Tyrant's Grasp III: Last Watch

Game Master CrusaderWolf

Smiling at Wallace's kind (and truthful) words, Garret follows him into the fort, looking for Captain Sunstone and Father Black.

Somehow the degree to which the Lady Mayor understood the state of things manages to flip a switch in Ketra. If Mullana could handle the situation, or if she could at least give the impression of handling it, then she should be able to as well. Her queasiness settles down and she gives a weak grin.

"That's... that's right. We're in the Boneyard, seems like. Those two - the bird and the skeleton - asked us for help in bringing everyone to their senses. And it sounds like the two in the Fort should be first on our list." She rolls up her sleeves. "Don't worry Mullana, we'll... well, we'll do something about it."

She winces at Wallace's blessing. Iomedae's embrace hardly seemed reassuring in the face of having the rest of your life stripped away so abruptly.

While the others comfort the Lady Mayor and help her regain her composure, Wallace and Garret step into the courtyard. Glancing up at the keep, they see Octavius Black leaning out, both hands resting on a crenellation as he gazes intensely at the mists that surround the town. He doesn't so much as glance your way, but the same cannot be said for the courtyard's other occupant.

Captain Sunstone turns from her inspection of the forge, her eyes flashing with righteous anger. "Wallace! Garret! About time someone showed up, where the devil is everyone?! Get a combat patrol together, the fort has been attacked!" The paladin is fully armored, bared blade in hand and showing no signs of the injuries that plagued her when you last saw in in the living world. The bodies of Sergeant Eversteel and the guards are also absent--though the illusory Cofferkeep seems even less stable than the rest of the town.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (3) + 0 = 3

”What is going on, Wallace? What is attacking the Fort?” replies Garret.

Edit: Add a Perception Check: Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Wallace gives Captain Sunstone a crisp salute. "Blessed be the Inheritor, Captain Sunstone," he says by way of greeting. She's way on edge or an impostor. She's as real as we are though...

Garret, she isn't glowing and is angry. The Captain was never angry," he warns, gripping his shield and placing a hand on the hilt of his sheathed sword. "Captain Sunstone, forgive my ignorance, but is it not a tenant of Iomedae's Paladins to be temperate in action and moderate in behavior? To strive to emulate Iomedae’s perfection? This isn't you, even in battle! Frankly, Captain, the only one with naked steel here is you."
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Sense Motive, DC 15: 1d20 ⇒ 17
Perception, DC 13: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

"Oh you noticed, did you? Better naked steel than harsh words when the foe is before you." Rosalind sneers caustically, leveling the sword to point at Wallace. "Mayor Grive thinks everyone has died, and seeing as I could count the bricks in the wall through her torso I imagine she's right." Rosalind's expression twists into a furious snarl. Beads of sweat glisten with silvery light on her brow and neck, gleaming like quicksilver in the moonlight.

"But O! wonder of wonders, in wanders my newest knight, fresh from the academy, and his little band of misfits with hardly a scratch between them! Garret with an inferno riding his soul, the two gravewalkers, and that witch Silvia, who thinks no one notices the damned cats shadowing her every step." Rosalind pauses, panting and wild-eyed, her expression pained. "I thought you would save us, you know," she says, so softly you almost miss it. "I was a fool. Nothing could have survived that blast, so if you're here...you were in on the plot." Something shifts in the Captain's posture; her shoulders pull back and her eyes go flat and cold. "I could not protect my charges from the vipers in our midst, but I can avenge them. En garde, Lundgren."

Knowledge Arcana: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

(Special defenses -- like elemental resistances/immunities, DR, etc), Special Attacks)

"We were most certainly NOT in on the plot, and we don't know why we are alive. What I do know, though, is you are not the real Captain Sunstone -- you are a fragment of her personality wrapped up in ectoplasmic shell. Remember who you were and help us find the true culprits!" counters Garret.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Ketra balls her fists "In on the plot!? You've got to be kidding Rosalind! Who would ever want something like this." She's about to burst into a longer tirade against the other woman, who also appears to be a survivor of some kind, when Garret speaks. Ketra abruptly loses momentum.

Not the real Captain Sunstone? Wait... if she's just a piece of personality then...?

Although Garret is attempting to be diplomatic, Ketra can't help but hit on a sensitive topic, asking "Where's the real Rosalind?"

At the sound of shouting, Silvia leaves the Mayor's side, with a promise to return.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

"What in the hells is going on here?" she demands, arriving late to a scene of her comrades shouting accusations at her old Captain.

I will guard the honor of my fellows and never refuse a challenge from an equal. Returning the stare, Wallace slowly draws his shortsword. "Say what you will about me, Captain, but my allies are above reproach."

"Captain Sunstone, or what's left of her, has challenged me to a duel and insinuated we are beind the mass slaughter of Roslar's Coffer," he explains to Silvia, his eyes trained on the Captain. His words are clear and strong, but the weight of this moment hangs clearly on his face.

Limbering his sword arm and setting his shield, he prepares for battle.

Hearing the ersatz Captain Sunstone shouting at Wallace and Garret, Sanduro and Zsofia jog into the courtyard.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

"What's wrong with the captain? Hey, she looks solid, like us - is she alive, too?"

As the words are leaving his mouth, he notices Captain Sunstone and Wallace have their blades drawn. He lifts his bow hesitantly. "Wallace?"

"...Remember who you were and help us find the true culprits!"

"Where's the real Rosalind?"

"I am all that remains," the alter-ego says with disturbing calm, her eyes focused on nothing in particular as she watches you all. She rolls and shoulder and begins a slow advance, shield and sword up and ready. Captain Sunstone was arguably the best warrior in the town, and this strange copy of her appears to have lost none of that skill. She is sweating profusely though, as though a fever were flushing mercury from her body.

"Surrender and be judged, or resist and perish. Either way, I will have satisfaction!" Rosalind's surges into motion as she hurtles forwards in a charge, a wild scream torn from her lips!

As a Construct and being made from a fragment of a mortal's psyche, I read Alter Egos as being only semi-sapient, more like a video-game NPC than a discrete thinking being. So while Garret's Diplomacy check doesn't avoid combat entirely, it will earn the party a clue or two while Rosalind talks during the fight.

ROUND ONE
Silvia
Sandura/Zsofia
Rosalind's Revenge
Garret
Wallace
Ketra

Guessing that the DR might be magic or silver-related, Garret says, “Use magic or silver weapons if you have them. No mind-affecting magic, but elemental should work!”

Ketra puts up a fighting stance, but her heart isn't in it against the Rosalind. At Garret's comment, she looks down at her fists and then at her machetes "Uh, you've got some high hopes there Garret."

Silvia steps in front of Garret, pointing her pistol at Sunstone's echo. She opens her mouth, initially to demand that the echo stand down, but its charge forces her hand.

Readied for when she charges to within 20 feet
Pistol, DA: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 5 - 1 = 16
Damage, B+P: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (1, 2) + 2 = 5

Sanduro reaches down to pick up a handful of pebbles from the ground (if there are any). The Varisian calls out a quick prayer to Pharasma and three of the pebbles glow faintly for a moment; he drops the others, then takes a step closer to the combat.

Move action to pick up pebbles, standard action to cast magic stone, 5' step.

"Ha! I always liked fighting soldiers!" The phantom glides across the courtyard and waits for what remains of Captain Sunstone to charge into melee range.

The not-Rosalind tears across the courtyard with startling speed, and Silvia fires. The ectoplasmic warrior throws up her shield to intercept the shot--splinters of wood fly through the air, melting into silvery goop before they've hit the ground, but the shield holds. As the knight closes, Zsofia sidesteps closer and delivers a vicious right hook to Rosalind's jawline just under her help. Spidery cracks spread along the alter-ego's face and neck, but within seconds have closed up again! Unfortunately phantoms don't get magic attacks until 4th level, so her DR ate up most of that and the fast healing got the rest

Charge: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 5 + 2 = 23 Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Undeterred, Rosalind's charge slams her into Wallace. The younger knight raises his shield to intercept--only to have it knocked aside by Rosalind, who then drives the tip of her blade through Wallace's side. Grinning fiercely, the captain's echo twists the sword before yanking it free. "What did he offer you?!" she screams at Wallace. "All that talk of the rewards his master would shower him with--what promises did it take to break you?!"

-ROUND ONE-
Silvia
Sanduro/Zsofia
Rosalind's Revenge (-2AC)
Garret
Wallace (-10hp)
Ketra

-ROUND TWO-
Silvia
Sanduro/Zsofia

Looking at the insane figment of the Captain, Garret calculates some angles and says, "Back off, Zsofia, so I can unleash the flame on this construct!"

Unfortunately, Zsofia had to move to get into position to attack in round 1, so she can’t take a 5’ step until her next turn. Round 2:

Zsofia snarls in frustration and takes a step back and to one side.

Sanduro jogs up next to the phantom and throws one of his enchanted pebbles at the guard captain’s alter ego.

Magic stone, throwing into melee: 1d20 + 4 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 1 - 4 = 51d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Unfortunately, Zsofia had to move to get into position to attack in round 1, so she can’t take a 5’ step until her next turn. Round 2:

Zsofia snarls in frustration and takes a step back and to one side.

Sanduro jogs up next to the phantom and throws one of his enchanted pebbles at the guard captain’s alter ego.

[dice=Magic stone, throwing into melee]1d20 + 4 + 1 - 4; 1d6+1

(Not to meta-game with tactics too much, but Garret can wait until after Zsofia's turn on round 2 to take his readied action, so she could attack then step back before the spell)

Garret is correct, Zsofia could still attack and then step away.

Ketra hesitates, not as willing as her allies to bring fists against Rosalind - even if it is some kind of strange remnant rather than the real woman. As Garret's flames fade, she moves in through the gap to cover the halfling. She sends a straight punch forward at the Captain.

Cestus; w/ PA: 1d20 + 6 - 1 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 6 - 1 - 1 = 12 Damage (S): 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Silvia sidesteps the raging echo, quickly reloading as she moves. Raising the pistol again, she waits for just the right moment to fire.

Pistol, DA and Deadeye: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 5 - 1 = 14 vs Touch
Damage: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (5, 1) + 2 = 8

Garret is correct, Zsofia could still attack and then step away.

Good point. I guess Zsofia didn't have anything else to do with her actions, I just figured she wasn't going to do much good between the DR and fast healing.

Wallace's eyes widen as Captain Sunstone's weapon easily pierces his arm and sinks into his side. While able to stay on his feet, he can't help but to cough some blood.

"There is nothing I could be offered to stray from my duty to protect my allies! You seem to know an awful lot though," he begins, taking advantage of her proximity to return the favor by thrusting his sword into her side. "What did it take to turn you?" he whispers back before wedging his shield between them and shoving her away from him. Blood starts to move quickly down his leg as her blade slides from his flesh. "Is that why you're here? Is that why you're so angry?" he shouts. I CANNOT fall, not here! Not even to the Captain... Oh, Mighty Inheritor, give me the strength to protect with this shield of your Herald!

He resets his shield, stalwartly hovering between them, ready for more.
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Mwk Cold Iron Shortsword (Challenge) vs Sunstone: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 251d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 = 8
Confirm?: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 181d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 = 6

@Zsofia Don't underestimate the power of an Aid Another, especially at low levels!

Raising his cold-iron blade high, Wallace brings it down in a devastating slash that splits Rosalind's helm--though it blunts the sword's force enough to save the Captain's life. Critical hit, well done! Silvery blood streams down the side of Rosalind's face, and her eyes flash with fury and more than a hint of madness. Despite her grievous wound the alter ego fights on, knocking Ketra's punch aside with her sword-arm and intercepting Sanduro's thrown rock with her shield.

"How dare you," she hisses at Wallace. "I died for this town! You know nothing of what I suffered! That damned pale sorcerer--your accomplice? Your master? Rambling on about experiments and weapons while he shoved a dagger into my guts and sent his black magic worming into my soul...I gave everything for Roslar's Coffer, I'll not be questioned by the likes of you."

At that moment, Garret finishes his incantation and sends a sheet of golden fire washing over the ectoplasmic knight. As she raises her shield to try and beat back the flames Silvia's pistol barks another retort and a neat round hole appears in Rosalind's right pauldron. Hissing in pain, Rosalind whirls on the gunslinger.

"That's quite enough from you," she snarls, lunging forward with a lightning-quick slash that carves a gash in Silvia's leg. Some of the burned flesh heals on the alter-ego's face and neck, but the Captain's wounds are clearly telling.

-ROUND TWO-
Silvia (-8hp)
Sanduro/Zsofia
Rosalind's Revenge (-16hp)
Garret
Wallace (-10hp)
Ketra

-ROUND THREE-
Silvia (-8hp)
Sanduro/Zsofia

Ketra winces "Rosalind, we'll save your soul from that black magic yet. Just, hold on..." She takes a breath, then relaxes her stance. The placement of her feet becomes precise, the movements of her hands smooth. She takes takes three spinning, gliding steps around Rosalind, ending up on the other side of her, then delivers two quick punches, one with each cestus.

Using a 1st level Routine. En Tourant -> Flutter. Since its the first time I'm using this Routine, I've added the rules text below.

Flutter Cestus; w/ PA: 1d20 + 6 - 3 - 1 ⇒ (9) + 6 - 3 - 1 = 11 Damage (B): 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Flutter Cestus; w/ PA: 1d20 + 6 - 3 - 1 ⇒ (5) + 6 - 3 - 1 = 7 Damage (B): 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Not a great showing! Should have prepped a routine with Dart for situations with DR...
Well, at least you have the flank setup Wallace.

Stepping carefully to position his spell, Garret lets the flame flow again over the fallen captain, though his reservoir of spell energy is starting to flag...

Burning Hands (3:2:1 square format for 15' cone, misses everyone except Sunstone): Fire Damage, DC 16 Reflex for Half: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (3, 2) + 2 = 7

"Hey! You leave the stupid kid's stupid friends alone!"

Zsofia darts around Ketra to take a position between the dancer and the gunslinger. The phantom throws out a quick jab, faking towards the fake Rosalind's face.

Aid Another (Silvia's AC): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
+2 to Silvia’s AC until the start of Zsofia’s next turn

Sanduro stifles an angry retort aimed at Zsofia - Later! - and rattles his two remaining magic pebbles in his hand.

"Ma'am, the only sorcerer I know is the one currently trying to set you on fire to stop you from killing our friends. You're the one who sent us after the mage who blew this place up, remember?"

What's the point? Dead or not, she's lost her mind. The duskwalker pitches one of the stones at Sunstone as hard as he can.

Magic stone, throwing into melee: 1d20 + 4 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 + 1 - 4 = 161d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

"HEY! Don't turn your back on me, I am the one you will face!" Wallace taunts as he aborts a thrust that was meant for a foe coming at him, not stepping away to an ally. DAMN! Can't even defend from this side!

"We are both servants of the Inheritor, you dare dishonor me?" he continues. "I know the oath you took!"
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Mwk Cold Iron Shortsword (Challenge, Flank) vs Sunstone: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 2 = 101d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 2 = 10 DiceBot noooo!

Too slowly, Silvia jumps backwards to avoid the sword, reloading and firing her pistol in a flash. Too quickly, as it turns out.

Pistol, DA: 1d20 + 5 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 1 - 1 = 9
Damage: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (3, 1) + 2 = 6

Even six against one--even as a fragment of the woman she was while living--Captain Sunstone proves why she was given her command. Punches, blades, bullets and stones all fail to touch the Captain's echo as she parries and dodges like a legend of the Shining Crusade made flesh. Only Garret's flames catch her, the fires searing her badly. Even her supernatural healing is barely enough to keep the alter-ego standing.

With a wordless scream she whirls on Wallace and slashes with enough desperate strength to kill the knight outright, but faith and steel guard Wallace as he catches the blow and locks blades for just a moment before disengaging.

-ROUND THREE-
Silvia (-8hp)
Sanduro/Zsofia
Rosalind's Revenge (-22hp)
Garret
Wallace (-10hp)
Ketra

-ROUND FOUR-
Silvia (-8hp)
Sanduro/Zsofia

Sanduro slaps a palm to his forehead as he suddenly remembers that he is trained to make ranged attacks into melee...

Last rock. I hope I can make it count!

Magic stone throwing into melee: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 1 = 171d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

When Silvia steps away, Zsofia grins in approval and shifts her stance.

"Yeah, keep looking at the big guy, soldier gal! Not like Ketra and I can do anything to hurt you if you turn your back on us -- or can we?"

Aid another on Wallace's next attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Ketra doesn't slow her motions, and if anything actually accelerates her swirling limbs. Her fists fall as a cascade upon Rosalind from behind. As she attacks, tears bead in the corner of her eyes at the injustice of Rosalind being turned into this... thing.

(Routine: Flutter -> Sting)

Flutter Cestus; w/ PA, flank: 1d20 + 6 - 3 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 6 - 3 - 1 + 2 = 14 Damage (B): 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Flutter Cestus; w/ PA, flank: 1d20 + 6 - 3 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 6 - 3 - 1 + 2 = 11 Damage (B): 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Sting Cestus; w/ PA, flank: 1d20 + 6 - 6 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 6 - 6 - 1 + 2 = 5 Damage (B): 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Scrambling off to the side to find a clear shot with his magic, Garret gathers the dregs of his power and creates one last flaming cone to wash over the insane figment of Captain Sunstone's essence (3:2:1 cone shape, last first level spell of the day).

Burning Hands Fire Damage, DC 16 Reflex Half: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (2, 4) + 2 = 8

After disengaging, Wallace pushes back into the Captain, shield first, before trying to slip his sword through her guard. "I'll always remember you as the woman you used to be, Captain, not what you've become!" he promises through gritted teeth. Iomedae, forgive your followers for what we must do to each other to defend our own!
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Mwk Cold Iron Shortsword (Challenge, Flank, Aid) vs Sunstone: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 2 + 2 = 211d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 = 8
Ketra, are you including the +1 from Wallace's challenge in your attack routine?

"This isn't the Captain," Silvia hisses, dropping another charge of powder into her pistol. "It's not even a decent copy."

Pistol, DA: 1d20 + 5 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 5 + 1 - 1 = 22
Damage: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (3, 5) + 2 = 10

The 17 would miss, Sanduro, but the 16 from last turn becoming a 20 would have hit. I'll count it for this round since I missed that too.

Her wounds finally catching up with her, Rosalind's form cracks like glass as silvery blood weeps forth. Dropping to one knee, the alter ego raises her eyes to the moonlit sky. "Inheritor, let us be avenged, the alter ego whispers, as her body--including even her armor and sword--begins to melt and slag away into silvery sludge. Within seconds even that has evaporated, leaving you all panting in the empty courtyard.

Verun flutters over to Ketra's shoulder and trills sadly.

Wallace groans with relief as Captain Sunstone dissipates. Sheathing his weapon, he holds his side. "Not really her, eh? The hell was that then? Does that mean the real Captain is in trouble?" he asks. Tearing a strip of cloth from some spare clothes, he bandages himself up a bit.

"Everyone ok? She came at us hard, but we're a bless-ed team," he says proudly, smiling at each of you. We haven't even trained together, but our tactics were very well coordinated! A few more bouts and we'll be an engine for justice in no time!

"I'm not sure," Silvia says as she limps over to where the echo was. "Maybe Black will know."

Ketra relaxes out of her fighting stance and cups Verun with a hand. The sight of Rosalind's form melting is somehow a little bit of a relief after having to fight the woman - clear evidence that she was something other than human. Quietly she says "Horrible. Why is the afterlife so... horrible?" Wallace's enthusiasm does little to buoy her spirits.

She looks over at the keep, trying to spot Black to see what his reaction is to the fight that transpired.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Looking sadly at the goo that represented a fragment of one of his friends, Garret says, "We must remember that creature was a construct of a fragment of Sunstone's shattered consciousness--not our true friend and protector. Let us move on--and realize I had to use the rest of my powerful spells to aid in finishing it off."

Pulling out his light crossbow, Garret loads it and puts in a bolt, saying, "Right--I'm ready now."

"This isn't the afterlife, really. At least, I think that's what the psychopomps were trying to say. If the afterlife is supposed to be what happens after the Lady of Graves judges your soul and sends you on, well, none of these people have even made it that far - they've barely gotten started. It's like when the caravan is getting ready to move on, but you just aren't ready to go yet, only this time nobody's ready to go..."

Sanduro trails off and looks around glumly at the others, then changes the subject. "I guess we need to talk to him, but I don't think Father Octavius is going to be much help. If he were, he would have come down during the fight, wouldn't he?"

Taking a longer look at his teammates, he suddenly realizes the injuries some of them have suffered. "Wallace, Silvia, you're both badly hurt! I think we ought to get you two healed up before we do anything else, especially if there's any chance we might have to fight another of those memory fragment-people. I've got one healing spell left, and we have plenty of potions."

I think Wallace is hurt more, right? Assuming that's the case, Sanduro will cast cure light wounds on him to get 1 extra hp of healing from a higher caster level. Silvia, there is 1 potion of CLW and 4 potions of CMW left - plenty of healing available for you.

CLW, CL2: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Glancing up at the keep Ketra no longer sees Octavius looking out at the town from the battlements. Whether he's just elsewhere on the roof or on his way down, it's impossible to tell.

In the fight's aftermath the Lady Mayor cautiously steps into the courtyard, looking lost and more than a little weary. "It wasn't her, was it? I heard you talking about fragments and copies." The ghostly woman sighs. "I had hoped, when the band of you came in looking so solid and alive that perhaps Rosalind and Master Black were somehow spared, but..." she trails off, then looks up at you all with desperate eyes. "It's not true, right? What the Captain's copy said about you betraying us? You wouldn't...I-I need someone to rely on, so if you tell me that you didn't betray the town, I believe you."

"I'm fine," Silvia mutters, but she uncorks the curative potion and takes a drink from it all the same. CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

"We did not betray the town," she says, turning back to the Lady Mayor. "We were too late to save everyone, but we're still here to help."

Turning and looking at the mayor with sad eyes, Garret says, ”My whole world was in this town, Mayor. I would never betray my hometown or my parents. If you see them go by, tell them I love them and I am trying to find out what happened.”