Re: Zilean's Revenge (Part 3)

A1C Bronymous Sat Apr 13, 2013 8:40 pm

Whatever, big scaly thing in the middle of a crisis. I'd have been suspicious.

"I heard him." Horizon rounds the corner, open handed. "I'm not putting my weapons down, though."

Azarune Sat Apr 13, 2013 9:29 pm

Sighing Zthulan turns back to the man. "If you can bring Tiffany here she can confirm who Horizon is. For all of us let's just wait for that and not force Horizon to relinquish his arsenal."

Ramsus Sat Apr 13, 2013 9:31 pm

Bronymous wrote:Whatever, big scaly thing in the middle of a crisis. I'd have been suspicious.

Not if that's how 10% or more of the people you met looked. Well, unless you're racist.

Zarhon Sat Apr 13, 2013 10:11 pm

As Horizon approaches, a couple of the guards appear to recognize his appearance and immediately aim towards him. The officer looks dumbfounded, and his already sour mood sours even more.

"Wait, you brought 'that' guy? That bleeding sociopath is your 'comrade'? Just what we needed... I can't agree to your request - he's a well-known "black spot" in our records, and black spots tend to lead to dead recruits, something I am NOT willing to afford. I have already called up Miss Tiffany - she should be here soon, to see if what you claim is true.", he speaks to Zthulan, whom the soldiers have checked for weapons.

He then faces Horizon with an angry expression.
"Listen you, I don't care how much you care about your own personal safety, or your weapons, or whatever it is that makes you think you can be an arrogant little prick - Drop the weapons, or disarm yourself, or hold them by the pointy end, or bleeding shove them up your ass - your pick, but you ain't getting another warning. Until we confirm you are the Mayor's guests, *IF* that is the case, and you are not just some robed loons trying to pull a fast one, neither of you will move a muscle, and thus neither of you will be picking arrows out of their bums. And until you choose to disarm or restrain yourself in SOME fashion, you are not coming any step closer, *regardless* of Miss Tiffany and the Mayor's wishes, without my men dragging you along the floor, tied and gagged! Have I made myself PERFECTLY clear?"

A1C Bronymous Sun Apr 14, 2013 3:33 am

Horizon smiled to himself. Despite his aversion to fame and notoriety,he couldn't help but enjoy being recognized as 'that guy?!'. He did not move, and simply crossed his arms, as if daring the Guard to come and drag him anywhere. "Black spots don't cause dead recruits, arrogance, poor training, and an abundance of adrenaline do. I don't have nay reason to kill anyone, unless they feel the need to be a contemptable ass upon seeing me. Or if they swing first, which they invariably do. I'm on your side. Tiff will tell the mayor, the mayor will tell you, and then you'll look like an idiot for disarming and distrusting one of the few capable allies you have right now. Look at Zthul here- we've known each other for a full few hours now, and he is decidedly un-stabbed." He pauses to speak to Zthulan, in a much lower voice, "And this is why I wanted to do the hostage thing. They didn't shoot at you, but they definitely would have shot at me." Back to the guard, "I'm not dropping my weapons. Come and kill me for them if it means that much to you."

Broken Logic Sun Apr 14, 2013 7:50 am

How long until the rest of us arrive?

Zarhon Sun Apr 14, 2013 12:17 pm

"We're not like you to kill at the drop of a weapon. We'll see how true your claims are before anything else happens.", he says, as he barks a few more orders to some of his soldiers.

A few tense minutes pass, and the soldier that was sent comes back, and whispers something to the officer.

"Alright, looks like your stories check out. Dragonborn, you can come in while we wait for the rest of you bunch. Your 'friend', however, can stay outside and stand there, until he decides to play along."

The gates open, and the soldiers guarding it let Zthulan enter the compound. It appears a large portion of the street was turned into a makeshift war-camp for the city guards. A barricade/wall similar to the one he just passed through is on the other side of the street. The buildings inside the compound are mostly un-barricaded, and seem to host refugees and soldiers in equal amounts. The mansion looms as regal as ever, though now with a lot more guards and a few defensive constructions - it seems like the mansion was built for this kind of situation. Tiffany quickly comes to greet Zthulan.

"Hey there! You took a while! We'll talk once the rest of you arrive - I still have some errands to do here. Do me a favor and identify the rest of your party for our officers here, will you?", she says to him, before running off to a few wounded soldiers to tend to their wounds. Another soldiers leads Zthulan up the wall to observe from it.

***A few minutes later ***

The rest of the party arrive at the same bend Zthulan and Horizon did earlier. They see the same pile of corpses looming at the entrance to the street where the mansion should be.

Azarune Sun Apr 14, 2013 12:38 pm

Casting glances towards the wounded Zthulan waits until the rest of the group is spotted.

A1C Bronymous Sun Apr 14, 2013 4:09 pm

Horizon had not moved from his spot. Hunting and scouting in the woods had taught him how to be patient. "So what are you going to do when the rest of my group gets here? The human and the kobold both use magic as weapons- possibly the deva, too. In fact, that Dragonborn you just let in has weaponized breath. You can't disarm magic, so what happens if they decide to attack? Only the helplessly nonmagical get to be completely defenseless, is that it? Sounds completely safe."

I guess that counts as persuasion: 11+12= 23

Lyntermas Sun Apr 14, 2013 4:24 pm

Hearing Horizon talking somewhat casually around the corner, Rolf leaned around the corner to see what was going on.

"Um, hello?" Seeing Horizon and a large number of highly-alerted guards, Rolf slowly came around the corner, his hands up in a sign of openness and harmlessness. "My name is Rolf Towden, wizard apprentice. The High Priest sent me and my comrades to help the mayor in securing the city. Tiffany and Giles can vouch for me. You've obviously met Horizon and..." he glanced around. "Where's Zthulan?"

Aaaand the thread's jumped. Let's see if I can rename it.
edit: Nope. I'll leave it to Zarhon.

A1C Bronymous Sun Apr 14, 2013 5:13 pm

"Inside. They decided I'm too much of a risk to slaughter everyone if I step forward without disarming myself. I pointedly told them to try and make me, and then they told me to go fuck myself, and now we're all just standing here being difficult with each other. I just pointed out that of the five of us, I'm the only one who will actually be disarmed if we all drop our weapons." Horizon continues to strae straight ahead, deadlocked on one of the guards. "You know, typical day."

Azarune Sun Apr 14, 2013 5:18 pm

Seeing the rest of the party Zthulan quickly confirms their identities to the closest soldier. "If there isn't anything else you need me for, perhaps I could help heal the wounded? I specialize as a healer." Casting another glance at Rolf and the others Zthulan gives them a wave before turning back to the officer.

Ramsus Sun Apr 14, 2013 5:36 pm

Skitter smirks at Horizon's explanation and tosses his sword, still in the scabbard, to the guard and just continues walking in.

Broken Logic Sun Apr 14, 2013 6:01 pm

"Awww, widdle Horizon feels scarewed without his weapons," Jeraylia crooned. "Don't worry. Big ole Jeraylia will be here to protect yew." She took off her bow and sword, and placed them onto the weapons pile. "Can't you defend yourself if you're unarmed? Still, if it's that much of an issue, you can stay outside and protect the mansion. I'm sure the cultists and zombies won't bother you if you show them how many knives you have."
She whispered something as she walked by Horizon. "Although, what they can't see, won't hurt them." She gave a lopsided smile as she remembered who she was talking to. "Or at least try not to let it."
She continued on, and waved back as she went through the door. "See you inside. Or not."

Lyntermas Sun Apr 14, 2013 8:17 pm

Rolf shrugged. "Fire wand, frost wand, cracked cudgel." He reached into his satchel. "Case containing EXTREMELY volatile liquid, scroll gotten off of a cultist that takes WAY too long to cast." He handed each item to the guards with care, particularly the case. "The little girl has no weapons on her, as far as I know."

Rolf glanced over at Horizon and sighed. He decided he could make at least a token effort to convince the guards. "I understand you would feel safer if Horizon's weapons were in your custody. However, if you can't trust Horizon's...morality, you can at least trust him to act in his self-interest. Horizon, for whatever reason, has decided that helping to take Zilean down is his goal, and hurting any of you or the mayor would hinder him in accomplishing that goal. He's no saint, but he's not stupid, and in this particular case, he's fighting for the good guys...or at least against the bad ones." Rolf then started moving toward the gate.

Persuasion (for what it's worth): 15(1d20) + 10 = 25

Zarhon Sun Apr 14, 2013 8:52 pm

Bronymous wrote:Horizon had not moved from his spot. Hunting and scouting in the woods had taught him how to be patient. "So what are you going to do when the rest of my group gets here? The human and the kobold both use magic as weapons - possibly the deva, too. In fact, that Dragonborn you just let in has weaponized breath. You can't disarm magic, so what happens if they decide to attack? Only the helplessly nonmagical get to be completely defenseless, is that it? Sounds completely safe.

"What will we do? Simple, we'll check their stuff and let them in, provided they're not as stubborn as you are. And unless Miss Tiffany is mistaken in judgement, there ain't much reason or cause for them to use said "natural defenses", hence why we can probably afford them the benefit of the doubt. More than can be expected of you, as you so adamantly continue to prove. What are you trying to prove anyway?"

"Um, hello?" Seeing Horizon and a large number of highly-alerted guards, Rolf slowly came around the corner, his hands up in a sign of openness and harmlessness. "My name is Rolf Towden, wizard apprentice. The High Priest sent me and my comrades to help the mayor in securing the city. Tiffany and Giles can vouch for me. You've obviously met Horizon and..." he glanced around. "Where's Zthulan?"

"Well speak of the devils. You took a while getting here! And you brought someone extra, I see.", he exclaims, nodding at the girl.

The guards allow everyone but Horizon to enter the compound.

Broken Logic wrote:"Awww, widdle Horizon feels scarewed without his weapons," Jeraylia crooned. "Don't worry. Big ole Jeraylia will be here to protect yew." She took off her bow and sword, and placed them onto the weapons pile. "Can't you defend yourself if you're unarmed? Still, if it's that much of an issue, you can stay outside and protect the mansion. I'm sure the cultists and zombies won't bother you if you show them how many knives you have."
She whispered something as she walked by Horizon. "Although, what they can't see, won't hurt them." She gave a lopsided smile as she remembered who she was talking to. "Or at least try not to let it."
She continued on, and waved back as she went through the door. "See you inside. Or not."

Most of the soldiers make whistling and "ooh" noises to Jeraylia's remarks, while the officer laughs. "Hahah! Now HER, I like. Not a bad idea, actually - let the sociopaths deal with the sociopaths, and leave the rest of us to our own troubles."

Azarune wrote:Seeing the rest of the party Zthulan quickly confirms their identities to the closest soldier. "If there isn't anything else you need me for, perhaps I could help heal the wounded? I specialize as a healer." Casting another glance at Rolf and the others Zthulan gives them a wave before turning back to the officer.

The officer nods at Zthulan's request. "You're a healer? Shiny! We can always use an extra aid. Bandages don't help much against those damn sickly spells the necromancers use, and we have a lack of those clerics and paladins from the temple."

A soldier shows Zthulan and the others to the wounded, comprised mostly of soldiers, but a few refugees as well - A few of them seem to suffer from scratch and bite wounds, while others seem to be slightly feverish. One of them is unconscious, and appears to be getting prepped to have his black, necrotic, shriveled leg amputated. A few feet from the wounded, a pair of bodies lie covered in a white cloth. Tiffany is here, bandaging a soldiers shoulder-wound.

The officer then comes down the makeshift wall and addresses the four in person. "So you're what's left of heroics in this town! Shiny work at the temple, as Miss Tiffany told us. Officer Spark-Heel, City Watch, at your service. The Mayor's in the mansion, probably spinning in a trench by now. What's with the girl you brought along, though - whats her story? "

Lyntermas wrote:Rolf shrugged. "Fire wand, frost wand, cracked cudgel." He reached into his satchel. "Case containing EXTREMELY volatile liquid, scroll gotten off of a cultist that takes WAY too long to cast." He handed each item to the guards with care, particularly the case. "The little girl has no weapons on her, as far as I know."

Rolf glanced over at Horizon and sighed. He decided he could make at least a token effort to convince the guards. "I understand you would feel safer if Horizon's weapons were in your custody. However, if you can't trust Horizon's...morality, you can at least trust him to act in his self-interest. Horizon, for whatever reason, has decided that helping to take Zilean down is his goal, and hurting any of you or the mayor would hinder him in accomplishing that goal. He's no saint, but he's not stupid, and in this particular case, he's fighting for the good guys...or at least against the bad ones." Rolf then started moving toward the gate.

"Hmm, plenty of contraband and pretty volatile stuff, but I suppose that's inevitable for a wizard. Mr. Towden, is it? You seem familiar... Have we met before? In any case, I can't really trust your 'friend' on word alone - you know him for how long? A day? We've seen his work for a few weeks now and it doesn't spell anything good. Tell you what, if you can convince him to let us search him and disarm him of MOST of his weapons - say, all but one knife, or whatever it is that's got him in a rut, I'll let him in, with an escort, of course.

Note: By now, there's only about 30 minutes before the sun sets and its night-time. Assume you're all close enough to hear/talk to each other, Officer Spark-Heel or Tiffany, if you wish to converse. Horizon is outside and not hearing any of it though.

Also, edited the split thread's first post. Surprised

Lyntermas Sun Apr 14, 2013 9:27 pm

Zarhon wrote:The officer then comes down the makeshift wall and addresses the four in person. "So you're what's left of heroics in this town! Shiny work at the temple, as Miss Tiffany told us. Officer Spark-Heel, City Watch, at your service. The Mayor's in the mansion, probably spinning in a trench by now. What's with the girl you brought along, though - whats her story? "

"Pleasure to meet you, Officer. As for the girl, we found her on the way here. She was being harassed by a cultist and his zombies, but we managed to deal with him and keep her safe. However, we found that she looked like she hadn't eaten in days, and she has a manacle-shaped bruise on her leg. We asked her to take us to where she escaped from, and she led us to a botanical garden. We heard undead inside, and we're guessing that it's one of the cultist's bases. We..don't know much else." He looked down at the girl. "We ask that she be allowed to stay here for now, where it's safe. We know how to get to the gardens from here now, so any further 'services' shouldn't be needed, I don't think. She's been brave enough for one night."

Zarhon wrote:"Hmm, plenty of contraband and pretty volatile stuff, but I suppose that's inevitable for a wizard.

Rolf shrugged. "We are fighting a great foe who won't shirk in using magic against us. We need to use what we can. As for the volatile chemical, it's actually part of a larger...combination that we'd like to show an alchemist, if one is in here."

Zarhon wrote:Mr. Towden, is it? You seem familiar... Have we met before?

Rolf paused. "...Possibly. I do some work around town from time to time, helping people get where they need to go. But if I don't stand out in your mind, that probably means that I wasn't much of a bother."

Zarhon wrote: In any case, I can't really trust your 'friend' on word alone - you know him for how long? A day? We've seen his work for a few weeks now and it doesn't spell anything good. Tell you what, if you can convince him to let us search him and disarm him of MOST of his weapons - say, all but one knife, or whatever it is that's got him in a rut, I'll let him in, with an escort, of course.

Rolf sighed. "True, but it's been a long day, and whatever his flaws, he's kept with us when he could just as easily walked away. I'll see if he'll accept your offer." He went to the top of the wall and looked down at Horizon. "Horizon, you can keep that knife of yours you like, but the rest of it has to go with the guards if you want in. Otherwise, it's gonna be a long night for you."

Azarune Sun Apr 14, 2013 9:35 pm

With a sharp whistle Zthulan calls Koras back to his shoulder who complies, but not before giving the little girl an affectionate nuzzle. "I guess there isn't much sleep in store for me tonight... I'll meet up with you all later to be informed, I will see what I can do here." The shaman makes his way towards the patient in the most critical condition and begins his slow work.

Knowledge Arcana to see if the unconscious patient's leg can be restored: 9 + 8 = 17
Now to do some healing magic! Would this also apply to my Freaky Knowledge: Shamanistic Rituals? Regardless: 15 + 13(Expert) = 28

Zarhon Sun Apr 14, 2013 10:27 pm

Zthulan thinks it *might* be possible with a ritual in mind, but it would be difficult to perform, and if shoddily done, dangerous to the patient.

FK applies to heal since you passed the arcana, so it's 33.

The most critical soldier would be the one with the leg. The second most critical would be one that's suffering from a fever.

What do you want to use that roll on (leg, fever, or generally healing whoever you can)? If it's the leg one, it may need assistance and the ritual itself would take an hour at least.

Azarune Sun Apr 14, 2013 11:13 pm

The leg is priority than Zthulan will treat the fever.

Zthulan takes a deep breath before heading over to an officer. "It might be within my power to heal the soldier's leg, but I am going to need assistance to conduct the ritual. Even then the ritual runs at a risk. I won't do anything until I get your approval though."

Zarhon Sun Apr 14, 2013 11:38 pm

"Well, if you think you can do it, you've got my approval. Afraid we can't help you much with, well, ritual matters, though. Try not to kill him, or worse - he's a good soldier, even without a leg."

The fever will need a different heal check once you're done with the leg. The leg itself will likely need assistance, or be a skill challenge.

Broken Logic Sun Apr 14, 2013 11:45 pm

What's that? Someone's in need of assistance?
Super Bard to the rescue!
So long as I don't roll too badly.

"Call me when you get started, Zthulan," Jeraylia hollered after him. "I'd like to help. But first, I think I should oversee how our ranger's taking the new terms and conditions of entry." She walked over to Rolf, and waved down merrily.

Afterwards, I'll move back down to the entrance, just in case stuff.
Edit: Also, yeah, I realize you probably want to see if the guards can provide extra help. But I'm just so nosey.

Azarune Sun Apr 14, 2013 11:56 pm

Nodding at Jeraylia Zthulan responds. "The sooner you get back to help, the better. It is going to take about an hour for the ritual to be completed so I'll get started until you get back." Zthulan than begins setting up.

A1C Bronymous Mon Apr 15, 2013 1:24 am

Horizon is unimpressed with the new offer. He's about to reply with yet another witty insult, but a shiver catches him. It was getting late, and getting cooler. "Ok, fine. But if we wake up tomorrow and the mansion is overrun by zombies, and I'm not combat effective, you know who to blame." Horizon walks into the gates, and allows the guards to search and disarm him- but keeps a firm grasp on his kukri. As one of the newer ones get close, Horizon punks him, and laughs. "This is gonna be a fun night."

Once they're satisfied, he joins Jeraylia and Rolf. "So, who else is hungry? I haven't eaten all day."

Broken Logic Mon Apr 15, 2013 4:12 am

Insert cheeky remark unless Zarhon stops the train.

"And here I was hoping I'd get to watch the guard captain frisk you down," Jeraylia lamented with an exaggerated sigh. "I'll have to join you for dinner later. We've got a patient to attend to."

If nothing else is gonna happen, Ima go help Azarune.

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