Such a pity.
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"Be careful, Mr. Stalkid, Mr. Jorn, it's... big..." Barbie's voice is clearly quivering.
When Barbie learns of the current predicament, she agrees with Liath wholeheartedly.
Barbie looks quite relieved at this new plan. She gets close to Jusker and puts her hand lightly on his arm: "You're a brave man, Mr. Jusker. Thank you!"
By the way... Jim Kirk is definitely Chaotic Good! Spock, hummm... Lawful Neutral?
Barbie shakes her head and looks at Liath, hoping that she will see things differently from Tiasar.
Barbie looks perplexed: "I'm not comfortable with the idea of using an innocent human being as a bait. And what if they get hurt? Aren't we supposed to protect good people? And yet here we are, considering the idea of putting someone in danger on purpose, or at least not protecting them from a possible kidnapping!" Barbie's tone becomes more convinced with every word.
"But I thought your bird was supposed to follow. I don't think they could be prepared to that. How could they? It's just a bird after all..."
"Why do we need baits? Can't we just follow whoever or whatever delivers their daily assignments?"
Barbie whispers in Tiasar's ear "Ask him where Hugo Schmidt is!" then she steps outside as per Tiasar's request. She doesn't go too far though, and stays where she can hear what's going on inside the cell.
Barbie looks astonished when she hears Liath's plan. "Fire? Rain? Milady, I'm afraid you got the wrong impression" she whispers franticly, but it's too late! Liath seems unstoppable, so Barbie quickly searches for anything that might help in this situation. When Liath asks for fire, four torches-like objects appear floating around the bandit, approaching him whenever he utters any spiteful comment. At the mention of ice, Barbie shakes her head and whispers in a (hopefully) menacing tone "I'll rather burn him in acid instead. Much more painful..." and a bolt of acid springs from her fingers, hitting his square but not him... yet.
"...Just a warning this time..."
Barbie moves closer to Liath and whispers so that the others cannot hear. "Milady, I'm afraid I wouldn't be very convincing on my own, but perhaps my magic could impress one of them enough to help us. I would like to stand by your side and perform some magic trick while you interrogate them, if you agree. However, I would be really grateful if you could also ask them something about my brother Hugo. I'm afraid he's been taken by some bandits, and those might know something about his whereabouts!"
"Magic, sir? Well, no... I thought someone could talk to them, convince them it's in their best interest to cooperate. I suppose the punishment for their crimes is quite severe."
Barbie looks quite perplexed when she answer Stalkid's and Jusker's suggestion of joining the bandits. "I doubt I could pass for a bandit, gentlemen, and perhaps I'm not the only one that would be hardly believable in such a role". She shoots a quick glance at Liath and Tiasar. "Mr. Tiasar's suggestion seems reasonable and appropriate. Let's interrogate the prisoners, perhaps they might be inclined to reveal something useful in exchange for a mitigated sentence."
Barbie nods slowly and resolutely at Liath's words, still frowning, her gaze unfocused, lost into something nobody else can see.
And that's how to rp a wizard with no diplomacy whatsoever...
He used to tease me about my freckles. He used to hug me and ruffle my hair every night when he came home from work. He used to call me *little doll*, just like dad had done. And we used to laugh together, and life was nice and warm and cosy.
"That's NONSENSE!" Barbie's desperate scream echoes through the empty hall. He must have been taken. Yes, that's it. He's been taken, perhaps by the very bandits we've been asked to root out. They will know something about him, that's it. They might still be holding him captive! I can find him, free him! Barbie turns around and goes back to the dining room. She walks straight before the Lord of Bastion and, with a resolution in her voice nobody has ever witnessed before, speaks just four, clear words: "When do we leave?"
Well, that was definitely a "oh, sh!T!" moment...
Barbie rushes after the scribe "Please, sir, please! You said not to get too hopeful, that you had much work to do, and I'm desperate to find my brother, surely you understand! Please, I didn't mean to offend you! What have you found? Where is he?"
Suddenly, Barbie seems to wake up from a dream. How could I be so stupid? It's right before my very eyes! "My Lord, I'll do it, I'll help you and Bastion for nothing but food and shelter if there's nothing else. But there is one condition, one I'm sure Your Grace will be patient enough to take under consideration: I've come here to Bastion to find my brother, who was sent here six months ago as a draftee, but it seems the scribe is too busy to check his papers. I'm sure that one word from you will make all of his engagements vanish into thin air! If you would gracefully grant me this favor, help me find my brother, I'll accept your offer." Barbie's love for her brother gives her strength and courage, and for once her voice is loud and clear, and she looks at the Lord of Bastion right in the eyes.
Barbie has understood one thing out of the Lord's speech: *no money here*. She looks at Tiasar's and Liath's eager faces and can't help but think Don't these people have to work for a living?
Barbie, pale and thin in her scholar outfit, pecks at her food absent-mindedly. She has spent what was left of the day before dinner roaming the streets of Bastion looking for a job, to no avail aside from a few, unconvincing "come back in a few days, we'll see what we can do". It looks like this dinner is indeed her only concrete hope of getting a job (although not one she would have considered under normal circumstances), so she's quite anxious to hear what the Lord has to say. Every now and then though, her gaze shifts towards the main door, hoping to see the scribe's thin frame, with good news about Hugo.
"I bet you would be hasty too if you had no income, no place to go and exactly 1,5 gp in your pocket... sister!" But of course Barbie's too shy to say it out loud, so she just patiently awaits father Cadd's answer.
"That is all I know and the only who could afford to pay someone for such a service would be the Lord of Bastion. We might be able to scrounge up a potion or two but that would be all. And if we are done I should return to my duties. It is just me and Lucas here and there is a lot to do." If there are no more questions, Lucas shows you out. "On that subject sir, if I may... Perhaps your church would be willing to pay for a different kind of service, such as housekeeping and cooking? Or perhaps you know some house here in Bastion that would require such service? I'm young, but I'm experienced and willing to do my very best." Barbie is trying to display her best, most convincing smile despite her many worries:
Barbie's expression is clearly one of "Wait, what?", but she doesn't want to ruin her chance of getting a job, so she decides to stay quiet for the moment and see where this is all going.
A breathless Barbie comes rushing to the temple's door. "Good morning, sir, I'm looking for lady Liath Gwenilian, she was supposed to meet your superior this morning, a father... Cadd, if memory serves me well? I should have come with her but I had business at the castle that took me forever to settle... I would be very grateful if you could kindly take me to her. Please?"
@GM: does Barbie manage to catch up with Liath and the others at the temple?
More delay! Oh gods... But wait, what did he say? The Lord would like to speak with ME? Why in the heavens would he want that? "So... I'll see you tonight at dinner, I guess? Your help will be much appreciated, good sir. Thank you." Barbie reluctantly leaves the scribe's office and finds her way back to the tavern to meet Liath.
The summon all but forgotten, Barbie suddenly snaps: "Good morning sir. Wizards may be late, as you say, but sisters who are worried sick for their brothers don't have that luxury. I'm looking for my brother, his name is Hugo Schmidt and he was sent here about six months ago... as a draftee. I've come to Bastion to find him and now nobody seems to know ANYTHING about him! Perhaps the papers in your office might hold some clue to WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM and WHERE HE IS NOW???" Barbie's cheeks are glowing red from the tirade. Afraid her vehemence may hinder her cause, she lowers her gaze and adds, in a much lower tone: "Please, sir. He's everything I've got left in this world."
Barbie wakes up at first light. She completes her morning routine, which now includes her magic since it gives her a sense of security, and immediately after breakfast she goes to the castle to talk to the scribe, hoping to find out what really happened to Hugo.
me2 ;-)
As Barbie comes over to where Liath is talking with the Bartender and tenders her question of employment, Liath fields it. "I'll be going to the temple soon to discuss plans for the future. I'm not sure what they've been spending their silver on, but if you're a person of some energy and ability, I'll doubt not there'll be a place for you. Care to come with me?" "Yes Milady, thank you. I'll have to go to the castle first thing in the morning to see the scribe of the captain of the guard and ask him about my brother, then I will gladly come with you to the temple and ask for a job there."
Seeing as nobody seems to answer her inquiry, Barbie asks the same thing to the bartender.
Barbie takes a deep breath and with her usual shy tone of voice addresses the group at the table:
"Course lass," the bartender says. "Place by the fire is a silver or we can give you a cot for 3." "A cot will do nicely sir, thank you." Barbie leans her chin on her hands, overlapping on the table, and listens quietly to the chatters among the others.
After a while, the group sees a tired and rather sad looking Barbie entering the tavern. "Excuse me, good sir" she addresses the owner "Would it be possible to rent a... a place here for the night?" After a short, almost embarassed pause: "I would not need a room, even a bed in a common area would do." She takes a sit close to Liath, then asks for a simple meal.
Crestfallen, and worried about her brother, Barbie goes back to the tavern to meet the others and make arrangements for a place to stay tonight.
Meanwhile, Barbie is asking around, trying to find the local office where the Guard keeps papers on transfers and reassignments.
"Thank you for your offer, good sir, but I need to find my brother first. Maybe we can meet you all later? I would very much like to introduce you to my brother." Barbie is anxious to be with Hugo again. The unsettling events of the journey, from the ambush to the appalling treatment of the prisoners (Barbie blushed at Tiasar's question and could only shake her head in silent disapproval) have put her gentle spirit to the test, and all she needs right now are a familiar face and a warm hug, and to feel safe again. She asks some of the guards where she can find Hugo Schmidt.
Barbie relaxes a bit under the warpriestess' strong arm, wipes the tears from her cheeks and sips tentatively from the flask, turning a little smile and a grateful look at Liath. Then her eyes suddenly widen and she starts to cough vigorously as the spirit sets her unaccustomed throat on fire. "Tha - *cough* - thank you Milady, *cough cough* , that's enough I think *COUGH* , Gods that's strong!"
When the rush of adrenaline subsides, Barbie finds herself shaking like a leaf. Around her, people seem all too busy to notice: she's unharmed after all, isn't she, and there are others to take care of! So she climbs up on the closest wagon and hides inside, holding her knees to her chest, rocking back and forth, sobbing in silence.
Barbie has not forgotten the fight that's going on in the back. "Is NOBODY going to help those men?" she thinks, seeing the others engage the closest enemies. "What if someone dies? What happens to their families... to their kids?". The thought strikes too close to home for Barbie to ignore it. Her little frightened heart fluttering wildly, she finds herself sprinting down the road towards the rear of the convoy.
Is G13 disabled or is he still standing?
The guard looks at you confused. "I thought ye killed em." "No, they're just unconscious!"
Barbie looks at the guard standing next to her.
"Hey, what's happening back there? HELP! THERE ARE OTHERS IN THE BACK!!!"
@GM: B10 should be down, he's the one that failed that last save against Barbie's color spray so he couldn't shoot against her (although he would have missed anyway). He's also blinded and stunned for 1 round and then stunned for another round. Also: are we aware of what's going on in the back? Barbie's next action will depend on this.
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