Episode 2

Apr 21, 2018 11:49 am

Palla Ba limps over to Trece and wraps both arms under him to pick him up out of his kneel.

[ +- ] Zutaran

The old man keeps his hands on Trece's shoulder for a moment, looking squarely at him to assess whether or not he is mortally injured. Convinced that the young man will live, Palla Ba pats him on the shoulder. He has a bit of a worried look.

[ +- ] Zutaran

He nods once more, looking into Trece's eyes, and then moves on towards the Golem.

The old man approaches the ruin of the Golem purposefully, bending down in front of it's top end and reaching directly into the cavity in the structure at the place of the cracked neck. After a quick search with his hands, he pulls a rolled scroll of paper from out of the opening in the broken construct's upper chest!

Palla Ba motions to Lok, saying a few quick words in an unknown language.

Lok obeys his father and approaches quickly, still carrying the fire iron and now his longneck oil lamp once more.

Lok

Apr 21, 2018 11:54 am

Lok moves quickly, with a look of concern. He and his father exchange some quick words in the unknown language as Palla Ba unrolls the paper taken from the Golem's clay gullet.

Lok hands him the lamp.

Palla Ba

Apr 21, 2018 12:05 pm

Len Inactive for 1 months

Palla Ba takes the lamp and lights the bottom corner of the scroll with the flame. He suspends the paper fully from the opposite high corner. He looks directly at Bryn as the flame quickly climbs the paper,

DMJ sent a note to Oxbox

The fire engulfs the entire paper in a rolling orange wave, reducing it to ash in seconds as it drops to the stone floor.

The old Seetan looks around at the crowd as he picks up his umbrella from the floor. Without delay, he speaks out in clear and simple Heshbaan that everyone can understand well enough, "There is no time to spare. All of you must escape the palace by secret route. Follow us."

The old man moves out the door as Lok takes the lead carrying the lamp. Both of the Seetans look around vigilantly, clearly concerned about being discovered.

Sizhen Lao

Apr 21, 2018 3:58 pm

Sizhen brushes off a few flecks of Golem debris from his shoulder and straightens his clothes before following the Seetans. He maintains a vigilant watch.

Trece

HypCo Inactive forever!

Apr 22, 2018 12:56 am

Trece stands silently, his eyes rarely meeting Palla Ba's as he speaks to him. As the Seetans make their leave, he grabs his waterskin, rinses the blood off his hands, and wraps his sling around his hand to limit the blood from dropping. He quickly follows after the Seetans, throwing up his hood.

Last edited April 22, 2018 12:56 am

Apr 22, 2018 10:01 am

DMJ says:

When Kray presses the knife to the fat poet's neck and demands silence from the servant across the room, the poet assists. The chubby speaker, wide-eyed and terrified, calls out to his comrade, speaking quietly but frantically.

Kray is so focused on the situation, he cannot even begin to understand the translation from Heshbaan. The servant in the room though freezes at first, his eyes as big as saucers.

Then Ivor walks in.

The young man puts his hands up and backs up against the wall. Speaking not a word. Fully compliant.

The poet, knife still at his neck, turns back to Kray, sweat beading on his brow instantly. In Youric, he says, "We are quiet. We will do what you say. Do not. Please. Please, do not kill me."

Intimidation successful.

Although Kray knew there wasn't much time to spare, his curiosity needed sating. He pressed the fat poet. "Why are these men brought down here? And by whose authority?"

Ideas:

As far as what to do with these two, dragging them both on our escape is not the best idea as they could bring unwanted attention. Leaving them alive isn't a good idea either as we don't need anyone being able to identify us.

Ra u nak definitely seems to know the way, so no worries there. At the same time, I like the idea of bringing the poet and leaving the other guy dead in the room; we could pump the poet for info later. Of course, the poet will slow us down too, just not nearly as much as both of them would.

Ideally, we could knock out the poet then kill his servant buddy (no witnesses), and take the poet with us. Ivor and Thorn are ripped, so carrying the guy shouldn't be a problem. The unknown variables are the concern here: what kind of environments would we be moving through, and how far do we have to go? In other words, how feasible is it to get this guy out of here?

If possible J, could Kray have a little aside with Ra u nak and get an idea of how far they have to go and whether bringing captives is possible?

Maybe it's a stretch, but I know it's nighttime so maybe we could make it happen and get out of here with some info to press. I'm sure the inquisitor could help.

Apr 22, 2018 11:11 am

The chubby poet speaks Yuoric in an accent. "We speak with the people. Help them. We help them! No one is hurt. No one. We are only speaking. Please!"

He is losing his composure. Scared to death, stuttering, and close to breakdown.

Ra u nak

Apr 22, 2018 11:24 am

Ra u nak watches closely. Though he is not one to act frantically, the focus of his stare at the captured men shows that he is deeply troubled. He turns away and looks to the ground. He closes his eyes and holds a hand up to his head, signs of dealing with the stress.

When Kray asks him a collection of questions about the details of the escape, he looks up abruptly. "We must go now, Mercon. We have to escape. I seek an exit, but now it is uncertain. With all haste, we must fly!"

OOC:

Ez, I get what you are saying above and it's understandable for Kray to want more detail. But in the split seconds and the off-the-charts stress for the non-raider crowd, I don't think there will be much more clarity to be gleaned. Kray can see this circumstance is right on the balance, other servants and poets and maybe guards right around the corner. More discussion and is likely going to be detrimental - Kray can feel that he needs to make a quick decision with what he's got as it is.

Apr 22, 2018 11:26 am

The younger servant across the room begs for mercy in Heshbaan. His hands are quaking and voice quivering. He is getting frantic as his eyes dart back and forth between Kray and Ivor and their knives.

Kray Mercon

Apr 22, 2018 2:12 pm

Kray knew he didn't have the time. Briefly, he considered that fat poet's words and found it difficult to believe that these shadowy 'invisible servants' we're helping in any way. In fact, the whole operation seemed to lend itself to manipulation and control.

He gave Ivor a nod as his free hand moved to cover the poet's mouth. In the same movement, Kray's knife slid across the poet's neck, opening a seam of red to silence the man forever.

Figured hauling one of these guys out wasn't really a plausible option. So, given the no witnesses concept, let's just leave them dead and have Ra u nak point the way. Kray would still want to be on point, ahead of the group a bit to try and keep some degree of stealth going.

J, I assumed given the situation (and what I assume are some low level NPC's) that cutting the guy open was a given. If you need rolls, here they are.

Last edited April 22, 2018 2:14 pm

Rolls

Knife 1 - (1d20+8, 1d4+5)

1d20+8 : (1) + 8 = 9

1d4+5 : (2) + 5 = 7

Knife 2 - (1d20+8, 1d4+5)

1d20+8 : (20) + 8 = 28

1d4+5 : (4) + 5 = 9

Off hand - (1d20+8, 1d4)

1d20+8 : (18) + 8 = 26

1d4 : (4) = 4

Stealth - (1d20+8)

(15) + 8 = 23

Crit damage - (1d4+5)

(2) + 5 = 7

Apr 22, 2018 3:26 pm

Kray cuts deep across the man's neck, severing both arteries and veins on either side and splitting the windpipe so that there is no possibility of a scream.

As the poet dies, Kray pulls him into the room and guides the slumping body into a chair.

OOC:

Ez, yes. In this circumstance, we won't use dice. Say the word and these guys are dead.
Same for you, Jabes. Does Ivor kill the other servant?

Ez, just for the possibility of it, send Insight roll for Kray. Small chance of gleaning a bit extra, but even if it is unsuccessful, it is not a substantial takeaway anyway. Ahead of time, DC 18.

Apr 22, 2018 5:05 pm

Insight

Rolls

Insight - (1d20)

(11) = 11

Apr 22, 2018 7:10 pm

Assuming Ivor is with the zero witnesses plan, once the other servant is down we've got two more disguises for Thorn and Ra u nak.

Also, quick searching all when the moment resolves.

Last edited April 22, 2018 7:13 pm

Ivor MacConall

Jabes.plays.RPG

Apr 23, 2018 2:25 am

OOC:

Sorry for the absence. The usual busy blah blah. Yeah Ivor isn't as cold as Kray but once MErcon slit that guy's throat IVor would slice the other guy up too.

Apr 23, 2018 8:24 pm

Ivor kills the captive servant before he can scream out.

With two more sets of black robes, Thorn and Ra u nak are able to quickly join in the disguise. Checking to see if the coast is clear, the group moves out, down the hall, across a wider chamber, to a stairwell and down.

The lower sections seem rather deserted, with less lighting. Ra u nak picks up an long-necked oil lantern to light the way through the eerie hallways and rooms.

Ra u nak

Apr 23, 2018 8:26 pm

"We are close," Ra u nak says. "Beware, but also look for the others. Hopefully we can reunite with our compatriots."

The old Seetan peers into the dark hallway. It is an old brick hall, with damp sweaty walls. The smell of river water wafts through the air.

Ahead at the edge of the light, a portcullis comes into view.

"Oh." Ra u nak mutters. He looks frozen, as if not expecting this way to be closed.

Apr 24, 2018 7:37 pm

Lok leads the way, and Palla Ba limping along behind. The old man is worse for wear after the battle with the Golem, but seems to be soldiering on. Sizhen, Trece, and Bryn follow along behind, and the group makes their way through several old corridors.

Eventually they are traveling along in a damp tunnel that has a high walkway on one side and down below to the left is a running line of water. It is like a miniature underground canal. It doesn't take long before the group smells the open air and the river. Not too far ahead, moonlight is shining in at the end of the tunnel.

Palla Ba turns to one of the side stairs though and takes the group back up one flight to another chamber. It is some sort of staging area near a gate. There is a portcullis crank in the room and some old barge-like rafts stacked on the wall alongside some crates. The room looks largely unused.

Palla Ba tells everyone to keep an eye on the hallway. There is a shut portcullis there with the crank wheel mechanism in the other room opens.

After a time there is a light coming down the corridor. Everyone stays out of sight but watches to see who it is that is arriving.

It turns out it is Ra u nak carrying a lantern. With him: Ivor, Kray, and Thorn. But they are dressed in black robes!

After a quick verification and explanation, the gate is opened. The group is reunited.

Kray
Thorn
Ivor
Sizhen
Bryn
Trece
Palla Ba
Lok
Ra u nak

Palla Ba

Apr 24, 2018 7:55 pm

Palla Ba, Lok, and Ra u nak talk briefly in Seetan. Palla Ba leads the explanations that follow. The plan is for Ra u nak and Trece will lead the others out of the tunnel and to a nearby boat landing. They will merge back in with the departing party attendees and get passage off of the palace peninsula and back to the main section of the city.

"Make a way out of sight to the right and approach the landing from the stair that ends there. Tell the attendants that you were at a luxury booth up on the north palm veranda. If they ask anything further, say that you were with Honorable Magistrate Apiashal."

Everyone who has them ditches the black robe disguises. Lok weights them all with cracked bricks and sinks them in the tunnel canal.

"We proceed with the meeting as planned," Palla Ba says, to Ra u nak, Sizhen, and Kray, "at the Moon Mountains on Ruet. All should be in observance."

With a closing warning, Palla Ba ends the conversation, "Beware. Do not accept capture this night. A grim choice, but it is better at this moment to fight and risk death to win escape. All of us must separate ourselves from this great danger in this place."

Leaving many questions unanswered until the next meeting, Palla Ba turns and travels back up the dark hall, with Lok following behind.

Kray Mercon

Apr 24, 2018 8:01 pm