Vulpert steeples his fingers in front of his face, taking deep, controlled breaths to shake the squirming sensation that seems to have infested his mind. Over the last minute, he has alternately denied and reaffirmed to himself that there was, indeed, and eye staring out at him from under the innkeeper's clothing.
As the Lawgiver interrogates Kol and Willard, Vulpert begins to weave the threads of prevarication into a tightly-woven lie that he can tell the Lawgivers as a pretext for them to search the tainted dwarf.
He only hopes that Kol and Willard don't anger or confuse the angry dwarf constables even more than they are now. A faint hope, at best.
As a last resort, he examines the innkeeper's garb to judge just how much of a yank it would take to defrock him at one go. Hopefully it would not come to that, but with the alternative being a fetid dwarf prison...
Gut Lord,
I vas sleepink; und der vas a hideous high pitched scream dat resonated me bonez. Blut kurtling it vas, yes; I awoke unt I grabbed my staff und opened zee door; zee innkeep threw zis 'ere kleaver at me unt hit zis dur; zee; it ist right 'ere still. Zen zat fellow there says zomezing like "I saw eyes poking out from 'eez stomach; dee innkeep has eyes in 'ees stomach" or zomezing like zat. Zo, as I am zee dedicated apprentice of Magic; to ze Light Magic; light of truth; I look at zee innkeep wit me magic sight; unt 'ee ist filled wit 'orrific corruption unt ze changing symbols zat make me unt me ancestors shudder. Zomezing is definately extra wrong 'ere, festering EEvil. I 'ave been calling for zee 'Ealer to attend zee innkeep; 'e vas in such a dread fury unt I zat I zaw zome blut too. Poor innkeep; 'ave you 'ealer amongst you to 'elp? I konst not yet wit me power purge diz evil corruption or possession from zee innkeep.
someone need check 'ees wound and zee source of zis terrible evil. Zee Dwarven peepoles are gut und true; strong! I, in Sigmar's name, believe you vill do zee right zing unt root out zis problem, zis evil. These guys; I no them knickt; zis chilling scream; we alls probobly 'eard it unt came to find out vat it vas. Unt den you comes 'ear too; ist gut; I am glad you are 'ear; relieved. Whew <I wipe my brow> I only komst 'ere to fight zee greenskins; ze ork unt zee goblins unt gain wealth unt a gut name zo I kanst study more at zee school.
Vat do you plan, Lord, unt 'ow kanst I 'elp?
Vell your Lordship. I avoke hearing running on zhe voof. I zhought it odd. Zo I vent und voke up Vulpert. He agreed zhat he heard zomething also. Ve vere deciding vhat to do. Vhen ve heard a voman zcream. Zhinking a voman vas in danger I burst into the room I heard zhe zcream from. Vell I found it vasn't a voman, but him who zcreamed. Zhe innkeeper kame up to zee vhat the komotion vas about. I vas explaining to him vhat vas going on. Und zhat I am gud vith vood. Zhat I vill fix zhe door better zhan new. Zhen I am not zure vhat happened.
I know zhese zhree. I do not know zhis man. I kannot klaim to zee vhat zhey zay zhey zaw. Only the karacter ov zhe innkeep iz not zhe zame as it vas vhen ve ate dinner earlier zhis night. Und I know I heard zomething on zhe voof. I am still villing to vix zhe door, or vork to repair zhe damages.
Vulpert takes in the reaction of the dwarf to Kol and the bizarre hedge wizard's recounting of events. Not liking the fact that the lead Lawgiver's impassive face is as unreadable as the statues he has lately seen of the stout folk, he bites his tongue, not sure if he will be dooming his companions with his lie or saving them.
"It is true, honorable Lawgivers, that my friend is responsible for the vandalism to the innkeeper's door. It is also true that some horrid trampling upon the inn's roof roused him to awaken in such a state he feared for the life of his kinsman in the neighboring room."
"You, above all, should know that the cry of a wounded axe-brother does not go unanswered. The Men of the North share your devotion to duty, your brothers-in-arms, and doing what is honorable."
"When I awoke to follow him, we all realized the error we had made. Although we still did not know the origin of the shambling ruckus on the roof, our screaming kinsman had merely succumbed to a nightmare borne of bad mutton. When the innkeeper arrived to discover the origin of the din, we immediately offered to make reparations, and warned him of the fact that he may indeed have a burglar upon his roof! Enraged at the strewn kindling that once was a very stout dwarf-door in his inn, he at first did not see reason, brandishing the very cleaver he so courteously cut our mutton with earlier this very evening. Despite our repeated attempts to calm him, I think he believed we were the very burglars that we sought to warn him of! When I proffered coins to make amends, I reached out for his hand to press them upon it, and in so doing, disturbed the front of his garb. As I took my hand away, a wide staring eye, part of his own tainted flesh looked back upon me! I raised the alarum, and feel fortunate now that you came running so quickly despite the late hour."
"It is truly a testament to dwarfen vigilance that you arrived before something worse could happen. We are merely travelers, and have no desire to impede your investigation into what may very well be the infiltration of Chaos into one of your business establishments. I ask only that you look beneath the innkeeper's garb, to see the wretched, leering orb for yourselves. If you doubt the truth of my tale, merely look anyway and retrieve my coin that he dropped into his pockets for payment so that accounts can truly be settled between us. I am fully and truly willing to accept your impartial judgment in this matter so that we can get to the bottom of this affair."
<About what time is it game time?>
Vat time iz it and vhy art guards here? I 'ab just 'eard da scream I think, der quick arrival ist most curious. Iz diz a setup maybe?
Korgidd listens to Vulpert's eloquent speech and frowns at the underlying patronizing tone. Hopefully the Lawgivers don't pick up on it.
"anyvon got a comb?" <yawn> "aught luke our best ifn veeze gonna be seein dee magistrate. I deednt know ziz be such a rouff plaze to schleep."
[hope our gm comes back soon; what a cliff hanger]
Vulpert notices Korgidd's quizzical frown when he finishes speaking and bites his lip in apprehension. Perhaps he had layed it on a bit too thick.
Korgidd throws in his own words, hoping to further convince the Lawgivers of Vulpert's statements, "He speaks true yer Lordship. It is every dwarf's duty to root out the tainted like smelting impurities from ore."
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The leader of the lawgivers considers for the moment all of your statements. "Seeing as it is better to err on the side of caution when it comes to Chaos... alright, everyone strip."
The innkeeper pleads, "Surely that orders does not cover me, yer lordship."
"Aye. Even you. Now lose them clothes."
His lordship looks at his fellow lawgivers.
"Shoot anyone that fails to comply with my orders at the end of the count of ten."
"One..."
Never expecting in his short, rough life that he would ever be relieved to be stripping naked in front of a cadre of well-armed dwarfs aiming pistols at him, it takes Vulpert all of a moment to comply.
Making a somewhat sour face as he peers down at the end results, he ponders about exactly when he last bathed. He eyes the innkeeper warily, keeping himself well away from reach.
Korgidd carefully considers each of the pistols in the assembled Lawgivers' hands. Deciding that he would rather not die with a bullet in his brain pan he begins to remove his road stained armor and clothing. He is careful however, to keep his hammer in at one hand, passing to the other as needed to remove his upper garments. He also keeps a watchful eye on the innkeeper.
Zo do you vant me to bleed myself to zhow you my blood runs red? [ooc] I continue to undress until the Lawgiver says stop.
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"Three..."
"Nothing so dramatic, manling. But we shall take yer suggestion under advisement."
"There has got to be some mistake! I am the victim of an assault perpetrated by these hooligans and I am to join in this embarassing display!" The innkeeper insists. "Surely, yer lordship can reconsider his earlier order?"
The leader of the lawbringers scratches his chin, considering, "You can file yer appeal later through the usual channels in triplicate."
Vair enough. Itz zomething ve do up north. Just to make zure.
Watching the innkeeper squirm, Vulpert begins to feel a mixture of relief and deep abiding fear; fear over what might happen when the Lawgivers see the eyes. He moves a little bit closer to the wall, keeping his sword, bow and quiver in reach.
Perception test (1d100-10=29)
Int 28
Failure. I think. I have the perception skill, but I don't have my book in front of me to tell me if that grants me a bonus or not.
[well, my guy is in his room; not sure if the dwarven guard can see him or not]
"Strip!" <only wearing a cap and gown and my sling bag; so let the gown drop, am a lot more muscular than your average person; for a mage I look Herkulean hehe>
"Vat, no musik?"
"ist a vise precaution, but remain guarded, ve are very vulnerable if ve are attacked juz now; tell me zum more about zee running footstep on zee roof; vas it a few or many, Ach; it tis dun"
I keep my staff in left hand and a couple of mini darts in the right.
I look around for mutations, tattoes; guild marks; magic symbols, scars or piercings and with my witchsight poking my head out of the doorway of my room.
perception roll; 48
skill; 31 <int>+10 <excellent vision>; 41
Rikarus complies with the orders not wanting to be shot, when everyone is going to be inspected as well.
Perception: 1d100=2 WOW!
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Rikarus complies with the orders not wanting to be shot, when everyone is going to be inspected as well.
Perception: 1d100=2 WOW!
For Rikarus
You see the innkeeper squash the light out by clutching whatever the thing is into his large right hand.
Four...
Oh; I have perception as a class skill...
[player ducks flying golfballs]
[well, my guy is in his room; not sure if the dwarven guard can see him or not]
"Strip!" <only wearing a cap and gown and my sling bag; so let the gown drop, am a lot more muscular than your average person; for a mage I look Herkulean hehe>
"Vat, no musik?"
"ist a vise precaution, but remain guarded, ve are very vulnerable if ve are attacked juz now; tell me zum more about zee running footstep on zee roof; vas it a few or many, Ach; it tis dun"
I keep my staff in left hand and a couple of mini darts in the right.
I look around for mutations, tattoes; guild marks; magic symbols, scars or piercings and with my witchsight poking my head out of the doorway of my room.
perception roll; 48
skill; 31 <int>+10 <excellent vision>; 41
Rikarus gesticulates and shouts.Your Lordship, The innkeeper pulls some glowing thing from his robes!It's in his right hand (I don't think I can shoot him since I'm striping...
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Oh; I have perception as a class skill...
[player ducks flying golfballs]
[well, my guy is in his room; not sure if the dwarven guard can see him or not]
"Strip!" <only wearing a cap and gown and my sling bag; so let the gown drop, am a lot more muscular than your average person; for a mage I look Herkulean hehe>
"Vat, no musik?"
"ist a vise precaution, but remain guarded, ve are very vulnerable if ve are attacked juz now; tell me zum more about zee running footstep on zee roof; vas it a few or many, Ach; it tis dun"
I keep my staff in left hand and a couple of mini darts in the right.
I look around for mutations, tattoes; guild marks; magic symbols, scars or piercings and with my witchsight poking my head out of the doorway of my room.
perception roll; 48
skill; 31 <int>+10 <excellent vision>; 41
The half-naked Rikarus cant' believe that the dwarf didn't understand what he said...so he speaks a little slower
"The Inn Keeper has something in his hand...
OPEN YOUR HAND...SLOWLY INNKEEPER
levelling crossbow again and aiming at his family jewels
Does perception give us a bonus to our rolls?
Rikarus gesticulates and shouts.Your Lordship, The innkeeper pulls some glowing thing from his robes!
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
"Confound it, manling! Speak sense!"
I don't zrust anyone vho doesn't not comply vith zaid law. I don't zee you ztripping Innkeeper. Respectfully I am taking my zhield up, and vill keep my zword klose. I zrust en zhe law, and zhe itz representatives. I do not ztrust him; by his own actions. I believe every man has zhe right to protect oneszelf. I am just insuring zhat right. Exspecially vith my pants down.
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"I heard ye manling. Now you drop yer crossbow or we drop ye."
"I won't ask again."
"And ye innkeeper what's in yer hand?"
"Oh it's nothing." The innkeeper replies but he carefully shields his hand away from the view of onlookers. He glares pure hate at Rikarus. "That manling is just trying to confuse ye magistrates! See he now has a weapon in his hands!"
Rikarus drops the crossbow in disgust.
Your distrust of manlings will be your undoing...Very well I wash my hands of what happens.
Innkeep; ifn ye dont come clean; I vill blow you to smithereens and damn the fallout; yea all kin kill a magus ifn you gots zee balls fer it; but dont yea be surprized ifn I take dis inn wit me. All dis prejudice from our supposed allies in Sigmar's name is to much. Are you dwarves our allies or are yea not? Sigmar tells us; aid the dwarves; respect the dwarves; dwarve are our allies; well; lets see it; I follow Verena; and justice ist zee sword I carry! I vill not let zis foul creature of chaos whom reaks of zee winds of magic from zee tormentor of chaos; jez being 'ere it reakes and touches all of us. Vill you stop 'im or must I clean up your mess?
Interept me slep will yea; us wizards get cranky wven our slep is distrurbev!
<dont have any skills; but fellowship; am trying to shame them into acting, roll 30 for fellowship>
Innkeeper. I zuggest you put your hands out vhere zhe Magistrates kan zee zhem. Ztop zhis zhuffling about like zome rat. Vor now I am konvinced zhere iz zomething amiss vith you. Komply vith the Magstates request, or I vill take a bullet to zpill your blood vhere you ar.
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Innkeep; ifn ye dont come clean; I vill blow you to smithereens and damn the fallout; yea all kin kill a magus ifn you gots zee balls fer it; but dont yea be surprized ifn I take dis inn wit me. All dis prejudice from our supposed allies in Sigmar's name is to much. Are you dwarves our allies or are yea not? Sigmar tells us; aid the dwarves; respect the dwarves; dwarve are our allies; well; lets see it; I follow Verena; and justice ist zee sword I carry! I vill not let zis foul creature of chaos whom reaks of zee winds of magic from zee tormentor of chaos; jez being 'ere it reakes and touches all of us. Vill you stop 'im or must I clean up your mess?
Interept me slep will yea; us wizards get cranky wven our slep is distrurbev!
<dont have any skills; but fellowship; am trying to shame them into acting, roll 30 for fellowship>
Mutters of: "Damn! A wizard!" can be heard in the background as well as "I'm sure 'e worship them dark gods!" And a meek "Are we sure we're doing the right thing here?"
The wizarding profession's reputation has preceded Willard.
"Ahem, Lawgiver! I have asked for justice in this matter. The innkeeper has my coin for the cost of his door and more. All I ask is that the balance in question be returned to my purse and he can keep the remainder to settle, our, eh, unintentional vandalism. If you fear the defrocking of some servant of Chaos, so be it...
"But let it be known....err, ahem, I, that is, I am, Mr. Vulpert Schwartzhahn late of Nuln of the Emperor's, err, Empire, bastard son of some wastrel mercenary and the whore Engrid "Ruby" Schwartzhahn, at least she always said it was a mercenary, when my addled mother wasn't in her cups, that is. Hmmm...ahhh...My word is, well, my word, I suppose, and by my bristles I challenge this conniving embezzler to meet in the Circle on the morrow should this, ahem, not be settled!"
"Alright?"
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Vulpert's speech catches the attention of the lawbringers who very much admire talk of lineage or the lack thereof.
"I think that settles the vandalism charge (he'll pay) but not the charges of consorting with dark powers and I don't see you innkeeper complying with my directives."
The innkeeper pushed the proverbial wall screams, "I've had enough of yer orders! Fall before the power of my gawd!"
He raises his hand, now beams of noxious green light shine though the gaps of his clenched fist.
Vulpert's speech catches the attention of the lawbringers who very much admire talk of lineage or the lack thereof.
"I think that settles the vandalism charge (he'll pay) but not the charges of consorting with dark powers and I don't see you innkeeper complying with my directives."
The innkeeper pushed the proverbial wall screams, "I've had enough of yer orders! Fall before the power of my gawd!"
He raises his hand, now beams of noxious green light shine though the gaps of his clenched fist.
I know your kind vell. Vor I am a Skaeling. Enemy of zhe dark powers. Und I vill be zhe death ov you.
Initiative: 1d100=66
** spoiler omitted **
Initiative: 1d100=66
For some absurd reason, Vulpert momentarily has a compulsion to put his trousers back on, but then, thinking better of it, he grabs his bow from the floor and quickly nocks an arrow.
Oops: I forgot
I: 1d10+3=9
Korgidd, seeing the innkeeper molesting some green energy, tenses to dive, either at the innkeeper, hammer first, or, more likely, behind some cover.
is it the entire number? or just the tens column?
is it the entire number? or just the tens column?
ak; rolled a 1; makes my init a 32
"Ah; zee infedel heez broken; see his corruption; I knew I could tricks heem into it; I 'ave bout eez much magic as an ordinary pair of shoooz; but it scared eet out of 'imm <I laugh nervously> 'it 'eem wit me walking staff I vill ifn youze guys en all yur pistols canna 'andle eet.
I got yur back!
<dark heresy sounds fun>
OK so I ended up with a 38 (32 AG+6)
ak; rolled a 1; makes my init a 32
"Ah; zee infedel heez broken; see his corruption; I knew I could tricks heem into it; I 'ave bout eez much magic as an ordinary pair of shoooz; but it scared eet out of 'imm <I laugh nervously> 'it 'eem wit me walking staff I vill ifn youze guys en all yur pistols canna 'andle eet.
I got yur back!
<dark heresy sounds fun>
The bowstring drawn as taut as the tension in the room, Vulpert holds his arrow to give the Lawgivers a chance to act.