Arcana (1d20+9=24)
Qadim-sul stands up from his cursory examination of the creature. "Whatever it is, it's not natural. Some sort of escaped sorcerous experiment perhaps."
Hearing Barshevy's cries, Qadim-sul runs back into the room and immediately to one of the windows to see for himself what's happened to the keep's guards. "What the devil...?!"
Perception (if needed) (1d20=9)
Drivish stands by the corpse, reluctant to put away his weapon. "This is wizard work." he mutters, "Could this be evidence that they are in fact, returned?"
"Qadim-Sul, you are in Duke's employ, what is the standard operating procedure for an event such as this? What would the guard's response be, and how can we assist?"
Rin dusts himself down and joins the group around the corpse. He looks a little quizzically at Drivish.
"Standard operating procedure? Something tells me that an ensorcelled apething is not going to appear in the usual lists of things to look out for."
He looks around. "Are we the only functional people here?"
|
Lafiel: The door is locke,d there is a keyhole.
Qadim-sul, Barshevy:
Everyone hears occasional shouts of alarm from different directions in the keep.
"Sounds like there's a mess going on down there. I think we should start by looking in the Duke's rooms over here. If the Duke is in there, it would be profitable for us to guard him from another one of these (she points at the creature). If he's not... well, we could find clues to whats going on.
Pat
If no one objects, Lafiel walks to the door and starts picking the lock.
Thievery (Picking Lock) (1d20+9=17)
Rin dusts himself down and joins the group around the corpse. He looks a little quizzically at Drivish.
"Standard operating procedure? Something tells me that an ensorcelled apething is not going to appear in the usual lists of things to look out for."
He looks around. "Are we the only functional people here?"
"What he said. If there is a usual response to something like this, I must have missed orientation on that day. But it looks like the same sleep that hit us affected everyone else too." He jerks his thumb at the window. "People are starting to wake up now, and we stopped the beast. Rather than break into the Duke's quarters, why don't we wait for Captain Ryo? I'm sure he'll be here presently, now that the danger seems to be past."
"How can we be sure the danger has passed ? Whoever or whatever that could cast a spell that strong could send more assassins like the one we killed. Captain Ryo ? Who says he's even alive ? I don't see anything we could lose if we'd check in the Duke's room. In addition, we can defend ourselves against another attack in there much better than in this open hallway."
Rin kneels beside the fallen apeman.
"This thing was quick and deft and smarter than the average ape. Let's just check if he's carrying anything that might give us a clue."
"I can't say I recall seeing a sword haft wrapped in elf-hair before, but I'm hardly a weapons expert. Is that unusual?"
"What he said. If there is a usual response to something like this, I must have missed orientation on that day. But it looks like the same sleep that hit us affected everyone else too." He jerks his thumb at the window. "People are starting to wake up now, and we stopped the beast. Rather than break into the Duke's quarters, why don't we wait for Captain Ryo? I'm sure he'll be here presently, now that the danger seems to be past."Rin dusts himself down and joins the group around the corpse. He looks a little quizzically at Drivish.
"Standard operating procedure? Something tells me that an ensorcelled apething is not going to appear in the usual lists of things to look out for."
He looks around. "Are we the only functional people here?"
Drivish shakes his head in frustration, "I don't imply that the guard has a specific plan for infiltration by a lone giant ape, but it must have a contingency for any sort of infiltration. What would the guard do if an assassin was discovered in the palace, ape or not?"
"I can't say I recall seeing a sword haft wrapped in elf-hair before, but I'm hardly a weapons expert. Is that unusual?"
"It's probably a trophy, many cultures remove some part of a defeated enemy."
"More to the point, under guard rules, if an assassin was discovered, where would you expect Captain Ryo to be?"
"It's probably a trophy, many cultures remove some part of a defeated enemy."
"Not an appealing concept. Is this the kind of thing the Sorcerer Kings got up to in their heyday? Genetically modifying monkeys and scalping elves?"
"We should decide what to do next. I don't like the idea of waiting in this hallway... I say we either enter the Duke's room, or we go down those stairs to try and find the Captain."
Perception from balcony (1d20+5=23)
"Not an appealing concept. Is this the kind of the the Sorcerer Kings got up to in their heyday? Genetically modifying monkeys and scalping elves?"
"It was their nature to use creatures of base intelligence as servants, but I don't know if they had discovered the secret of creating life. As to the scalps, they let the slaves live in their manner. Give them a semblance of freedom, and they will believe they are free."
"The lady has a point. We none of us know why we were called here, but as citizens, it behoves us to try to protect the Duke. Looking in his room makes sense."
"...So what's the plan Qadim-sul?"
As the warriors discuss, Barshevy paces back and forth nervously. He stops near the ape-creature and sighs. "Poor brute. You tried to kill us, but does that mean there was no good in your heart? Have you kin that will mourn your passing?" The cleric kneels and recites a funeral prayer.
As the warriors discuss, Barshevy paces back and forth nervously. He stops near the ape-creature and sighs. "Poor brute. You tried to kill us, but does that mean there was no good in your heart? Have you kin that will mourn your passing?" The cleric kneels and recites a funeral prayer.
Lafiel looks at Barshevy, amazed he would pray for such a dangerous foe, who would definately kill them in thier sleep.
"The lady has a point. We none of us know why we were called here, but as citizens, it behoves us to try to protect the Duke. Looking in his room makes sense."
While the rest of the group are silent about the issue at hand, Lafiel looks at Rin, nods her head in approval, then proceeds to pick the lock to the Duke's rooms.
|
|
While the rest of the group are silent about the issue at hand, Lafiel looks at Rin, nods her head in approval, then proceeds to pick the lock to the Duke's rooms.
The huge doors open into a sitting room. There is a handmaid who seems to awaken from the noise and looks at Lafiel questioningly, and the Duchess herself still asleep in an ornate chair. There is light from other doors on the far side.
"Excuse us, Miss."
Rin bows disarmingly.
"Not for world's would we normally dream of intruding upon her Grace, but you may have noticed a certain amount of disturbance outside. Since the disturbance concerned her Grace's safety, we are taking the precaution of making sure that she is, in fact, safe."
"Excuse us, Miss."
Rin bows disarmingly.
"Not for world's would we normally dream of intruding upon her Grace, but you may have noticed a certain amount of disturbance outside. Since the disturbance concerned her Grace's safety, we are taking the precaution of making sure that she is, in fact, safe."
Lafiel stands beside Rin as he speaks, nodding in agreement. Afterwards, she whispers to him: "Where did you learn to talk like that ?"
Lafiel stands beside Rin as he speaks, nodding in agreement. Afterwards, she whispers to him: "Where did you learn to talk like that ?"
"Mum was a diplomat."
"Heh, If you say so.." smirks Raivek. "Say! You don't think that was the only giant ape do you?" he says to Rin. He looks to the handmaid after he finishes that question and promptly adds, "Not to worry miss, we'll take care of 'em, if there are." and winks.
The cleric goes back into the meeting hall, clears a table and folds up its tablecloth. He goes to the ape-thing again and covers it with the sheet. He does so with care and reverence.
"I can't say I recall seeing a sword haft wrapped in elf-hair before, but I'm hardly a weapons expert. Is that unusual?"
"Only if you're an elf," Qadim-sul responds.
"...So what's the plan Qadim-sul?"
"I think we should wait for Captain Ryo, or for some of the other guards to make their way here. If the keep was under attack, it might not be best for non-residents to go around looking for trouble. One trigger-happy guard with a crossbow, one password missed, and you might end up a pincushion."
"And truth be told, I haven't been in the Duke's service long. I was hired for my sword, not my command of men or knowledge of tactics. I have no idea what standard procedure should be in a situation like this. "
"Let us rest, see to what wounds we may have, and wait for more information. If none seems forthcoming, we can venture out then."
Seeing Lafiel picking the lock and entering the Duke's chambers, Qadim-sul sighs.
"That, I believe, is exactly what we should not do..."
|
|
In the royal chambers, the handmaid shrieks at the intrusion, but then, on Rin's calming words, goes to check on the Duchess. "My Lady! My Lady!" But the Duchess does not awake . . .
At this point, a double-squad of Duke's Guards (eight soldiers), led by a dwarf Qadim-sul recognizes as Sergeant Tarnstone, arrives on the scene, charging up the stairs. Seeing the chaos, Tarnstone pulls up and shouts, "What in the hells is going on here? Qadim-sul -- report!" Then, realizing the royal chambers' doors are open, dispatches four of his troops to move into the room, while the rest await an answer.
"Oh hells!" Qadim-sul mutters when Sgt. Tarnstone appears.
He draws himself up to loose attention, saluting with his blade. "Sir! We were awaiting Captain Ryo in the guest chambers when a magical sleep stole upon us. We were just fighting off its effect when a large ape-creature-" He indicates the cloth-covered body on the floor. "-broke into the chamber and attacked us. We fought it, finally defeating it as you can see, and were waiting again for Captain Ryo. One of our 'guests' thought it prudent to enter the Duke's quarters to ensure his safety and to check for further invaders. Sir."
Qadim-sul drops his blade to rest position. "Do you happen to know Captain Ryo's whereabouts, Sir?"
With a smile and a chuckle, "Pfft, he probably ran crying to mommy when he saw the big monkey. Not to say that I blame him, after all. It was a pretty big monkey. Suffice it to say, I don't think the Captain, in all his glory, is immune to the same sleeping effects that everyone seems to have suffered. He's probably still snoozing somewhere around here, if he's in the castle of course." Raivek sheaths his swords and crosses his arms. "Hey priest, what'd you say your name was? Would you heal me? I seem to be bleeding on the carpet.." he smirks.
Drivish stands around patiently while the guards assess the situation.
Lafiel isn't surprised when the guards arrive (They always come). After Qadim-Sul gives his report, she folds her hands and comments to the dwarf, who looks like a commander of sorts: "If not for us, her Grace would surely be killed by this vile abomination. I was hoping for gratitude for such a loyal act, not questioning."
Pat
Are any of these guys likely to know Rin from his wall defacing exploits?
|
|
In the hall:
Tarnstone answers Qadim-sul, "The captain's whereabouts are his business -- you're dealing with me." He glares at Raivek.
"Large ape?" He signals a man who pulls back the drape. "Ye gods!" He looks around more carefully, and focuses on Raivek. "You killed this thing?" Then, to his man, "Get a medic for this man." The man heads for the stairs.
"Captain Ryo called you here, eh? What the devil for?"
In the sitting room:
One of the guards, an elf, gestures at Rin and Lafiel. "Get out of here." She seems to be in charge. "Question her," she directs one of her men regarding the handmaid, then herself goes to check on the Duchess, who is still asleep.
Rin:
Rin bows politely once more and nods to Lafiel.
"I think our work here is done. Her Grace is in good hands now. Once more Miss, our apologies for any upset we may have caused you."
With a final polite bow, he leaves the room, dodging neatly behind Lafiel as he does so, to avoid being seen too clearly by the guards. In an undertone he murmurs to his companion, "I'm not sure I'll be that popular with the guard. Just trying to stay inconspicuous."
After a last glance to the extravagant room, which contains more riches than Lafiel has ever seen in her life, she bows politely as well and leaves the Duke's Chambers back to the hallway with Rin. After looking at the guards and the dwarf, she leans against the wall next to the ape's corpse, waiting for Captain Ryo to arrive, anyone else to talk to her or something interesting to happen.
Hey priest, what'd you say your name was? Would you heal me? I seem to be bleeding on the carpet.." he smirks.
"Oh my!" sputters the cleric. He rushes forward to clean and bandage Raivek's wounds. "I'm so sorry ... I've never been in battle before. In a real battle, that is. My name is Barshevy."
"Large ape?" He signals a man who pulls back the drape. "Ye gods!" He looks around more carefully, and focuses on Raivek. "You killed this thing?" Then, to his man, "Get a medic for this man." The man heads for the stairs.
"Heh, well.. It seems I was more of a distraction than anything, this time. I held back mostly. Didn't want to outshine any of my companions here." He laughingly admits.
"Oh my!" sputters the cleric. He rushes forward to clean and bandage Raivek's wounds. "I'm so sorry ... I've never been in battle before. In a real battle, that is. My name is Barshevy."
"Thank you Barshevy. My name is Raivek. Pleased to meet you." He stands still long enough for Barshevy to do whatever it is he does to make Raivek feel better.
"Captain Ryo called you here, eh? What the devil for?"
"I have no idea, sir, I am not in the captain's confidence. I was simply told to report here, where I found these people, who were also apparently summoned by Captain Ryo. As I said, we were waiting for him to arrive and explain when the keep, and ourselves, came under attack."