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Hey folks - life has gotten unexpectedly busy for me (I haven't even been able to check the forums in the past week), and it will likely continue to be busy for a while. I must respectfully bow out of this game and focus on the one that I am running. I hope you all have fun! Thanks for having me for a while.
Russ stands by and watches the healers do their work, cursing himself for not having the training to be more useful in this kind of situation. He imagines the utter despair he would feel if that were Mara lying on the floor, him unable to do anything to help her. He looks at the Sable Company pole-arm in his hands, and the image of himself running this "Vargo" character through comes unbidden to his mind. "What's her name?" he asks, nodding towards the wounded marine. "If we're going to keep Vargo from hurting anyone else like this, we need to act quickly, and work together."
Russ opens his mouth to ask where Minus is just as he comes banging on the door. But, to be cautious, he grips his pole-arm and calls out at the door, "Who's there?"
Having no knowledge or skill in healing, Russ stays behind to keep an eye on those laid up here. He smiles as the children enter from the kitchen. "Hello there, little ones. Brask treating you well?"
Great, more thugs who think they're above the law... and above everyone else in the city. "The docks, eh? I'm somewhat familiar with the area... we'll do what we can to make them safer." Later, Russ sits with the others, waiting for Brask's friend, and glad to have somewhere warm to stay.
Russ cringes slightly as Raina cracks her knuckles. Wouldn't want to get in a fight with that one! He smiles and says, "if they aren't scared of us at first, I have a feeling that'll change right quick."
Level 2 (ranger) hp: Favored class: +1 hp (for 9 gained at this level = 21 total)
Russ pays for the necklace but the woman hurries off before he has a chance to ask where her shop might be located. Shrugging, he stows the necklace in his belt pouch and accompanies the others to see the Marshal. "It seems like you have more than belligerent Hellknights troubling you, Marshal. How else can we help?"
"Thank you," says Russ as he looks over the jewelry. "I'm afraid I missed my niece's last birthday, you see." One of the necklaces immediately stands out to him - a necklace of lapis lazuli and bronze beads. "How much for this one?"
Russ watches after the Hellknights as they go to see if they intend to cause any more mischief in this area. He suggests to the woman, "Perhaps you'll let me buy one of those necklaces from you?"
Russ steps forward and peers at the necklaces. "These look to be of fine craftsmanship, but no particularly high value. A thief would be wasting his time with these." He looks pointedly at the nearest Hellknight, about to say something much more insulting, but keeps his mouth shut, not wanting to spoil the more diplomatic efforts of his companions.
Russ steps between the old man and the rest of the group and holds his pole-arm across the man's path. "Easy now, Grandpa. We don't mean you any harm... but we don't want to be bothered, either." Looking over his shoulder at Raina, but occasionally glancing back at the man's crazed eyes to try to read his intent, Russ says, "do you know this... person?"
Russ has remained rather silent over the course of the past day and night, his mind clearly preoccupied with other things. He seemed rather ill at ease in the presence of royalty, having not expected to actually meet the queen herself. The easygoing nature of his companions helped him feel more relaxed, though, and he accepted the offer to help the city watch keep order. Besides, he thinks with a slight smirk, I've already got this pole-arm off one of the Sable Company... least I can do is help out a bit, I suppose. The presence of the ghostly apparition does even more to unnerve him, and it is comforting that Talliree and the others appear startled as well. It would certainly be strange if such a sight were familiar to them! Unable to make heads nor tails of the riddles - "I imagine the answers will become clear in time... or it's all utter nonsense!" - he simply eats supper and rests with the others. While walking to Jeggare Circle, Russ says to Raina, "I know what you mean. My day usually starts when everyone else is hitting the taverns. But, on the bright side, we actually have permission to tell Hellknights what to do! This might actually be kind of fun... or, you know, get us all killed."
Thank you for your patience, I should be back in the swing of things today or tomorrow and back to posting!
Just wanted to let everyone know that I am getting married tomorrow and will probably not be posting until around the 17th when I get back from my honeymoon. Feel free to GMPC, or someone else can take over, or Russwin can fade into the background for a while - whatever works best for you all!
Russ raises an eyebrow but quickly straightens his expression. Lady Raina? That would certainly be interesting... if it were believable... then again, I haven't even known this woman for a day. Could she really be noble-born? She doesn't seem like she's bluffing... Russ spends a good long while looking bewildered.
"Hmm. I don't have any titles either. I guess I'm simply Russwin Ardath, of Korvosa."
Russ thinks it best to let someone else do the talking in this particular situation. His track record of friendly interactions with the city guards is.... unimpressive. He stands holding his weapon in a non-threatening manner and observes from the back.
Bidding farewell to Brask and the children, Russ packs his meager belongings. "The city could use more folk like you, Brask," he says as they depart. As they walk along the street, Russ keeps an eye out for those burly-looking dockworkers or any other people who seem threatening.
Russ steps back from the window and strides back to where everyone is eating lunch. "Don't be alarmed, but we'd best be on our guard - there are some suspicious folk wandering around outside. They might be looking for trouble."
Russ can't help but laugh when he sees Raina play-wrestling with the kids. His laugh tapers off as he remembers his promise to Mara, long ago, that he would stop fighting at the taverns for money. Sorry, Blessed Mara. I would beat the Queen herself into a bloody pulp if it meant you would be alive and free. Forcing his mind away from such dark thoughts, he returns to his meal.
Russ mostly keeps to himself as the food is served, watching the rescued children with a distant look. He starts to ask some of the children how Mara was treated while she was Lamm's prisoner, but seeing how happy they are playing their games, he decides it's best not to remind them of the wicked man after all. Occasionally, he walks over to a window and looks out into the streets to assess the situation.
Russ realizes that with everything that happened today, he hasn't eaten yet. "Now that you mention it..."
Russ shrugs. "I guess if you all think that returning the brooch will somehow get us on the Queen's good side, it's not a bad idea. Though it does sound a little... unlikely. As far as the kids go, we probably don't want to be taking them anywhere until we know the streets are safer. Brask, are you certain they'd be safe with you for the time being?"
"I don't know about you, but I think the Queen would take one look at me holding that brooch and throw me in the dungeons just for sullying it. I say we toss it in the river... I doubt she'll miss it, what with everything else going on. And what with being the Queen and all."
Russ watches Minus carefully, but the ratfolk seems trustworthy enough - and if the others are comfortable selling their findings to him, what business is it of mine anyway? He returns Raina's smile with a small one of his own. She seems a bit uncomfortable about all of this, too. I wonder what her story is? If she hates Lamm as much as I do... it can't be a happy one. He glances around the room... I don't suppose anyone around here has a very happy story, though.
"We were hoping you might know something about a child that Gaedren Lamm sold. Her name is Mara..." Russ goes on to describe his niece in the same manner that he did with Brask and the others. If this rat person is anything like a real rat, he can get places that the rest of us can't... but that doesn't mean I should trust him... Russ tries to gauge Minus' behavior and response to hearing about Mara's predicament. Does the ratfolk really intend to help them? And might there be strings attached?
Russ nods in greeting to Minus, "I am Russwin Ardath, a native of our fair city..." Is he... a rat person...? Great...
Russ goes with Brask and the others. "Hope... desperation... I can hardly tell the difference any more, but something keeps me going."
"I am truly grateful for all of your offers of help. Until we find out more from Brask's contacts, though, I have no idea where to even start looking. Talliree here is right. I won't give up hope... not until there's some proof that she is... gone... but I will not waste my time chasing shadows. We need more information."
On another note. I hope you guys are enjoying the game and the NPCs aren't taking over (especially Brask, as much fun as he is to RP.) If it's too much I can scale it back. No problem! I'm just excited to see what happens next... :)
"Thank you... Kishta, was it? I appreciate it. If there is anything I can help with in return...? I would offer to kill Gaedren Lamm, as it sounds like you had no appreciation for the man either, but..."
If any of us have Spellcraft we can take a crack at identifying the items. I agree with Raina's assessment of the loot. Although I could take the scale mail, it's hard for me to justify medium armor at this point, so I'll pass on it.
"Cook?" Russ runs a hand through his unkempt hair and shrugs. "I'm afraid not. Not better than most, anyway. But if there's children that need feeding, I can try to help. Maybe I could go find some food, if you don't have enough? The streets seem quite dangerous right now, but... I know other ways around town."
Russ sighs. "You're right, of course. With everything that's going on... I'll never find her if I go running off into the city with no direction." He sheathes his dagger and begins looking around the room, forcing himself not to fall into another of his old useless depressions. He had finally gotten better at avoiding them as he had gotten closer to finding Mara. This is not a setback... this is still progress. I am still closer to finding her than I was a week ago. "Is there anything I can do to help out in the meantime? For the other children, or...?"
Russ slumps down into a chair and slams a fist on the table. "Sold?! He sold her? I knew he was evil, treacherous, despicable, but... to sell a child!? How... what..." he slowly shakes his head for a long time and listens to the others tell of Lamm's demise. "So... he is dead then. For a long time I have wished for this. They say... they say you should be careful what you wish for. With him dead, how will I ever find Mara?" Brask offers to help with his connections around the city, and Russ says, "I am truly grateful. A year ago, when she was not lost yet, she was always a happy and optimistic girl. Always willing to see the good in people... and always going out of her way to help others, especially children younger than her. I always teased her for being a kinder, more honest, and more helpful child than most adults that I've ever known. I honestly suspected that there was something... different... about her. I don't know what it was, but I just had a hunch of sorts. She was... I don't know... this sounds strange, but she was lucky. In a way that is difficult to describe. I nicknamed her 'Blessed Mara,' for she truly was blessed. Until Lamm came along..." Russ's gaze becomes distant and he pauses for a few moments. Then he draws the cold iron dagger at his hip and places it on the table, its dark metal giving off a dangerous shine. "Whoever bought my sister doesn't know it yet, but they've also bought Gaedren Lamm's fate. I will help you take care of the children - I owe it to Mara to help them in any way that I can. Brask, if you ever hear any news of my sister, I will be eternally grateful if you would pass it on to me... and any of you who wish to help me find these... these people who purchase helpless children..."
Russ meets Raseri's gaze and nods in greeting. "There's a man... Lamm is his name. The children were his captives, the poor things. At least, that is what I have heard." Russ steps inside with everyone else and rubs his shoulder as he looks at the heavy bar that the dwarf lays across the door. No wonder... He gets a hopeful look on his face when Raina confirms that they did, indeed, rescue several children, and then he frowns slightly when she jokingly offers to "sell" him one. He blinks, then chuckles. "Your humor is oddly comforting. Honestly, if you truly wanted payment, I'd happily give it. I know about the children because one of them is my niece. She went missing last year... and I've been searching ever since. I finally learned that Lamm was likely responsible... but I couldn't find him. Mara.... her name is Mara. Her hair is the same color as mine. She is thin..." Russ realizes that probably isn't helpful considering the likely state of all of the children, "... and she has a small birthmark on her neck. She's thirteen..." He waves away the offered drink and looks around the room, searching for any sign of Mara, looking closely at each of the children that runs by. "Have you seen her? I am forever in your debt if she is here." Russ visibly tenses. The entire past year of searching culminated in this moment. He dreaded the answer to his question - is Mara here? - because it was probably also the answer to another question: Is Mara still alive?
Russ relaxes only slightly as the mob disperses, letting out a sigh of relief as they finally disappear around the corners, no doubt running off to trouble some other poor souls. Not my problem... not today. Russ leans his pole-arm against the wall of the building and holds out his empty palms in a sign of peace towards the dwarf and everyone else gathered outside. "Sorry about hitting your door. I planned to knock, but... with the crowd, there wasn't time." As the news of the king's death seems to have shocked some of those present, Russ refrains from mentioning his other business for the time being. Unfortunately, that leaves him standing awkwardly with little else to say. "Uh... my name is Russ. And... yes, I heard the king is dead, too." He opens his mouth as if to say more, then shuts it, not sure if these people will be pleased or upset with the news of the king's death. King or no king... it hardly even matters. "Maybe we should get off the street. It's not safe. And... I hear you rescued some children who might need help..."
Congrats on finishing up the semester! I know how you feel. I am one week away from being done with grad school myself.
Russ levels the ranseur at the crowd and waves it back and forth menacingly, still trying to get used to its balance. "You heard the dwarf! Get outta here!" Unfortunately, the crowd can probably tell that he doesn't really want kill anyone, making his threats sound somewhat hollow. Russ tilts his head and says to the dwarf, without taking his eyes off the crowd, "I'm only here for my niece. I've got nothing to do with this lot and I want no trouble!"
"The King is dead? When in the Nine Hells did-" Russ starts to ask, but then Garol mentions Mara and all thoughts of the king leave his mind. "I'll be back later - with my niece! Hold a room for us..." He rushes out the door and into the street. As Russ passes the Sable Company ranger lying on the cobblestones, his blood slowly pooling in the cracks, the rider's cold dead eyes send a shiver down his spine. Russ briefly kneels beside the body and closes the man's eyelids. He picks up the rider's pole-arm - a ranseur - and tests its balance. I might be needing this... and you certainly won't. He runs through the streets to The Dwarf's Axe, avoiding people - especially Hellknights - if possible, and shoving them out of the way if he must. When he arrives, it seems a large crowd has gathered. Pushing his way through, holding his new pole-arm vertically so as not to accidentally skewer anyone, he attempts to reach the door and enter... Mara... if you're in there, I'll never let you out of my sight again. And if you're not... if you're dead like Garol thinks... Russ doesn't allow himself to finish the thought. When he finally arrives at the door, a woman is trying to force her way inside, glancing over her shoulder at her would-be assailants. It must be locked. "Out of the way!" Russ shouts - at the crowd as much as at the woman. He quickens his pace and slams into the door with his shoulder.
I think Tusilak said it best. Whatever you're working through it is more important than an online role-playing game. We'll be ready when you are.
Cool. Let's do this thing!
Posting here as my PC so that the campaign shows up in my campaigns tab. EDIT: Well that didn't work either. Maybe I have to wait until I've posted in the gameplay thread.
Mike here - Russwin Ardath is (I think) complete, so here is my submission. I recycled an old alias which never went anywhere, which is why there are previous posts on it. It's a new character. I went with urban ranger. While Russ is currently CN, I tend to role-play characters like this on a "path" with different possibilities. Maybe he will stay CN... maybe he will become CG... it depends on the story...
Just chiming in to say I'm watching as well.
Good luck! I'll try to have some background info up for Russin by tomorrow. It has been busy for me as well.
Russwin does what he must to get the job done.
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