I am back, sorry for the absence!
I needed a total break from all social media for a bit.
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Gorum, oboroni menja Dylan whipser in an odd tounger as a shield of force goess off around him
Dylan shields himself (casting shield) and says me anvil, you hammer to his phantom. He and his phantom stay roughly at Judahs position, ready to pounce (they wish they had pounce, but they dont).
Hmmm, when I am utilizing my partner its like... me but if I was a girl? With some really debatable fashion choices, but it doesnt feel that odd. Dylan remarks
And now Miss Cheeki Breeki, I mean Scout, goes and flies off He begins concentrating on maintaining the etheric tether
Give me a moment Dylan focuses Remember, no more then 100 feet away from me He says to his phantom as she emerges from him
Dylan is entirely ready to move on, ideally after gaining some type of "search order" from whatever the local government is.
I always assume nobles to either be magic users, or have magic users in their payroll, or they would be hard pressed to maintain their position against people with access to magic. Dylan pauses Our client refered to the count as his father, thus the count is likely his creator. I dont quite know what the "beast" actually is, but its not something someone could create without serious prowress in either the divine or the arcane arts. And anyone with such serious prowress will have guards and traps in place, if the guards are sapient, they may react differently to a "legal search" then to "looters".
So, assuming hostilities, opfor is constructs, undead, maybe some outsiders, presumably of the lawful kind as only idiots would use demons or daemons to guard things? Dylan pauses Lorant, you think you can get us a writ of being allowed to investigate the castle from the judge? Or some official identification as deputees or something? If we run into like, Axis based protection things its really usefull to have such things, if we dont they may just attack or expell us, and we would have to fight them, and thus piss of Axis, and Axis always pays its debts. If I had a mercenary castle I would absolutely have guard on it with orders to kill or capture intruders on sight.
Dylan gets 7 more hp (5 from taking half, 2 from con) , gains improved uncanny dodge and learns the bloodrager spell Cheetah sprint. The Dylan train is now theoretically available.
I mean, I for one was looking forward to trial by combat on the beasts behalf Dylan says with a smirk
These guys want to take on the beast when it is in a defensible position, supported perhaps by its unknown master and whatever resources that master has? He suddenly becomes very serious that would be one way of improving the average intelligence of the townsfolk that remains. If I may suggest something, spread rumors that you are hiring professional mercenaries, with a wink wink nudge nudge that, if something happens, these mercenaries will take care of things. Gives your average townswoman the abilitiy to say "let f*&&ing people who get paid for violence" deal with that, and thus have better odds in her husband not signing up for a big peseant mob. Unlikely to stop the mob, but may delay it.
Look, I am not actually getting paid to beat you, I mean, I really doubt that most of you have anything to do with the crimes, and I only get paid for beat up criminals, the magistrate was very very firm on that when she hired me. You also sure as hell arent getting paid enough to fight someone like me. Dylan addresses the crowd openly Like, these ringleaders are paying you arent they? Because if they dont they should, fighting me is extremely risky. I wouldnt fight myself for anything under 500 gold, and I would demand at least half of that in advance, and the other half in an escrow account. He says pointing at the ringleaders. And they dont really look as if they have that money, to be totally honest He continues, giving many in the mob a way to gracefully retreat without injury to their ego. They can totally tell themselfs, and their friends, that they could take on Dylan, but they opted not to because they arent getting paid enough for this! Yes Yes clearly thats whats happening!
You know? Better then Pharasma, whose court and judgement you gainsay? Not a thing I would recommend, for the Lady of Graves protects this city, and she is mighty, subtle, and easy to... unamuse. Dylan perks up and touches one of his scars as he says unamuse Although ammends can be made with her, for vengefull she is not. In a louder voice Strictly speaking, the only one who would know who is guilty is the one who did the deed, as such your claim good Sir is quite... interesting. May I perhaps have your name? He looks one of the ringleaders straight in the eye, smiling faintly. I would alas suggest that you do not use the word "we" here, for now at least, only you have self incriminated yourself.
if violence erupts: Dylan bloodrages for one turn and uses his Sphinx Roar ability, which is a DC 14 will save for each individual mob member or be frightenend for rounds
Dylan strides towards the guards Do you require assistance officers? He gives a very cold glare at the crowd, and tries to spot any ringleaders or instigators.
Only people who a) pay me good money b) have saved my live once more then I saved theirs and c) ideally are female and highly attractive get to kick me in the balls. And this is an "AND" not an "OR". Dylan gives Judah a pretty toothy smile.
I am not going to say that in court, but I am fairly certain that I would overcome 6 guardsmen and 4 university guards, the most likely outcome is 2 heavily injured or dead, and the rest running away. And I am not certain at all that I could take the beast on in a fight. Like, I would look stronger at first, but my guess is that, after suffering some real damage from my claws, the beast would go into fight or flight mode, and then I would be dancing on the edge of Mhars prison. Mhars prison:
A volcano, curious turn of phrase though
The beast seemed more physically strong then me, and this is saying something, how many casulties where sustained from taking him into custody? Dylan asks I would have kicked it in different though, you identify where the connecting parts with the frame are, and break these. Less splinters that could fly into your eye, and a bit quieter, and much quicker. He lift a large part of door and seemingly tries to guess the beasts strength from the position of the part, the weight of it, and the distance to the doors frame, more going by gut and experience in violence. He uses a burst of insight to get a +4 to that.
The Professor? Lorrimor? He kind of helped me in figuring what the heck I, I mean, we, actually am/are. Owe him a favor. Thanks to him I also know what my bloodline source is, and that I should stay away from that particular one if I can, which is also really nice to know. Dylan says before taking a breather.
To the university then Dylan opines No rest for the not actually wicked, right? Although a bit of rest would be useful.
Dylan fiddles with his amulet of mighty fists, which probably depicts a house sigil? A raised fist with a crown of thorns. Once is happenstance, twice is suspicious, thrice is enemy action. I wonder if the thing which got our client arrested in the first place, supposedly a break in, has a bit of an odd story behind it as well. He pauses We should be on our guard. What if the beast is a target? Perhaps someone wants whatever animates the beast for his own dark designs? He begins pacing again Hmm, lets think like a probably necromancer a++@~+!...
Hmm, on the other hand, Cousin Cyndraed is charismatic, and good with manipulating people, necromancers tend to be rather subpar in their people skills department. Maybe I am jumping at shadows, but a measure of paranoia is a survival trait.
The more interesting question is who is actually doing this shit.
The big man is pacing as he adresses the barrister. Effing sleeping venom, I need to up my resistance to that. He grumbles
I dont think the beast could have fought the wraith, unless it has a way to make its fists be magic. I didnt see a amulet of mighty fists, which I thankfully have and which allowed me to kill the wraith, in the list of what it had when it was taken prisoner, so if the beast had been there, likely both Elsa and the beast would have died... Dylan tries to add to the diplomacy by spreading some actually true rumors.
Hmm, does a wraiths victim know who killed the wraith? If yes it could be useful in swaying the crowd, because by Gorrums giant brass balls I killed that thing. Dylan mumbles
Honestly, Gorrumite courts are more fun because someone does get his shit kicked in at some point. Dylan remarks But well, we could have started with that?
Their community may be at further risk, while I killed the wraith, a new one may settle in if the conditions that caused the first one to raise persist. It is best to beseech specialists of the Lady of Graves in such manners, but it is of great importance that should agents know the whole truth. Dylan opines from the stairs, seeking to make others more receptive to the idea of telling the truth. Probably in a sufficient polite and Pharasma affirming way to not draw censure from the judge.
Dylan touches his amulet, and mutters thrice cursed wraith, good thing I killed it, the lady of graves and the lord in iron be praised.
Dylan talks quietly to himself, A ghost would kill very differently from the beast, if the beast killed a girl, her body would be shattered or smashed, if a ghost killed her, the body would be pale but mostly intact.
but certainly wishes to be overheard
Condolences! Take all the time you need!
As far as I am concerned, Social status is only worth as long as one is willing to fight to defend it.
I guess in social terms, one would conduct such defenses in a social way, although I personally view such things as threat display, not too different from dynamics in lets say a pack of large predatory cats.
I assume we get our resources back?
I think I can act as deterrence, and there is a judge, who is very much not part of the mob. Mobs can also be... not neccessarily stopped but guided against other targets.
Perhaps I may train the so called beast later, if he wishes to learn how to fight in a controlled way. Would you like that? Also, what is your name? I dislike referring to you as "beast". If you do not have a name, have you thought of one? If not, do you wish to be named? He addresses the beast. crowd control Dylan style: At 4th level, the bloodrager learns the secrets of the sphinx’s roar. He can roar as a standard action a number of times per day equal to 3 + his Charisma modifier. Enemies within 60 feet of the bloodrager that can hear the roar must succeed at a Will save (DC = 10 + half the bloodrager’s character level + his Charisma modifier) or become frightened for 1d6 rounds. At 10th level, the bloodrager can instead cause the targets to be panicked or stunned (bloodrager’s choice) and deafened for the duration; at 16th level, the bloodrager can instead cause the targets to be paralyzed for 1 round. Whether or not the save is successful, a creature cannot be the target of the bloodrager’s roar again for 24 hours. DC would be 14, which isnt super high, but it does a number for a mob.
Dylan, with surprising gentleness puts one of his hans on the beasts shoulder. I think I killed what killed her, if that helps you.
what can you tell about your friend? So that her memory may live on.
Poor sod, a threatening physique, without an ounce of aggression to back it up. Maybe I can train him in fighting when this is over, he needs to rebrand, and he needs a different posture.
oh, wasnt clear about it. Treat it as a rehearsal then :).
Dylan watches the proceeding with some interest, having taken care to make himself presentable.
when Dylan is called into the witness stand about the presence of wraiths: When called into the witness stand to stand witness to the wraiths bested, he begins an Oration.
Aye, it is true there were wraiths. I battled the dire wraith leading them, its deadly touch and vile magiks against my steel and wroth and courage. He pauses, the continues
May the Lady of Graves smite me for foolishness, and may the Lord in Iron crush me for perfidy if a single word of what I just said was a knowing lie.
Some may deem me a wildman, unfit to bear witness in court, or may question my sincerity on more reasonable grounds as I am not exactly a morally upstanding citizen of great repute and sterling reputation.
Something vile occured there, and forces far more sinister then this so called "beast of Lepidstadt" where at hand. He ends his oration
I had a loved one just die in my arms, posting will be reduced in terms of pace.
Risky, first, the judge is a Pharasmin? Pretty sure they can tell ghosts from outsiders which is what she is. She does get healed by positive energy. While she has some social skills, she isnt great at lying.
From what I noted, that dread wraith was... powerful. It had several sub wraiths under it. It is insane to assume that this beast, who at worst is a dumb bruiser, can plausibly create wraiths. Dylan pauses I can do an honorable gorrumite Barbarian thing and retell the battle with the dread wraith in detail, perhaps glossing over my actual fighting style. That barbarians suck at lying should be widely known and improve our credibility. There is litte in the way of remains though, and while I know a spell called speak with dead exits... He pauses again
Did you investigation of the poety book yield anything?
Huh, its a poetry book I think? Lets see On midnights hour the hero woke
I wonder if that features any attractive winged outsiders or illustrations... Apparently not. Anyone want that?
Oh shit.... condolescenes!
Phantom statblock:
Question in between, levelup?
I guess a small wraith would have been here, had we not defeated the large one. Dylan says as he begins to search for notes, journals or other such things.
Dylan could take Boon companion (Phanom Ally actually, but its basically the same) as his next level, and bring the Phantom up to level 5. If not he grabs arcane strike to do moar damage. @GM would you be ok long term with taking phantom ally multiple times? It probably wont come up for years, but it would kind of be akin to VMC, as keeping the phantom up would cost half my feats, and also many slot items (phantom and Dylan would share slots, so if the phantom has a shoulder slot, Dylan cant use a shoulder slot item and vice versa), so I dont think it would be strong.
Aff Dylan nods, apparently shortening affirmative to something shorter. Poke your head through, both doors and the ceiling, then report back. Do not fight. He instructs his phantom.
Dylan kicks the door in.
Lets see if something invisible tries to mess with me
Takes a minute to summon her, but sure Dylan begins the summoning of his phantom.
Nailed shut from the outside? Wraiths cant use nails right? Seeming danger inside, trees probably less risky. Dylan remarks
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