Jibril recoiled at the ugliness now beside him, but he did not let it dissuade him from letting his quarterstaff finally thwack the assassin in front of him--perhaps a moment too late, but he was still going to beat the damn rogue anyway.

Initiative: 2
AC/T/FF: 14/10/10
Effects: Mage Armor



_{06:15, Today: Jibril rolled 4 using 1d6+1. Quarterstaff dmg.
06:12, Today: Jibril rolled 14 using 1d20+2. Quarterstaff attack.}

Suddenly, a cloaked man was in the street moving into position moments before the Orc entered the scene.

Moving dexterously around the flame-ridden corpse, he centered himself in the street proper and surveyed the scene. No sign of the boss. Four assassins remaining. Hmm... a moon elf... Those look like Azuthian garbs on that man. Another elf, what in the hells is this? A gnome... halfling maybe... and a... woman. Wonderful. The man who surveyed the scene was cloaked in such a way that his ethnicity was hidden, but he stood slightly below the height of your average human male, and a had a thin frame. A bow was gripped in his hand.

Pointing to the nearest assassin, the cloaked figure looked back at the orc and nodded. "Take him first." As soon as he'd pointed out the target to the orc who followed quickly behind him, an arrow was suddenly notched to the man's bow and leaped forth. As he tried to avoid striking the olive-skinned man however, the shot was hurried and not as accurate as it could have been.

Atk: 19 (15 if assassin is engaged in melee combat), 1 damage.
16:33, Today: Thaniel rolled 19,1 using 1d20+4,1d8. Longbow Atk B6 Assassin.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:39, Mon 03 Aug 2009.

Krogan snorted and grinned.

"'Attack the nearest enemy'.  Thank you, my friend, I never would have thought of that!"

Krogan chuckles as he swings his morning star.

Thaniel rolled his eyes.

"It's a method of intimidation, my good man." The hooded figure spoke with a smile from beneath his cloak. "When you single out some poor soul in the heat of combat, allowing them to see the men who are about to deliver them to whatever God saw fit to grant them life, talking about them as if they were nothing more then a small impediment in the road - like a sheep before a raging chariot - it instills no small amount of terror in said sheep... er, poor soul." The man sighed. "Go fight normally! See? That doesn't have the same foreboding ring to it."

The man spoke almost absent-mindedly as he arrow flew forward and he began notching the next one.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:49, Tue 04 Aug 2009.

"Oh shut up both of you! Do I need to take care of this rogue all by myself?" Jibril braces for another swing from the assassin.

Krogan chuckled at Thaniel's words.

"AH!  That IS a good point, my friend.  Ok, how's this then?"

He looked at the assassin, showing a lot of teeth as he smiled.

"Hello there, sir!  I'm going to kill you now, and then step over your dead body and then forget  you ever existed.  Then I'm gonna kill your friends.  THEN I'm gonna get back to my drink, which will probably still be cold after I've finished killing all of you."

The burly orc glanced over at the fancily dressed man with the staff.

"And a good evening to YOU, sir!" He said cheerfully.

Linni, seeing Jibril's assailant taken care of, turned her attention to the battle at the other end of the street. Waving her hands about, she spoke an incantation that seemed to resound over the battlefield.

Cast sleep centred c13 - to take effect at the beginning of next round
AC/T/FF: 13/13/11
This message was last edited by the player at 10:52, Tue 04 Aug 2009.

Just as the assassins seemed to be getting the upper hand in the battle, a new combatant had appeared. What were the orc's intentions? He seemed unaligned to the assassins, yet what reason did he have to assist Abbas, Linni, Fareeda, Jibril and Lambrac?

Abbas ignored the commotion behind him - he had more pressing concerns in the guise of three attacking assassins. Gritting his teeth through the pain of the wound on his arm, he weaved through the Drensiir's attacks and finally scored a good hit on their leader, his blade cutting into the man's shoulder. The assassin recoiled, gasping in pain, but did not fall.

Stunned by Abbas' counter attack, the leader failed to build on the momentum of his previous hit, his lazy attacks going well wide of the mark. The assassins to either side of him still seemed affected by jibril's spell and both failed to connect. The remaining Drensiir in combat with Jibril swung his Falchion again but the priest managed to deflect the blow with his staff, probably more by luck than actual skill.

Suddenly, a new form emerged from the tavern, weaving gracefully past the orc, a beautifully crafted bow in hand. He assessed the scene quickly, then lifted his bow to send an arrow whizzing into the shin of the assassin engaging Jibril.

The new arrival muttered a few words to the orc, evidently his companion, and the huge warrior turned to face the assassin. The lone drensiir started limping away, suddenly outnumbered, but the orc followed him, laughing as he taunted the man. With a grunt, Krogan brought his morning star hard into the assassin's unprotected head with a sickening crunch and he crumpled to the floor, dead.

Linni, offering a nod to the group's new 'allies'. She then muttered an incantation and gestured wildly in the air. Nothing seemed to happen, yet the presence of magic was ominous in the air.

Lambrac stabbed forward with his rapier again, trying to lend some assistance to Abbas, but his attack was easily parried by his target assassin.

His opponent now stiffening on the ground before him, Jibril grunted and gave him a good whack with his staff for good measure. Dust and accumulated filth from the street had begun to creep up his robes and there was a deep nick in the wood of his staff from that last parry. Disaster all round.

---

       a   b   c   d   e
     |www|   |   |   |www|1
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|2
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|3
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |THA|ASS|ddd|4
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|KRO|   |   |www|5
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|ASS|   |LIN|www|6
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |JIB|   |www|7
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|8
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |FAR|   |www|9
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|10
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|11
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |ABB|LAM|www|12
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|ASS|ASS|ASS|www|13
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|14
     +---+---+---+---+---+
     |www|   |   |   |www|15

Key:
ASS - Assassin - AC/T/FF: 14/12/12
FAR - Fareeda
JIB - Jibril
LIN - Linni
LAM - Lambrac
ABB - Abbas
KRO - Krogan
THA - Thaniel
www - Wall
ddd - Door

Krogan watched with great personal satisfaction as the robed fighter fell dead to the dirty street.
"I may grow to love this town" he mused.
Looking up, he recognized the motley crew of "out-of-towners" who'd been menaced by the arrogant human who had spoiled the orc's evening of drinking.  He also saw three more fighters dressed like the one he'd just killed. Logically, it followed that they were allies of the pompous human, and therefore fair game.

With a chuckle of glee, Krogan launched himself down the street.  In his light armor, he was reasonably fleet of foot, but he still had to push himself to reach the other group quickly, before the three locals finished off the decidedly unintimidating foreigners.



Initiative: 11
Move: B13
Full Round Action: Charge,   hit AC 24 on b13 assassin

AC/T/FF  16/10/14

Effects: Dragon Aura: Toughness (DR1/Magic) to allies
Effects: Inspire Courage

06:10, Today: Krogan rolled 25 using 1d20+7. charge assassin b13. (bardsong & charge)
06:12, Today: Krogan rolled 13 using 1d8+5. morning star damage.  (bardsong)


This message was last edited by the player at 12:11, Wed 05 Aug 2009.

Persisting on the attack, for running was still, regrettably, not an option - what was going on back there anyway? - Lambrac made a fencer's thrust forwards with his rapier. The tip jabbed into the assassin's torso, drawing blood. "Ha! I've got you, by Gond." Lambrac cheered.


Standard: Attack 24, rolled a 20! :D
Critical Confirm: 14 :(
Damage 6
Critical Damage 2
Target Assassin in D13

AC/T/FF: 15/13/12

Effects: Inspire Courage

_{19:15, Today: Lambrac rolled 2 using 1d6+1. crit dmg.
19:15, Today: Lambrac rolled 6 using 1d6+1. dmg.
19:15, Today: Lambrac rolled 14 using 1d20+4. crit?.
19:15, Today: Lambrac rolled 24 using 1d20+4. att.} 

Abbas nodded in greeting as Lambrac joined the line up front, and was ready to step 5' back if Lambrac was, or to hold the line if the security expert remained.

Despite Abbas' grace and amazing reflexes, the three sets of blades yet again foiled his attack, fouling the steel and preventing a solid blow to the thigh.  The elf contented himself with the continued blur of defence, shrugging off his injury - at least outwardly.

The new arrivals had dispatched the rear assassin - excellent.  But was this a new help, or a new trouble turning the battle into a three-way fray?

_{miss again}

Jibril frowned at the bloody assassin in front of him. He was tempted to beat him some more with his quarterstaff, but he already had enough blood spatters on him. However, it wouldn't be useful to have all of their attackers dead.  Who would he interrogate then, and how would he find out more about that fat sow who insulted him?  Nope, he needed a prisoner--a live one.  He reached down and checked to see if the assassin was still alive and then administered first aid to him.

Initiative: 2
AC/T/FF: 14/10/10
Effects: Mage Armor

_{06:16, Today: Jibril rolled 15 using 1d20+4. Heal skill. (Made the DC check which should stabilize the assassin if he's still alive).}

Moving down the street, the cloaked man brought forth a small jar from one of his belt pouches. Opening it, the man scooped out a small bit of butter with his pointer finger. Gesturing forward at the three assassins, the butter wrapped itself around his finger - of it's own free will - becoming slick and clear. "Tuk!"

Thaniel spoke in a clear tone - a word that seemed to vanish from the minds of those around him no sooner than as he spoke it. A bright series of sparks lit around his finger, as if bits of blackpowder ignited. In the blink of an eye however, the sparks, and the butter, were gone. Suddenly the same sparks and a small flash of light lit up the ground beneath two of the assassins for a second, as they suddenly found themselves trying to stay standing on top of ground as slippery as... well, butter.

Initiative: 14
Move to B9
Cast Grease, in B13, C13, B14, C14
B13/C13 Assassins need Ref Save DC 14 or fall prone
http://tinyurl.com/etq3p for more details
AC/T/FF: 12/12/9

And so it seemed the momentum had switched. With the sudden arrival of the two strangers out of the Sultan's Cape, Ubdall's assassins were being quickly overwhelmed.

Abbas kept up his defensive net - more of a blockade to stop the three assassins from reaching more vulnerable targets than an offensive threat himself. He lunged forward to try and score another blow on the leader but was easily parried.

The assassins had clearly seen the fall of their two comrades, along with the arrival of Thaniel and Krogan. Their attacks on Abbas grew lazy and they glanced about at each other as if ready to flee.

It was clear Thaniel had other ideas however, and with a muttered incantation, the dusty floor beneath two of the assassins suddenly became slick with slime. The unopposed assassin to Abbas's right slipped, cursing as he landed heavily on his backside. Krogan saw the man fall and quickly rushed forward to press the advantage, his morning star hacking down to silence the prone assassin.

The apparent leader of the assassins grimaced as the Drensiir next to him fell. He started backing away, seemingly about to flee - but then suddenly dropped to the floor, snoring loudly. Sure enough, the man had fallen into a deep sleep in mid-combat and a wry smile from Linni at the other end of the street was the only indication of what had happened.

Seeing two of the remaining three assassins down, Lambrac surged forward, sensing his moment for glory. The final Drensiir shrieked as Lambrac lunged, his rapier impaling the man straight through the heart. With a gurgled moan, the assassin slipped off the blade and crumpled to the ground, dead.

The battle was over. The assassins had threatened to end the adventure before it had even begun, yet the arrival of the orc and his mysterious companion had certainly turned the tide. Awkward, suspicious glances lingered between the main group and the strangers as one tried to figure out the motives of the other.

Jibril knelt down next to the assassin at his feet in an attempt to possibly revive him, yet the man was beyond hope, his skull crushed and blood drained. However the snores of the assassins' leader still rose and fell at the other end of the street. One, it seemed, had survived...

175 experience each.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:39, Thu 06 Aug 2009.

"Well, does somebody have a rope and a gag to tie that bugger up over there before he wakes up? I need some time to interrogate him." He frowned with his hands on his hips, while giving the newcomers a wary eye. "Chop! Chop!"

"Well, you did start it." Lambrac apologised to the assassin as he gurgled on the tip of his rapier, before letting him slide free to his death. Beg for peace, prepare for war. He regretted the man's death, but what other choice was there?

The Lantanna flicked the blood from his sword, then wiped the rest off on the assassin's robes, before sheathing it again. He limped, staggered and winced his way over to the newcomers, then nodded his head in greeting. "Well met to you, gentlemen. Thanks for your support."

The cloaked gentleman slung his bow over one shoulder, similarly nodding his head in greeting to the elf who approached - though the nod more resembled a light bow. "It was the least we could do. A rather corpulent and ill-mannered gentleman saw fit to lock us up inside that tavern there -" he gestured to the nearby inn, "greasing the palm of the barkeep and leaving the rest of us to choke down swill. My associate and I decided against twiddling our thumbs for fear that we'd do little else for several hours if we didn't step in."

The man eyed the rather large chest. "I assume they were looking to relieve you of that?" He gestured to the heavy looking container. "Or did you simply step on the wrong - albeit oversized and fungus infested - toes? I wouldn't blame you of course, from the minute I spent in his presence I felt half inclined to place an arrow between his eyes."

Thaniel glanced face to face amongst the strange group. "Two elves and a gnome meandering through the streets of Calimport? Even with escorts that seems an odd collection." Glancing to Jibril as he called for a gag, Thaniel bowed in the direction of the Azuthite. "And a man of the cloth, dutifully torturing his fallen enemies." Thaniel, oddly enough spoke this with tinges of sadness to his voice, rather then judgement - the inflection of a man who realized necessity, but was hardly pleased knowing what awaited them man, wishing that instead a killing blow had been struck initially, bringing the man's death quickly. "And I thought we were out of place." He grinned at Krogan from beneath his hood.

Two elves? Abbas and...? "Oh, I'm not an elf, I am human - Lantanna, though my people have kinship with the elves of the sea, and the gnomes." he said swiftly, with the Lantanese pace and melodious accent. "I am Lambrac SeKilderic, a security consultant. We were transporting this chest when your fat friend thought to try taking it from us." He moved to retrieve his things and the chest, not trusting the newcomer's fixation on it. Nor did he elaborate on where it had come from, where it was going, or hint at its potential value.

Jibril peered at Lambrac's things. "No rope in there? Who has a rope?" He caught sight of the chest. "Oh, and I suggest that we open that chest ourselves and see what the dear professor thought was so valuable that it put our lives at stake. I want to know exactly what the value of my life is...evidently, I'll have some idea of that from the contents of the chest. Do you have any skill in picking locks?"

"Of course I do. I'm a professional locksmith, both in installation and gaining entry." the self-proclaimed locksmith answered indignantly.

Lambrac considered the chest. He assumed it would be very well secured, possibly even magically so. It would be be a complicated task. Normally he wouldn't pry, but this short excursion had suddenly become quite risky, and if he was to provide security, then he'd need to know exactly what he was securing, and if needed to raise his fee. "But not here. It may take some time, and I'd rather not be here when your whale-like friend returns. Perhaps we could retire to a tavern? Uh, a different tavern."

"But first," He began to check the pockets and gear of the dead assassins, to see what they had that might explain this.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:14, Sun 09 Aug 2009.

Abbas picked up the box under one arm, flipping his burnoose over to cover the fact that he had elected to keep out the two swords in event of further trouble.  "One doesn't open items being couriered over... with the volatile nature of chemicals and politics, that gaff opens trouble, not enlightenment.

"Your assistence was most timely... I admit that aid from an orc was not high in my expectations for the day, but appreciated for its worth nonetheless."  The elven swordsman paused, now that his wound had quit bleeding and the assassins were gone.  "If you are up for a walk, our employer, a gnomish Professor, may well reward you for your efforts against the attempted murder and theft."

Krogan grinned at his elven friend.
I've only been in Calimport a few days, Thaniel, but I'd bet that there are LOTS of stranger things in this town the the likes of us!

He chuckled at his joke,

I don't know what you folks were doing and I won't pry.  Your business is your business, I figure.   'Course, a reward for thumbing my nose at that mouthy blowhard from before.....That sounds like something that could be fun!

The hulking but surprisingly graceful orc looked over at Thaniel, as if silently asking the elf's opinion.

As he speaks, Krogan reached for his draconic magic, letting his mystical aura move from the protective covering of dragons scales to the healing power of a dragon's heart, and then let it spread to his new "comrades in arms".


My name is Krogan Cha'tok, warrior-in-training.  This fight was the best fun I've had all DAY!  Thanks, everyone. 

He nudged a dead assassin with a thick-soled boot.
Especially you fellows.  You were really good sports about it. I appreciate it, truly.

Grinning, he looked at Abbas.
I'm beginning to see that you elven types are far different than I was raised to believe.  It's an honor to meet you, sir.
Following Lambrac's lead, Krogan began to assist with looting the assassins, moving quickly, just in case.

Fareeda looked around at the scene of carnage, a look of sheer horror in her eyes. Having spent most of her life in a Harem, she had not been exposed to the true brutality of the world - unless the ceaseless greed and hungry desire of men could be called 'brutal'. Her eyes drifted from corpse to corpse - to the blood that spread like ooze through the street dust. So this is what death is, she thought, gently shaking her head. The smell of burning flesh lingered in the air and flames still flickered across the now charred black body of the assassin by the tavern door. She fought back the urge to vomit.

It was becoming increasingly clear that this quest, this...task, was not for her. What if Abbas had fallen and the two strangers had not arrived to aid? The blades of those ruthless assassins would have sought her before long, and what defence could she have offered the group? Her lute could inspire and fascinate, but it could not parry a blade!

She glanced around at the others, her eyes wide and seemingly bereft of her usual feminine charm. "I'm sorry. I think I... I think we should leave this place."

Jibril crossed his arms and glared at the elf. "I don't remember anyone electing you to be the decision-maker for our group? Since we were all equally sent for this task, I believe we all deserve a vote on whether the chest should be opened to know its contents.  If you want to be a mindless lemming for the professor, so be it and your vote is cast. I, on the other hand, wish to know what is so valuable that it placed my life at risk."

Krogan looked at the bickering with some amusement.
As much fun as it would be to have another street brawl, perhaps that decision should be made out of view of the street and whatever spies the round human probably has watching us, even as we stand around talking.

He looked around.

Maybe a better tavern?  One with ale that doesn't have quite so much dirt in it?

The orc grinned.

I don't honestly care all that much about what's in the box.  As far as I'm concerned,  you're all "war friends" and I don't steal from "war friends".    Still, I could carry the thing somewhere, at least until we're off the streets?