Alak spoke up. "So let me make sure I understand the plan. We go to this outpost, confront this Voz woman, who is known to dabble in necromancy, make our way through some more unnecessarily long tunnels filled with who knows what, only to wind up right under where we now stand, where we'll finally figure out what an elf gate looks like?" He grinned. "What're we waiting for?"
"So let me make sure I understand the plan. We go to this outpost, confront this Voz woman, who is known to dabble in necromancy, make our way through some more unnecessarily long tunnels filled with who knows what, only to wind up right under where we now stand"
"Approximately, yes. The only addition that I would make is that we do know that at least one of the things we will encounter in the caverns below us is a murder giant made of doors."
Caiten looks from Alak to the collapsed stairs and the massive pile of rubble still clogging it.
"But I am not able to create any better plan. Joran, if you know the way there, lead us there if you would."
Alak spoke up. "So let me make sure I understand the plan. We go to this outpost, confront this Voz woman, who is known to dabble in necromancy, make our way through some more unnecessarily long tunnels filled with who knows what, only to wind up right under where we now stand, where we'll finally figure out what an elf gate looks like?" He grinned. "What're we waiting for?"
"Not to split hairs regarding your excellent assessment, but I know exactly what an aiudara looks like, and I even know what this one feel like, but cannot draw or share my thoughts with you, so yes, for everyone else, it will be quite the ey opening experience."
"To throw a positive spin on things, we did not see Mr. Strelov Senior's giggle stick in this particular nightmare. But it was pretty intense."
Yasamina pats Oren on the shoulder. "We'll figure it out."
"In any case - find ANOTHER old fort, stop a malicious bookworm and her plans, then find an ancient portal device, see what happens."
Smiling expectantly, she brandishes her blade . "Sounds like a fun night in the countryside."
"Good thing we had that broth."
Alak spoke up. "So let me make sure I understand the plan. We go to this outpost, confront this Voz woman, who is known to dabble in necromancy, make our way through some more unnecessarily long tunnels filled with who knows what, only to wind up right under where we now stand, where we'll finally figure out what an elf gate looks like?" He grinned. "What're we waiting for?"
Joran points and gives Alak a wink, liking the hellknight's mentality.
"Approximately, yes. The only addition that I would make is that we do know that at least one of the things we will encounter in the caverns below us is a murder giant made of doors."
Caiten looks from Alak to the collapsed stairs and the massive pile of rubble still clogging it.
"But I am not able to create any better plan. Joran, if you know the way there, lead us there if you would."
"HA! A 'giant made of doors'. In case you haven't noticed, Caiten ol' buddy, I eat doors for breakfast. But Trin's cooking is soooo much better," he grins, winking.
"And you got it, buddy. Let's get this show on the road."
"To throw a positive spin on things, we did not see Mr. Strelov Senior's giggle stick in this particular nightmare. But it was pretty intense."
Yasamina pats Oren on the shoulder. "We'll figure it out."
"In any case - find ANOTHER old fort, stop a malicious bookworm and her plans, then find an ancient portal device, see what happens."
Smiling expectantly, she brandishes her blade . "Sounds like a fun night in the countryside."
"Good thing we had that broth."
Just as Joran's about to turn and put on his armor and gather his gear, he looks over at Yasamina and narrows his eyes. "Yasamina, could I talk to you in private a moment? Just for a moment, please." he waves her over in a kindly fashion. Once she arrives - or if she doesn't he'll go to her, "I hope you didn't give Trin no more crap like you did with that room. You didn't did you?" he asks, sounding somewhat stern as he crosses his arms while preparing to study her response.
Yasamina is still parrying invisible opponents when Joran flags her down. She puts her blade vertically to her chest in a ceremonial fashin, and makes a slight bow to the air before walking over.
She looks Joran in the eye, dead serious. "I have done no such thing... again. We had a fun night in her inn, is all. Drinking hard, dancing terribly, singing out of tune... A lovely evening. She was with us the whole time, so she couldn't poison us."
The facade breaks, and Yasamina starts laughing. "No, really, it was just a long needed wind-down. I even offered an apology. I think. It's all a little hazy."
"It seems the girl likes you a lot, Joran Bravestone. Let's go save her home from colourful birds and frog people?”
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Caiten hurriedly packs back up the few things he had set out while Joran and Yasami have their quick chat. "OK. Let's go feed Joran a giant murder door."
Sulee giggles a bit. "Why Caiten, that was actually a pretty good bit of hyperbole."
Yasamina is still parrying invisible ooponents when Joran flags her down. She puts her blade vertically to her chest in a ceremonial fashin, and makes a slight bow towards the air before walking over.
She looks Joran in the eye, dead serious. "I have done no such thing... again. We had a fun night in her inn, is all. Drinking hard, dancing terribly, singing out of tune... A lovely evening. She was with us the whole time, so she couldn't poison us."
The facade breaks, and Yasamina starts laughing. "No, really, it was just a long needed wind-down. I even offered an apology. I think. It's all a little hazy."
"It seems the girl likes you a lot, Joran Bravestone. Let's go save her home from colourful birds and frog people?”
Narrowing his eyes as he studies her a moment, he eventually relaxes... a bit. "Okay. I'm gonna trust you... this time." He then releases a big smile. "Yeah. It's pretty great," he confesses easily, nodding. Then clapping his hands together, "All right! Let me get my stuff and let's get out of here!" Putting on his armor and gathering his gear, he then turns to the others and declares with excitement, "Let's move, people! Burning daylight and all that! And Poppet! You got Caiten on that one unless you've already explained it."
Joran then leads the way out as soon as the others are ready to go.
"Thanks. Recognizing it is a lot harder than creating it though."
"I agree, that -IS- a pretty sweet line. Didn't think you had it in you. Nice to be proven wrong a second time today."
Joran then leads the way out as soon as the others are ready to go.
Caiten also leaves with Joran.
"I have heard the name "Guardian's Way" before, but that is about it. I haven't been there. Does anyone know where it is?"
Dario quietly listened to the story of murderous bookworms, portents of doom, veiled suggestions of marriage, more ruined fortresses, the possibility of death, and even the threat of a dragon. When eyes turned to him, he would grin with a dusty, dirty face.
"By the gods, I love adventuring." Twirling his newly improved pistol in hand, the gunslinger was more than ready to begin the hunt for the elf and see what could be done to stop an apocalypse from showing up at such a lovely, quaint time.
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Departing the citadel, you all made your way to the northeast, trekking through the wood. Those of you who'd heard of the place knew a smidgen of its history. During the Goblinblood Wars, a number of the little devils had begun to boil out of a cave complex near town. The outpost had been built at the mouth of the caves to stem the tide, and those stationed there had kept the numbers from overwhelming Breachill.
It had been abandoned since. Teenagers from Breachill snuck out there sometimes, either to dare one another to go into the caves as far as they dared, or to bring sweethearts to canoodle up on one of the treetop platforms.
Knowing the place is less likely to be abandoned at the present, you approached the last half mile with caution. When you were less than a quarter mile away, you could hear voices up ahead, through the trees -- laughter and casual conversation.
Hearing laughter and voices of people making no attempt to hide their presence, Caiten analyzes the risk of hostile activity to be very low. Still cautious, he tries to recognize what the conversation is discussing, and attempts to make no noise as he approaches closer.
Caiten overhears a gravelly voice telling a joke. "So a dwarf, an elf, and a naked halfling go into a tavern..." The android misses the punchline, but hears a pair of rough voices laughing in response.
He revises his analysis somewhat...the crude humor and something about the quality of the laughter made him think the voices were more likely to be rough and tumble types than upstanding citizens.
He's close enough he can juuuust make out a clearing ahead, through the trees.
Caiten looks to the others for guidance. "I don't think this is a family picnic, and probably not a group of youth enjoying an afternoon shirking their chores. Does anyone have reconnaissance methods that would work well in a forest in the middle of the day? Lisi, perhaps a field mouse would not be noteworthy even if seen."
"That is a really nifty trick Lisi, a real useful one. I can move amidst the treeline, stay out of sight, and be ready to deliver some covering fire if it comes down to it. We could also, perhaps, cause a distraction or something so us quiet folk could get the drop on them?" Dario offers, looking between the others. They were a ragtag group but they were quite capable in a variety of ways.
Caiten pulls out his longbow. "It seems as good of a plan as any. I will follow you to the treeline, Dario. I can also provide backup and support from there."
Yasamina raises her hand and half-covers her cheek with the other to not let the sound pass through to the clearing. She speaks in a hushed voice "Dario - as long as you don't shoot me again, I'm game."
She follows that up with an obviously fake frown and rubs her shoulder.
Joran shakes his head, "Forget all that. You all stay here and stay out of sight and wait for my signal. You'll know it when the screaming starts... and it doesn't matter who's," he tells them, shooting a wink.
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Joran then steps out and greets the strangers, keeping a fair distance. "Hello, strangers! What's a lot like you doing out in these parts? Hopefully not robbing folks. Because that wouldn't be very nice, now would it?" he asks all friendly like, smiling.
Joran then steps out and greets the strangers, keeping a fair distance.
Caiten watches Joran walk brazenly into the clearing. Then looks at the others. "Well, plan B then."
He looks to Sulee. "And the difference between this and walking into the Pickled Ear from the storage room is that we are not concerned about the social opinions of these people like we are with Roxie, yes?"
"Pretty much, yes. That and Joran is expecting this to be a fight. So hurry up and make sure he doesn't get himself killed."
"Right."
Joran shakes his head, "Forget all that. You all stay here and stay out of sight and wait for my signal. You'll know it when the screaming starts... and it doesn't matter who's," he tells them, shooting a wink.
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Joran then steps out and greets the strangers, keeping a fair distance. "Hello, strangers! What's a lot like you doing out in these parts? Hopefully not robbing folks. Because that wouldn't be very nice, now would it?" he asks all friendly like, smiling.
[dice=Diplomacy]1d20+6
Cevendyl follows directly after Joran ...
"Joran, I thought you said this place was deserted? I'm actually glad we came to take a look: I do think it would be perfect for the wedding, but not with all kinds of other uninvited people here."| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
"Joran, wait, we need an actual-" The word "plan" dies on his lips as the big oaf walks out into the clearing. A scowl spreads across the gunslinger's face as he waves for Yasami and Caiten to follow him. "Anyone else who is quiet is welcome to join us or follow the lug out there. I swear, I'm going to say I saw another bird just so I can graze him..." Dario mutters, crouching down behind foliage and trees to get closer but not be seen.
Cevendyl follows directly after Joran ...
"Joran, I thought you said this place was deserted? I'm actually glad we came to take a look: I do think it would be perfect for the wedding, but not with all kinds of other uninvited people here."
Joran stares daggers over at Cev and says out of the corner of his mouth, "If you don't stop talking about weddings, I'm gonna...," before turning back to the bad guys with a big smile. "Don't pay no mind to him. He just carries my pack. Well that's not true so forget I said that. Still love to know what you fellas are doing out here though? I bet there's a great story in there somewhere. I love stories. So does my friend here, Mr. Talky. Funny name, 'Mr. Talky', don't you think? I think it's a funny name. He just talks ALL the time. Especially about weddings. Which is, you know, somewhat annoying," again he looks over at Cev with raised eyebrows and nary an expression before turning back to the thugs, the smile instantly returning.
Joran stares daggers over at Cev and says out of the corner of his mouth, "If you don't stop talking about weddings, I'm gonna...," before turning back to the bad guys with a big smile. "Don't pay no mind to him. He just carries my pack. Well that's not true so forget I said that. Still love to know what you fellas are doing out here though? I bet there's a great story in there somewhere. I love stories. So does my friend here, Mr. Talky. Funny name, 'Mr. Talky', don't you think? I think it's a funny name. He just talks ALL the time. Especially about weddings. Which is, you know, somewhat annoying," again he looks over at Cev with raised eyebrows and nary an expression before turning back to the thugs, the smile instantly returning.Cevendyl follows directly after Joran ...
"Joran, I thought you said this place was deserted? I'm actually glad we came to take a look: I do think it would be perfect for the wedding, but not with all kinds of other uninvited people here."
"There is for sure no lie there, I love stories too. Like cover stories. Sometimes I talk about weddings as a cover story, like so that people don't know what we're actually doing, well, and in this case, so that people don't think that I came to the local make-out spot with Mr. Bull-in-a-China-Shop as a date or anything. Not that he isn't dateable, like he is SO dateable because there is this lady in town who is TOTALLY into him, but I'm not. But it would be great to know why other people are here ..."
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"There is for sure no lie there, I love stories too. Like cover stories. Sometimes I talk about weddings as a cover story, like so that people don't know what we're actually doing, well, and in this case, so that people don't think that I came to the local make-out spot with Mr. Bull-in-a-China-Shop as a date or anything. Not that he isn't dateable, like he is SO dateable because there is this lady in town who is TOTALLY into him, but I'm not. But it would be great to know why other people are here ..."
Joran grins and nods, turning to Cev as he crosses his arms. "She is, isn't she? Yeah it's pretty great." He looks back over to the strangers, "You should see her, fellas, she's absolutely gorgeous. And her name is Voz. Perhaps you've heard of her? Of course, you're probably asking yourself, is that really true? Or is this guy just some meathead who's talking out of his backside? Those are all good questions and, quite frankly, I'm not gonna give you the answers to," he says as if it's silly to even think so. "I'll tell you why: Because if you think about it, it doesn't really matter, now, does it? Unless, of course, you actually happen to know a gal named Voz," he shrugs. "Then that would be interesting," he throws them a wink.
Caiten peers through the underbrush next to Dario. Listening to Joran and Cevendyll talk, he looks to Sulee again. "Are you able to make any sense of this conversation?"
"Yes. Now be quiet and be ready."
"I could probably line the shot up and take them both and whoever walks up to them out. It'd be smooth. It'd be clean. Merciful even." Dario whispers, more to himself than anyone else, as their two distractions continue to...do their best.
"There is for sure no lie there, I love stories too. Like cover stories. Sometimes I talk about weddings as a cover story, like so that people don't know what we're actually doing, well, and in this case, so that people don't think that I came to the local make-out spot with Mr. Bull-in-a-China-Shop as a date or anything. Not that he isn't dateable, like he is SO dateable because there is this lady in town who is TOTALLY into him, but I'm not. But it would be great to know why other people are here ..."Joran grins and nods, turning to Cev as he crosses his arms. "She is, isn't she? Yeah it's pretty great." He looks back over to the strangers, "You should see her, fellas, she's absolutely gorgeous. And her name is Voz. Perhaps you've heard of her? Of course, you're probably asking yourself, is that really true? Or is this guy just some meathead who's talking out of his backside? Those are all good questions and, quite frankly, I'm not gonna give you the answers to," he says as if it's silly to even think so. "I'll tell you why: Because if you think about it, it doesn't really matter, now, does it? Unless, of course, you actually happen to know a gal named Voz," he shrugs. "Then that would be interesting," he throws them a wink.
"Seriously Joran? I get that it's all fresh and new, and it's not that I'm a racist or anything, but I also get that you're, well, human and stuff. But elves don't talk about their courtships with strangers, or even co-workers. That's one of the reasons that I brought you her journal when I found it: I certainly didn't want her private information being found by just anyone. Even half-elves cannot live with that kind of scandal. Not sure these gentlemen would know much about that ... scandal I mean."
Lisi looks at Joran and considers turning into a rat after all.
Are we going to confuse these people to death?
He's pretty sure that no mortal attempt at diplomacy could possibly disentangle the twisted tale that Joran and Cev have started.
Did we close the bookshop door? I swear, there's some sort of fungal spore sickness settling over the town...
"Seriously Joran? I get that it's all fresh and new, and it's not that I'm a racist or anything, but I also get that you're, well, human and stuff. But elves don't talk about their courtships with strangers, or even co-workers. That's one of the reasons that I brought you her journal when I found it: I certainly didn't want her private information being found by just anyone. Even half-elves cannot live with that kind of scandal. Not sure these gentlemen would know much about that ... scandal I mean."
Shaking his head in 'irritation' at Cev, he gives him 'the look'. "Yeah, and I told you not to do that. Voz had the journal kept secret for a reason. I mean, she wouldn't even let me look at it. Mainly because I pretty much didn't even know it existed!" he throws up his hands in frustration.
He then turns his attention back to the strangers. "You see what I have to deal with, fellas? This right here," he motions at Cev emphatically. "You buy 'em books, send 'em to school and this is how they turn out. Sheesh," he shakes his head. "Honestly, though, it really depends on what's in the journal. If it's excellent stuff about me then that's okay! Am I right?!" he waggles his eyebrows. "But if it's something like: 'Gonna burn down the town today. Also, need to pick up eggs', then there's gonna be issues. For one, I know for a possibly, maybe, very likely or not likely fact that Voz... doesn't really like eggs. So, that's gonna tip me off that something's amiss," he nods demonstratively, tapping his nose. "But I haven't had a chance to read it yet. Will get to it when I've got some downtime though. You know, right before bed, that type thing. Gotta love a good book right before bed. What about you fellas?" he asks, smiling. "Yay? Nay? Maybe?"
As Joran and Cev step out into the clearing and begin their improv act, they get a close of view of the layout of the place, and where their potential foes stand.
Three treetop watchposts bustling with half orcs look down at you. The two smaller ones are ten feet off the ground, and the larger one is two-tiered, with a platform at ten feet and another at twenty. Just behind the larger on is a storage shed without any windows. A limestone escarpment behind the shed reveals a cave opening.
A couple individuals were on the ground when Joran and Cev began their little act, but they hustled to climb the rope ladders, and all three ground level ladders were pulled up behind them, leaving no easy access to the platforms above. Several of them took aim, but the female on the large platform held up a hand for them to hold their fire, for the moment.
"Dmiri!" she calls, aiming the shout back over her shoulder, but not turning her gaze from the two madmen. "Visitors. Claim to know Voz. I think."
She narrows her eyes. "You in the trees! Come out where we can see you!" She has spotted at least one of you, you can't be certain how many.
A figure emerged from the shed, weapons drawn, and peered at the commotion. She was a hobgoblin, taller and smarter than her more common cousins, but with a similar shape to her head. "You idiots. She told us she'd probably be followed, and paid us good money to stop them. What the hells are you waiting for? SHOOT THEM!"
Block 1: Merc Leader
Block 2: Lisi, Joran, Oren, Dario
Block 3: Blue
Block 4: Alak, Cez, Yasami, Caiten
Block 5: Red
The leader of the band, the hobgoblin, rushes around the shed and towards the cave opening, out of sight. You hear her calling. "Voz!
Trouble!"
Caiten listens intently as the - apparently mercenaries - begin talking. "Well, if they are calling for Voz, that means that she is probably nearby."
Looking through the foliage he can only barely see the locations of most of the enemies. "I'm going to need to move in order to get a clear shot. And from what they said, it appears that they will be shooting back."
Caiten begins plotting strategies to goad the enemies to come down from their fortified platforms and meet them on the ground instead.
After thinking about it for a few seconds, Caiten remarks, "Well, if they are charged with preventing people from going in to the caverns, they actually can't do that from their positions in the platforms. There is nothing physically stopping us from simply running past them. Not that I intend to leave enemies behind me, but they don't know that. They will have to come down in order to stop us from entering."
Oren will move out between Joran and Cev, before attempting to intimidate the mercenary directly across from him.
"You should've surrendered Voz peacefully! Now none of you are going to survive this!"
"Boring conversation anyway WE'VE GOT TROUBLE!" Noticing that he can't get to any of them, Joran looks below the watchpost to see what's holding it up. Narrowing his eyes, Don't go there, Joran. Don't go there! "GUYS! COVER ME!" Joran takes off for the underbelly of the watchtower, drawing his flail as he does.
if only calmont were here to burn these platforms down with a stolen scroll
Darting out of the cover, the sunlight catches on Dario's pistol as the enemy prepares to attack. Foliage falls away as he maneuvers under the cover of another tree, looking out from behind it.
"Mercenaries eh? How much did the lady pay you folks?" Dario shouted as he leaned out. The battle was announced with the roar of his pistol piercing the air around them.
After his brilliant shot, Dario will duck behind the tree and begin reloading as he calls out.
"I just want to get an idea of how much each of you considered your life to be worth? Mercenaries always have such interesting prices for themselves."
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Lisi strides forward with his floral and faunal entourage in tow.
He glares at the nearest mercenary.
"Their hides are worth more dead than alive," he growls, in reply to Dario, still keeping his gaze fixed on the merc. "We can guarantee that, you worm."
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Oren's threat elicits a chuckle as more than a half dozen shortbows trained in his direction. "Oh I think we'll be just fine. Can't say the same fer you," the one with the mohawk and beard said.
Joran fired his blaster at the communications station ran under the main platform, stopping those above him from firing a shot and taking cover from the ones on the other two platforms. He pondered the feasibility of using his flail to take out the platform supports. He was no engineering expert, but he did fell trees for a living...before all this started, at any rate. He was pretty sure that taking out four of the eight supports, all on the same side, might be enough if those above were standing on the weakened side. Taking out even more of them would increase the odds of it working if the half orcs above were more spread out.
Dario casually asks about their pay right before putting a bullet into the brain of the one at the southern end of the big platform. He died instantly, falling to the ground near Joran.
Lisi plays off Dario's opening kill to try and worry these folks into surrendering.
The female on the center platform growls, shaken, but infuriated. "You killed my BROTHER!" She takes careful aim at Dario, even as he uses a tree for cover.
She fires two shots from her bow at the one who killed her brother..
Both shots miss widely with her shaking in rage and grief, and Dario, behind his tree, sees them plant into the ground a good 5 feet away from him.
The two on the southern platform crouch down and attempt to fire upon Joran
As Joran considers the beams above him, a swarm of arrows fly at him. Two of them slice open lines of red as they graze him, one sinking into leg a couple of inches.
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"Sulee, stay here. There are some people who need to die."
Caiten moves out into the open next to Oren. He takes a shot at the mercenary on the north-west corner.
Caiten glances quickly at Oren. "Hopefully with both of us out here they will split their fire between us." He then brings up his Shield spell and watches for incoming fire.
"That was brother?" Dario calls out from around the tree, trying to line up a shot but dodging back around it as another arrow comes sailing through. "Guessing that's all your siblings? Leaves you to carry the family name. Want to throw that bow down before we end your line?" Dario continues to shout out. The longer she was focused on him, the less chance that she and the others may go after his comrades that needed to scale the tree to get in it. The arrows land a distance away from him as he gives a grim smile towards Lisi and a nod. The half-elf had a certain something in him.
"I'd listen to him if I were ya'll. Don't want to end up like her brother right?"
Yasamina makes a nasty face as Dario's shot drops one of the bandits instantly. She continues to stay in the trees, and attempts to sneak closer towards the back lines while remaining as silent as possible.
Cev calls upon Yuelral's blessing to bring his weapon back to him, and throws his dagger at the closest enemy.