Finding a good vantage point to be able to watch the guards without being seen, Zalen waits for his friends to catch up, explaining the situation to them when they do.
"Seems like they're about to get themselves some more victims. It looks like they are pretending to still be a part of the guards, which good be a problem for us if we try and take them out in the open. So, with that in mind, it may be safer to wait until we can catch them somewhere private to attack, we already outnumbered as it is, the last thing we want is to have some innocent guards come to their rescue. On the other hand, they may be about to kill two more innocent victims and obviously we can't just stand by and let that happen. They may just take them captive first and kill them somewhere else... I did hear talk about 'arresting them'.. but we can't know for sure what they're going to do. So what do you think ladies, any ideas?"
As Zalen speaks, his friends are prevented from responding by the screams and noise coming from the small apt. Soon after a pair of women are brought out, one of them is about to scream again for help when the other, who seems to 'know the score' stops her. Rage flashes in the rogue's eyes and he grips the hilt of his blade tightly. He manages to control himself but his first few words are through clenched teeth "Wait, wait...I know how you must feel,,, I do the same, but I doubt very much they will slaughter these poor women in the open. I still say we follow them till we can better take them by surprise without risk of other guards coming to their aid..." anger still clear in his eyes, Zalen pauses for a second then continues, but if both of you feel that we should take them now then my sword is ready. What say you now?"
Ayedah was gritting her teeth, her right arm shaking from the desire to tear her hammer from her back and charge straight in. But Zalen's warnings made sense. "Damn it! You are right about not attacking them in front of any real guards. We are outnumbered as it is. But if we wait too long...Gods! If we had Krek and Jillian..." Ayedah was clearly frustrated. Anything that didn't revolve around rushing in right now felt wrong to her.
"Wait, do you think they will take them back to their shop? We could ambush them there!" Unless there are more of them inside, she thought, though she kept that silent. "Maybe it would be wiser to just follow them for a moment, but then all it takes is two strokes of a knife and it is too late!"
Alandra looked worried and scared, but excited at the same time. "What if we lose them? We should kill them now."
As they all seemed undecided about the best course of action, Zalen looked (1d20+6 =22) around desperately, trying to spy how many, if any, real guards were present (or how many they had recently passed and were within earshot) He also racked his knowledge (1d20+6 =19) of the area trying to figure what kind of response might be expected from guards or residents in this part of the city (eg response time of guards and how many? Would residents ignore a fight or join in? if so on which side? etc.)
He then says "Maybe we could try and take them all out quick and if real guards show up, surrender ourselves? But no matter what happens, I do not think we should let just anybody know of our connection to Marshall Kroft, agreed?"
Night guardsmen were still a common sight in the darkened streets of Korvosa. No longer on every corner, but never more than a call of alarm away. The were in old Korvosa, the worst part of it. There was not much that this area had not seen in both depravity and surprising humanity.
Tonight, that would not be a boon - Old Korvosa was locked down as tightly as any part of the city short of the palace itself. One thing was worth mentioning - most residents were going to keep their head down, and out of the fight.
It would be tough, but probably not impossible to set up an ambush later on the way back to the slaughterhouse - if that was were they were headed.
Alandra frowned after Zalen spoke.
"Oh yeah, I didn't think about the real guards. Maybe attacking them now is not such a good idea after all. Let's hurry! They're gonna get away."
Thinking desperately, Zalen's face is dark with worry and frustration. Suddenly though his head snaps up and his confidant grin returns. He whispers and speaks in Shoanti just to be on the safe side "Ok! I think I have an idea! It's still a bit risky but I think it's the best we can do under the circumstances. You two run ahead, back the way we came and find a place to set up an ambush. Wait! Actually I think I know the perfect place" quickly Zalen describes the location he's talking about. He then continues with his desperate plan "I'll continue to follow behind them. When we get close to your ambush I'll jump out behind them and distract them so they turn around and face me, then you two jump out and hit 'em from behind! And just in case they're going somewhere else, I'll be able to tell and I'll make a racket so you two can come running to help.How's that sound?"
Alandra nodded excitedly, then in halting Shoanti said "A good plan it is Z! Ayedah, with me come!" Without waiting for a reply she hurried off down the street toward the ambush location.
Ayedah was thrown a bit off guard to hear Zalen suddenly speaking in Shoanti, but she was relieved to have a plan to work off of. She echoed Alandra's sentiment, her speech noticably less stilted in her own language. "Yeah. I'm right behind you, Alandra. Be careful, Zalen. Don't get in over your head without us, alright?" she said as she backpedaled after Alandra before turning and sprinting back the way they came.
'Hmph, when have I ever 'got in over my head?' Zalen thinks as his friends race off . But then 'Wait! Don't answer that' is the immediately following thought as the cagey rogue can't help but smile ruefully at himself. Remaining in their hiding place, Zalen watches his prey closely and waits until the guards and their captives have moved off an appropriate distance before beginning to stealthily (1d20+7 =21) follow them.
His two female companions speeding ahead, Zalen continued to trail the pitiful procession, seeing how the deserters exchanged weary greetings with an actual patrol.
The two woman evaded the patrol with little trouble and found the place Zalen remembered, a small choked alleyway emptying into the main street just after the bridge to Old Korvosa. It was perfect. Hardly any room to move, especially if you went there eight strong, you could close it down decently alone, but with two persons guarding it, you probably could hold off an incompetent army.
Ayedah's spirits rose at the sight of their intended battleground. "This is good." she said to Alandra. "If they are passing through here, we can pin them down. If you stay behind me, you could use your goddess' magic without worry." Her last statement became a bit apologetic in tone as she said it; she realized she might be insulting the young grave tender by suggesting any weakness, and she was raised to be respectful of the Shoanti's keepers of the dead.
"I wonder though...Do you think Zalen can hold them on the other side on his own?"
"I don't know, I hope so. I wonder what happened to Krek?"
When she thought the deserters were getting close Alandra muttered a prayer to Pharasma then raised her holy symbol. "Pharasma will protect us."
The six deserters, with their two prisoners approached the gap between the buildings as planned, when one among their number called out. "You there, behind the corner! Step into the light! Curtfew's long past!"
They had seen the ambushers. Fortunately enough, they hadn't figured out its meaning, or if they had, decided to continue the part of night watchmen rather than just join melee.
Zalen could see from his own distance how the two leading deserters drew blades, and the two behind the captive woman readied their bows. The two with the prisoners continued to menace the woman, obviously unwilling to give them even a hope of escape.
Alandra looked Ayedah and nodded. She then grabbed her holy symbol in one hand and said a prayer to Pharasma to strike her enemies with terror.
She stepped out into the street with her hands up, still holding the holy symbol.
"Damn!" Ayedah cursed under her breath as she followed Alandra out, copying her movements mostly out of a lack of any other idea of what to do. Her mind raced for an excuse that would allow them to get close enough to attack. Just keep their attention on you and give Zalen time to strike those in the back...
Verik called out "Nice and slowly, that's more like it!" as Ayedah and Alandra abandoned their hiding places. His companions remained tense, though, and the two guards holding the woman had their longswords drawn. They did not hold the woman at point, thought - it probably either did not occur to them, or would not have meshed with their disguise at all.
The two woman were only crudely bound at the wrist, but had their legs free - having them shackled fully would have been too inconvenient for the cross-city procession, probably. They exchanged glances, but kept quiet for the moment - not knowing if the interruption signaled rescue or merely further troubles.
'That's it girls' thinks Zalen, 'way to improvise!'. Drawing his rapier and silently signaling Krek to be ready to charge, Zalen tries to sneak (1d20+7 =14) up on the guards from behind.
Once he gets close enough he will attempt impale (1d20+5 =6) one of the guards with a deadly sneak attack. At the last moment though one of the women turns to regard him in surprise. Suddenly struck by the fear in her beautiful blue eyes, the sensitive rogue completely fumbles his attack.
Alandra sees Zalen make his move and screams at the nearest archer, thrusting forth the holy symbol: "Flee at the terror of Pharasma!"
Seeing her comrades burst into action, Ayedah flung herself with a snarl at the false guards, reaching for the hammer on her back to bring it down on the first one she could reach. These men, threatening people and abusing authority they didn't even have, made her blood boil.
We have to get those women away from them! Keep them off balance before they can do anything to them!
The scene turned into an out and out melee very quickly. Alandra stepped forward, and presented her symbol, and the guardsmen she had targeted froze in terror - for two heartbeats, maybe. Then he turned tail and fled as quickly as his feet carried him.
Zalen assaulted one of the bowmen near the tail end of the procession, with some success even. His strike was only just barely turned away from the man's kidney, but the puncture wound bled heavily nevertheless. A howl of pain sounded throughout the streets. He dropped his bow and hastily proceeded with a counterattack, but overswung in his haste. For the moment at least, Zalen remained unhurt.
Ayedah's hammer send one of the swordsmen flailing to the ground, but she found herself pincered between Verik and the remaining swordsmen - and Verik used her position to devastating effect. Ayedah never saw what exactly he did, but even through the haze of her rage, she felt paralyzing pain, threatening to overwhelm her.
The two guardsmen remaining with the woman hastily pulled their swords, let the woman go, and charged Alandra, whom they had first identified as hostile. She managed to turn away one blade with a twist of Flutter, but the other caught her blindsided... She tasted blood as her flesh tore
If possible Alandra will take a 5' step toward Verik, flanking him with Ayedah with she can.
"Bleed and die!" she screamed, and reached out to touch him with the holy symbol .
Touch attack: 1d20+4=6 (8 if flanking).
Ayedah screamed in pain and rage when Verik struck her. Now barely seeing anything other than red, she raised her earthbreaker over her head, glaring at him with crazed eyes and bared teeth, and tried to bring it down upon him.
Verik stepped back, and quickly slipped a vial of liquid to his lips. A brilliant surge of light coursed through his body, just moments before Ayedah's heavy overhead attack send him tumbling back. He gritted his teeth, and his wound bled heavily. However, by focussing exclusively on Verik, Ayedah left herself open to the other traitor - much less devastating than Verik, but his attack stung nevertheless.
Alandra send more blood gushing from Verik's wound, but he still held on, by the skin of his teeth and the vileness of his heart. She exposed herself to the two renegades who had just released the woman ever more, though. One of them she managed to dance around, the other... she wasn't so lucky.
Zalen continued to try and outdance the remaining renegade, and managed to hold his own - with neither making any mentionable progress in the battle.
Zalen weaves and bobs against his opponent, until he can ram (1d20+5 =20) (crit confirm (1d20+5 =12)) the point of his rapier into the man, obviously causing some damage (1d6=5).
Alandra felt the sword cut her again. She stepped back away from her assailants and yelled "Pharasma protect me!", raising her holy symbol above her head.
This isn't good, Ayedah thought. Fearing the worst, she yelled at the two captives, "Run!" as she brought her hammer over her head again, she stepped forward after Verik. They didn't have much in the way of hope right now, but if they could kill the head of the snake...
It was getting harder to see through the haze of pain as she brought her maul down.
Just as Alandra shielded herself from the assailants, Verik fainted from the bloodloss. The man just... slid down on his back, almost gently. However, Alandra might regret this action. Now that a supernatural repulsion shielded her from the thugs, they instead focussed on the much more active, dangerous opponent. Ayedah.
As her uncontrolled attack managed to dent the stones on the street, the three men focused on her. She couldn't defend against them all.
Zalen fared little better against the two remaining opponents he was battling. While the first one was wounded, he avenged himself in kind.
Seeing Ayedah go down Alandra cried out "Ayedah! Zalen, help!" Again she raised her holy symbol. "Pharasma hide us from our enemies!"
As a foggy mist billowed out from Alandra, she moved through it to where Ayedah lay, ignoring the attackers, trying to drag her away.
Gern moved as swiftly through the streets of Korvosa as his stumpy dwarven legs would allow him. While important, his errand certainly wasn't urgent, so the fghter was cautiously observing the area around him as he moved. The recent troubles in the city had his entire dwarvven family on edge.
Ahead, he heard the sounds of battle, in the direct path he had chosen to take. Drawing his axe and readying his shield, he dwarf continued on hoping to avoid conflict but being prepared none the less.
As he he rounded a bend in the road, he saw the batlle and his blood started to boil. The two Girls who hadhelped him fight Lamm were surrounded by combatants, further on the silver tongued one was also engaged, and they looke to be in trouble. As he wathced, the big Shoanti girl fell heavily to the ground, a number of blows dropping her solidly.
"I'll be damned by the gods of earth and forge if I'll let this go on" he ground out.
Shouting to grab the attention of the atackers, the dwarven fighter hefted his axe and charged into combat.
"YOU BOYS LIKE TO HIT GIRLS DO YOU? TRY SOMETHING WITH A BIT MORE GRISTLE TO IT THEN!!"
As he ran at the combatants, fog billowed up and around him.
"Ayedah!" Zalen couldn't help yell as he saw his dear friend fall "You Bastards!" he growls at the rogue guards in general, his eyes full of fury. Kicking at one of his attackers, Zalen performs a brilliant diving tumble (1d20+7=20), attempting to disengage from his foes and make his way over to the fallen Barbarian. As he does a fog boils up from Alandra's magic's and the brave priestess moves to try and drag Ayedah to safety.
Zalen pops up from his roll and attacks (1d20+5 =22) one of brute's who felled the valiant barbarian, his blade plunging (1d6=3) satisfactorily into the man's flesh. (plus sneak (1d6=3) damage if he somehow gets it). Standing, the rogue turns his back to his friends, guarding their retreat.
Just then he hears a familiar bellow in the mist and he smiles dangerously as he yells out "Well met good dwarf! Glad you've decided to join our little party!"
Gods...Father...it can't end like this... Ayedah tasted blood. She felt so light...do birds feel this light?
The billowing mists summoned by Pharasmas priestess were a boon to the hard-pressed heroes, since the thick clouds made even seeing an opponents, let alone hitting a sensitive spot, pure guesswork and luck.
Alandra moved forward to her fallen companion, and would be able to aid her soon. The goons that had previously cut down Ayedah paid her little mind. They focused on Gern instead, whose sudden appearance had taken everyone by suprise. Other than a light scratch , his heroics went unpunished, which might be a little bit of good luck in the most unexpected circumstances.
Zalen, even though not able to make out too much of his opponents, still felt he drew blood from one of them.
Gern laughed at the men attacking him, hoping to goad them into continuing their attacks on him and ignoring his companions.
"Is that all ye' got Laddy? Try puttin' some oomph behind it ya big jessy"
The dwarf shifted the grip on his axe, swinging it up and under the defense of the man, hoping to hit him in this fog shroud, but quietly thnkful for the cover it gave his companions.
"More Like this!" he grunts as he swings.
Hearing Zalen call out a greeting to him form the fog, he frowns and grunts a reply "Well lad, I'd not be leavin' ye to the likes o' this since ye once helped me. Try an' keep yerself alive will ye, focus more on the defence side o' things and less on the lookin so pretty doin it"
Alandra reached started pulling Ayedah away from the fight. "Pharasma is not ready for you yet," she said, touching Ayedah with the holy symbol.
Then she heard a familiar voice booming, unlooked for in their time of need.
"Gern!?"
The taste of blood came back into focus, as did the sounds of battle. Familiar voices were yelling around her, but she couldn't quite place them. She recognized Alandra looking down at her, and remembered what was happening. Oh gods and spirits, was I that close? She didn't feel her weapon in her hand.
"My 'breaker..." she coughed out along with a bit of her own blood. "Need my hammer..." She struggled to her feet, her legs barely able to hold her up.
In the mist, the battle continued to rage. However, now that the most potent of their number had fallen, and one of their comrades fled before, the sudden appearance of another opponent were a bit too much risk than the deserters were happy with. They disengaged and retreated in the very mist Alandra had conjured.
With the enemies in full retreat, the group had a chance to survey the situation a little closer. The two woman had huddled together in the corner of the buildings, clearly trying not to get caught in the fighting. Verrik lay, still bleeding, in the very alleyway they had planned to ambush him.
Further away, an alarm horn was blown - probably a parting gift from the deserters.
Alandra heard the retreat of the deserters, and felt very relieved that she and her friends weren't going to die just yet, and joy at the unexpected appearance of an old friend.
"Gern!" she cried again and ran up to him in the mist and gave him a big hug. "I wondered what happened to you!"
Then she remembered Verik, and started walking over to him with Sliver drawn to finish what they had started.
"Time to die you pile of pig dung."
Gern watched as the men departed, and gave his axe a last shake at them for good measure. The mist probably obscured the gesture but it made the dwarf feel better to to do so, since he hadn't actually landed a blow during the brief skirmish.
He suddenly felt himself grabbed from behind as the Shoanti Cleric embraced him. The dwarf stiffened slightly and blushed, before grumbling "Bah, twas nothin' more'n you woulda done fer me lass."
He turned to steady Ayedah as she picked her great hammer up from the ground, and his eyes widened slightly as Alandra moved to murder the unconscious guard.
"Afore ye' go and stick that fella" he says hastily "Does someone wanna tell me why we're in the business o' murderin' the guard now? And what are the two women cowerin' in the corner doin?"
With the adrenalin of the fight wearing off, the dwarven fighter was only now starting to realise the situation he was in with his friends. He wanted some clarification on things before he could sit back and watch a man murdered in good faith.
Feeling a mixture of relief that his friends would be making it out of this alive and frustration that the other deserters had gotten away, Zalen let it all out in a loud exhalation of breath. Knowing he has a lot to do in a very short time he moves and speaks quickly.
Realizing that explanations were in order, yet also being fully aware that now was far from the best time or place, Zalen first says "Friend Gern, you are right, you are more than due a proper explanation, and have one you shall. But it shall have to wait for now as this is Not the time, or place. So for the moment I ask you to trust us."
As he spoke the rogue moved to put a hand on the shoulder of his young friend, speaking to her quietly "Alandra my little viper, there is no doubt this disgusting excuse for a man deserves to be punished for his terrible crimes, and believe me, we Will send him back to the hell that spawned him. But now we must all get off the street before the Real guard arrives and we may need this sack of dung alive for a bit more to get some information out of him. Can your skills or magics keep him alive for a bit longer?"
Then addressing the former prisoners, Zalen quickly turns his charm (1d20+6=10) on them and says "Ladies, we mean you no harm whatsoever. As you can see, we have just risked our lives to save you. You are free to go or do as you wish. Yet if you could direct us to somewhere safe to escape the attention of the guards it would be much obliged. If you could help or guide us there, it would be even better." If they allow him to approach, he will cut their bonds with his sleeve knife.
Not solely counting on the help of the two women though, Zalen also racks his knowledge (1d20+6=7) of the area trying to recall if there's anywhere close by that might be a suitable place to hide and recuperate.
Finally, last but not at all the least, Zalen approaches Ayedah "My darling Shoanti flower, I'm glad to see you awake! I had thought perhaps this small scuffle of ours was so boring for you that you'd decided to take a nap" despite his seeming levity, his great relief and happiness at seeing her alive and more or less well is plainly evident on his face. Approaching close to her and putting a hand on her face her whispers "Are you truly well Ayedah? Can you walk? For if not I shall I have to valiantly carry you. As strong as I obviously am though, I sincerely hope you choose the former" as he winks playfully and stares gently into her eyes.
"Alandra my little viper, there is no doubt this disgusting excuse for a man deserves to be punished for his terrible crimes, and believe me, we Will send him back to the hell that spawned him. But now we must all get off the street before the Real guard arrives and we may need this sack of dung alive for a bit more to get some information out of him. Can your skills or magics keep him alive for a bit longer?"
Alandra looked at Zalen sharply for a second, then realized the wisdom of what he was saying.
"Ok, Z."
She bent down to Verik, and instead of cutting his throat, which is what she wanted to do, she touched him lightly and stopped his bleeding.
"Pharasma is waiting to send to hell where you belong." She hissed softly in Infernal.
Ayedah leaned heavily on Gern. She wasn't quite sure why he was there. She wasn't quite sure he was there. Her head felt terribly fuzzy. They weren't fighting any more. That was good, she thought. Why weren't they fighting any more?
She saw Alandra walking towards the fallen Verik, murder in her eyes. "Wait!" she tried to call out, but her voice didn't have much strenght behind it. Her tongue wasn't doing what she wanted. "Dun do it, 'Landra. Yir net wikked...net wikked..." She was slurring, everything was spinning.
When Zalen put his hand on her cheek, things seemed to come back into focus for a bit, but everything seemed so far away. She was grateful to see him. That meant everyone was okay. She smiled with relief and at his jest. "Yir sweet... M'alright. U'm strong, remimbir..." Her eyes rolled back as she tried to stand up under her own power, and collapsed as she leaned towards Zalen.
"I'm thinking we need te get off tha street pretty darn fast. Me uncles place is but a few streets away, he'd be moren' likely to offer us some refuge if I vouch for ye" he struggles a little under the weight of the barbarian girl. "Here you two help her along, I'll grab the guard and we'll make fer me uncles place" He handed Ayedah over to Alandra and Zalen before bending to lift the fallen guard captain over his shoulder in a firemans carry.
"Might be ye want to take his weapons offa him Zalen, in case he wakes while I'm luggin him like this".