“Now you want us to think that you are not the bad guys? What reason do we have to believe you?”
“You’re gonna believe what you want to believe, Old Man in order to justify to yourself why it’s OK to murder all of us.”
Yellow bandana drops his sword in a low guard. “Hey, you can always tell yourself, ‘I was just following ord …’”
Andor thrusts with his rapier, parries the Sczarni’s reply and ripostes, driving the point of his weapon through the youth’s heart. He falls lifeless to the stone floor.
In a blind rage, his brother fires his raised crossbow point-blank at Loam.
Loam responds with a defensive ✨casting of color spray.
As green bandana drops his weapon and passes out beside one of the younger boys, the third boy closes his eyes and flops down on top of them.
|
|
Vulpina sighs as she climbs the stairs, kicking the weapons into a corner.
"This could have all been avoided had you stayed your blade," she says. It's not clear whether she's talking to Andor or Korum.
She actually looks... saddened. Can Vulpina look saddened? Regardless, she crouches and closes the eyes of the dead.
"I have fought and disarmed men stronger and more foolish than they," she says quietly, "who would have persisted with tooth and nail had we not lost our patience sooner. But if my time in the Society will be spent executing fools," she says, jerking her blade toward the cowering youths, "then next time I shall simply skip the pleasantries."
|
|
Loam retrieves the remaining Sczarni's crossbow while someone stronger ties him up. She considers shooing the victims, but instead holds up a hand, as if bidding them to wait for questioning. There are other things to talk about before them.
"There are many ways to avoid any conflict, this one included," the ratfolk says. She closes her eyes in a very long blink, not liking anything she sees at the moment. "Enough so that to ruminate on them is useless. We are not looking at this encounter to plan how we will shirk the next one, but to see who went wrong. It would be better to make no mention of blame and assume we all must improve regardless."
|
|
Wow, that was a lot of bickering among ourselves in front of these kids. Way to go, Pathfinders. "Uh, guys, we're not doing a good job of proving that Pathfinders aren't violent thugs. Just saying. And we should talk to these kids and then let them go. They probably don't want to hang out with us any longer than they have to. So can we stow the bickering for now?" ...Threatening to kill a hurt kid who was just trying to run away? Man. Never make a threat you won't follow through. She's either foolish or evil. Kala is pretty disgusted with this group right now. She's all for action and fighting and all, but if people really don't want to fight, you shouldn't go killing them just 'cause you're peeved. Geez.
She packs away her shortbow, draws out her rope, ties up the unconscious foes, and cuts away the excess rope to stow back in her pack. She then stands up and listens at the door to try to determine if there's anything noteworthy on the other side of it.
|
|
Sleeping Sword looks down at the dead youth; or more accurately, at the pooling blood seeping from the youth's mortal wound.
I will master the Hunger. It shall not master me. I will master the Hunger. It shall not master me.
The old monk sheathes his katana and turns his gaze upon Andor. "Coward."
Sleeping Sword closes his eyes. But he does not sleep.