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Post by DM Quietus on Jul 21, 2010 20:05:25 GMT -5
True to his word, by the time you've got the sacks packed and ready to go, Mr. Petherton arrives with a four-wheeled cart, several lengths of wood holding a flimsy but waterproof canvas over top of it. The cart is lead by two small horses, with both Mr. Petherton and - you assume - Dennis riding on the driver's bench. As they ull up to near the barn and begin unhitching the horses, you can make out their discussion if you listen closely, mostly consisting of the two men cursing these unseen enemies and promising to come out of this victorious. Finally, Dennis wishes Mr. Petherton good luck, before leaving with his two animals in tow.
By this point, Petherton's sons have got the horses set and ready to haul, and it takes only a little bit of elbow grease to get the filled bags hefted up into the cart, their sides heaving with the weight of whatever mixed things you could find, padded with the bit of dry dirt you could gather inside the stables, and plenty of hay, to make them look believable. Mrs. Petherton and Laura both step out of the house and stand on the small porch, where they're joined by the boys and Mr. Petherton. If any of you approach the group, you can overhear heartfelt concerns, and insistence by "the boys" that they come along, only to be rebuffed and told to stay there, and to take care of the farm. The women share warm hugs with anyone who'd come and joined in with this family gathering, and Mrs. Petherton again shares her warnings against getting hurt with anyone present.
Once the family is finished sharing well wishes and promises to avoid harm, Mr. Petherton returns to the cart, hopping up onto the driver's bench - where, it seems, he is very soon joined by Tangent. After the rest of you have either taken up positions sitting around the "grain" sacks in the cart, or are clearly intending to walk instead, he snaps the reins, leads the horses off to the road, and begins heading north. The trip remains uneventful for much of the day, the rain's insistent pounding rising until near lunch, then ebbing away by mid-afternoon. The road is bordered on either side by three-foot-tall grass, the occasional tree sprouting up and leaving a hanging canopy well above the level of the grass. Any humans can see, off to your right, the waters of Lake Volaes, as can Tangent when he's riding up on the driver's bench. It only takes about an hour for Tangent to so get on Mr. Petherton's nerves that he finally gives up, thrusting the reins to the gnome and retreating to the covered portion of the cart in annoyance. From a fifth sack that was in the back of the cart, he withdraws a light crossbow, examining the firing mechanism and giving the weapon a general once-over, making sure it still works properly. If questioned about it, he explains that he borrowed it with the cart, "Just in case".
By mid-afternoon, however, he's grown restless enough to risk sitting in the bench with Tangent again, explaining to everyone, "We should be coming up on Crickstock 'fore dusk. Should all keep our eyes open, we should."; For all the wrinkling of his forehead, however, it is Haiwire and Tangent that first spot the curls of smoke rising from what appears to be a village far ahead, in far greater volume than would suggests fires intended for mere cooking or warmth. Coming closer, as Wismer, Hovis, and Mr. Petherton all begin to make out the smoke for themselves, Haiwire and Tangent both begin to make out details of the village itself - and it seems far blacker than any village should be.
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Post by Grey on Jul 24, 2010 15:43:18 GMT -5
Thankful for the help, Knox assist Dennis load the bag. Splitting the weight between them making the bags lighter and less of a chore. Pausing only when his ever present gloves need the occasional adjustment.
When the cart is finished being loaded, Knox' attention turns to Isis. The protection offered by barding must be traded for the guise of a trader's horse. This also gives the Petherton family a more private goodbye. Reminded of his own family goodbyes, and the difficult emotions brought up by the uncertain future. 'A stranger's presence is not needed in such a personal moment' Hovis thinks to himself. As the group starts to leave, from horse back Knox gives a wave to new friends.
As we following the wagon, a watchful eye also takes in the beautiful countryside including the waters of Lake Volaes. While no saying a word to Mr Petherton's possession of a crossbow, a curious look is given until his explanation is given.
A village? "Perhaps a couple of us should check out this village before bringing the grain cart closer?"
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Post by DM-Delfon on Jul 26, 2010 21:39:42 GMT -5
When I notice the smoke, I alert the rest of the party, and suggest, "Tangent, get in the back with the rest of us. Mr. Petherton get us to what's left of Crickstock as soon as you can. Everybody hold onto something, and prepare yourselves for battle or tending to wounded." Suiting my own actions to my words, I lock my Guisarme into my gauntlet and prepare myself for whatever lay ahead. I mentally visualize each prisoner on the list of escaped prisoners from my family farm. Refreshing my memory for the hundredth time today, just in case I should happen to spot one of them in Crickstock.
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Post by DM Quietus on Jul 27, 2010 10:42:24 GMT -5
Taking the reins from Tangent, Mr. Petherton gives them a sharp snap, urging the horses forward faster at the mention of smoke. It takes barely a minute before you can all see the smoke, and as the cart pulls closer to the city, you can see that it's curling upward from multiple buildings at once. There are a few figures rushing about from house to house, their forms indistinct between wisps of smoke and their appearance darkened by ash; they seem more concerned with the buildings themselves, rather than the occasional body that can be seen laying motionless in the streets. As you're taking all this in, one of the horses whinnies, and the cart shudders to an abrupt halt, as the animals - and Tangent - begin to smell the smoke.
"Right now, there there, settle down..", Mr Petherton croons at his animals, trying to set them more at ease. Leaping down from the bench, he strokes the more frightened one's mane, looking back at your group as he does so. "I'll find somewhere to tether these two once I get'em settled, then I'll be along to help with the fires, I will. You folk go see what you can do in the meantime, will you?" He seems to be wrapped up enough in his concern over the town that the abrupt presence of your various weapons is pushed aside, for the moment.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Jul 28, 2010 17:51:12 GMT -5
Leaping from the cart before it has come to a complete stop, I run full out toward the city. Trying to look as non-threatening as an armoured, and armed adventurer can look, I grab the attention of the nearest person, and shout over the action around me, "We're here to help, who did this and which way did they go?" If the person I ask doesn't know I ask them to point me toward someone who might know, my asking might come across as a command, but what commoner is going to give an armed and armoured man flack for being rude in this situation? If I come across any bodies laying the the street I will give them a once over (heal check) to stabilize their wounds as best I can. If I find any survivors, I will summon the nearest person to take the wounded person to whoever would be a medic in this town.
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Post by Kosga on Jul 30, 2010 7:32:15 GMT -5
Just as fast as I hit the ground from my great bounding leap out of the wagon right upon Haywire's heals; I engage Haywire upon a foot race to the edge of town. Upon arriving in town I immediately start searching for survirors, any of them that need and healing and are able to move upon there own I give them directions to where Haywire is tending to others. For anyone whom is not able to be moved for one reason or another I have one of the mobile survirors relay where they are to Haywire. While I am looking about for survivors I am also paying close attention for anyone whom could be responsible for this cowardly vile act. If I see anyone whom appears to fit the bill, I will make the attempt to quietly follow them back to the rest of the cowards. If being sneaky is not an option well then I will just have to make him in need of Haywire's services, after I have throughly questioned him/them about there actions here.
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Post by DM Quietus on Jul 31, 2010 11:05:47 GMT -5
When you grab one young man's shoulder, Haiwire, he spins quickly on his feet, eyes wide with fear and anger. Too late, you notice his fist flying through the air, catching you solidly in the jaw mid-sentence (6 points of subdual damage) and flooding your mouth with a coppery taste as your teeth abruptly close on your tongue. Only after the punch has landed does the man put together what you'd been saying, and begins to speak quickly, making as if to help you. "I'm sorry sir, I'm sorry, I just thought - well, they came out of nowhere, and started setting fire to everything and cutting down people anywhere they could. I think they went north, I've been too busy trying to get to anyone I could find...", he says, the words tumbling from his mouth so quickly as to make them seem like there was no pause in between each word. Looking over the bodies that it appears have been dragged from nearby houses onto the street, you can see that one man has a deep cut across his chest, likely the result of some bladed weapon, and a pair of teenagers, the girl appearing to be suffering from smoke inhalation, and the boy already dead from the same. Looking around, you can see the shape of one person kneeling over bodies one after another in the middle of town, possibly the town's medic.
Wismer, you gather much the same information as Haiwire does, and get a firsthand view of spit flying from your companion's mouth when that punch connects just about as solidly as one could expect. While inspecting the bodies in the street, however, you (as well as Tangent and Hovis, if they followed - Haiwire's ears are ringing from the punch too much to hear the faint sound) can hear the sound of a woman's scream coming off from your right, between two smoking buildings. Looking in that direction, you can't see the source of the scream, but all of you DO also notice the same shape that Haiwire did.. however, you can also make out the outline of what appears to be a sword sheathe resting against his hip.
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Post by Grey on Aug 1, 2010 20:40:10 GMT -5
Guiding his mount as far into town as he can get his mount safely, Knox attempt to spread the attention his companions give survivors across a wider area. It is not alone survivors he seeks, but any guilty party he can find while un-peace binding his longsword.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Aug 2, 2010 18:53:29 GMT -5
I head first toward the kneeling figure to get a closer look at what he's doing. If he's helping people then I continue on as quickly as possible toward the woman's scream. If he's finishing off the wounded, then I will greet him with the side of the business end of my weapon (subdual damage).
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Post by DM Quietus on Aug 2, 2010 22:42:11 GMT -5
((That is correct; You only failed to notice the detail of that sheathe on the person.
To clarify : The sounds of the woman screaming are coming from somewhere off to your right, between a couple of buildings. The man bent over a fallen body is straight ahead, toward the center of town. As to the man with the sword sheathe, you don't know if he's helping or hurting; the smoke is obscuring those details.))
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Post by Sugarphix on Aug 3, 2010 10:04:02 GMT -5
When Haiwire suggests getting in the back, I protest. If people ask questions, I want it plain that Mr. Petherton is not "hiding armed forces". I will act as his hired hand, which having grown up on a farm myself is not a hard feat. This way suspicion won't be thrown his way should something nasty go down.
I stay with Mr. Petherton and the cart as the others take off to help those that are injured. To myself, I'm thinking back to that crossbow. I'm not sure how skilled Mr. Petherton is with that thing, especially if it is borrowed. He's liable to shoot off his own foot, making it impossible to run his farm. Or worse, one of us or an innocent by mistake. I want to make sure his back is covered and that I can lend him assistance should he need it. He was our mission, and still my first priority.
Outwardly, I call him "sir" when I speak to him, and help with the cart if we find a place to tether the horses. Meanwhile, I hear a lady scream, and suggest that we head the cart over that way to see if we can help.
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Post by Grey on Aug 3, 2010 18:38:59 GMT -5
Steering Isis toward the screams as it suggests more immediate issues, Knox starts feeling the heat upon the skin pull the first beads of sweat he has felt in a while. Offering his hand at the side of my horses head for encouragement in the face of an uncomfortable environment.
Attention is directed to between the two buildings in an effort to assess the situation at hand. If Isis refuses to go any farther between the two building, I proceed on foot.
_____________________________ If needed: handle animal 8, spot 15
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Post by DM Quietus on Aug 3, 2010 22:01:20 GMT -5
Tangent : You and Mr. Petherton manage to get the horses tethered to a nearby tree without any major trouble. Your suggestion of bringing the cart toward where you heard the scream, of course, is difficult with the horses tied off like that, but if you chase after it (Mr. Petherton will follow any reasonable direction you give, or follow you to the screams if none are given), you'll see what I describe for Hovis further down.
Haiwire : I may need that attack and damage roll, then, because as you approach closer, the smoke thins enough for you to make out a few details. The first is that the man with the sheathed sword has a small knife in his hand, and has just finished drawing it across the fallen man's neck. A pool of blood is quickly spreading from the deep laceration, coating the dirt road around him. The wielder of that knife has a grim look on his face, as though the action was detestable, and he's so thoroughly wrapped up in what he's doing that he doesn't seem to notice your presence (surprise round). The last thing you notice, however, is the small badge stitched to the fallen man's studded leather armor, bearing the crest of Cigomenta.
Hovis : I'm going to assume that Isis knows the proper commands to carry you where you want to go, so it will be a DC 10 Handle Animal check to coax her through the space between the buildings. The space is plenty large enough to fit, she's just skittish due to the smoke. If you leave her behind, she'll stay where you leave her until something happens to frighten her. All that aside; when you turn the corner, you can see an enormous brute of a man in studded leather clearly sized for someone of more ... normal, proportions, also bearing Cigomenta's crest. He has a young woman in a soot-stained dress pinned between his arms against a wall, and is grinning lewdly down at her. When he sees you, however, he wraps one enormous hand around her throat, keeping her pinned, as he turns his head toward you and says, "Don't you know it's rude to interrupt a man when he's with a woman?", his words slow and drawn out.
Wismer : If you head toward where anyone else is, you can see the same as they're seeing. If you're heading in another direction, let me know, and if you're being sneaky (thoroughly possible, the curling smoke and the buildings dotting the landscape provide plenty of cover and concealment) I need a hide/move silently check.
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Post by Grey on Aug 7, 2010 17:57:28 GMT -5
After dismounting and patting Isis on the side, Knox walks slowly toward the brute, pulse calm. "I can see two things wrong with that statement. First, a burning village is hardly the place for such an activity. Second, and more importantly, the lady doesn't appear to be interested." Pulling the sword from the sheathe. "If you'll remove your hand from the woman's throat. Why don't three of us go to the safer location to sort this out."
Attempting to diplomatic, Knox's fighter heart prepares to dodge as impressions suggest the large man will not co-operate.
_____________________________ Dodge is on the brute; Diplomacy: 16, Init: 24
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Post by DM-Delfon on Aug 7, 2010 19:37:07 GMT -5
White hot anger beings to rise in Haiwire's throat as he sees the crouching man slit the throat of a helpless person. Regardless of the fact that the helpless person is aligned with Cigomenta. The towns name is even thought with a sneer of disgust. Raising my guisarme high above my head, muscles taught, ready to strike. I think about slamming the blade through the back of the crouching man's neck, but bite back the boiling rage my adrenalin has brought up, and instead attempt to slam the haft of my weapon across his skull with all my strength. If it connects I turn to Wismer, "I figure, knock 'em all out. Anyone hostile anyway, and sort it out after."
Attack: 13+7-4(subdual) -3 (PA)= 13 Damage: 2d6+6+6 = 16
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Post by DM Quietus on Aug 8, 2010 18:34:35 GMT -5
Hovis (And anyone who went to where he is) : "Hm? Yeah. Yeah, I guess I could do that. A little violence always gets me in the mood anyway. You stay here, honey.", he says, sneering at the woman as he releases her neck. Though she is too busy holding her sure to be bruised neck and gasping for air to notice, you can see his fist balling up, as if in slow motion, and it seems clear he isn't going to trust her to listen. You have initiative.
Haiwire : Between the crouching man being entirely unprepared for the attack, and the sheer force of the blow, he drops like a rock to the ground, slumped over the body of the dead soldier. You know you pulled back properly on the blow to try and make it not fatal, but you can see a trickle of blood blossoming from the back of the man's skull where you struck him, slowly spreading down through his hair to join that already on the ground. Behind you, you can hear the man who suckerpunched you earlier giving a shout, and the sound of his boots kicking up gravel as he runs toward you.
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Post by Sugarphix on Aug 10, 2010 7:03:41 GMT -5
Tangent and Mr. Petherton hear the scream before they find the tree to tether their horses, so they high-tail it over to the sound of the scream. As Mr. Petherton has taken the reins, Tangent unhooks his own cross bow from his belt and loads it. The wagon pulls around the back side of the house opposite to where Hovis is standing, so the man and lady are now in the middle. Tangent can see that the man has let go of the woman and sees she is gasping for air. He sees Hovis and the man talking as they pull up, but I'm not sure if the horses' hooves are too loud for him to make out the conversation as they kick up dust and clods of dirt with their speed and trundling cart. Tangent's crossbow is being held down by his lower leg, so it is being hidden from sight. He doesn't want the sight of it to frighten the lady away from the wagon. Having said this, he will ready an action to shoot out the man's kneecap if he touches the lady again. (I'm assuming that since everyone is stationary for the moment that this doesn't count as shooting into a melee?)
Loudly to her: "Lady, I think you should get in!" Quietly to Mr. Petherton: "Get ready to drive." Loudly to Hovis and the man: "Don't you worry now, we'll keep the miss safe until y'all finish your little...talk".
_____________________ Listen check: 8+2=10
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Post by DM Quietus on Aug 10, 2010 8:35:12 GMT -5
Tangent : You can hear the conversation well enough above the soft clip-clop of the horse's hooves, and you can see the look of surprise on the brute's face when the wagon turns the corner - you can see the same readiness that Hovis saw in the man's fist, but you can both see that falter somewhat as the odds stack against him.
I'm going to add both you and Mr. Petherton to the initiative order : all three of you are ahead of the brute, and Mr. Petherton will take orders from either of you. I'm not concerned about the order you take actions in, I'm going to run this as <Players> <Brute> <Players> etc - so Tangent has his readied action. This is how I'm going to run ALL combats, it's just easier than waiting for a particular order. The brute is not currently in melee, since he hasn't acted yet, but he will be if Hovis attacks him. If you want to make the attack roll now, go ahead and assume he isn't in melee, and I'll adjust if needed - this round's actions depend greatly on Hovis, so I'll need to see what he does before I can adjucate what's happening.
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Post by Grey on Aug 10, 2010 17:25:31 GMT -5
"I'd prefer to avoid violence. That said . . . if violence is unavoidable, I'd ask that you direct it toward me NOT the woman." Knox, if not already five to 10 feet from the brute of a man, continues to close the gap. "Let Amia lead your heart to the just and right decision," his gloved hand tight around the hilt of the iron longsword ready to strike if the man's balled fist is brought to bear against the lady.
_____________________________ if it calls for it, attack 17 and damage 3
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Post by DM-Delfon on Aug 10, 2010 18:22:49 GMT -5
I pivot quickly, bringing my weapon into a defensive position, "I can tell that he was on your side from your reaction, but you must understand that I saw the man slitting the throat of a helpless man and took action. It could have just as easily been an attacker killing one of your family. I pulled the blow to avoid killing him, and I will tend to his wounds to make sure he lives, but I can't have people killing the helpless. If they're guilty, they should be put to work around the farms, or publicly executed to deter others from doing the same." If the fellow relents, I will tend to the wounded man. If he insists on attacking, I will knock him out too.
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Post by DM Quietus on Aug 11, 2010 9:40:31 GMT -5
Hovis, Tangent : Seeing steel being drawn against him, the brute's lip curls in anger, and he snarls at the girl, "You'd better hope that you're still here when I'm done with these two, or I'll hunt you down and make sure you regret it." The girl begins openly crying, cringing away from the balled fist - but the two of you seem to have held the brute's strike, at least for now.
Tangent, if you'd like to roll a retroactive Charisma check to convince the girl to come to the wagon, a 15 or higher will convince her to come - but keep in mind she has to pass through the brute's threatened area, which will draw an attack of opportunity against her. That would also trigger both of your readied actions, and I'll resolve all of that after your next post. If you convince her to come, then Hovis's sword catches the brute just between the folds of his armor's shoulder, drawing blood, and you get your readied shot (AC is 15), followed by your actual turn. I won't worry about melee penalties for this shot, but further ones, it will apply.
With the girl either fled toward the wagon or crying uncontrollably and using the wall as support, the sneering brute turns to you, Hovis, clearly intending to get up in your face - and is surprised to find himself a couple inches shorter than you. He is, however, much wider, and if the thin scars crisscrossing his skin are any indication, not much less battle-hardened than you are. "Keep your preachy crap to yourself, Amia can stuff it. Didn't do a lot of good for this town, now, did she?", he says, then bursts into a guffawing, mean-spirited horse-laugh. Hovis and Tangent, it's your turns (Plus Charisma check/Readied attack from Tangent)
Haiwire : The sight of your guisarme at the ready causes the man to come to a halt quickly, and your words clearly leave him in a state of shock. Stuttering, he says, "But - he - I - I'm sure he had a reason for it! Elias would never hurt a fly! But.. well, what do we do now? He was the village doctor, I don't know any medicine, and these people..", he finishes quietly, looking back at the bodies laying in the street behind you.
((Anyone know what Dan's up to? If someone can just let him know I've assumed Wismer's accompanying Haiwire, and mostly doing what he can to deal with wounded, that'd be appreciated.))
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Post by DM-Delfon on Aug 13, 2010 16:59:37 GMT -5
"I have enough training to get by, bring anyone who's injured here if you think they can be moved safely. Everybody, including any fallen attackers. I will want to speak with them when this is all over." Pivoting around to reassess the situation, I turn back to the man, "I need a few things started if we want to save as much of the town as possible, and you will be my go between. First, I need anyone able to move getting some water on the fires. I want you to organize the townsfolk, and get that started. Next, if wounded are spotted that can't help with the fires, get them brought to me here. Next, I need a nurse, someone that can follow instructions, and bring me supplies from the village, someone small and fast would be best. Next, I need to know if any attackers are still present. They will be dealt with by my companions." I gesture to the wagon, where people are clearly either in battle or ready to start one. "Do you understand?" Regardless of his answer I get him to repeat back the instructions. If he's got it down I say, "Good, now get a move on, time is of the essence!" With that taken care of I drop down and begin tending to the wounded, starting with the towns doctor. (Heal 16)
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Post by DM Quietus on Aug 18, 2010 8:41:35 GMT -5
The man is still thoroughly in a state of shock, appearing worse off than before you'd arrived in the city - apparently punching a well-armed man in the mouth after watching several others destroy his town, followed by that same well-armed man knocking out the town's doctor has frayed at his already frazzled nerves. He seems to get the gist of your commands, however, and after a moment of confusion spent looking around, he hustles toward the north-west, toward where a thicker plume of smoke is rising.
Looking more closely at the doctor, you can see through his thinning hair that the bleeding wound isn't terribly deep. You seem to have split the skin of his scalp, which is bleeding quite a bit, but he isn't dead. He will, however, have quite a bad concussion, and due to the amount of nonlethal (and lethal) damage dealt by that blow, he isn't going to be waking up any time soon.
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Post by Grey on Aug 23, 2010 15:14:42 GMT -5
Steel faced as this isn't the first unfaithful Knox has encountered. "You would do well to hold your tongue on such blasphemous comments. Amia has not forgotten this town. She guides my hand. I am here by her grace. Though it should be her mercy that holds you interest." His dark blue eyes remain on the brute, "why are you attacking this town?"
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Post by Sugarphix on Aug 23, 2010 15:50:46 GMT -5
16 + 4cha=20 charisma check to get her in the wagon. If readied action is triggered because he chooses to make an attack of opportunity against the girl as she leaves: 6 + 3 base + 3 dex = 12 attack with my crossbow. Therefore, I miss. _____________________________________________________
Tangent speaks to the Brute threatening the Lady: "If she is not right where you left her when you return, I still assure you she will be in the same or better condition than she is currently in. If she requires moving, you can come find us when you are finished with that young man over there (meaning Hovis,) if you are able".
"Lady, you should definately come seek the shelter of this here carriage, it is much comfier than that hard wall that you rest against! Besides, it will shelter you from the rain. We will take care of you, I promise". He bows low to her, removing his red hat (with the hand not holding the hidden crossbow).
"This reminds me of a story about a bully making fun of a girl in a school courtyard. He had called her a name, Filthy Mudblood! (She must have fallen down, scraped her knee, and in the process gotten all muddy!) Anyway, the good teacher came in and felt he should teach the bully a lesson outside of class. So he used magic to transform the student into a ferret that turned and turned in the air for everyone to see! So the moral of the story is that at least if you fall down, you can use the fur of your enemies to clean yourself up!"
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Post by DM Quietus on Aug 24, 2010 10:51:03 GMT -5
The crying girl seems torn for several long moments, caught between the intimidating brute and Tangent's urging. The shelter of the wagon and the hope of safety overwhelms her fear, however, and she darts toward the wagon. The brute, distracted by Hovis, swings his thickly muscled arm a moment too late, and the girl squeaks loudly as she ducks under it. As soon as his arm starts to move, however, Tangent's bolt fires off, barely missing his knee, and the man turns his face toward the gnome and gives the start of a laugh - which quickly becomes a shout of pain, as Hovis' sword finds purchase in his armor, leaving a furrow in the leather and a slowly spreading stain of red. Once the girl is behind Hovis and into the wagon, she curls herself inside the wagon proper, the horses and Hovis blocking her view of her attacker, and though she still shakes, she does seem to recognize that she's at least safe for now. Tangent's story, however, gets a confused look from her, her wide eyes blinking several times as she tries to make sense of it, before she says softly, "I.. I don't understand..". Your words do give her something to latch onto, however, and you can tell that by the end of your story, she's shaking less than she had been.
Hovis, as you preach to the brute about Amia's protection, he sneers, shifting his weight more quickly than you might have expected, spinning so that the fist he'd missed the girl with connects solidly with your chest, the power of it knocking the breath out of you ((7 subdual damage)). "S'for us to know, isn't it? Lot of good her grace did, showing up late like that, when the whole town is already destroyed.", he spits, his face close enough to yours that you can smell his foul breath.
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Post by DM-Delfon on Aug 25, 2010 11:40:56 GMT -5
After the collection of wounded near me are tended too, I move to assist the townsfolk in putting down the fires raging around this small community. Regardless of what I'm doing to help, I always keep an eye out for any hidden enemies. Listening carefully as I pass by any village home, in case trouble is brewing inside. Soldiers will be soldiers, and after a battle is won, a great many try to claim the spoils of war.
Some think that even the women of the village belong to them, and that will not happen on my watch. My fists clench, and my teeth grind audibly as thoughts of my sisters brutal rape and murder sneak to the forefront of my mind. Desperately pushing those thoughts back down, I refocus on the tasks at hand, redoubling my efforts wherever needed. Pushing myself harder and faster than anyone I see, anything to keep those thoughts in the background. A small part of me knows that it's already too late, and tonight I will be standing ghost-like in the alley where my sister died, completely unable to help her.
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Post by Kosga on Aug 25, 2010 19:51:52 GMT -5
Upon seeing that Haywire seems to have the immediate area under the control of his commanding presence, Wismer sneaks off into the rest of the village. I am checking for signs of other survivors and anyone whom may be part of the destruction here. Anyone that I may possibly find that is attempting to hurt anyone will receive the fine gift of my blade set upon their throat. Then being given the offer to either drop what the person is holding or a free one way trip to visit thou whom they worship. If I find anyone whom is in need of any aid I will make every attempt to help them in any way I can. At anytime that I feel I cannot help a person I will direct them to where Haywire is helping the others. I am also taking stock in the layout of this village and any possible locations that one could hide if hey couldn't make it out of town before any backup arrived.
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Post by Grey on Aug 26, 2010 9:54:41 GMT -5
(I'm unsure the order of the combat's initiative. As Tangent's bolt was described before my sword, is he next or Knox?)
Knox winces at the impact of the brute's fist. "The whole town isn't taken yet." Right gloved hand re-grips the sword's hilt, "You cannot be punished if you didn't sin."
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Post by DM Quietus on Aug 28, 2010 8:14:11 GMT -5
((I described Tangent's bolt first, only so that Tangent wouldn't have to worry about firing into melee. I'm using initiative somewhat differently, in that I'm going <you guys in whatever order you post> <brute> <you guys> <brute>. The order that Knox and Tangent take their actions doesn't really matter to me, so long as there's only one set between each action the brute takes. Meaning it's both of your turn, in whatever order you get the chance to post. Just as a heads up, I'm going to wait to respond to your comments until one of the two of you post actions, so you don't think I'm ignoring you. =P))
All things considered, Haiwire, the town seems remarkably quiet - you can hear the faint sounds of what's happening off toward the right, the familiar tones of your friend's voices and the brute's harsh laughter, but most of the actual movement is gone, now that your young recruit has run off to do what you've asked, and Wismer seems to have skulked off while you were tending to the doctor. If you go to where Knox and Tangent are, you can see the situation as it currently stands : A young woman crying in the back of the wagon, manned by Tangent and Mr. Petherton. Knox, meanwhile, is facing off with a brute of a man wearing studded leather that fits him too tightly, apparently already having traded blows. If instead you continue searching through the village, the first two houses you check have no sounds coming from them whatsoever, and no one is visible through the windows. At the third, however, your straining ears pick up the sound of a woman crying inside. She isn't immediately visible through the windows, but you can see that this home doesn't seem to have been touched too badly by the fires.
Wismer : The village seems haphazardly laid out, as if houses were placed simply wherever there was room. They seem to be mostly gathered around a well near what amounts to the center of town, the area where Haiwire found the medic finishing off the Cigomentan soldier. Every now and then, when you look East (what I've been referring to as "right"), when there isn't smoke obscuring your vision, you can catch glimpses of farm fields, and beyond those, the Volaes River. As best as you can gather, it doesn't seem that there are many actual houses over near the fields, so it's probably a safe assumption that the people who work those fields, probably live in these houses. While you're sneaking around (I'm assuming, any time you use the word "sneak", that you're actually sneaking), you see a glimpse of the young man Haiwire recruited, along with three other people, and can hear him explaining to them that they're needed for the help efforts. Moving past the next house, however, you can see three more soldiers, longswords drawn, carefully listening and appearing as though they're going to ambush the group. When you move past that corner, however, despite your best efforts at going unseen - and they ARE very good efforts, you're sure of it - one of the soldiers looks up, his eyes wide with surprise, then they narrow to slits as he says, "Oh, trying to sneak up on us, are you? Well, we'll see about that, won't we?" The other soldiers with him follow his gaze, apparently unable to see you behind the old rain barrel you'd ducked down behind on seeing them - only the one, who advances toward you, seems to have caught even a glimpse of movement. You can hear him shuffling around on the other side of the barrel.
((Dan, you have the initiative here; You're close enough that if you shout, Haiwire would hear you, but from here, it's unlikely Hovis and Tangent would. Your sneaky skills are freaking crazy by the way, the only way these guys could have noticed you is with a nat 20 - unfortunately for you, one of them got what they needed. =P))
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