Crux casts Mage Armor and prepares his wand before stepping into the doorway. [b]"We only wish to speak to Vankaskerkin and the other deserters from the guard. We wish no trouble and hope violence will not be required."[b]
Diplomacy
Taelreth walks into the room, standing next to Crux and Kaz. "Speaking of violence...I really wouldn't recommend it. Surely you can see it will be easiest to simply speak with us."
Akari files in behind the rest, his hands folded in front of him, as he looks on to the conversation.
Grent strides through the door and across the room in a business-like manner. He leans against the wall next to the south-western door, holding his kukri's hilt meaningfully.
"I asked you nicely once, I will not do so again."
Intimidate:
The man at the vat of liquid scowls. "Vankaskerkin doesn't speak to customers. If you want to do business, you talk to me." The other three men glance amongst themselves, exchanging anxious looks at your threats of force. The muscles in their bodies tense, but the hold their position while letting their companion continue.
"That is where you are mistaken. We are not customers. We are agents of the crown come to speak with the deserters and escort them back to face judement. It would behoove you to cooperate with us as that will shine as favorable a light on this as can be had."
"Not customers? A pity. Then you will leave. Now." The man takes up his hammer in his hand. Seeing him readying himself, the other three in the room draw their swords. "Or we can throw you out with the bad cuts. Your choice."
"Gentlemen, we have been authorized to use lethal force, but we would rather not. You will lower your weapons and have Vankaskerkin brought to us to talk, now."
Akari fingers his sling, tucked into his belt. Slowly, he removes it.
"Authorized to use force is different than eager to use it, Crux," Grent says, "and reluctant to use it is still again different than capable of using it," he finishes, looking pointedly at the hammer-holding hothead.
"You're outnumbered, outgunned, and on the wrong end of the law. I will say this once - from a business position, it doesn't matter to me whether I am bringing in an agreeable group of wayward soldiers who are happy to talk terms, or a cart full of dead deserters who made things harder for everyone. I did my job either way.
Would I rather my job be a walk with a group of fellows who made a hasty choice when the riots broke out but did Korvosa a needed service in the meanwhile, telling their side of things to the Marshall and returning to their posts like nothing happened? Of course. But if we need to call your spirits back from the Boneyard to find out what you fools were thinking when you deserted, holed up, and attacked agents of the crown, I am more than happy to let someone else do that." He hefts his shield meaningfully and draws his kukri.
"So gentlemen. Your call."
Taelreth draws her sword, sliding it silently out of the sheath. With a gesture, she infuses it with arcane energy, causing it to glow ever so slightly. "Don't be foolish; we only wish to talk. Words are far less deadly than blades."
The man with the warhammer smirks. "It's funny you should show so much interest in our doings, our operation; I think we should let you assist us in our work." He nods to his companions. "Take them."
Initiative:
Initiative
Harrow point reroll
"A pity." Taelreth mutters to herself, as she gracefully charges the nearest man.
Longsword to hit
damage
As she runs through one of the deserters, Taelreth loudly announces, "Anyone having second thoughts?"
Initiative
Or maybe it means something to the boards.
My action won't change. I magic missile 'Warhammer' for 4 force dmg per my prior post.
Lamenting the men's refusal to lay down their arms, Taelreth quickly moves to strike at the nearest opponent. Her sword cuts deep, slicing through his loose armor and easily finding flesh beneath. The man staggers from the force of the strike, his blood spilling onto the floor, but somehow manages to maintain his footing.
Even as the bard launches her attack Crux unleashes a small bolt of magical energy, which impacts the face of the man wielding the warhammer. His left cheeks is burned by the magic, but the man's grin remains.
The mortally-wounded man looks up at Taelreth, and his face fills with terror. He drops his sword, turning to flee the woman that nearly killed him in a single blow. The two remaining sword-wielding men move to take their fleeing friend place, letting their swords lead the way as the approach the elf. She manages to dodge one of the attacks, but the second man successfully draws blood.
Crux will use the wand against
1- the closest opponent
2- the most wounded opponent (as best he can tell)
3- Warhammer guy
Magic Missile
Kazadarin moves to the space behind Taelreth and attacks the nearest thug.
Attack:
Taelreth, realizing she is of little use in her heavily wounded state, withdraws to the stable area.
As The wounded elf retreats to the stable, Akari reaches out a hand and touches her. The bloody wounds, writhe and knit themselves back together, and the flow of blood from the wounds ceases. He then has second thrust about the sling and draws his club to better defend himself.
As the heavily wounded man turns to leave, Taelreth takes the opportunity to strike at her foe. She buries her blade deep in his back, and he drops to the ground.
Akari begins casting a spell as Kazadarin moves to enter the battle in support of Tael. The ranger makes an attack at the closest opponent, but his sword is deflected harmlessly by the man's armor. Grent watches this for a moment before turning his attention to the man with the warhammer. Striding forward, he slashes low with his kukri, but his target steps back enough to avoid the blade.
Crux pauses a moment to asses the situation before launching another bolt of arcane energy at the thug attack by Kaz. Striking true, the missile appears to inflict significant damage upon the man, though he retains his footing. He growls, and Tael takes the opportunity to bolt for the open door to the stable; though her sudden motion surprises both opponents in range, the man that suffered the blast from Crux's wand recovers quickly enough to strike at the fleeing bard. His sword finds its mark, drwing a cruel line of blood across Tael's fleeing form. She falls to the ground, unconscious, behind Kaz.
Seeing her fall, Akari moves next to Taelreth, chanelling healing energies into her damaged form. She coughs as her eyes open, once again aware of her surroundings. The oracle then stows his sling, readying a club as he peers warily at his foes.
A smile returns to his face as the man with the warhammer takes a swing at Grent. The smile fades as Grent dodges the strike as nimbly as the man did Grent's just moments ago.
The other two thugs move to both attack their nearest target, swinging their swords at Kaz. However, both swords fail to meet their mark.
Not much need to change what I'm doing except to maneuver to stay out of melee. Crux will use the wand against
1- the closest opponent
2- the most wounded opponent (as best he can tell)
3- Warhammer guy
Magic Missile
Kazadarin growls and swings at his new opponent.
Power Attack:
Damage:
With the others in combat and herself injured, Tael stands () and begins to sing a tale of a great elven hero who hunted down those who strayed from righteousness.
Akari kneels down to help Taelreth to her feet while Kaz launches a deadly attack against his opponent. The ranger's sword cuts through both metal and flesh, and the thug drops to the ground. Determined not to be left out, Grent brings both his kukri and shield against the man with the warhammer; the shield misses its target, but the small blade draws blood.
The two remaining thugs glance at each other even as Crux's next missile impacts the one next to Kaz. This final attack appears to break them, as the to simultaneously break toward the nearest door.
Seeing the other two opponents flee, Akari moves to the man that Kaz just downed, checking to see if his life has ended. Turning to Tael, he asks, "Are you OK?"
If he is still alive, but unconscious, I will cast Stablize on him.
Grent swings his shield heavily at the retreating man's back, looking to drop him to the ground. Once they're out of the room, Grent heads to the door to watch in which direction they leave.
Kazadarin snarls at the retreating thug and swings.
AoO:
Damage:
Grimacing as she stands up, Tael replies, "I'll live. It seems my sword skills have declined considerably since I left the Mierani..."
Crux takes moment to survey the battlefield. "It is unfortunate that you choose the route of pain." He says over one of the downed 'butchers'.
Kazadarin strikes quickly at the fleeing man, sending him to the ground bleeding and unconscious. Grent likewise strikes at the butcher with the warhammer, but his attack falls short. His foe quickly opens and ducks through the westernmost door; by the time Grent reaches the opening, the butcher has made his way through another set of doors which hang open, revealing an exterior alleyway beyond. The room in between the dets of doors is empty save for an open-topped wagon.
Akari examines one of the men on the floor. Though heavily wounded, he still lives, and the oracle channels divine energy into his form to stop the bleeding.
Akari stands from his examination of the downed man. "This one will live. The Shoanti moves to the next closest man and examines him.
"No sign of anyone in this room," Grent whispers to his comrades. "I'm going to make sure it stays that way." He strides across the empty wagon-room, checking for any signs of life as he goes. When he reaches the alley door, he looks outside for any signs of foes - if he sees none, he will shut and lock the door.
"So...was that Vancaskerkin? Or is he skulking around somewhere else in this building?" Taelreth asks to no one in particular, as she cleans and sheathes her sword.
Akari is able to determine that while the second of the three remaining men has perished due to the severity of his wounds, the third clings to life. The oracle quickly takes action to prevent further worsening of the man's condition.
Grent takes a moment to check the alley, but the fourth man is nowhere to be seen, and the alley itself appears empty. He secures the door before rejoining the others.
"It would seem that this Vankaskerkin is too cowardly to even speak with us. We must investigate this" Crux pauses with a look of disdain on his face before continueing "facility in search of him."
Akari stands after tending to the wounded. "One dead, but the other two will live to stand trial. Lets be about our work quickly before the fourth man warns Vankaskerkin."
The Shoanti readies his club and moves to Taelreth to determine the extent of her injuries.
Kazadarin kneels over the fallen men, searching thier bodies for keys or information.
Searching the three men, Kaz recovers 60 gold. Additionally, each is wearing chainmail, and bearing a heavy steel shield, longsword, and light crossbow. You are able to gather 30 crossbow bolts in all.
Besides the door you entered, there is the door leading to the alley in the western wall, and two separate sets of double doors leading north further into the building.
While Kaz rifles through the unconscious men's pouches, Akari moves to the dead man. The Shoanti squats near the man, examining the body, muttering softly to himself.
Death reaps the beauty of the world
Bundles old crops to hasten new
Be still heart, hold peace.
Growing is better than decay.
I hear the blade which severs life from life.
Be still peace, hold heart.
Death is passing on,
The making way of life and time for life.
Hate dying and killing, not death.
Be still, heart, make no expostulation.
Hold peace, and grief, and be still.
his prayer to Pharasma done, he stands, turns back to the group and stands ready.
Grent has a faraway look in his eyes while Akari says his prayer. When the man finishes, he gives the Shoanti a measured look. "That was a good prayer, Akari. The Bonemistress would be proud."
Grent then goes around the room locking the other doors to the outside, including the door they just came in through. That done, he gives a grim grin to his friends. "No way out but further in."
While the others search the area, Taelreth leans up against a wall, doing her best not to aggravate her injury. In response to Grent's statement, she says, "If no one minds, I think I will stay towards the back, lest someone else tries to run me through."
Crux waits patiently for his allies to finish their various tasks.