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"I shouldn't think so," Messer said, not entirely honestly. "There are a lot easier, faster ways to get into somewhere than to become friendly with the staff." It was fairly unlikely, but still. It was absolutely an angle they'd need to consider, and they'd need to check those candies out too.
We can ask the local coroner to help. Can't order it, though.
"I suppose it's more repaired than healed. And she was scared, panicking when she died." Messer reported, shivering.
Hopefully, one of the others was better on the medical side of things. Messer had tried to improve his skills and had done...something, but medicine still escaped him. Instead, he pulled on a glove, and began reading the body using Psychometry. Or more the imprint of the last moments her spirit would have left in her clothes. Maybe it would tell him something.
Messer considered. "A great question for the living, but the dead tend to be brief, cryptic and repetitive. I can try asking that, but I can only ask once, and I'm not sure how much she'll be able to convey."
Messer nodded. "It would seem like a solid place to start. Do you know what question you would like me to ask?" 'Who killed you?' was a good one, but the fact that people like him were with the RHC meant that most smart killers wore masks, hoods and illusions. Much of the time the deceased wouldn't know their killer if it was there own lover, in Messer's experience.
Messer considered. "Well, the victim is at least one witness, if we decide on what to ask her." he pointed out. Still, they needed to be polite to Danor. Given the, ah, soon to be linked nature of the nation and all.
Messer's taken a level in Dreamthief Rogue. Lots of extra skills and class skills, +2 to Reflex, and the abilities of a Dedicated Phantom. Primary that's a little boost to some skills and a +2 to Hit and Damage against the last person to attack me. Messer's report will be accurate, and he has no interest in trophies. The last one's permanently replaced a limb, after all.
Take them Alive might be useful for allowing us to fight full-force while still wanting someone not-dead. Messer can do so anyway, and is geared for non-lethal combat, but it could be helpful. Sphere of Influence on Intelligence, Dexterity or Charmisa could be really useful, yeah. Those are the two I'd go for, I think.
Messer rubbed his eyes, making sure to use the flesh and blood hand. "No good choices here. I'll back your play as best I can." If things went pearshaped Danor would be angry. If it went well it could mean a war avoided. Risks and rewards, trials and tribulations.
Messer sighed in relief. He had no interest in trying to fight or restrain the monstrously powerful fey, and was just as happy to let him leave on his own. Neither the fortress nor the fleet had stood against him, he didn't see anyone trying now if he was leaving peacefully.
Yeah, I'm still planning to pop into rogue next level to enhance some of those weaknesses. And sorry to hear that Juliet, have fun though.
Weren't we specifically requested, by the ambassador, to get her brother back?
Eying the Fey, Messer got ready to...well, try and punch him in the side of the head. It wasn't a subtle approach, but he didn't have any other options right now. "I know this is a tense situation, but is there any solution that doesn't involve violence? The rebellion is over, Madam Duchess, and your brother the kind has requested your return. Sir Asrabay, the fighting is done. I doubt any soldier considers killing a prisoner - and she is, now, our prisoner, I'm afraid madam, by the authority of your brother - a worthy act." Messer realised he was babbling as politely as possible, but hopefully it had the desired effect.
Messer sighed, and readied himself. Maybe Asrabey would acknowledge the king had a right over his sister? He didn't sound like he liked the whole 'kingslayer' business. And if not...well, that was going to be risky.
At the scenes of devastation Messer started to move a little more stealthily. Not fighting this Asrabey seemed like far and way the wisest plan, if they could.
Remember the old stories of the Fey and their penchant for names, Messer replied, "I'm a constable for the RHC. And if I was lying, I'd have said we were her allies," Messer said with a shrug. "I've told you, we're here to bring the Duchess to her brother the king. But our job is to take her there safe and unharmed." Messer gestured after the fiery attacker. "He doesn't seem to be hoping to keep her safe."
Kids do love to share the love, right? Mine even shared a couple of COVID infections. Fun times.
"Uhhh," Messer replied eloquently. He scanned the bush to see if he could spot the creature. He wasn't sure what the creature was, but he assumed the 'Lady of Shale' was the Duchess. "We don't mean any harm to the lady," Messer added. "We do have a duty to take her to her brother, the king, but we have no intent to harm her. Unlike the gentleman who set fire to your maze seems to have..."
"Yes," Messer said as he ran. "But I also would like to be rich and handsome and have all my original body parts, so I'm already quite far behind on wishes."
"You're not wrong, Alsah, but the whole...tearing open dimensions and fire thing is still going to make me a little nervous." Messer continued to go through the fiery hedge as best he could. "It's a great opportunity, but I'm worried about when someone this strong decides to turn around."
This was rapidly feeling like a truly poor plan, but it was the one they were doing. Messer gritted his teeth and followed into the gap.
"Onward, with bad ideas and bravery," Messer said mildly sardonically as he moved with the rest of the squad. His arm was a testament that risks did not always pay dividends, but this one wasn't as big a risk. There was nothing to say the rebels or Danor hadn't laid many a trap in the sewer after all.
Messer stared at the feat of reality-warping in mild horror, but duty called. "This may be a poor plan, but I think that maybe following that man may be a faster way to our goal. Not a subtle way, although it doesn't look like he plans to leave many of the rebels alive..."
"So someone in the fortress - and someone who was relatively aware and able to understand the teleportation circle's wards and defences - helped the Duchess seize the place. Or she has a mage of a calibre that she can get past such defences." That was a terrible thought. A fortress' magic circle was about as tough to crack as their gates were, for obvious reasons. It probably wasn't impossible, but it would be a nightmare. And such a mage was not someone Messer wanted to fight. Not without a cannon. On the plus side, if it could be called that, was that it would give Danor a target to blame, for the politicians to keep the peace. "The observatory sounds like a good place to start searching for the man," Messer agreed.
"Freedom is not always kind," Messer agreed, "But if you're willing to choose to fight we can't stop you. All we can do is ask you work with us, so we can do this with as few problems as possible."
Messer looked to the others. He had none of those things and was fairly sure the others would prefer not to hand out their equipment, but there should be plenty of weapons among the troops and being held from the captured enemies.
Not overly confident in his abilities to talk people around - especially given Alsah's impressive speech - Messer looked around the world, looking for trouble instead. Some people wouldn't be reasonable if their life depended on it.
Messer jotted down a note to follow up an investigation into any of the duchess' troops that had moved on to other regiments, the police or other positions of importance or power. It seemed likely that if she was planning a full rebellion, she'd have put as many of her loyal soldiers in place to work with her.
"Ideally, we'll avoid the warrior of legend, yeah," Messer replied, not wanting anything to do with someone who could do that to a warship if impossible. Turning to the prisoner, he asked, "Well, between the armada and the warrior, it's clear you have lost. Perhaps if you could tell us where the Duchess' household set up we could see to putting in a good word when your trial comes up?"
"There was?" Messer said, looking vaguely impressed. His own historical education was...far less than impressive. He had no idea of the magic, either.
"We can go interview some of the prisoners taken," Messer suggested. "He was high profile enough that most of them likely know where he got to, and where the Duchess' household is likely to be held up."
"Got posted to a couple during the war," Messer said. He raised his mechanical arm to show how well that had ended. "Wasn't there, though."
"How is the fighting going, sir?" Messer asked as he also gave a tired salute. It should be a cakewalk, but if they wanted to find the duchess then they probably just needed to head to wherever the rebels hadn't folded.
Nodding, Messer agreed with that. "Some healing and supplies could be a boon, and explaining what we've seen so far."
"We succeeded at the other teams mission," Messer pointed out. "Now we need to do our job. As for why they're so stubborn...loyalty. Faith. Delusions. Lies. All of the above?" He shrugged. "It's easy to blame the gods or technology when your lot in life is unfair and you don't see a reason why you're suffering. It's always easier to blame than it is to try and change things."
Well, this was familiar, Messer said as he rested, internally groaning at the wounds taken and the cost of receiving them. He would hear the screams of those who'd assaulted the tower in his dreams for a good, long while, and he could already feel them finding a comfortable place in his soul. There had been no better choice, as far as he could tell, but that didn't mean much sometimes. Still, they had the rest of there own job to do, now that they had managed to bring down the gates. They needed to find the ambassador's cousin, if they could, and investigate the site.
Messer sighed, pulling out a pint of oil, and hurled it at the oncoming troops. Not only to make the slippy, but some fire would put them off.
Messer's Diplomacy probably isn't good enough this round to do anything. Problem is, I suspect the DC is going up, given they're getting desperate, so adding +2 might not do much. Still, if you have nothing better to do...
"If nothing else," Messer murmured to himself, "We're confusing the hell out of them." Poking his head up again, he called down, "Pardon the spirit, it seems to be a little bit jumpy. Now, if you'd calm the shouting - yes, you sir, you're very loud - perhaps we can get this sorted like proper Risurian folk."
Messer moved upstairs, locating a window to watch the approach from. Once they got close enough to hear, he called, "Please be careful. We have captives in here, and I'd rather negotiate there release before you start hurling arrows and spells."
Well, crud. Messer decided to try and set up another ward before heading back to the tower.
Messer popped back out, restoring one of the wards made before or setting up a new Brand ward if none of them had been triggered.
Having gone back into the tower, Messer looked out the window and called, "Please be wary when you attack. We have several of your friends in here, and we're trying to keep them out the way of the fighting." Hopefully that would make them a little more cautious.
Setting a second ward, Messer retreated back to the lighthouse, hoping they would stall the enemy long enough.
Messer decided to lay some unfriendly wards for the enemy across the approach. Brand didn't hurt much, but he suspected that having whoever was on point suddenly have 'Traitor' scrawled across there forehead would do interesting things for moral.
Do we have the supplies for fire? People are usually unhappy about fire.
Glancing at his injuries, Messer nodded. "That would likely be a good idea, yes."
Poor Messer, he's going to be of very limited use here. He's badly wounded and used his single spell slot (stupid Jistkan Artificer being cool and using reduced spells) but most of his skills aren't much help either. I guess using the Stall action and making some wards of Brand will be the best he can do to help.
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