Hanz follows with his crossbow loaded and cocked, keeping a wary eye out for anything that might be of use to the party's search.
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Hanz nods slowly as he looks over the map. "I am no great tracker in forests, but we shall do our best to bring back your scouts, dead or alive," he says gravely to Nashota.
Whoops whoops, also also: new spells: Daze (0-Level) and Bane (1st-Level).
Whoops, also: cunning initiative! Hooray!
Whooo much-delayed character update! Witch Hunter Level 2
Hanz snorts. "I wish to return to Absalom as soon as possible, myself," he says, "But it seems that these four-legged ones need help, and I have no objection to helping them prevent chaos."
"Hail, warrior," Hanz says in a hard voice, gripping his reloaded crossbow tightly. "I mislike this show of force. We have peaceful words for Nashota Bloodhoof--you would be best to allow us passage."
Hanz, seeing Elxurian split the Krenshar open, nods grimly to her and turns. Seeing Tsura beset, the dwarf takes off toward her, barreling down on the wild cat!
Unfortunately, his foot skids on an outlying vine, and his swing goes wide...
Seeing that all of the krenshar are in a melee with his allies, Hanz grumbles a dwarvish curse, drops his crossbow, and (once he's certain the beasts to the south are sufficiently entangled to pose no threat) crosses to the closest cat, flanking it with Elxurian and bringing his warhammer down toward it!
Hey, thanks! (And thanks for the bot, Trips--of course as soon as I posted the above Paizo went down. :P)
Hmmmmm. Roll20's not behaving for me--it claims I don't have an account. But I'll post something that should apply regardless.
Glad to have you back, Trips! Just to let you know, starting this afternoon I'll be undergoing some crazy intensive workshop training that's expected to run basically twelve hours a day, every day, for the next three weeks. I should be able to post sometimes (on breaks and so on, and at home if I'm not too exhausted), and I'll be doing my level best to keep up, but please feel free to bot me if things start to lag. Thanks!
I realize that it's probably already happened, but...indeed. Take your well-earned rest!
"These horse-men would move faster than we, surely," Hanz murmurs. "Perhaps this is the limit of their ranging? What else lairs in these woods?"
Sorry to hear about your loss, Trips--that's a hard thing.
Hanz snorts, keeping his eyes forward. His crossbow, as usual, rests, loaded, in his hands. "I see them also. I know not what kind of fell beasts stalk these lands, but I would hope that if they planned to attack, they would have tried already..."
Hanz grunts. "I do not come from a place where open-air cities are...possible, much less so damnably crowded. With all these people milling about, I feel it best to keep my eyes open for foes at all times." The dwarf scowls as he continues to scan the crowds on their way to the gates.
Hanz, mostly silent up till now, eyes the bag containing the necklace warily. "I have no love for creatures that are only half-man, but...if this 'Nashota' is as honorable as you say, Master Steele, we should have no problems. I am ready to depart." As the group heads out of Absalom, Hanz makes sure that his crossbow is loaded and cocked, ready to go, and glances about himself suspiciously.
Thanks, Elxurian! Sorry for the delay over the past couple of days--life got unexpectedly really busy! o.O
Hanz stumps into the Murdered Mare, glancing about suspiciously, and settles at the party's table in time to hear the end of their conversation. He nods thoughtfully. "More samples of the bone-knives would be good for all of us, no doubt," he says gravely. "But unlikely, it seems, that the Guard would simply hand them over. It is good to know, as well, that the objects were magical and may have been the source of that strange villainy. I have...friends in the Arcanamirium who are researching these fiends. Knowing that will no doubt speed their progress." The dwarf smiles grimly. "If there's a necromancer or transmuter capable of such vileness in Absalom, I have no doubt they will discover it." To Tsura, he adds, "Given the enchantment on the knives, it may well be that these fiends are not undead. Did they seem so to you? It's not a possibility to rule out, but the fact that the magic lay in the objects widens the field of treachery."
With Pavo: After a quick visit to Awib (the ostensible reason for his trip), who is enjoying her studies very much, Hanz reports to Master Krupt's study. He nods, frowning, as the old human moves straight to business. "That is correct. I retained the gem in case you desired it back again--" the dwarf holds it up to show him, "but I have also gained an extension of the original guard contract you arranged with Master Steele. If there is another attempt to sell the Starstone fragment, I should certainly know about it, and can try to place the gem then."
"These attackers," the dwarf continues, frowning, "were like nothing I'd ever seen before. They seemed human at first--they stood among the visitors to the auction without anyone noticing--but when they attacked, shards of bone erupted from their elbows. They used these like swords. Either they were not human, or they were humans under some very baleful dark magic--but I sensed no such thing when I scanned the crowd, although it was a brief look. I was hoping that you might have some insight, or that the libraries here might provide further information."
Hanz's eyebrows raise as the auctioneer hands them the bag full of gems, but he shrugs and pockets his share nonetheless. Turning to the others, he nods and says, "I am not staying at the Murdered Mare, but I believe I have heard of such an inn. I will meet anyone who wishes to meet there tomorrow afternoon." With a curt nod to the others, the dwarf stows his weaponry and moves off at a brisk (for a dwarf) pace. At home: Back in his rooms, Hanz sits down to write a missive to Pavo.
Salutations and firm hand be to Pavo Krupt of the Arcanamirium: My friend, the auction you sent me to has concluded, but I was unable to fulfill my task--there was no buyer for the item that interested you. Before the auction could be concluded, it was attacked by monsters wielding pieces of their own skeletons, a depravity I've neither seen nor heard of before. There were a great many fatalities, and Clovis Steele called off the rest of the auction. The other guards and I destroyed the monsters, but none knew what they were. I would speak with you in person, if I may. In addition to desiring to pick your brain for possibilities as to the nature of the fiends that attacked us, I would discuss the artifact itself with you--for while I had it under my observation, it seemed to me that it did not radiate the powerful magic such an object should have. It is possible that its aura was masked, of course, but I am desirous of your thoughts. I shall visit the Arcanamirium tomorrow morning to see my sister; send word to her if you are able to receive me. I remain your faithful servant, Hanz, of the Deadshield clan of Dongun Hold His letter done, Hanz folds and seals it, scratching his personal rune into the wax, and then dispatches it via a messenger to the Arcanamirium. After that, the dwarf sits brooding in the guttering candlelight at his desk. What could those things have been after? And what might they have gained from disrupting the sale of the Starstone fragment? Bah, I do not like this endless intrigue--I am meant for the solidity of gears and steel, of stone and wood, not the fluidity of shadow and honeyed words. Brigh, guide my hand. Let me create a good work. Realizing that he's wasting ink by doodling on his spare parchment, the dwarf turns in and blows his candle out. The next day, Hanz goes straight to the Arcanamirium after his morning prayers, and knocks on his sister's door.
Hanz frowns, thinking. "It seems to be that any one of these men or women could have enemies powerful and important enough to warrant such an attack..."
Don't know a single one of them...though that's not surprising. Hanz, who had been frowning and chewing his lip, looks sharply up at Elxurian's accusation, seemingly impressed by her boldness. He eyeballs the Numerian, watching him carefully to gauge his reaction.
"Indeed," Hanz murmurs. "Which means the question isn't 'Why did they want the stone?' Rather, it would seem to be, 'Why did they not want someone else to gain the stone?'" The question hangs in the air for a moment before the dwarf shakes his head. "Regardless, Master Steele, I am willing to return here to work for you again--at the very least, until you see yourself rid of that thing."
"I can save you some time, Elxurian," Hanz says, in his brusque, clipped voice. "The stone, whether it came from the Starstone or not, is not magic--at least, it radiates none that I can see." He looks into Steele's eyes levelly. "Is it, therefore, valuable only as a religious relic? Or does it have some other power?"
Apparently this door is warded against divine interference. :P
Hanz holds his hand up to forestall the others, eyes narrowing, and when the voices cease he calls out through the door, "Master Steele? It's your guards. You must move, you're in great danger." As he speaks, the dwarf reaches out to stroke any part of the latch or lock that's exposed, closing his eyes and cocking his head as though listening intently. There are quiet creaking and cracking noises from the latch.
Hanz frowns, looking irritated, and he grasps the handle again.
Hanz barely glances at the others as the last beast falls, simply rehanging his war hammer on his belt and his crossbow on his back. He winces slightly at Penka's obvious and clumsy attempt at mercenary work, but ignores it, beckoning Elxurian (and any other guards nearby to follow him). "Come. We should make sure our employer is well." Although the dwarf's face doesn't betray it as he trots to the door Steele, his lackeys, and the "starstone" disappeared through, his mind is racing. Waste-blasted fool, not all great crimes demand magic. Enemies attack conveniently just on time for that item? Trap or con, trap or con...either way, we need to find Steele quickly. He tugs at the handles of the door, testing to see if they're locked.
Hanz's swing as one of the creatures charges past him whiffs, causing the dwarf to mutter a curse in Osiriani under his breath. Turning to the one that's come face-to-face with him, his lips tighten with satisfaction as Elxurian brings her blade around into its head. He lunges forward with his warhammer...
Hearing the creatures behind him growl, Hanz whirls, dropping his warhammer with a solid *thunk* as he pulls the loaded crossbow off his back. He fires at the nearest one, and has the crossbow wound and a bolt in place even as it turns to him.
Hanz grits his teeth and keeps his buckler carefully between himself and the nearest bone...thing. Taking another swing at its legs, he glances at the other approaching creature to the south.
Though the dwarf lands a solid hit on the creature's knee, he takes a couple steps back toward the rope. The last thing I need is to get surrounded...
Hanz blinks, distracted and surprised for a moment. Huh. That's...odd. Conman, perhaps? Or is there something about this object that prevents me from parsing it? Deciding it's not important for the moment--but making a mental note to let Pavo know--he switches his attention back to the main room just in time to spot Elxurian signaling Jonas about the potential troublemakers. Turning his gaze to them, the dwarf narrows his eyes once again and steps, seemingly idly, forward to the edge of the velvet rope.
Went ahead and moved Hanz over to the other side of the elite crowd, to balance out Jonas. (And moved him slightly closer to the ropes...)
Hanz's gaze barely flickers toward the front of the room as the auctioneer brings forth the Starstone fragment. I have no need of a god-making rock; I'll stick to what I can do with my own two hands. He keeps his gaze on the group in the roped-off area, particularly the nervous-looking woman. Any minute now... Almost idly, his left hand delves into a pocket, turning something between his fingers.
Hanz looks around carefully, scanning the incoming crowd--particularly the wealthy ones in the cordoned-off area--for concealed weapons or signs of magical trouble. The one I seek is likely in that group...but we'll have to wait it out. Auction. Strange idea. He keeps his crossbow loaded, but loosely held at his side, scanning the crowd with eyes narrowed.
It may be generally less useful, but c'mon, Hanz has to have access to the spell-stealing ranger traps via the Trap subdomain. They could be awesome! :P I'm all set--happy to keep RPing, but Hanz is good with the assignments.
"One never knows what one might find, however," Hanz intones gruffly. "I plan to keep one finger on my trigger, yes?" He pauses slightly. "Do any of you know what items are for auction this day? I have not heard." Sense Motive DC 14: Hanz is hiding something--he does have some idea of what at least some of the items on sale are, and he's trying to find out what the rest of you know.
The wary-looking dwarf cracks a wry smile. "I think the answer now is yes. I am new to Absalom, however--I grew up far to the south. I live now in, eh, what do they call it...the Foreign Quarter. I find the many strange people there make me...less obvious. And you, Lady?"
The stocky, blond-haired dwarf has been sitting in the corner without comment for some time now--he pocketed the pouch of coins readily enough, but declined offers of anything but water and some simple crackers, cheese, and grapes. He wears scale mail of a fashion not local to Absalom, and conservative linen robes underneath. A small buckler on his arm suggests that he's ready for combat, but most of his concern seems to be for the crossbow that he has taken off his back and begun oiling. It's a lavish device: gorgeous, dark wooden stock, gleaming steel bow, and far more gears than a normal crossbow, all of which work together to make the set pull smoothly and nigh instantaneously. He slots a bolt into place and straightens up, glancing over at the conversation nearby. For the first time, you really see the thick, ropy scar that courses down the right side of his face. When he speaks, it's with the clipped, precise accent of one for whom Taldane is not their first language: "I am called Hanz. A pleasure. I can handle myself in combat, though I doubt I am as fast as you, Master Fezhal, or as strong as you, Lady Elxurian." The dwarf does not smile as he introduces himself. "I do, however, have some experience combating the deceptions of witches, wizards, and their ilk. I would be happy to patrol the bidding area."
Trips, was there anything else you needed to know about Hanz, build-wise? I think he's pretty complete... Only question I had for you was to confirm that you're ok with my using the Trap subdomain, since I noticed that it's not listed on Hanz's wiki page. I'll stick with the straight Artifice if you'd prefer, but I'd reeeeaaally love the ability to make those spell-stealing traps... :D And rest assured, Hanz will be grabbing a repeating crossbow just as soon as he can get his grubby little mitts on one. >:D As far as lodging goes, if we're assuming that the characters have a regular income in addition to their starting gold, Hanz is probably in Average accommodations. Staying in the foreign quarter, in an inn called (let us say) the Red Chamberlain, near the border of the Coins. I'd imagine Hanz has been there just long enough, at this point, to gain his "citizenry protection..." And now, on to Gameplay!
Hello all! This is the Norv, aka Hanz Deadshield checking in. I was delighted to realize that the only artwork of a Pahmet dwarf actually features a facial scar, so getting this avatar set up took almost no time at all. I can't wait to start playing! I don't have time to read back through everything already posted tonight, but I will get a fuller introduction up tomorrow after I've had a chance to look at everyone else's info. Very excited for this game! |