Search Posts
Sad to see you go as well, though I sympathize. It's hard to keep the fire going (really hard sometimes), and I know that first-hand. Hope that your real life becomes less stressed in the near future, and that you have lots of happy gaming (and happiness in general) going on!
Rissi startles and almost panics when Urf starts shouting behind her, but makes her way back to the group. "What are you doing, you damn fool?!" she hisses at him. "What if I'd seen something and was coming back to tell you where it was?!" she sighs. "Regardless, I didn't see anything out there...the cavern's too big for me to see across, though."
Rissi blinks, looking surprised, then slightly angry. "Hey! It's ratfolk," she snaps at Illiana. "But uh...I guess I can do that. Yeah." Cupping her hands around her eyes to shield them from the light, Rissi draws her rapier, makes sure her taill blade is secure, and sets off into the deepest darkness. As she scurries down the passageway toward the ambush site, Rissi stays pressed to the walls (or the floor, if it's a large open cavern), darting between obvious points of cover wherever possible.
Rissi draws her rapier. "Well, let's get going to the scene, then!" she says excitedly. "If there's anything leftover I should be able to figure something out...we'll just have to keep an eye out in case the ambushers are still lurking around."
Rissi nods eagerly. "Yes. I prefer having a plan to just wandering! I still don't...really like these caves." She glances about warily.
Rissi nods reluctantly. "I suppose we've no choice but to venture out to an area where we look like...uh, prey," she mutters. Scurrying along with the others, she keeps her eyes peeled.
Rissi is eager to be off, and darts out of the gate as soon as it's opened. As the group proceeds along the Long Walk, she steps quickly to avoid slowing anyone down. When Illiana raises her question, the ratfolk cocks her head, nose twitching. "That is interesting," she says, sounding intrigued. "Oh, Urf: Illiana wants to know why there are so many guards at the gate." Switching back to Undercommon, she adds, "Perhaps it is because of the attacks? True, they have all been on the Walk, but it is not unreasonable to be careful. Or maybe the duergar just like guards!"
Rissi rolls out of her bed. "Why not? We can leave now. I'll be fine. Just, uh...give me a moment." She turns to face the wall and, slightly furtively, starts taking out small objects and fondling them, staring at them as she does so.
When she stands and turns back to you, she seems more solid and...somehow...more confident. "Alright, let's go," she says.
Agreed that we should rest. Rissi will be much more effective with her objects invested.
Rissi blinks, startled to hear so much from the drow woman who'd been silent for so long. She listens intently and then nods, saying in Undercommon, "That sounds reasonable." Realizing no one has translated for Urf yet, she adds in Common, "Um, Illiana--that's the uh, the...drow...she says that she can heal you in the future, but probably not during fights. So your glory will have to do until after the fight's over."
When Tlugos's back is turned to her, Rissi rolls her eyes and makes a rude gesture at it, winking at Mika. Aloud, she says, "He's, uh...quite a character. You'll meet him soon, I think."
Rissi only has 22 gp, but she has a pretty good shot at UMD'ing a wand (+7) if need be.
"No need to be rude, Tlugos," Rissi says, sitting up on her bunk to greet the newcomer. "My name is Rissi. I'm, uh. I have a few different skills...but in any case, you're welcome here."
Sorry about that...I've gotta be honest, we were dark for so long that I'd kind of forgotten about this. I'll try to catch up and get a post in before bed. (Hope all those of us in the USA had a good Thanksgiving!)
*shrugs* I haven't had time to read through all of the submissions, but I'm on board with both the idea of a full caster and the idea of not another shadowy drow priestess.... But I'm also not as big a believer in the "balanced party" rules as some. :P
It looks like many, many good submissions there...personally (and amusingly, since it's the opposite of Tlugos) I'm drawn to Raok and Tracinoa. They'd also balance each other nicely, with one being LE and one CG. Personally, while Ralya's got a good submission, I just don't think we need another NE drow priestess if Iliana's still here. Ellara's submission was fine, but I like the writing in the other two's better.
I feel similarly. If waiting means that we then get to hit the ground running, I support that plan!
Everyone still here? This game's been moving pretty slowly of late. I only realized just now, of course, that one of our people who could have (theoretically) healed Urf is one of our missing players...
Rissi just shakes her head, though she looks regretful.
Rissi shrugs. "I guess...that would do, yes. Why don't you play the quiet game while the rest of us nap to get our magic back? I bet you're pretty glorious at the quiet game!"
Rissi looks around at all the others. "No? No planning? Just me? Ok then..." She swallows nervously as Tlugos and Xarann retreat into their separate corners, and retreats to a bunk of her own. She stows her implements under the pillow before curling up to go to sleep with her head resting above them.
I'll be traveling with family this weekend, and may not be able to post until Monday morning. Feel free to bot me to keep things moving!
Rissi nods, scurrying ahead of the guard to stake out a space for herself. "Thanks very much, sir! Much obliged. Bye now!" Once she's gotten a corner (or a bunk, if there are actual bunks to be had) reserved, she lays out her implements carefully to "rest" them and turns to the others. With the guard not in the room, she feels able to speak more freely. "Well. None of us want to be here, I don't think, but here we all are. So the question is this: what are we going to do about it? How are we going to get out of this predicament? And tomorrow, are there any special plans or preparations we can make for this caravan jaunt?"
"I think it'll be ok, Urf," Rissi says consolingly. "And besides, think of how much more glorious you'll be when you show off the band of slavery that you...uh..." she glances at the guards and manages not to say what she was about to. "Rose above. Yeah."
No worries! I for one did think it odd that they'd let us wander off with no supervision. :P
Rissi sighs, but let's the guard put an armband on her without complaint. "I was wondering how the king would be keeping track of his property," she says glumly. "Well, don't worry, we won't try to make a break for it. But I'm with Tlugos over there," she nods to the tiefling, "I think we should start tomorrow, after we've rested. Is there a place we can sleep tonight?" After the guard responds, Rissi carefully approaches Illiana and speaks to her in Undercommon. Undercommon: "Hello there. I've just noticed that you're not talking much...do you not speak Taldane? Do you need me to translate for you? My name is Rissi, if you missed that."
"Most definitely," Rissi says, nodding. "And not all of us are as strong as you, O Mighty Urf," she adds, hoping to placate the goblin slightly. "So, on that note...?" she looks hopefully at the two duergar guards.
Rissi squeals in delight and dives into the crate, rummaging around until she manages to get all of her belongings together. She hums as she straps a small blade to her tail and belts her rapier on. A chain shirt goes over her underclothes but under her outer garments, and a dark cloak completes the ensemble. She sighs contentedly. At Xarann's suggestion, though, she turns to the guards eagerly. "Ooh! Yes, I vote for leaving tomorrow as well! And, er...if it's not too bold..."
"I wanted to examine anything recovered from the wreckage of the last caravan. If that's possible?"
"Ships?" Rissi glances at Urf curiously, then decides not to bother. She turns to the guard as well. "He may be rude, but he's right. We'll need our equipment."
Rissi bobs her head, servile. "Yes, your highness. Thank you very much for your...clemency." Turning, she beckons the others out with a hiss, scurrying down the hallway away from the throne.
"Xarann speaks wisely, your highness," Rissi says quickly. "If you'll return our possessions to us and give us any remaining information or instructions, we'll be on our way."
Rissi's heart quickens. Slaves gone, and weapons...it almost sounds like...a rebellion? Or at least a slave liberation group? Trying carefully to keep her voice neutral, she asks, "Do you have any suspicions as to whom the culprits might be, Your Highness? Any information would be helpful to us in making plans to meet with your enemies." And maybe join them, if they'll have me.
Still here!
Rissi inhales sharply when the king mentions that they're to be slave mercenaries, though she tries to keep her face blank. I'm not much of a fighter, really...but then, I suppose this is a chance to win some standing and then, maybe, our freedom!
Trying to keep her voice studiously subservient, she bows and says, "We are honored by your glorious attention, your highness. If I may ask, is there any pattern to what the thieves take from the caravans? A particular type of good each one was carrying? And, most importantly..." Her eyes narrow in thought. "When was the last attack, and did you recover anything--anything at all--that might have been left by the attackers?"
Rissi, relieved that the fight's been broken up by their handlers, scurries to follow the guard out of their cell and into the streets. She gapes slightly when she sees the city--It's so huge! This is big as anything in the Five Kings!--but when the officer gives his warning she just nods, clearly nervous to the point of feeling panic-stricken. She listens intently for the officer's response to Xarann's questions.
"I'd wager none of us want that," Rissi says anxiously, glancing at Tlugos and Urf to make sure the situation is diffused.
Rissi squeals in panic as the tiefling turns toward the goblin, hatred in his eyes. They can't fight, they'll bring the guards down on us! Nonononononononono! Desperately, she snatches at the necklace around her neck and swings out at Tlugos with her mind, trying to befuddle him. As the tiefling's strikes slow she cries, "Don't go hurting each other! They clearly need us to be some sort of team--if we want to--" she catches herself, looks around, then leans in and hisses angrily, "if we want to get out of here, we're going to have to work together!"
Hmmmm hmmm hmmm. Rissi's a quiet type, not likely to intervene directly in a big fight between two physical brawlers...let me see if there's anything she can do to defuse the situation... ;)
Rissi glares at Urf as the party decamps to the antechamber. "For one, I know enough about escaping from places to know that one shouldn't usually talk about it when guards are not far away," she hisses quietly. "For another...well, my shiny things let me do things that you can't even with your lance." She briefly considers charming him to prove her point--the others probably wouldn't even notice--but decides it'd be rude, and if it didn't work... "Perhaps of more use to you, if we ever do see a chance to get out of here and we find our stuff, I can open doors. Which is, y'know, not incidental to escaping."
Rissi glances around, looking surprised, as the half-elf topples near the half-orc and the drow is forced to scramble out of the way of her allies. We're winning...? Huh. What's left to do? The male drow's chanting draws her attention, though. Oh yes, maybe something about that...or the wolf...hm. Hard to chant if you're running away in terror. Running her fingers over the coin again, she narrows her black eyes in the direction of the drow.
"She means they're gonna be faster!" Rissi yelps to Urf and anyone else not familiar with "celerity."
Boo. Bad doggy!
Rissi squeaks in surprise when the giant mongrelman goes down next to her, and then again as she ducks the arrows sent toward her and Tlugos by the half-orc. That's a problem...but then, so are the spellcasters. Seeing that the drow is tripped and the gnome face-to-face with Xarann, though, she decides the half-orc is the most important issue. Or...his wolf. Grinning, Rissi thumbs her coin, focusing on the wolf. C'mon, boy, you're nothing but an animal, you know deep in your bones that the cold chill of death is coming one day, you know what the ground feels like and you know that one day you'll be under it, and it's not that much of a stretch to believe that we'll put you there... As she thinks at the wolf, Rissi darts forward and closes with the gnome that Xarann is facing.
Rissi panics slightly as she sees Urf's predicament and the arrows sink into Tlugos. Oh no! If one of us falls already we'll be toast... Thumbing her coin again, she sends the tiny, ghostly hand floating next to her streaking across the arena, suddenly limned with white fire. It gropes for the half-orc with the bow, the air hissing around it.
As the hand floats back toward her, Rissi moves to flank the mongrelman with Tlugos, hoping to be a distraction more than anything else. "Hey! Uh...down here!"
"That must be one of those mongrelmen of which I've heard tell..." Rissi mutters as the group strides into the arena. She stays close to Tlugos, drawing her rapier as she goes. "Shame they've captured someone so normally peaceable. Nothing for it, though..." As she stares at their foes, she draws a strange gold coin from one pocket. Rubbing her thumb over it, she winces as she begins to feel faint...but then a tiny, ghostly hand appears in the air next to her.
"Well, uh, I'll do my best," Rissi mutters nervously.
"Um, no, not that flashy. But uh...I can give everyone a slight shield against misfortune!" Rissi frowns. "It doesn't last long, though, so best to wait until we hear the...horn? Signal."
"Urgh, that's...alarming," Rissi mutters as she watches the goblin cuddle with his Itchy Butt. "That's what he's been after?" She says nothing during the first few moments of the exchange, but as Urf tries to turn the tables back on Tlugos, she speaks up. "I'm guessing he can fight all right, Mr. Urf. Which is a fair amount more than I can say for myself. I'm not much of a toughie...but I'm not afraid to get my blade dirty, either." She looks Tlugos in the eye (even though this requires craning her neck). "If you keep them busy, I'll happily stick them with my sword. And I...may be able to do one or two other things to them. Or to us! That would be better, maybe. Things to protect us..."
|
