Crunch rushes past Green and Blue, and swings at Harsus ineffectively.
Red strikes back at Barashk.
He hits once.
Yellow steps forward into flanking position, and attacks Barashk as well.
He lands one blow, jabbing his shortswords between two leaves of Barashk's armor.
Round 1!
Barashk (-12 hp)
Maldlethu
Crunch
Red Rebel
Yellow Rebel
Reev
Xun
Harsus
Elariel
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Xun beats on his drum, the sound of music begins to fill in the chamber.
"To arms! Break those traitors and throw their bodies into the canals!"
He looks at his wounded friend and continues to play, he lures to loas of life to aid his allies. His dark skin begins to glow with faint green light, as Xun begins to chant in Polyglot language. Semi-translucent snakes climb out of water and moves towards Barashk, as they are nearby they bite in his legs
Would reduce the damage by 3.
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Harsus steps away from Crunch, and says some naughty words. Two bolts of force appear, slamming into Crunch.
Round 1/2!
Barashk (-4 hp)
Maldlethu
Crunch (-7 hp)
Red Rebel
Yellow Rebel
Reev
Xun
Harsus
Elariel
Harsus is a little scared, but he knows enough about magic that it doesn't scare him too much. ()
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"You are not that only one who has magic in their veins, Harsus!"
Elariel raises her arms above her head, looks up at the ceiling and takes a deep breath, savoring the feeling of the magic as it courses through her. She then flings her hands out toward the rebel closest to her and several bolts zip through the air straight for him.
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Barashk steps out from the flank and then shoves red.
Critical Success You push your opponent up to 10 feet away from you. You can Stride after it, but you must move the same distance and in the same direction.
Success You push your opponent back 5 feet. You can Stride after it, but you must move the same distance and in the same direction.
Critical Failure You lose your balance, fall, and land prone.
He follows the mook and the swipes at him with one of his claws.
Maldlethu frightens Harsus.
Crunch swings their warhammer, and Harsus gloats as it appears to miss. But they heroically alter the trajectory and land a solid hit!
Elariel sends three missiles of force into the Razmiran priest.
Barashk shoves the guard. The slippery floor gives the guard no protection, and Barashk shoves him all the way into the waterwheel.
Round 1/2!
Barashk (-4 hp, 1 action)
Maldlethu
Crunch (-7 hp, resist 1)
Red Rebel
Yellow Rebel
Reev
Xun
Harsus (-16 hp, frightened 1)
Elariel
"Y-you bully!"
Yellow seems more resolute than frightened, and dances around so that he won't get pushed off the edge, then Strikes Barashk twice.
Round 2!
Barashk (-4 hp)
Maldlethu
Crunch (-7 hp, resist 1)
Red Rebel
Yellow Rebel
Reev
Xun
Harsus (-16 hp, frightened 1)
Elariel
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Yellow dodges two dogslicer swings as well as an incoming arrow.
Harsus yells, "Hold them off!"
As soon as Yellow isn't looking, Harsus runs up the stairs, and then opens a secret door at the top of the stairs, disappearing inside a dark corridor.
Round 2/3!
Barashk (-4 hp)
Maldlethu
Crunch (-7 hp)
Red Rebel
Yellow Rebel
Reev
Xun
Harsus (-16 hp, off-map)
Elariel
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"I am moving up with the others, Xun. We could be vulnerable here, all alone."
Elariel cautiously makes her way to the upper platform.
The priest is getting away...do we care? I suppose he could bring back more, but it seemed Nalla was in charge...I guess I will help Barshk and Reev with this guy...
She utters a magical encantation and a tiny, tiny lightning bolt shoots from her hand toward the single remaining rebel.
Yellow takes full damage.
Barashk finishes off Yellow.
She is sad for the loss of her comrades, but she acknowledges that they lived free and died free. "It was their choice to make," she offers. She instructs the two surviving rebels to give them a proper burial.
"The passage is a secret link to the throne room. We were going to use it to ambush the king - but we could use it to go talk to him. You previously expressed an interest in returning to check in - you are welcome to walk any road."
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When they run into their friends, there is a look of consternation on their face.
"I followed Harsus a good ways - he slipped through a door into the royal hall."
Looking over at Nalla, they ask, "What were you planning and how long before you put into action? Will he make attempt on King's life without you?"
Before anyone can act, Crunch returns from the tunnel.
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"Do we need to speak to the King? I think we should see what more we can find out about Kerinha. That's all politics." Elariel waves her hand dismissively in the direction of the tunnel. She cannot understand why people are bothering with simple politics when there is more discovery to do. Oh, well. All the more for us then, I suppose.
"Nalla, I appreciate that you saw reason, however, you friend has not. What was the plan? and is it too late to stop it?"
Nalla purses her lips. "The plan was to set fire to some buildings, and when the guards went to investigate, to take the castle. I'm unwilling to give up that plan entirely, unless we succeed in our diplomatic mission, though. The power must reside with the people - peacefully, if possible, but violently, if not. Let us hurry - if we succeed in time, I can call off the attack."
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Crunch leads the Pathfinders, plus Nalla, through the tunnel, exiting directly into the throne room.
A wide red carpet runs across this hall of white stone, leading from a pair of iron doors to a dais with two thrones. Several statues and trophies line the walls of the hall as chandeliers light up the room. Light from outside shines through skylights set in the ceiling.
As the Pathfinders emerge, the guards quickly notice and surround the team.
"It's her! She's discovered the waterworks exit!" they shout, pointing to Nalla with their spears.
"No! Wait!" Nalla shouts, her longsword clattering to the ground. "Allow me to speak my peace."
The captain of the guard brandishes his large battleaxe. "I will behead this traitor, myself, right here," he sneers.
King Edryd, seated on the dias with his an older woman and a monk cowering behind his throne, speaks up.
"Captain, let her speak her mind. She will say what she will."
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Reev makes a visible display of sheathing his mismatched dogslicers, Terror and Harriet. "Your Majesty," his large ears droop as he bows slightly to the monarch. "You recite the River Freedoms. That good sign this go well. Me just met Nalla," he thumbs toward the rebel, "but she seem like good woman. Lots of fire inside."
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Elariel balances her staff on her shoulder and holds her hands out to her sides, palms up. She remains silent, watching the guards warily. This has gone all wrong! We were supposed to be on an information finding mission. We should have never gotten involved in Nalla's concerns.
When Reev speaks, she looks over to him and her staff rolls of her shoulder. She grabs for it, but not quickly enough and it clatters loudly to the ground. The crossbow slung across her back becomes dislodged by her sudden movement and swings across the front of her body. It too evades her grab and falls to the floor. "CRAP! I HATE this thing!"
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"Good King. It appears your subjects are at their breaking point and are moments away from putting things in motion that may end badly for both sides." He then pauses for a moment, "Please do not make this as a threat, but an opportunity to level with the people you reside over. I implore you to listen to Nalla. She has the ear of many people."
With that Barashk folds his hands behind is back and goes to lean against a wall.
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"Deferring to a local leader, muses King Edryd. "I like that. Nalla, Say What You Will."
Nalla begins explaining what she has discussed with you before. King Edryd looks tolerant, but unimpressed.
"We fought together to overthrow Waike," King Edryd reminds her. "We fought for change, and that change happened. Now it seems like you don't know what to do with yourself in the new order and want perpetual war."
King Edryd turns towards the Pathfinders.
1. "Outsiders, you have chosen to ally with Nalla. Why do you take up arms for a cause that is not yours?"
Queen-Mother Sovella, the older woman behind the king, speaks.
2. "Several attempts have been made on my son's life. Why should he not respond in kind?"
The monk, Brother Karyn, speaks.
3. "Kind Edryd is the rightful king. We have a saying, Courts are for Kings - it is the duty of the people to obey their government!"
King Edryd finishes the questioning.
4. "You are from distant lands. How would your leaders handle this sort of uprising?"
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Responding to the females, "Would you like you son to go down to their level and attempt assassinations as well and name him a murderous tyrant. He should show his higher class and upbringing by taking the road less traveled. Besides this, the failed attempts on his life shows that he is stalwart and shows that he deserves his title. After all, you have what you hold"
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"Courts are indeed for kings, yes, but a king of what remains to be seen," Maldlethu answers the monk. "The people have shown they will not suffer a tyrant - perhaps they will not suffer a fool either. And when they can walk any road or float any river, what is to keep them from leaving for the neighboring kingdoms? A wise leader would encourage them to stay rather than force them to bow to a despot's will. Nalla suggested the idea of an elected council to advise the monarchy - what would His Majesty think of such a thing?"
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"King Edryd, Queen-Mother Sovella, Brother Karyn. My name is Xun Saburo and I come from the south of Mwangi Jungle and my people live in small villages. When a leader is taken down it is prevalent that fighting lasts after the leader is dead or banished. Revolutions have a tendency to last longer than expected, and a result of revolution always is different than everyone expected."
"A freedom of speech 'Say What You Will, I Live Free', to criticize new leader is frequently exercised and experience in getting power by force is used. Some leaders after gaining power slain everyone that could threaten then, but those leaders turn into tyrants very quickly. It happens very seldom that a new leader learns how to listen to others and overcome differences, use formidable leaders to build a better future. As a storyteller, I aim to learn and tell stories that help to avoid wars and assassinations. I hope now to be part one such an amazing story that would be an example of how a King can begin a dialog about their kingdom."
Xun does not hold a weapon but he holds his drum.
"Nalla suggested the idea of an elected council to advise the monarchy - what would His Majesty think of such a thing?"
"Insanity! Name one other place where letting the uneducated masses govern has not led to ruin."
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"It were before me was born," Reev begins, "but we had uprising in our community. A group of unhappy Pathfinders formed what called 'Shadow Lodge' to work against our leaders, the Decemvirate. The Decemvirate only quelled that revolt by brining Shadow Lodge back into the fold, and by listening to them grievances." Reev smiles, awkwardly. "In this way was win win win for everyone, yours Majesty."
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The Queen-Mother listens to Barashk carefully.
She replies, "My primary concern is for the safety of my son. If he thinks this is the best way to keep him alive, I'm not going to object."
The monk listens to Xun.
He is unconvinced, explaining, "We seek not to curb the freedom of speech. But when that speech turns into violence, it is the duty of any state to step in and intervene."
The monk listens to Maldlethu.
He replies, "It's true, I had not considered that Waike was an honorable ruler when he started, he turned a tyrant when he felt he had no other option."
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"We didn't take up arms against you. Nalla was going to, but then we talked her out of it and now she sees the error of her ways. Some of her followers weren't convinced, so we defeated them. So, really, we are taking your side. In fact, one of them escaped. I thought he ran in here. Where did he go? You should find him - he's a threat!
The king looks at Elariel and scoffs. "Sounds like deflection. You show up in my throne room, armed to the teeth, and claim the threat is elsewhere?"
He confers with Karyn and his mother for a few minutes, then rises up.
"Nalla, I have considered your proposal, and we all agree it has merit. I hereby declare the formation of a Peoples' Council, a committee that will be tasked with the creation of a new charter for Artume, the 'Great Charter of Freedoms.' Everyone in the land will be bound by the laws that we agree to - the king, the nobles, and the peasants. And everyone will have a part in writing those laws - the king, the nobles, and the peasants."
Nalla beams with pride and kneels before Edryd.
"My king, this is a glorious day for Artume. But I must quickly take your leave, to prevent violent plans from coming to fruition."
The king grants her leave, and Nalla turns to the Pathfinders, "Thank you, my friends. There is much work to be done, but I hope I will see you again."
She then bounds out the door to stop the fires from being lit.
"As for you," King Edryd continues, "Artume is forever grateful for your intervention. For each of you, I give three signets - you may use these to call in a favor from the court."
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Elariel remains quiet since the King seems not to trust her. She attempts to look grateful, at least, and gives him am awkward, forced smile. The wizard briefly considers pushing to look for more information about Napsunar. Maybe there are artifacts hidden away that we are missing! Though... probably not. You saw the place. It's not in good shape. Anything there must have been looted years ago...I should know better. Well. At least we know the story now. That's worth something.
"Yes. Let's report back to the lodge. I dare say the VC will be happy we stopped an assassination attempt on the king!