Ingrid ignored the poison attempt on her, but she did not ignore the opportunity to counterattack.
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Impatient though worried at the numbers of their enemies, Ingrid moved as swift as her stubby legs would take her to closer the gap with the enemies. Next to Shackleton, she was unable to get a strike in this time around, though she would give the creatures pause with her presence - or so she hoped.
Ingrid takes a step back, assuming a defensive stance at the alchemist's warning.
Stay low? Is that some sort of insult to dawrvenkind? The judge did not keep straight thoughts as she took her injuries and Philgor grave his counsel. She did, however, recall her ingrained training: The hammer fell down once more.
Ingrid moves forward to strike the nearest lemure with her warhammer.
How many of these devils are there?
With one look, Ingrid knew the area was beyond saving completely. She resorted to her base protective instinct: Survival. "I'll head towards the entrance, fog up the door and beyond so we needn't contend with more of the hellspawn. I might need one to head with me though. Shackleton? Vegazi? Either or both would be appreciated."
Ingrid thinks a moment to her request. "Yes. I can call a mist to cover an area. If you would like to stay within it as a point of advantage with your bow, let me know where you would like it conjured." That should buy us some time at least if there are many more of them outside.
Sick of waiting for the devil to exit, Ingrid nudged her way through her allies until she could see it. Calling to it in its tongue, she accompanied her speech with a beckoning gesture. Infernal:
"Come here, dark servant."
Ingrid waits for an opening with the devils, leaving the combat to those more accustomed. It seems the small one is holding his own...
The room getting cramped, Ingrid invoked further protection and got out of the way - but the protection was for the eccentric newcomer, not herself. Let him prove his mettle. "May The Keeper of the Vault Protect you." She touched his shoulder, conferring the blessing.
Safe travels & have fun!
Seeing the necessity of action, Ingrid plods towards the partially-visible imp through the door. I forget the exact hellspawn, but they are not to last long under my watch. Cautious as always though, she called upon Abadar for protection. "Shun their blows, lord of the cities!"
I don't think me queuing her contingent prep actions will hurt anything meta-wise; Ingrid's actions are there to lubricate the gameflow.
Upon Awakening:
Ingrid sat up, taking stock of her surroundings. There was plenty of commotion, given the noise. What time was it? So many questions were left unanswered for her.
She stumbled to her feet, ambling over to her warhammer before heading to the door.
The dwarf allowed herself a wry smile. "Ingrid of the Balt clan. I am here officially on business to arbitrate a property dispute. Unfortunately, it is difficult to resolve such a disagreement when there seem to be invaders of a hostile variety on the property, members of the authorities deceased without replacement, and the lack of a proper survey." She took a sip of her drink. "We will see under which you buckle first. If you have no business, I intend to set to task in the dawn."
Ingrid gives him a cold stare, then blinks. "If your help is half as enduring as your talk, the town is lucky for it. There are devils involved in this manner though; this is no menial task." The priestess looked to the half-orc. "How long do you intend to stay in this place?" If she's in this for the long haul, it might be good to include her.
"You made the right choice, Miss Vegazi. A role model are you to the town, where the folk need to see an example of their homeland being defended." She placed her hand on the half-orc's. "Do you yet have a long-term place to stay here?" As the gnome entered quite spontaneously, Ingrid raised an eyebrow. "Your manners sound as if they are from the same end of the same owlbear."
"Nonsense! I will not have you sleeping in the hay. None who stood to protect the community deserves that. You will stay with me tonight." Ingrid was nothing if not stubborn; little would sway her with that tone.
"Then this is a new threat." Ingrid sighed. "The property boundaries are something I can arbitrate, though I cannot imagine those invested would see devils appearing in the countryside as a boon for their land."
The judge carefully watched the interplay of the individuals other than her recent companions in the room. For them, she merely glanced at their reactions when the letter was mentioned and afterwards. The halfbreed's story adds-up. These councilmembers know more than they let on though. "The Hell's Fury Tribe - if it's name is anything akin to what it references - could well be the cause of those devils. But there is no reason for them to care particularly about such a small stead. At least, not a reason I know of." She glanced to her party, then to the others. "Do any of you know if the location has a particularly special quality about it where summoners would care to interfere?" She took a breath. "Or perhaps it was Adil or his line that serve to have some intersection with the denizens of Hell."
Given the terse nature of the mayor earlier, Ingrid sought fit to let him try to pull a story out of her. Or one of these others can tell it. She kept her daze on the new couple. Their ruling set is short one...
Ingrid was disappointed at the mayor's response, and her frown was obvious, though not one of anger. "Important or not, that was what I arrived here to do. I am not averse to helping with this other task, for the two seem to intersect, though there will be a premium involved." Awaiting an even tepid acceptance from the politician, she yielded some information. "Assuming one of your townspeople did not conjure those devils, it his quite likely the work of the orcs; they are known to resort to the spirits below to achieve their ends. [b]"Vagazi was not involved to the best of my belief, and - I am sure - her word." ******* Dwarven:
"I meant it not as insult, but as first impression. There is a blend of cultures here at a crux of countries. With an ambush recently encountered on the road, I must suspect such an occurrance is not as rare as it would be in, say, Druma. Isald, you do your line proud by keeping such a reputable establishment." "Well, a windowless one will do just fine for me. is there any boar for the breaking of fast in the morning, perchance?" It had been a while since she'd had hot, hearty food. Isald surely knows what a dwarf's tastes are...
Ingrid took a moment to introduce herself. "Mayor Proum, I have a writ here saying you wanted some mediation of a property dispute." Ingrid fished through her belongings and rendered him the notice. "This Arwyll stead seems to be at the center of it, though the politics of the surrounding area may hem at the issue somewhat. How would you like me to approach this matter? Your constituents are likely to be somewhat affected." ******* Entering the inn, Ingrid immediately spotted the innkeeper. Dwarven: "Finally, one of the deep blood. I am Ingrid Balt from Druma, here on work. How does the town fare day to day? It seems a bit mercurial if I must say so."
Initially startled by the turtle's speech, Ingrid gives it a second glance and a wry smirk. "What other tricks do you and Olive have up your sleeves, Lyra?" She pats the creature's shell. "You're welcome."
Ingrid nods in response to Philgor. "If we are sure we have gathered all the injured, I would be happy to call upon the blessing of the judge above." Pulling a necklace with a golden key on it out as far as she could, the dwarf began to summon the power. "Abadar, your servant calls upon you to grant succor to these injured souls!" With a flash, the key exploded in a positive burst of energy.
The judge smiled. Some good in a harsh land. "Perhaps, but first, you deserve a rest." She fished-out some jerky from her sack. "Here. A ranger I met on my travels smoked this - it's delicious."
She's tough. It was as if her wounds did not mar her energy. "Please, share some food with us and share your tale. We may be able to help you and protect others for the same plight."
The judge was fortunate she spoke both her tongue and that of the greenskins.
"I am Ingrid Balt, arbiter of this area for the time being. My intentions are not hostile, though I must know what your relation is to these devils!" She lowered her warhammer, putting action to words.
The devil kept busy by the summoner's being, Ingrid made her way towards the seeming "victim" of this situation. Answers would be nice, after all.
Did we lose Garett? Fair question.
The hostility clear now, Ingirid gives the adjacent devil a swing of her warhammer.
It seems the halfbreed is out of danger now. Whose side is she on?
Ingrid hefted her warhammer and shield from her back and readied them, following behind Garett.
Thankfully uneventful thus far, the travel had been of passable atmosphere. Traveling with three boys and a half-blooded woman, the judge felt beyond her years sometimes. But that could just be their average lack of maturity. In truth, they were decent enough company; she just was crotchety with exactly how ... backwater this place seemed. I'd expected something closer to a border, at least a trading post... But a battle was just as good. At least we'll learn something from this. Ingrid was not one for combat, though she had learned the ways of standard dwarven defense as all of her race did. She did not feel particularly inclined to help the half-orc in front of them at present though. Devils here? She may have called them herself... Devils were ... well, devilish with their dealings, but their word was worth its weight in salt, unlike that of demons. "Those devils are not rampaging barbarians. They probably have their reasons for this skirmish. If you feel the need to fight them though, let me prepare you." Extending her hand to the eager-to-engage warrior, she uttered a word, touched his rib, and Philgor's skin grew of wooden resilience. "Keep your eyes peeled."
Sounds good. I'm pretty trusting of GMs to make action judgments with characters. Regarding the traits, they are passable. Tireless logic fits better than Guardian of the Forge though as Ingrid did ditch Torag for Abadar after her dismissal from the region.
Ingrid's last edit didn't save, though most of the basics are there. I have to redo inventory and spells though. Anyone have a spell preference? :) |