The Game

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Feb 25, 2018 8:08 pm
TheStalwartStud sent a note to aws5000

Rolls

CON saving throw - (1d20+3)

(11) + 3 = 14

Feb 25, 2018 8:11 pm
aws5000 sent a note to TheStalwartStud
Feb 25, 2018 8:28 pm
Cato is tacitly convinced that there is no immediate threat. He watches the harassment of the armored man. He exchanges glances with Asterion, knowing that the two of them are of the same mind.

Cato lowers his crossbow down to one hand, sure that he conveys no sense of threat, then approaches the group.

"Travelers," he says. "This fellow is clearly outmatched. You have made your point and won the contest of strength. He has no choice but to submit to your judgment. I suggest you make it. Either slay this man if he is a criminal, or release him and make demands on how he must reconcile. Your continued threats and torment is unbecoming. I do not know any of you well, but I suspect you are better than what I see now. Even a man sentenced to death deserves a swift sword."

He stands his ground, making eye contact, respectful but steady. After a long pause in his words, he calls out firmly to the captured man, "Did you hear that, man? I have pressed for either your death as a criminal or your life as a repentant. It would be wise for you to appeal to your captors that you deserve the latter. I care not which it is."
Last edited February 25, 2018 8:36 pm
Feb 25, 2018 8:34 pm
Skyro's gaze doesn't budge as he begins to feel the urge for blood, Don't... give in. he struggles against his nature. Even with lots of practice over the years, the fight is still a struggle. He almost fights it off, but the urge is so strong, Maybe just a little won't hurt.... to the others he may appear frozen and distant for a moment, but he suddenly moves- he brings his sword down, but immediately raises it again, the pommel facing Elijiah, and slams the bottom of the sword into the mans nose. A wide smile can be seen by the red dragonborn in committing the act, but after it's done, Skyro calms himself, and his smile turns into a subtle frown. He can be seen breathing heavily, and he plants his sword into the ground to help him stay balanced.
Feb 25, 2018 8:36 pm
The Professor's eyes drift to Cato's.

"Perhaps you are right, friend," he says finally, an expaserated sigh punctuating the resignation. "But mark my words stranger. If you emdanger this expedition in any way, you will be vanquished by blade or the arcane."

With a wave of his hand the gnome dismissed the illusion and instead cast Mage Hand to begin collecting dry sticks and kindling to start a small fire about thirty feet from the road side.

The Professor head snaps back to the stranger as the flat of Skyro's blade strikes home. Shrugging impassively he returns to his preparations for camp his mind already returning to Chapter 5 of his academic paper.
Last edited February 25, 2018 8:40 pm
Feb 25, 2018 8:55 pm
Cato sees the hulking dragonborn swordsman strike the scared restrained man again in the face. Cato's jaw clenches. He knows what it is like to be hit with steel when you are defenseless. The flash of light that blasts through your eyes when you are hit in the face, with your hands held to your sides with manacles. He knows what it is like when heavy chains keep you from being able to defend yourself, and your captors take pleasure in humiliating you again and again.

"That's enough, Sir Skyro," Cato says. "I have heard that the dragonborn are warriors of great honor. Heroes of renown. Can you tell me of their legend? I am a poor foreigner."

Cato stands poised, hoping for the best, but ready for the worst.
Last edited February 25, 2018 9:05 pm
Feb 25, 2018 9:36 pm
Ears ringing, Skyro doesn't understand a word P.D. says- they stop ringing around when Cato talks to him. Uh... renowned? Sure,
maybe the metallic Dragonborn... we chromatic scaled have it a bit harder in the way of reputation, and becoming "heroes". You see,
because of our relations to the naturally sinister dragon ancestry, we have a bit of trouble fighting our "evil" nature sometimes. Which is why dragonborn like me usually work on their own as bounty hunters, and such.
he takes a deep breath. Being a red-scale is probably the worst, as my ancestry is naturally bloodthirsty, and well... you get the point.
Feb 25, 2018 11:18 pm
Elijah cries out as the pommel of the sword smashes into his face, breaking his nose and sending blood down his face to drip on the vines.

"I plead you to let me go. I've got a family to go back to. Striking a defenseless man serves no one here any good" he says with blood spitting out as he speaks, unable to wipe it away as his hands remain restrained.
OOC:
keep in mind Elijah, Vortrin, and Deruvid are still restrained by the vines
Feb 25, 2018 11:38 pm
Cato approaches Skyro boldly, and gives him a pat on the shoulder.

"I think I understand, my friend," he says with sincerity, "The story of the red dragonborn is still being written. I am a man who can relate to that. My people, you see, from Hatu...I know nothing of them. All that I hear of them in fact is venomous, that they are villains. Degenerates. Dark sorcerers. Cannibals."

He looks at Skyro, with a reassuring nod. "But these are only stories. They do not define me. No one has written my story yet. They cannot. My story is still underway."

Cato grimaces under strain as he strives to free Professor Vortrin from the vines, but he sends a confident look at Skyro as he starts to manually breaking the gnome out of the entrapment. "I do not put much stock in the sayings of men who wish to shackle another by the color of his skin...or the nature of his heritage. We know by experience that such judgment can be folly."

Struggling, but able to gain ground on Vortrin's freedom. "My friend Asterion and I seek to make our own way on this road. I suspect you seek the same."
Last edited February 25, 2018 11:41 pm
Feb 26, 2018 3:04 pm
You got that right Leif. Goodnight. Elon falls asleep by the campfire, keeping his sword close by.
Last edited February 26, 2018 3:04 pm
Feb 26, 2018 3:38 pm
Cato does his best to set the others free from the entanglement, while also offering a calmness that he hopes might steer the interchange towards cooperation.
OOC:
DM aws, leaving this purposely open-ended to give you something to work with if you want some leeway.
Fellas, same thing. Are y'all up for trying to get at least a tacit agreement (Cato, Asterion, Deruvid, Voitrin, Skyro) to work together, set up a joint camp for the night, and maybe talk with this guy Elijah about where the bandits are? Maybe we can kick off some real progress.
Feb 26, 2018 6:00 pm
Glad to know I have someone who understands me. I appreciate your empathy- it's not something I'm used to receiving. Only scorn. his face is one of a somber nature. I seek to prove that we chromatic-scaled can be good..... and I also kind of hope I become rich in the process he laughs, and helps Cato cut out P.D. and Deruvin. You holding up okay Peeds? he says the professor.
Last edited February 26, 2018 6:11 pm
Feb 26, 2018 8:50 pm
Only half listening at times, Vortrin had finished packing the campfire, had used his mage hand to drag some smallish sitting logs (really gnome sized more than anything else) and had laid his pack down and rolled his bedroll out nearby.

"Well said, friend," he concluded admiring his handiwork and speaking to the group over his slight shoulder. "Let us gather around this camp and discuss matters, make our plans, eat and rest."

He beckoned them over with a wave of his hand while he cast prestidigitiation to light the small campfire with the other hand.

He settled himself down on a log and waited for the others to join him.

"Even you may sit," he said dismissively to Elijah.
Feb 27, 2018 12:38 am
Deruvid dismisses the spell entangle.
Feb 27, 2018 6:14 am
Within time you guys are able to break free some of the vines before Deruvid dismisses the spell. The vines twirl and rot away before disappearing in nearly thin air.

The fire begins to cackle with life as it provides a warm, soothing sensation over the group. Nothing quite like the protecting aura of a flame at night to soothe weary eyes and bones alike.

At the offer Elijah takes a seat at one of the stumps. Hes quick to pull out a handkerchief that he had stored away on his person and is attempting to staunch the bloodflow on his nose which has quickly bruised up. He grimaces as he touches his now tender face. Every so often he looks around nervously at the group, not knowing what to make of the peculiar situation he is in.

--------------
For Leif

As Elon takes rest and Awanesa speaks to the local wildlife, you start to watch along the horizons and your surrounds, making sure that you are not being crept up on. At one particular moment or another your gaze catches the ground around you. Its faint, but surely enough, you can surmise a couple pairs of footprints are on the ground near you. The rain has started to erode the tracks a little so its hard to distinguish how long ago they were made.
Feb 27, 2018 11:29 am
Survival check to see if I can gather any thing from the prints. What direction are they headed. Who were they made by?

Rolls

Survival - (1D20+4)

(5) + 4 = 9

Feb 27, 2018 11:29 am
"His buddies are going to see that bruised face and instantly know that something's up." Asterion murmurs. "Earlier I was all for just waltzing into their trap but because of that dead giveaway I think it might be a worthwhile idea for some of us to ambush the ambushers."

Asterion leans forward, his dead eyes seeming to stare into Elijah's very soul, "Now tell us everything about these highwaymen: how many, what weapons, tactics. And believe me, I can do far worse than mere bodily harm. Cross me, and you'll find yourself BEGGING me to kill you AND your wife and kid."
Last edited February 27, 2018 11:30 am
Feb 27, 2018 12:28 pm
You begin to surmise the tracks aren't yours by simply taking note of the fact that some of the prints are somewhat tiny, like that of a gnome would make. They seem to be going to the left of you, along the forest line. It seems that although you guys were lost throughout the day that by sheer luck or coincidence you have managed to stumble yourself on to the right path.

-------------------------

Elijah's glance suddenly looks very cold into Asterions eyes as the stare is matched with a ferocity that rivals skyros.

"Look around" he suddenly claims. "He's threatened to cut me down if I cross you, he's threatened to turn me into ash if I cross you, and I'm sure these two would find it just as easy to kill me should I cross you. he visibly points at each person as he makes reference to them.

"I may be a man that has made poor decisions at points but I am still a man and still have my honor. I get what happens if I lie to you." his anger subsides a little. The look he gives is less ferocious as he begins to recall information on the highwaymen.

"There's about 10 of them, give or take depending on if some of them are back in town at the taverns. They have a good assortment of weapons from what they've taken off of adventurers. Some blade and some bow. None of them practice in the arcane though. Their specialty is to ambush you once you've reached inside the mountain pass. There's a couple of flat rocky overhangs for the archers to set up"

He leans back and his stare relaxes a little as he looks into the sky, in a seemingly accepting way.

" I may be alone half-elf but do not try to get me to act by putting my family on your tongue. I have more respect for the dragonborn by offering the dignity of ending merely my life for crossing him. If you have a problem with me, take it up with me. Or simply just ask since at this point if you guys don't kill them, they will kill me and my family simple is that once they see I'm with you and unlike your threat they actually know where my family is at. " his tone is one of anger and exhaustion.
Feb 27, 2018 2:23 pm
Asterion flinches, hastised, and the seething malevolence in his eyes just a moment ago seems to fade. He seems about to say something apologetic to Elijah but bites it back. The half-elf stands and finds a place outside or the campfire's light. This is part of the reason he relies so much on Cato: the two serve as each other's lifeline to whatever light still remains in side them. For the hundredth time Asterion wonders whether whatever feels like a headlong rush towards whatever lies beyond these rumored portals into shadow might be folly. Shouldn't he be running as fast as he can in the opposite direction? Might this not be his final unraveling, his complete descent into madness? He gazes up at the invisible star, dark and inexorable in the firmament, watching, waiting for him.
Last edited February 27, 2018 4:27 pm
Feb 27, 2018 3:05 pm
I thank the rabbit and give him a time piece of my rations. I return to the group and relay what I have learned.
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