Sure. Things are a bit crazy for me as well.
Search Posts
"Rather fight sharks than paper-rats, but if you reckon you can handle it, do it. Remember what we can't say, though, eh?" Erix agreed - reluctantly.
When baran's knocking started, so did Erix. Puffed up like he was doing a cat impression, but mouth agape, he stared agape at the bard.
Erix looked around at the shambles of a shop. "Well..." he said hesitantly "On the positive side, I reckon this was a lead. Poor bastard. Everyone be careful - there's enough crud on the floor we might be able to check for traps - er tracks. Sorry, slip of the tongue."
"I'm with Phin." Erix added "For at least a little while we have made some really, really talented enemies."
”We shall indeed be looking into the possibility of this being an inside job. If that turns out to be the case, you can expect me to tell you that much and nothing else. But even thought there is a compromised asset within my House, that does not mean I won’t find my daughter and the stolen statue both found, so you may focus on those tasks,” the Baron said, sounding well pleased at Erix’s offer of discretion. ”If our internal investigation results in useful leads, you can trust me to let you know.” Erix nodded politley. "Thank you sir." With that he realised he had somehow started to move from operational security to negotiation, and settled back to let those better suited take over.
Erix nodded "As you say sir. That'd be major surveillance, or an inside job sir." Erix stared off into the distance for a second "I'm thinking you'd prefer we assumed not an internal job, as you'll be checking that end yourself. Can I assume that in the highly unlikely and hypothetical case where that bore fruit you'd let us keep chasing a dead end rather than risk any exposure of your internal security's operational details?" he sighed "Hypothetically, of course. Can I then suggest that - while we have security here in this room - we work out a code phrase to call us off, and a code phrase to keep us going? And that if either phrase is used we just quietly follow the instruction and don't ever raise it again?"
I'm glad to hear that!
Thank you for touching base. Take care of yourself.
Erix coughed reluctantly. "Begging your pardon, sir. How predictable was it that you'd send your daughter? I think it's safe to assume anyone who can pull this off knows enough to know who she is and that she's a prize - but I'm wondering if the target of the Heist could've been her all along? Rough rule of thumb is most criminals are dumb" He recited "But anyone who can hit you, and do it here, is not most criminals."
After Baran asked his questions, she asked her own. "Who are the other members of your daughter's team? Who else knew of her intention to visit Calinto Mulhar?" She thought a moment, then added, "Is it usual to deploy your teams away from Sharn? It could be that this theft was specifically timed. How many teams do you have, and where are they currently?" 'Tracking down those prisoners, I'd think.' Erix kept his thought to himself, cand concentrated on letting Alua and Baran lead the conversation.
Sorry Kirsdrake, I was trying to be investigative, not pick holes. If you want to lay out the timeframe I'm happy to suspend disbelief.
Erix could sympathise with the man - he knew what it was like to have a headstrong daughter. 'So - we got the call to be here a few hours ago, and they would have discovered whatever it is missing this morning. This Zelina works fast - she might even still be alive.'
Erix - in newly shined boots - kept his back straight and his chin up. As he walked he did his best to concentrate on the words around him, rather than the appearance.
"Yes Ma'am" Erix snapped back.
Baran sidled up to Phin and Erix when there was a little space from Alua and he whispered, "We can't let our interim leader go to the haling houses alone ... and perhaps, from the description of Scrimshaw's attacks, we should buy her a Good Strong hat. And if you're protecting her Erix, we'd better be watching out for Rrregla. Perhaps a gorget for you?" Erix nodded "Good thought. If we commit to going after them, there's some equipment we should get to help. Decent helmets and some neck protectors are good starts. Frankly though..." he sighed "I don't think it's worth it. These guys are way to dangerous for the bounty they're offering." He paused again "I've got the wierdest feeling someone's putting together a team. For a heist maybe? I can't work out for what though." He shrugged "Maybe I've been listening to too many stories."
Erix cracked his neck as he unabashedly eavesdropped. Mentally he started ticking over those he'd seen escaping, then shrugged.
Off to the side Erix smiled broadly at Alua as she made her pitch.
"Good work." Erix nodded to Phin, with an appraising glance at the Ettin.
He turned to the guard who'd axed the Ettin. "Good work from you as well." he slowly rotated his shoulder and winced a little. "I was a soldier, and I've worked in the Watch. You need anything lifted or carried? I'm happy to help - so long as it doesn't require paperwork. You're on your own for that." When the captain arrived, Erix made sure not to be nearby. Avoiding volunteering had been both art and survival skill in the army.
Erix ground his teeth together as the pain in his shoulder mixed with the rush of the medicine. Between teeth clenched hard enough to risk splintering he groaned out an affirmation at the guard - but realised the escapee in front of him was keeping him from doing anything useful.
Erix swung again, and the Hobgoblin all but laughed as it easily avoided the blow. Erix grimaced, but took advantage of the sudden opening to kick up. The blow connected, and the hoboglin rose into the air a little as the kick struck home.
Sorry - mind didn't work, forgot that taking the medicine was a standard action. Would prefer to prioritise that, or have it be last round's standard action.
Erix cursed himself for not having downed his medicine earlier - and thanked his newfound paranoia that had him so heavily outfitted to walk down the street.
"Are you freaking kidding?" Erix shouts "What even is that thing?" "Alright. That thing looks like it has reach. Who's got ranged? Boss, how 'bout you heal up that guy that went window-diving and get him to ask us for help."
Erix cursed quickly as Alua moved "Stay in formation!" he shouted to the others, moving to follow Alua. At Lupi's words he hesitated for a second "You know him?" he asked, quietly. 'Great. I don't want to fight Lupi's friends, but I don't want to fight house Medani, either.'
Hmmm. I was starting to write something up when I realised the issue. Which side are we on?
We haven't interacted with House Medani, right? And the houses in general screw us over? And we've just had great relationships with a bunch of goblinkin and have Lupi in our party? From what we know of the city - is this a clear "Oh, house Medani are great guys and these goblin scum are terrorists?" or alternatively [b]"I see the Fascist Medani are oppressing their political prisoners again, but now some heroic goblin freedom fighters might get free!"
I'm seeing a formation like...
@Lupi: it might not be that expensive.... In most cases, wizards charge a fee for the privilege of copying spells from their spellbooks. This fee is usually equal to half the cost to write the spell into a spellbook (see Writing a New Spell into a Spellbook). Rare and unique spells might cost significantly more.
Erix blinked. "Uh? I mean, professionally? I'm an adventurer - with the guild. Not many jobs there at the moment though, and I've got a side job as a gate guard. Plus this, of course." he gestured to the agency "Uh. I've been studying Alchemy - I always swore I'd get accredited one day. If you mean as a hobby, then... sports?"
Despite his sullen, solemn mien, Erix's mind flickers like lightning in dark storm clouds. Each word about the train triggered sparks of memory, feeding off one another. Leading to the feeling of the spell passing over him, leaving him falling into weakness and unconciousness. This memory in turn led to Erix's will falling to that of the monsters under the ruin. Discovering he'd been striking out at Baran. Only the fact he'd not had his sword to hand resulting in the boy being unconscious and not dead. Realising the others would be better off without him. Which in turn led to the memory of the war the creature had used to manipulate him. The struggles against the gnolls. Being part of a remnant force, retreating as the gnolls came for them, and hoping those left behind were already dead. Which led to the memory of the patrol who questioned them at the border heading off into horror, insufficiently prepared. The guilt that he wasn't doing anything. The duty - the need - to keep everyone safe. Which led back to the train, and failing utterly....
I hear you @Kirsdrake.
Lupi! Lupi! Do us! Do us!
Erix nodded subtly at Lupi's cue. He then proceeded to make sure he kept position between the 'goblin' and the dwarf.
Erix nodded subtly at Lupi's cue. He then proceeded to make sure he stayed between the 'goblin' and the dwarf.
Sorry, more that I try not to have characters who have no ranks in a skill talking in a way that suggests a lot of training. I'm fine with the low levels - I agree on the way levels escalate everything such that a module becomes useless. Most of the rpgs I play have a far slower xp growth.
@Kirsdrake - I understand your point, but I try to keep character's 'fluff' in line with their 'crunch'. Also, regarding Erix's state of mind. He went down a dark road when he got sent back into PTSD and attacked Baran - I mean he wasn't that stable to begin with. He finally relaxed from his paranoia and then got triple-ambushed and taken out by a spell when he'd just started to relax.
The relaxed Erix who had appeared on the train vanished with the latest attack. The quiet, watchful, dangerous Erix who had emerged from the Ruin was once again at the fore. He sat in full armour, he arranged watches, he kept to himself, and he did his best to stay ready. When he slept he crammed himself into the corner, half buried under goods, and careful to make sure no weapons were at hand. Only when they arrived at Sharn did any hint of the happy Erix show, and even then it was minimised. He agreed to meet back at the Agency tomorrow, then vanished into the afternoon shadow of the towers. He had been working on repairing his gear at the Agency when the reporter arrived. He loomed behind Alua as the man entered. "Our clients value discretion." he mentioned coldly "Bluntly - what's in it for us?"
Erix - the very definition of a suspicious looking character - lurked over to their supplies and started arming and armouring up. "Guess I'll get ready for more action in case there's a fourth event, Boss." he called over to Alua.
When we do next level, can someone please remind me to buy Erix some social skills?
Erix sweat heavily as Phin disarmed the bomb. 'Don't screw this up, Phin...' As she worked he pondered aloud to distract himself. "Could give him a fake vest. Who saw this and really understood what this thing was. Still creates headlines, especially if Baran writes the copy, but no-one dies. If we keep this thing though... I worry its not..." he winced as Phin cracked something - that judging by the lack of explosion was supposed to be cracked "...stable."
Erix, still carefully holding the dead man switch out in front of him and next to the engineer coughed "I appreciate your faith in me. If I'm going to shot put it, it'd be good to have two hands free, and I'm a leeetle concerned about handing over this thing." he shook the hand holding the deadman switch and then thought better of it. "But I'll give it a go. Someone's going to have to stick their head out a window and make sure we're not going over some town... or about to hit a tunnel." "Maybe, if someone has some sort of... sticky bandage? We could wrap the switch closed, stick it to the vest, and throw them both - just in case there's some sort of proximity thing?" Finally he looked to the unconscious man "So... are we hiring him?"
Erix stared aghast at Baran, but reluctantly nodded.
A few moments later he found himself near the man. Despite the threat he found himself somehow sympathetic. It certainly sounded like Alua had started to talk him down, but...
"Alright friends." Erix called out to those brave - or mad - souls still in the original carriage. "Time to move further away from that last carriage I think. If anyone sees an Engineer, please send them down here to talk to me." That done he proceeded to throw the various backpacks over his shoulders - glad that his strength had returned and started to follow his own advice.
Erix dragged his tired old body to the door, looked through, and swore. After a few moments he backed away 'Given my track record, best thing I can do is not talk. Or kill him, I guess?' With a sigh he went back to the group's seats, and started to pack up their critical equipment. 'However this goes, we might need to move fast.'
"I'm hoping it's that they found out the fancy carriage at the back has a guard patrol. Give me a minute to catch my breath..." Erix shot a glance at Phin, and gave a subtle nod "and I should be right."
|