Sable flashes a smile to Talindra, but for the moment she stays quiet. She appreciates the effort that the Champion has shown and fears that if she were to speak, she'd undermine it. So, for now, the bard keeps her mouth closed, and also keeps an eye out while the others get a chance to eat.
Maybe Talindra opening up to him will help her a little on top of this all, not just earn his trust, but be healing in a way? For both? Lenrelle hopes and even prays, but knows things are not always so easy.
Billi realized he was being too forward. He was not too understanding when he fought his inner demons and let the man have his space.
He decided to see how his cat was doing in the shadows.
The cat had followed behind absent-mindedly licking a paw and grooming herself.
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Talindra borrows a chair from a nearby empty table, as with Grau they were suddenly short one, and re-joins the group, returning Sable's smile before sitting in the borrowed chair. She partly slumps into it, grateful to be able to sit with new friends and share a meal, partly still jumpy. Following Grau's advice she does request another drink, though something not too strong.
Several times she opens her mouth to speak, having trouble finding the words. She finds her vision clouding as her eyes water--though not at all from the spicy stew. Finishing her drink, she tries again. "I met a girl. We were building a life together, you know, like young folks do. We were going to be married. Then she, Elora, my love, the very breath of the song in my heart, was called here to help with the temple. Every day I wish I could have gone with her, to keep her safe. But I had to stay back home, all the way in Absalom. Then I received that blasted let..." Her words fail, her voice breaks, and she collapses into her arms on the table, making a small mess of stew and drink as her sobs fill the room.
Grau listens, tears streaming down his own cheeks as he does so. "Your lady friend was taken from you by the Lady of Graves before her time? That's tragic indeed. I commend you for the telling, and wish you an ease to your heart, that will likely never come."
He sighs loudly and drinks from his water mug, grimacing. "My own story is less tragic but more foolish. I was a fool and lost my lady love to another, and now she will not speak or see me. But, like you, she was my whole world. Now she serves the Queen, and I try to carry on as best I can without her."
Sable leans back in her chair a little. "What's her name? Maybe we can check on her to make sure she's ok with all the trouble. It might help you to find out if she is safe, and she has no reason to not see us."
Lenrelle nods, remembering the item of interest to the queen that might get them in
Grau looks at Sable for a long moment considering. Then speaks with the hint of a smile crossing his unkempt features for the first time. "Her name is Sabina. Sabina Merrin. She has long dark hair and pale white skin, but with a scar on her check here." He indicates a place below the left eye, crossing across to near the left ear. "I'd rather not talk about how that got there..." He looks glum again.
"I heard she is Queen Ileosa's bodyguard and handmaiden. I don't know if you can get inside the Castle to see her, but if so, please pass along my love. My undying love...Talindra knows what I mean."
The meal is almost done, and while Grau is somewhat sobered up, it still might be good to escort him to the Guard's fortress at Citadel Volshyenek along the city's eastern edge.
"Is Sabina an artist by any chance? Does she paint?" Sable asks. She doesn't think it's very likely that his ex is the girl they are looking for, but she doesn't want to discount the possibility.
Grau looks at your curiously and shrugs. "Sabina is not a painter, but she is an artist, I would say. Not in the sense you mean, I gather, but she is one of the most skilled persons with a blade I have ever seen. When we were together at the Orsini Academy, she got the better of me, more often than not. But is she a painter, no, not while knew her at least. Why do you ask?"
Lenrelle knits her brow, and is sure she's missing something.
"I was curious." Sable replies, and leaves it at that.
'She's probably not our girl. We're still stuck backstage." the bard thinks to herself.
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Recovering from her emotional breakdown, Talindra wipes her eyes, looks up at Grau. "You say your tale is less tragic, but we wouldn't be crying into our drinks if they were not. My goddess teaches not to compare sorrows as we can never know what's in another's heart." Hearing about Sabina's skill with the blade, her head tilts in a slightly surprised acknowledgement--she can certainly appreciate martial skill. A small smile of recognition on the comment of undying love. She rests her hand on Grau's for a moment. "We'll find her if we can."
Recomposing herself with some food and drink, to the others, she poses a question of what to do next. "Probably best to get everyone home for the night, yeah?"
Grau is still a bit muddled, and doesn't pursue any further questions to Sable's curiosity. He finishes the last of his meal, stretches and stands, still quite unsteadily. "I am sure your goddess is correct, friend. Now, I am quite weary, and the Guard still has much to do. I must depart for the barracks, and get cleaned up for duty. Thank you for finding Sabina, if you can."
The rest of you finish up and make ready to leave with Grau for the Citadel. It is dark now, and the city streets are mostly quiet in this part of town. You can see a fire burning northwards towards Old Korvosa. You can still see squadrons of Sable Marines flying over the city in two's and three's.
Most homes are dark, and few citizens walk the streets
Billi always wanted to see the citadel up close.
He inspects it comparing it to dwarven fortifications.
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Talindra offers to help keep Grau stable as they walk. She's probably about the right height and has the physical strength to hold a man up. She doesn't press the matter, though, but simply makes the offer as he seems to be struggling. Usually leading the way, this time she takes things slowly, her goal more to get Grau home. Hopefully nothing awful happens along the way...
There doesn't seem to be much fighting, at least so far, on the streets, and for that Sable is glad. Maybe groups they have not run into today have been out here to calm things down. She can hope at least.
She does stay alert, however, ready for trouble should any pop-up.
Lenrelle casts a light spell on the hilt of her scimitar as they walk, the best to scatter shadows and prevent unpleasant... surprises from sneaking on them.
A part of her hopes it also symbolically helps folks find a bit of confidence
Whether its the guardsman with you, the light from Lenrelle's spell, or just hte confidence the group walks with, no one accosts you as you move towards Citadel Volshyenek.
The portcullis of the Korvosan Guards' headquarters is closed and two armed guards stand just inside, looking warily at any who approach. When they challenge you, Grau answers indicating you are friends. They open the sally port door and make ready to admit the Watch Sergeant, who is mostly sober now.
"Thanks you friends for your kindness and support. Wish you the best of luck in your trials here in Korvosa. And if you ever need my assistance, I owe you a great favor. Remember if you see Sabina, give her my love, eh?"
With that he enters the fortress, and the door is fastened safely shut behind him.
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Talindra nods to Grau, relieved that the man is back home safely. As the door shuts, she appraises the group and tries to hide a yawn with a hand over her mouth.
"I don't know about you, but I could use some rest, too. Rarely have I felt so spent. Could be the stew in my belly talking, of course, but either way I'd like some rest. What's everyone's thoughts on some sleep?" There's a pleading look in her eyes. She notes the chicory coffee isn't giving her any energy like the stuff she's used to does, and she yawns a second time, again hiding it behind her hand.
"I'm sure you guys can find an inn. Me, I'm paying rent, and so I'm going home. But, any of you who want to come along can stay the night. It'll be crowded, but I think it would be best to stay together, and it would be cheaper." Sable says, offering her home, perhaps in a strange way, as a base for at least the night.
Of course, she lives in a very different part of Korvosa than Perivolt does, and she leads the group there, doing her best to skirt any dangers. Once in her neighborhood, she pauses every so often, checking in at a local merchant to make sure they're ok, or hugging some of the streetwalkers, and trading some gossip. Sable's new hairstyle is remarked on more than once.
When the group reaches her building, she leads inside, to a door on the first floor. "It's a mess. I don't make enough to hire a maid." she quips as she unlocks the door, holds it open, and ushers the group in.
Sable gestures to the left. "The kitchen and bathroom are that way.". Both rooms are small, with the sole table and pair of chairs in the apartment crowded into the kitchen. "The door to the right is my room." Sable adds.
She also wasn't lying when she said it was a mess. Clothes tossed in various places, clearly things she just pulled off after a show and hasn't gathered up yet. Shoes and boots all over the place. But, what might draw the eyes most is how she's changed the living room.
There's no couch. No living room table, no chairs, nothing you'd expect. Rather, she has built - or had a built - a small stage that covers at least half the room. It's well-sanded, and varnished, so that it's perfectly smooth, and in the center is a single metal pole that is secured to both the stage and the ceiling above. Clearly, she practices her routines at home.
"Make yourselves at home." Sable calls out. She makes her way to her room, pushing the door open, and is soon back with spare blankets and pillows. She then leaves the door open, sitting at a desk with a large mirror, and grabbing some scissors to use the mirror to finish her haircut.
She's also easily able to hear and conversation, and add to it, should people want to talk.
As the group makes their way from the strong citadel of the Korvosan Guard to the more ramshackle neighborhoods of Old Korvosa where Sable makes her humble abode, they notice the streets are increasingly more restless as the lower income neighborhoods are entered. Surly looks and ominous mutterings are heard from those lining the poor streets as you wander past. You remain on guard for an attack when something unexpected happens.
A rumble issues from below the streets where sewer drains line the center of a fairly busy road. Commoners and passers-by look worriedly at the ground and then move on with their evening, when suddenly a the city street cracks apart, fissures running along the brickwork roadway. The fractured street then bursts crazily upward. casting chunks of rocks into the air and raining brick on the immediate area. The stench of sewer filth and rotten garbage belches forth heralding the appearance of a horrifying creature that pokes out from the crater in the road.
The monstrosity that emerges has three massive legs, a gaping maw filled with rows of sharp teeth and a long thick purple tongue, a pair of long barbed tentacles, and another tentacle more like an eye-stalk filled with a number of leering baleful eyes. The creature lunges at the shocked people on the street, snatching one up and biting the poor soul cleanly in two before anyone can respond. A shrieking woman is grasped next and many others are in mortal danger.
"HUNGRY!" the beast cries out in pidgin Common.
Billi and Shadowe tried to stay alert for danger. Billi had trained to react faster to danger, ready for anything.
1d20+2
Otyugh Uprising - Round 1
29 Billi/Shadow
20 Lenrelle
18 Otyugh
15 Talindra
14 Sable
Billi advanced and raised his shield as he motioned for Shadowe to break right and she hugged the buildings.
A woman in danger, others as well, Lenrelle charges forward and draws her sling!
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Otyugh Uprising - Round 1 - continued
Billi commands Shadow to move along the buildings, hoping to keep on the fringes of sight. The doughty dwarf lifts up his shield and advances himself, albeit slowly.
Lenrelle moves forward, taking out her sling and readying it for missile combat on the way.
The otyugh stuffs a screaming bystander into its terribly foul mouth, shouts "GOOD!" and moves slightly towards the party, looking for others to munch on.
As she sees the creature, Sable's first thought is to run for the alley to the right. It is a natural reaction, but she doesn't do it. She sees Billi move up cautiously, and Lenrelle runs forward more, at least in Sable's mind, recklessly. "Lenrelle! Stay behind Billi and Talindra!".
But, then her voice changes a little, into a chant-like song, her arm goes forward, and three darts of brightly colored force go flying, unerringly, into the creature.
"Here's more for you!" she yells out.
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Talindra watches in abject terror as the creature before her eats people the way she just ate her stew, and knows it needs to be stopped. It seems to have some ability to speak but even if she wanted to, she's not going to be able to convince it to stop from where she is right now. So she dashes up to it and places it within range of her glaive.
Otyugh Uprising - Round 1 - concluded
As Talindra rushes through the street to get at the monstrosity from the sewers, she is accosted by the foul smell of the thing. It's a noxious mixture of offal, trash, halitosis, and body odor and it is rank and overpowering.
As the champion rushes in, Sable unleashes a new spell that sends a trio of force bolts blasting across the intervening space. All three missiles unerringly strike the otyugh, which whirls to face the oncoming party yelling in its deep but childlike voice, "THAT HURT!"
End of Round 1
Otyugh Uprising - Round 2
29 Billi/Shadow
20 Lenrelle
18 Otyugh (13hp dmg)
15 Talindra
14 Sable
Lenrelle was revolted, and moved forward again. She wanted this thing destroyed, but she was no fool. She wasn't meant for close fighting against a thing like THIS.
So rather than close further, she prayed softly, "Sarenrae, guide my aim"
Then she swung her sling and cut loose.
Billi and Shadowe both advance, Billi can't keep his shield raised as he closes. His stubby legs pumped as fast he could go.
Otyugh Uprising - Round 2 - continued
Lenrelle prayed for guidance on the aim from her sling stone, and the stone flies true enough, but it simply caroms off the hard outer skin of the horrid thing from below which doesn't even seem to feel it.
Still far from the battle, Billi moves forward as fast as his heavy armor allows, and urges his pet even closer.
The great beast is inflamed by the force missiles striking at it and sees Talindra moving toward itself, threateningly. It sweeps a long grasping tentacle at the champion. That first attack strikes the cobblestones next to Talindra, splintering a few. "BLAST IT!" cries the great smelly beast, swinging around with its other appendage. This time the heavy tentacle smashes into Talindra, beating her a bit, and grabbing her around her waist in a tight embrace. The tentacle then begins squeezing her, painfully. "GOTCHA" cries the otyugh loudly.
The cat tried to keep the stench away.
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Dodging the first tentacle, the second she's not so lucky and Talindra finds herself in quite a difficult position. A string of elven obscenities that would make the priestess she saw earlier today blush escapes her mouth as she tries to break free.
Almost... not quite there! What is it with things trying to eat me the past two days‽ Get it together, Tali!
Still she struggles in vain, unable to break free and hoping one of her companions has a trick she doesn't know yet.
With a creature like this, Sable would prefer to stay as far away as possible and bring it down from afar. But, that's not an option now that it has Talindra in its tentacles.
So, she races forward, singing the kind of song that Talindra wanted her to sing in the tavern, one full of cheer and hope. It doesn't match her feelings, but she's usually able to mask what she feels when performing and project the needs of the dance, play, or song.
"Talindra!" Lenrelle cries out in horror, seeing her friend entrapped!