Willem Alabaster's page

Willem feels a little disappointed in his lack of efficacy, but the cause of justice had been served. He makes a point to search the defeated individuals for anything of note, especially a formula book from the Alchemist for Volara. Beyond significant items, he leaves the rest to be gathered by the authorities, especially any evidence.

"It has been... less than equanimous to be with you all. I wish you the best in your endeavors." Willem says once any debrief is complete, before departing, quite glad to be gone from such a tumultuous place.

Willem casts Shield, further enhancing his defensive capabilities, before closing on the woman. He doesn't strike yet, but wanted to be defended in case she struck first.

Willem steps into the room and sees a foe downed but still conscious, and decides that is the one which needs a good stabbing. He intends to deliver.

Swift for arcane point to sword, move to approach, standard to stabby.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 10 Does not include the bonus for prone.
Damage: 2d4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4, 3) + 2 + 1 = 10

I swore I did move it. Sorry.

I was not. Edited.

Willem steps up into the space between Daedin and the skulk, and strikes.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 4 + 1 = 19
Damage: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (1, 3) + 2 = 6

Having been momentarily transfixed by the board, Willem enters and takes a spot against the wall. "Blends in... if only we had a way of setting him or her apart from the surrounding."

Willem looks at the list. "They can't even spell a man's name properly. No respect for their elders, have they?" Of course this complaint is likely second to the fact they are murderous thugs.

Willem, at the door, opens it, revealing what the GM had already described. "Do we wish to go down, then?"

Willem gives it due consideration, then nods. "I think we're going to need to tie you up, then. You have my word we will not harm you if you do not resist."

"Additionally, if you would like to convince any of the rest of them to lay down arms and surrender, we'd allow that as well. Enough blood has been shed by your group that we'd like to divvy up the punishment." It wasn't quite a kind request, but it was merciful in ways. Willem starts moving to block the other door.

Were you putting that in here on purpose, or was that meant for IC?

This poor guy. Threatened by four separate individuals. Can we make it to 6?

Willem looks at the young man, sword still at his side. "You should not make promises you can't keep, young man... they will catch up with you." There's no particular malice to the words, from Willem who stands near the door. "You can spill your guts literally or figuratively, the choice is yours, but know that his bow has tasted blood thrice already, by my count, and they were more than your match."

"Not at all, I can requisition another after if need be, though it should still be well stocked after this venture." Willem retrieves it from a belt pouch with his off hand and allows Birseko to use it, then replaces it.

I knew it! You should always suspect the red herring.

Willem has Maanyatha do the mage armor again, then readies himself for what will soon follow. He has his blade in hand, but resting by his side and not raised in threatening posture.

"Terrible, you arriving here just after we left. All in the timing, isn't it." He was careful to not say too much. The sheriff was being nice... and it worried him.

Willem keeps pressure on the man, unrelenting in his complete inability to hit anything with this sword that he has devoted much of his considerable life to.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Damage?: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 3) + 3 = 9

10. Best roll of my combat... if I had a flanking partner I'd be more confident about that one.

Willem rounds the foe to prevent an easy egress and strikes.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Once again, however, he seems to have forgotten precisely how to use his sword, the one thing he should really actually be quite good at.

Considering it may have been a minute, another arcane point spent. Swift for that, free 5 foot, standard attack.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 13

Willem hears the sound of Daedin outside, and while he doesn't know quite what's going on, he hears the words "He's out here", from his spot adjacent to the door he had left open. Willem rushes out to join his ally, and finds a curious sight just beyond his range.

Willem tries once more at this stabbing routine, somewhat disheartened by his previous failure but with the knowledge that it isn't over until they're on the ground or he is.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Of course if he kept up his ineptitude, it was more likely to be him than them.

Willem steps into the building, opposite Volara from one of the foes. He tries to stab the foe with his Estoc, after charging it with a portion of his arcane energy.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Damage: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 2) + 3 = 8

What follows is likely a miss...

This is why I live where the air hurts my face. I mean we may have high winds, low temperatures, snow, blizzards, wind chills that can kill you, snow that can block you in your house, but at least we don't have to worry about fire except the ones we set to keep warm.

Willem rushes to the front door, finds battle already joined, and just prepares to strike should an opponent be foolish enough to come full into his range. Not hitting the one that's on the other side of the door as I can't tell who it is that well.

Willem, finding that combat may be imminent, asks that anyone capable of casting Mage Armor use his wand to cast the spell on him. He also allows them to use it as well if they'd like, though given that it's likely the bloodrager who is already armored, that bit of kindness is moot. He'd rather not get skewered like the gentleman in the bushes.

The dhampir also readies his sword, in the event that there are more like that one hiding elsewhere.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 1

Willem sees literally nothing. Perhaps it's the sun in his eyes.

Willem listens, then makes a few suggestions. "They may not even be trying to cause trouble between the groups, merely using the circus as an easy scapegoat, but I agree with much of the rest. The people in town are easily riled, it seems, but your leads are otherwise solid and your reasoning sound." He looks to the group. "The skulk is one option, and we are finding ourselves with previous few."

Willem smiles. Taken for a fool by an illusion? New experiences even at this age. "Indeed, we should try to keep this away from the sheriff, only held as a last resort. She is not the quietest, and I know not whether we could keep her to secrecy. We must find out who has done this..."

Was worth a try. I abide by the dice. :)

Willem tries to recall some things about sphinxes, did they have abilities beyond the normal? Could they grant wishes like djinni? Could they scry, see the future, see the past, something of that nature?

Know: Arcana: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Willem smiles at the justice being done to the offender, but remains unreadable during the exchange with the grateful mother. He falls in line on their way toward the sphinx tent.

Willem is out 25gp saving a non-essential. Ugh.

Willem ties the man up while the healing takes effect, so they have someone to take to the authorities for the assault on whoever it was. This sort of thing was not going to be tolerated.

Willem will move up to the fallen one, checking that he is not actually going to die from a blunted arrow strike.

Heal: 1d20 ⇒ 18

If it looks like this may be a life threatening situation, he will draw out a scroll and prepare to use it. Infernal Healing.

Willem almost charges forward before realizing that rushing into danger like that is a good way to get yourself real dead. He takes a few moments to prepare himself, drawing his sword, weaving arcane energies around him in a protective pattern, and suffusing the sword with latent power. He makes only a slight movement towards the enemies. He doesn't bother with ineffective threats. "I will be upon you soon." It is a statement, not a threat.

That's who I meant, sorry. She could have some idea, if she's the primary herbalist in town.

"There is also the matter of the cutpurses trying to rile up the crowd when we arrived. Daedin and Kwai, you may have something there as well. I doubt the fair foolish enough to openly rob the masses, the rare individual coin purse can be an allowance for such businesses. It would not be wise to do so while they were already under such scrutiny. Mistress Delisen seems far smarter than that, her honesty notwithstanding." He ignores the potential insult offered, he had granted her intelligence as a given and knew the perception of her folk so wouldn't waste the breath arguing that she could be trusted for anything but her own interests. It was a foolish creature indeed that did things to prevent its own survival.

"Also, we could talk to the alchemist. I know we have examined these quite well, but perhaps she would recognize them or know their previous contents." Willem adds, so they have a second lead. He had other suspicions but they weren't for the public's ear.

Willem looks at the contents of the vials, his eyes taking on strange hues as he whispers an incantation to read the subtler signs of magic...

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

"There is naught magical about this, it is not a potion, but there are certainly some reagents in it. I couldn't say for certain."

Willem observes the interactions. "I agree, we should bring this one to the sheriff. At the very least, it supports the argument that it wasn't the fair that committed the murder. Not that we particularly needed much proof, but the more we can manage to find the easier time they'll have. I do feel some concern that we don't have any additional support guarding the grounds, there could be reprisal while we investigate."

Willem sets his pack on the ground and rummages in it a bit before finding rope, tying it around the skulk tightly so as to prevent the creature's escape. He readies his estoc again once completed, so that if the creature tries anything sneaky he can get a good poke in on it.

Willem moves toward the stairs, drawing an Estoc. He tries to catch up to the creature, but it may prove too fast for him.

My init mod should be +3, don't know where I could modify that.

Oh, well that would've caused a mildly different reaction from Willem if so, so I'll just go on the assumption she had hair or something strategically falling. :P

Willem ponders the sorts of questions you don't ask a grieving widow, but which would have immeasurable importance to the task at hand. "You say brigands, and I understand the indelicate nature of this inquiry, but were there any parties who have previously expressed discontentedness with your husband, or your business? To seek out all avenues only, of course."

The sphinx was clothed above her leonine portions, Willem thinks, though he does not find that the sort of detail to argue. He might normally, but this wasn't the forum for it. A grieving widow was not one to argue with, they were prone to emotional outburst.

Willem observes and listens to the counsel of his compatriots. At the sobbing woman, he looks about. "Someone else may wish to console the widow, my attentions are not generally taken well."

Survival: 1d20 ⇒ 9 Willem knows nothing of this.

They're trying to say that Jherizhana did it... but that's impossible. Not only wouldn't she, but I can personally guarantee that she didn't leave the carnival.

She holds up a hand to forestall any questions.

Trade secret as to how, but if it was her, I'd know, simple as that. Past that... i can't really say much about the exacts, you'd have to talk to the sheriff about that.

Sure, the ringmaster has some... hold on me... but I do not begrudge her that. She must, after all, assure the safety of those around us.

Willem sighs. He looks to his companions. "I don't want to fight the local constabulary, regardless of the fact I'm well within my rights to do so, but I also don't wish to alienate our contacts at the carnival." He sighs. "Very well. The sphinx is under compulsion. The ringmaster holds some sort of sway over the beast, she said literally as much during our conversations. Be it an enchanted collar, a geas or other compulsion, the fact remains that our dear comrade Jherizana could literally not have gone out on her own to assault the foolish lech Walder. I can prove it, as unlike you I am not clouded by emotion. I would have done so in the course of investigation, but you are forcing my hand. I see we won't be friends."

Willem waits for whatever statement comes from the sheriff, though he is sure it won't be nearly enough to erase the offense given.

Willem doesn't budge, not even a little. "I am not willing to divulge that information as it is personal in nature, and should you try to do so I will submit a missive to his eminence the Blood Lord Kemnebi that you are illegally holding me for failing to do your job for you. Should it become necessary in the course of our dealings to enlighten you, I will do so, but it will benefit no one and irreparably harm my reputation to speak that which I know before its proper time. After all, if I do divulge it now, you will no doubt go bandying it about and ruin the element of surprise. I can tell you that the lady Jherizana did not do this, and will have the capability to prove exactly that should the need arise."

He looks at the Sheriff, eyes hollow. "You can trust me, and also trust that while I both like and trust you, I have no intention of wavering. You can, as I have said, throw me in your quaint cell, but I will be of little if any help there. And I can last years. I will outlive your successor."

Edit: I literally have a trait that makes it harder to intimidate me, not just trying to brush her off.

Willem considers. The lech from the sphinx meeting? I do recall it myself. "He did in fact make such comments, I can corroborate that report, but she was gracious enough to overlook the vulgarity. Jherizana gave him a good scare but allowed him to go, and if she had wished him ill she could have done so with far less effort."

He considers relations with the Sczarni, Varisians, and other nationalities. It certainly isn't easy being different, and he would know. "In addition, I have rather overwhelming evidence that it was not her, but I shall keep that until such time as I deem it necessary."

Likewise, Willem makes no great fuss of departing. He rises and gives a slight bow, departing to the outside. He passes the time out of doors, not intrigued by any of the other amusements offered.

Willem finds a smile crossing his features again and quashes it in favor of a deferent nod once more. "Suitably answered, and wise as well. There are many beings who through ignorance or malice do envy the long-lived and seek to end them, though there are also maladies which come with age, but those are unflattering tales for less pleasant times."

His eyes linger but not overlong on the remainder of her body, before returning to her eyes. "To make pleasant conversation, I will ask questions. You may dispose of them as you will, or not, but sitting here in silence would make time pass interminably." He looks to Daedin for agreement. "How came you to travel with this group? It would hardly seem the normal setting for one of your esteem."

"I had merely thought that being in your presence would be more enjoyable than the banal trivialities of a test of strength, a peering at flesh, or a fortune telling. Prophecy is dead since Aroden, and I mourn his passing, but the lady of death has taken the gift with her." He smiles at Daedin's comments as well, he had forgotten that there was another of the long-lived among them. It did cause a question to come to mind, because he hadn't bothered to consider it. "I would not be so gauche as to ask a lady her age, but what age do grand sphinx attain before their death? I admit a lack of knowledge on my part, but I had not considered it prior to this time. I assumed an agelessness in my imprudence."