Shale grins as he says, “It would seem as though there are enough of us to do what needs to be done.”

Shale scratches behind Blinky's ear as Shale continues, “Well it has my interest, so you plan on coming along Gilant? Or do you want to sit this one out?”

Glinat shrugs and replies to Shale, “I see no reason to sit this out and let you have all the fun, Shale.”

Gilant glances around at the group that has come forward and wonders what this group will be capable of...

  Well, things seemed to be looking up even more.  At least in total numbers.  "Well I can't say I haven't been a fan of projectile weapons.  At least when not pointed at us.  Considering how much things got shuffled up on the last trip, as long as your actually with us for the job and still alive when we get back you should get paid."

  He considered Angel, least obvious so far in what they were bringing (Well, okay.  Shale and Gilant hadn't advertised either.  But you got a displacer beast and a violent disposition on display).  "So, sentence worth of what you'd be bringing along?"

Angel looks over to Kyle and nods to him. "Does this count?" she holds up a most unfamiliar weapon; a star-shaped round metallic thing. If Kyle looks closer, they aren't just there to reflect the sunlight. They are sharp.

A shuriken. A ninja star. ;)

May asks, "Can you fight?"

Angel says, "Yes."

May says, "Good. So let's go to the mayor or such and make sure that offer's still open."

Thurann isn't happy the gnome and the... whatever... got invited along to do the work of real heroes, but at least what Kyle said is of some comfort.  They won't be earning as much respect as the real heroes did by rescuing captives.  He makes like he's headed for his new foster home, but intends double back to make sure the strangers will be leaving town.  After that, find out which guards were sleeping on the job to let unwelcome monsters into town.

Icarus seems satisfied with May and Angel's conversation.

"Lead the way, then, Miss," he says, following after May.

Blinky stands back up as Shale says, “I'm a mage that specializes in charms and enchantments. And Blinky is a close friend. He'll behave when we go see the mayor.”

Blinky grins a toothy grin as his tail sways back and forth, as he plods along following May and the others.

Gilant grips the sheathed hilt of his sword as he follows May and the others while explaining, “I wield an arcane blade mixing both offense and defense together by utilizing both an Aegis and the ability to curse my enemies. It's so far proven to be a potent combination.” Gilant grins as he is proud of how he has blended the path of a Swordmage with that of a Warlock to create something that he feels is more than either path alone could achieve.

  Kyle nods. "Artificer."  Sometimes, just listing your class is the most ICly practical thing to do...  He get's the feeling he's going to have a larger workload now that he's it for healing.  Of course he may be pleasantly surprised...  Yeah, that never happens.

  "I suppose some reassurance to the Mayor that their stolen goods are still being considered wouldn't hurt before we head out tomorrow.  Oh, right.  Back at the keep if we pass through a room with a portal on the first floor, don't stop.  Dunno what the hells comes out of it if you do, but it seems the current residents learned the hard way it's a bad idea."

  Were this the kind of game with savepoints, such a portal would instead be beloved for the ability of early EXP grinding.  As it is, it's just in character courtesy to inform newcomers 'hey, death trap thing'.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:17, Wed 09 Nov 2011.

Saying Artificer is about as ICly practical as if Angel said she was a monk. The player may know what was meant, but many characters in world sure wouldn't. Angel just looks confused when Kyle says what he is, but figures he was just commenting something to May in Draconic. She follows along and asks Kyle and May, "So what is it you do?"

Angel is holding her composure just fine, despite having just met a githyanki, a displacer beast being ridden by a gnome, a kobold fighter, and what looks like a cherub.

May saves Kyle some effort, though, and answers for him what he does, "He's a magic user. When he shoots things with his crossbow, people near him seem to just fight a bit better in general and, well, he can heal us up. As for me? I take punishment for you all, and I know how to use just about any weapon you hand me!"

---

(OOC: Looked up "artificer" on the net to see if there was an RL definition. While artificer only brought up "D&D only. Doesn't exist RL!", artifice with no "r" at the end, brought up "Clever or cunning devices or expedients, esp. as used to trick or deceive others: artifice and outright fakery." So... he's a rogue?

My whole life, I hadn't heard the term artifice (much less artificer) until the Eberron book came out. In RL, when you say "monk", thanks to D&D, I think of martial arts in D&D, but I also think of bald catholic dudes with brown robes from days gone by.

But in the end, Chris reminded me we have a house rule that any character can know any thing among the fluff text in D&D, so this is just me saying my characters don't know what an Artificer is because if I was a kobold or if I was a monk from a secluded monastery, I probably wouldn't know.)
This message was last edited by the player at 15:33, Tue 08 Nov 2011.

Needless to say, the Mayor is more than happy to not only see Kyle and May again, but hear that 4 more adventurers have joined in to replace the other 4 that are no longer in town.

Assuming rest and all is done, the group is sent on their way out of town and back towards the keep.

(OOC: Up to you all if we wanna skip past any travel time RP or not.)

Icarus is a born follower, apparently.  He's just happy to be among people again.  Traveling alone can get... well... lonely.  He does his best to keep up with the big folks with the long legs.  Or big mounts as the case may be.

Gilant remains rather quiet till the group reaches the keep and sees how far it has decayed and says, “They really don't build them like they used to. So who leads the way inside since I haven't entered this place before?”

Shale looks up at the ruined castle as Blinky sniffs the ground as the gnome says, “Should we just follow the trail of death and destruction? Plus avoiding that one room we were told to avoid.”

  <exposition>"May up front if she'd be so kind, since she's the one with an actual shield.  The only options to continue to the upper floor is either to pass through that portal room quickly enough for it to not spit out whatever.  Or through a ruined hallway full of ten foot wide holes.  We made it back out past the portal with a stack of hostages in tow, so should be safe enough."

  Habitual double checking of Crossbow condition is go.  "Three lefts, second left up the stairs, then up more stairs to a left from out point of entry.  I checked again with Sertanian what we're looking for.  A gilded dragoncrest helm. A platinum longsword, works about as well as you'd expect. wonder if they tried it. Three Red Hand shields with charred holes.  A set of fancy gauntlets.  And a  handshake battle standard."  When the guy had asked about a share of the reward, Kyle told them he could come back to the keep and verify if they'd like.</exposition>

  "From the big room on, directions we haven't checked out yet are up the stairs from there, and further north from the northern batch of rooms where we fought those ghouls. What'll it be people.  West or north?"

  OOC Style: More for reference sake than anything as oocly we dont get these rewards anymore.
  Rescuing All NPCs: 500 XP (determine their fate), 200 GP (rescue all of them, except already dead town guard captain).
  Stolen Treasure: 100 XP, 200 GP.

May answers, "West. And of course I'll take point. I'm here to take the brunt of the danger for the rest of you. Stay behind me and I'll protect you." A kobold tank. Oh well, there have been stranger things in life. Like a heroic Illithid.

As May leads, Angel says, "Is there anything else you can tell us to help us survive this place?"

May answers, "Just follow Kyle and I's lead. If you have a suggestion, please make it known. Just because Kyle and I were here before doesn't mean fresh suggestions aren't welcome. Worst that can happen is I tell you we already thought the same thing and we can high-five each others' survival mentality."

“In that case I'll stay close to May since I can help reduce the severity of wounds with my Aegis and dish it out with my curse.” Gilant has nothing against May taking the lead but sees no reason to prevent himself from doing what he does best.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:24, Wed 16 Nov 2011.

Shale listens to the instructions describing the path the group should go and nods. He doesn't bother to mention that he'll be hanging back in the group since he feels it should be obvious that as a mage, he doesn't belong on the frontline.

"Thanks for being our shield, May," Icarus says with a smile, "I heard mention of ghouls, gnomes, portal rooms, and holes in the ground.  What other sorts of foes and hazards should we be on guard for?"

  "At this rate, I would not be surprised if they had trained attack weasels drop from ceiling panels.  We're dealing with a place built by the rich and respected long ago, though some of what we have been coming across suggests they were not quite as respectful as they wanted others to think."

May marches onward. "What Kyle said. Expect anything. We fought giant spiders, gnomes, goblins, hobgoblins, oversized rats, and the drakes.... the drakes are rather vicious. Though thankfully usually bite ME and not my allies. We've faced undead down here too... zombies. So when Kyle says he wouldn't be surprised if they had attack weasels, he's not even trying to exaggerate at this point. So far, the only thing we've faced that has shown any chance of running from a fight were the gnomes. She glances at Shale. "No offense. In fact, it's probably because they're the smartest enemies we've come across."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:37, Thu 17 Nov 2011.

Blinky seems to snicker as Shale shrugs and says casually, “No offense taken. If these gnomes were taking residence in a place with undead and other monsters, then they weren't civilized Gnomes to begin with. Some gnomes are good, some are evil, some are ugly and some just  go with the flow.” Shale seems to be somewhat interested after hearing the variety of foes the group has already faced as he figures it means that being with the group won't be boring as it won't be fighting the same creatures over and over again.


[OOC: Rolled a 12(+1)=13 for Shale's Initiative.]
This message was last edited by the player at 06:25, Wed 23 Nov 2011.

Gilant smirks as he says, “I think the odds are low that we'll be fasing Githyanki in this place. And if we do and they prove hostile... I want the first chance to smack one up side the head for being a moron.” Gilant truly doubts that there are any Githyanki taking refuge in the place, but if there are, he'll take great pleasure in taunting them for having worse luck than him, since having to live in a place with undead and other monsters and no Red Dragons, has to suck.

[OOC: Rolled a 14(+3)=17 for Gilant's Initiative.]
This message was last edited by the player at 06:25, Wed 23 Nov 2011.

Icarus stifles a snicker too.  "Attack weasels..."

He ponders as he follows along.  "While it may be smart to run when a fight looks un-winable, I don't want leave the brave Kobold lady behind to be a drake's lunch if we sound a retreat.  So....   what's the plan if we need to scootaloo?  And who's the one to decide when that is?"

---

icarus init 16 + 6 = 22
This message was last edited by the player at 15:24, Tue 29 Nov 2011.