Advancing Nils draws his blade and strikes at the tiefling guarding the bridge.
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My own apologies, week started busy. GM how far is the gap between the buildings? It looks like it's just 5' but I'm assuming I'd need to jump from further up so maybe 15' to get from one to the other?
Hearing shouts from above Nils quickly heads up the rope after Maul.
"I've a grapple and rope." Nils says, ready to follow Mawl.
Seeing that he'd been spotted Nils steps forward out of cover and into the open street around the building. He looks to the remaining tiefling on the roof and raises a hand to him. "Oiy there, I'd like to have a word with whomever is running the Jills if it wouldn't be too much trouble."
Nils nods but before setting off asks, "Our attempt at diplomacy didn't go well but it may be worth a second go. What are your thoughts?"
Not as familiar with the Temple District he'd generally avoided when not joining his mother for church, Nils asks the group, "Do any of you know it?"
we don't want the handicap of having killed some of them. It tends to strain relationship building. I think this is the comment of the week ;)
"I've told you we've no desire to harm you or any of your gang if it can be avoided. Give us the information and we'll see you freed once we've spoken with your leader."
"The simple fact is that your actions are endangering the Nursery and that can not stand. Our hope was to be able to reason with your gang but if you are unwilling to turn from your ways then we'll need to treat you as no better than any other agent of Thrune." he says with a glare as his hand drifts to his kukri.
Once inside Nils turns his attention to the prisoners. "Perhaps now we can speak more civilly. I'm Nils, I don't know any of you but your faces have a familiarity to them. I am no traitor to our people or the Nursery and in fact I, and those I'm with, have taken it upon ourselves to do what we can for all the people of Kintago. We were seeking the Jills in the hopes of talking with your leaders to warn them that the violence they're brokering in will only serve to further ostracize the Nursery from the rest of the city and give Thrune easy reason to crush us under his boot. The killings must stop." He turns to Sholti in the hope she can speak reason to their prisoners.
Huzzah for 1k posts! Sorix gets the prize :)
After consulting with Sorix for a bit Nils describes a nearby place and gives the group directions. "I'll scout ahead to be sure the way is clear." he says before setting off. Once at the building he cases it from the outside before finding a convenient entrance for the group.
Nils scans the area quickly looking for any more threats.
Not seeing any he turns his attention to the group and is glad to see both that his friends are in good health and that the gang members are still alive. The sight of the manacles sends an unexpected, involuntary shudder up his spine but he ignores the feeling of unease. "We need to get somewhere less public and question them."
Seeing his opponent start to flee Nils attempts to sweep his legs out from under him.
Seeing his words were inadequate Nils side steps the attack aimed at him and looks for his best opportunity to counter.
He tries to catch the man with the pummel of his kukri but the awkward movement throw off his timing. "Don't kill them." he calls to his companions.
Well practiced in his peoples manipulations of darkness, Nils thinks quickly and looses the blanket attached to his backpack before stepping forward to where the tiefling touched something on the ground and drops the blanket to cover the area.
"We've no wish to harm you! Sheath your weapons so we can speak!" he says without much expectation of success as he looses his kukri.
At the same time he wracks his brain to see if he recognizes any of the assailants.
Sensing Sholti is a bit ill at ease speaking with tieflings Nils does what he can to smooth things out.
It takes some time to do so but eventually he helps her get some traction with his kin.
"I would not assume the Jills support Thrune just yet. It could be that they've become violent in response to the change in rule. Regardless of their reasons though their actions in targeting humans and the deaths they've cause only gives Thrune a reason to crush the Nursery a bit more beneath his boot." "We're here now so let's see what we can find out about the Jills and then we can see what we can do for Hetamon."
Nils shoots Mawl an angry look before he realizes the man honestly doesn't understand. His face softens a bit and he explains, "In the grand tradition of Cheliax, Thrune has implemented excruciation of his own special variety. To humiliate those who displease him and keep the populace in line he subjects malcontents to be trapped in a doghouse all day which has nails driven through it to make any type of movement painful. Each sunrise and sunset the poor soul is allowed out for a time to fight some number of starved dogs for food and water before being put back in again."
Nils' coutence grows dark and his lip curls a bit exposing some of his pointed teeth upon hearing of Hetamon's excruciation. His mind whirls as he tries to consider how the man can best be aided. "Should we try free him? If we did it would make a fugitive of him. Thrune must just be trying to set an example for the community, if he felt Hetamon were a real threat he'd just make him disappear or hang his corpse from the gate. Perhaps Hetamon would want to be left to endure the ordeal so he can maintain his public face afterwards? I wonder if we can find a way to cheat, or ease the trial without actually removing him or our work being known. Perhaps with the aid of our draconic friend?" All this runs through his thoughts as the others finish the conversation with the young tiefling. Once they're away from the house he says, "Thrune will pay for this humiliation but as much as I'd like to, I don't think we should free Hetamon. The man is a pillar of our community and making him a fugitive would remove him from public view just when our people need such leaders. If we can think of a way to ease his suffering or cheat Thrune's punishment in some way I think we should."
"He's a community leader among the tieflings in the Nursery. Even before all of this he always did what he could for my people. Recently he was of great assistance in our efforts to ferret out the fey who had been killing people in the Nursery. He's well connected and there's a good chance he might know, or be able to direct us to someone who knows, something about the Red Jills."
As the group makes the trek back across the city Nils considers what he knows about the Red Jills in the hopes of finding a new angle that might be of use.
"I was hoping we might be able to reason with them but it depends on the situation. I've never run with the Red Jills but I have with other gangs. For those without power it's comforting to group together and at least play at having some control over what happens around your home. Some even do good in their own way. If we can perhaps guide them in a better direction then that would be the best result. If whomever is taking them in this direction can't be reasoned with then we cut the head off the snake."
"The Jills are a gang that operates out of the Nursery, mainly limiting their activities to the Red Roof District and occasionally Temple Hill. I'd heard they'd become more violent of late but wasn't able to discover more before our more recent pursuits too precedence. Hetamon might know something or we could try and track down one of their members. Their leadership is a mystery as well so that might be the first thing to try and unveil." "Whatever the cause of their attacks it would make an easy excuse for Thrune to lock down the area. If we can put an end to it we'd be doing the people of those districts a great service."
"It's ok, this is Sholti and she's joined our company of...city supporters. She has our trust."
Hi all...back from the trip. All went well but was pretty buried. Apologies for falling silent but back and ready to save our city!
As the group walks along Nils falls in stride with Horillo. "How are you my friend? It's no easy task we've set for ourselves but take heart that we have already done good for Kintargo. The Staglord calls for community does he not? I'm sure he smiles on our work then because not only are we protecting one but we are forming one to do so. As with any community there will be those in it that fall short or try and harm it but we will deal with them as they come." After crossing the bridge he adds to the pary, "We need to make a priority of discovering a less obvious way across the river. Perhaps the tunnels?"
Nils has a few things to do (as noted in my last post) and would then spend the night at home. My thought for the new team would be to have they stay at the Livery and start working to make it an secondary base of operations. The following day we could meet up and figure out our next steps? I think we were looking at perhaps doing something in the academic section?
Thanks, it should be a good time. I'll be in Hamburg, Germany which is a pretty cool city. I've been once before but it was years ago so it will be interesting to see how things have changed.
"Well said." Nils whispers quietly to Sholti. Once everyone seems to be settling in he takes the opportunity to duck out and purchase a few days worth of food and some blankets from a tiefling vendor he knows in the area and returns with it. He spends a bit of time getting to know their new conspirators before eventually taking his leave. Being in the Nursery he then takes the opportunity to visit Hetamon, Heimrick and finally Zea before eventually heading home.
Nils greets each of them in turn as they're introduced. Looking to his own group for a moment he then turns back tot he freed folk. "Well it seems you have a choice to make then. We can keep you here for a time and eventually try and smuggle you out of the city or, if you're of a mind, you could aid us in our efforts. There are many in need in Kintago these days and we've need of help of all kinds to improve things. Think on it a bit, it's dangerous work and may well cost us all our lives but we've decided it to be worth the risk."
Hi all, As a heads up I'll be out of the country on a work trip starting Saturday and returning the following Friday. I don't expect to go entirely silent or anything like that but my posting schedule is certainly going to be different as I'll be five or six hours ahead of my current local time.
GM:
"You're probably right but sometimes it's not about winning, it's just about doing. Besides, Kintago is our city and I won't abandon her. Desna be with you." he replies before departing. "Sorry to worry you Mawl. I'm glad to see everyone arrived safely." Overhearing Sorix talking to the prisoners he heads over. "At the very least we'll get you food and warmer clothing. Are any of you injured? You should all be safe here for a time, long enough for any search to die down at least. Stay away from any windows or the outer rooms though and don't go outside until we let you know it's safe. Tell me what are your names and what brought you to this state? Do any of you have family or friends in the city?"
Not sure if we're jumping to the Livery or not so going to hold off posting to see if anything comes up along the way. Once at the Livery Nils would like to talk to the former prisoners.
I don't recall if we confirmed but my (Nils) thought was that we'll take them to the Livery that we cleared out. Makes for a good safe house without revealing the Wasp's Nest to anyone not in the ravens. Everyone ok with that?
Nils sighs and looks to Horillo, "I don't disagree that they could, and likely will, present trouble my friend. However I have a hard time reconciling myself to killing them in cold blood for our own expedience. These are men working for pay to make a living and not among those who lead our foe or even, perhaps, among those who support Thrune in their hearts. It is a risk to leave them alive but as Sholti said, this task was a risk we chose to take and therefore the burden is on us." He pauses a moment and indicates the prisoners, "But regardless of what may happen to us we've done good work today. Let's see it done and we can discuss how to do even better next time once they're safe." He claps Horillo on the shoulder and gives him a needle toothed grin. As the groups split up to leave Nils will volunteer to take the last of the groups. GM: Before leaving Nils asks his group of prisoners to wait a moment. He then goes to where the guards are locked up. "It would probably be best for you if you weren't here to be questioned once this is discovered. The rulers of this place don't care much for failure even among their own never mind with their hired help. I'd suggest putting the city to your back or your corpses might well be hung as a warning against failing House Thrune." He then tosses the key among the straw and rags that acted as a sorry bed for the prisoners before taking his leave and ushering his charges out into the street.
Nils closes the door and looks the place over with a closer eye. What could have happened here? Perhaps one of the guards was careless and their charges managed to turn the tables on them. Maybe one of the prisoners had family who discovered their fate and chose to do something about it. Or could it be the dwarf had debts that had come to collect? As he considered what those who would come after might see he started to realize that this was little different than the disguises he so frequently wore. It was about telling a story, preferably one the observer already wanted to believe. He'd have to think more on this but perhaps in the future something might be done to misdirect whomever might find the scene. For now there was work to be done. While Mawl saw to the bunkhouse and Sholti got the former prisoners set, Nils called Horillo to help him move the bodies from the fenced area. He searched each for anything of interest and stripped off their outer garments before tossing them, and the bodies in the building, into the salt pit. He then handed out the clothing to the former prisoners. "We should depart as a few small groups and make our way back to the Livery." he says quietly to his fellows.
After Sholti speaks Nils steps to each of the men before they're locked up and yanks a few hairs from their heads. "With these we won't even need to find them ourselves." he says to Sholti before carefully putting the hairs in a rag and tucking it in his pocket.
Once they're away from the men he says to Sholti, "I'm sure your words have put fear into them but as Horillo said I suspect their lives are already forfeit and they may well be tortured for information. Thankfully they know little enough." When the group is ready Nils takes a moment to observe the area outside from the door.
"They've seen us" Nils states flatly eyeing the concious guard but not advancing towards him. Looking towards Mawl he asks Horillo, "Is he ok? Can you get him on his feet?"
Nils steps forward over his fallen foe looking for the next. Not nearly as concerned about the lives of his opponents as Sholti is he focuses on the dwarf and searches for the opening that will let him make the quick kill.
Finding what he sought Nils takes a quick step into the dwarfs blind spot. The tiefling's kukri comes in quickly and, before the slaver can react, opens up his side.
With Nil's dropping the red goon would it be ok for him to have followed up by 5' stepping forward? I should have put that in the post so am ok if it's too late to have mentioned it.
Keeping his focus on the man before him Nils reverses his swing to come across his foes chest.
Forgot to mention but Nils was attacking the guard with the red background.
Enjoy the time Sorix!
Nils takes a moment to study the guard in front of him before stepping up and attacking with a rising slash.
Kukri in hand Nils moves up to protect Mawl's flank.
Readied Attack if needed:
Here as well |