In reply to Reanna Draegan (msg # 866):

Aegis knocks down the last two redshirts, and as he proceeds to give them what they need, he shakes his head.

Dne asks for confirmation that the danger has passed.  If he gets it, he immediately slumps against a tree and begins recovering his energy.

What a day!

Dilandua, though no longer bleeding and in no danger of dying anytime soon, continues lay down on the job unconscious.

In reply to Dilandua (msg # 869):

Reanna makes sure both crossbows are loaded before thanking Done for his help, and seeing to the prisoner.

"So, who are you and why should you not join them? "

In reply to Reanna Draegan (msg # 870):

Ok, lockmistress, you take care of him, and I'll go back to the barbeque and see how they are. let me get my kit."

The prisoner turns to face the latest person addressing him and smiles through the scold's bridle once again, then lets out an unintelligible grunt.

Then he turns his back again, to present the greenish iron manacles.

In reply to Virgilio Hohlfeld (msg # 872):

Alice begins to apply bandages to the injured spearperson

“Bless this beak and all who dwell within,” Dne mumbles as he flutters near the edge of consciousness.

In reply to Dne Utrotare (msg # 874):

Reanna takes out her lockpicks and looks at the manacles. She takes extra time...

"You have not answered my question. Who are you and why should I let. you go?"

[Private to GM: She rolled natural 6, 11 under skill with quality of lockpicks and extra time. But she will not release him until she has an answer...]

OOC:  In case you hadn't noticed, he's gagged with a metal "stop witches from speaking or casting spells" gag.  And I suspect the manacles are warded against him casting without speaking.  Maybe ungag him first, then if his answers are to your liking, free his hands so he can murder us all in a crazed sociopathic magic-fueled bloodbath be a nice boi and go his own way.

Scold's Bridle:  https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic...dqELoeE&usqp=CAU

Some also have chin straps to force the mouth closed on the tongue depressor/spikey-pain-bits (they don't all have spikey bits, some also had ingenious tongue clamps to hold the tongue still to really ensure the "Witch" could not speak).

The tall prisoner turns to face Reanna, and makes more unintelligible grunting sounds.  It seems as if he's trying to talk with his jaw bound and something fairly large lodged in his mouth -- and not succeeding.

Then he bows at the waist, bringing his caged head down below Reanna's eye level, showing the latch on the back of the scold's bridle (as well the greenish iron manacles with their obvious lock).

In reply to Virgilio Hohlfeld (msg # 877):

Seeing the mechanism on his mouth, Reanna will finish with the manacles and then remove the mouth gag. Does it even have a lock?

In reply to Reanna Draegan (msg # 878):

yes it has one in the back

In reply to Narrator (msg # 879):

After unlocking the manacles, Reanna will unlock the gag...

[Private to GM: Rolled 12, skill plus quality 17, so 5 under...]

The prisoner drops to his knees, then bends forward until his face touches the cobbles again, before rising to his knees once more.

"Thank you, thank you so much!"  He shakes his head.  "My own guild, but as soon as they learned about my magic, they clapped me in those irons except when they wanted me to lend them energy."  He clenches a fist, then his eyes get wide.

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!"  He stands, then bows again for a moment.  "I'm Virgilio Hohlfeld of Bon Chance, Apprentice to the Mages' Guild.  Or probably now, fugitive from the Mages' Guild.

"And you, I presume, are bandits of some kind.  I can offer you nothing much; all I have are the clothes on my back, that face cage, and those irons -- and the ones that were on my hands are made of sky iron; no mage can use magic while touching them, not even me."

In reply to Virgilio Hohlfeld (msg # 881):

"Right. Reanna. Just Reanna. Not common bandits, this was a more... specific attack. How can we know that you are trustworthy?"

She is pocketing the manacles and gag as she does, and checking any bodies around.

Dne watches events unfold with wary amusement as he continues to rest.

"I fear there is no way to know you can trust me, if you don't know my history.  I was -- I suppose I still am -- an apprentice in the Mages' Guild.  It has been my lifelong dream to become a wizard, and I was living my dream -- until someone wondered why casting spells doesn't tire me as it does most, or why I could still cast even in the magic free vault where the Guild stores dangerous items.

"But if you're not a mage -- and I think you aren't, else you wouldn't handle those irons with such aplomb -- you can't really understand.  You must have a mage among you, someone was casting magic -- was that Whirlwind?  May I show them the thing that made me a prisoner?"

In a much quieter voice, he continues, seemingly talking to no one.  "Let's see, I can Apport something really heavy, and while it's floating, Create a big fire..."

[Private to GM: 20:09, Today: Virgilio Hohlfeld rolled 10 using 3d6.  Thaumatology (15) spell recognition.]

the spell was Sandstorm.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 885):

"I am not a mage, but if you have energy to burn, you. can give it to our birdman or priest. Else you can help us get these bodies off the road and take what valuables they had. "

She keeps her loaded crossbow trained on him nonetheless.

In reply to Reanna Draegan (msg # 886):

iq and thaumatology rolls for Virgilio

The apprentice looks around.  "I'm probably more help Lending Energy to the others -- though I've never done that with a priest..."

He walks off toward the person administering to the fallen warrior, muttering under his breath.  "Do priests use the same kind of mana wizards do?  Don't they depend on sanctity instead?"

[Private to GM: 05:02, Today: Virgilio Hohlfeld rolled 6 using 3d6.  IQ (14) GM request.
05:02, Today: Virgilio Hohlfeld rolled 6 using 3d6.  Thaumatology (15) GM request.]

In reply to Virgilio Hohlfeld (msg # 888):

lend energy works on anyone. ift will not help charge energy reserves of other types

In reply to Narrator (msg # 889):

Reanna searches through the dead near her for valuables, and removes them from the road.

[Private to GM: Rolled 4 under search]
This message was last edited by the player at 19:57, Mon 12 July 2021.

On reaching the woman administering to the elf, the former prisoner once again introduces himself.

"I am Virgilio Hohlfeld of Bon Chance, Apprentice Wizard, at your service.  Can I assist with healing your comrade by Lending Energy?"