The Guy-in-Charge points at an alleyway which seems to be serving as a gatehouse to the under-construction keep. "Ya can go in there. Look for a little feller named Kenswa. Best a' luck to ya gents..."

He motions for his team to go around another way. Deliveries must be in the rear. The Keep is of course still in process. So there are no walls to stop people from entering when and where they feel like it.

From what you can see, there seems to be some kind of stage built on top of the roof of the largest building. The catwalks that ring the outsides of the building seem mostly to lead up to it at any rate. Perhaps that's where court is held. Though if so, it isn't being held there now.

So basically, this keep is really four tenement buildings joined by catwalks strung from roof to roof and window to window. There seems to be the intent of merging the buildings together but for now, they are really just four buildings. Something is on the roof of the argest building but for now, you have no idea what.

Obvious options to proceed are: go find this Kenswa guy, follow the cart and see where the painting is being taken, or wander into the buildings and trust the flow of luck.

"Can you detect evil on the unsettling painting, Vaddis ?, Chandanar asks the Iomedean Paladin as they are being introduced to the caste-to-be of the King of Old Korvosa.
"Well, it sure is the first time I hear that a king has been appointed by the People. Does not really feel as strange as it sounds, don't you agree ? And it looks like the man actually cares for his subjects. At the least he has brought some meassure of rationality into the chaos."
The priest pauses and whispers.
"Never mind that I still cannot... appreciate... his tastes as concerns art."
"Let's go and talk to that Kenswa fellow.", he says loud again, though his gaze follows the retreating wagonload.

Vaddis detects evil

The painting is evil, but in an odd way. The best way to put it is it seems more like an echo than the evil itself. For some reason the evil seems familiar. But from where you aren't sure.

So...looking for Kenswa then? 

I was waiting for our detect evil group to decide, but I vote Kenswa

Tarrov nodded at Chandanar.  "Sounds like a good plan.  Maybe he'll know something we don't."  The bard chuckled.  "He is the king, after all."

Kenswa it is. Tarrov, Pitts is the Swatzel Pitts is King Pig. Kenswa is just the door guy.

Kenswa turn's out to be a Dwarf's Dwarf. In other words he manages the neat trick of being surly just through the use of body language. He glowers at you as you walk up to the front 'gate' of the 'keep', tugging on his beard with one hand while the ohter hand taps the point of a knife again and again into a block of wood.

"Well," he grumbles. "Whadda you pretty boys want?"

Touching Tarrov here to endow him with Touch of Glory
Doing the same on myself

---

Chandanar bows before the dour man.
"You must be Master Kenswa, herald of his most illustrious majesty King Pig and Chamberlain for the King, safeguarding the King from being molested by inconsequentials."
"We seek an audience with your King. "
"We bring news from the south, beyond the broders of the King's realm.
Will you allow us to pass."

---

rolled 27 using 1d20+13. Diplomacy.

Selvin walked along with the group and gave a nod at the question of seeking out Kenswa. However, he slowly turned his head to look at the very new Chandanar as the man spoke to Kenswa. His face was taken up in a disbelieving frown with his mouth hanging open a bit, eyes wide. Who talked to a surly dwarf like that? He kept watching to see if flowers would burst out of the man.

"Indeed," said Tarrov, nodding along with Chandanar, "we come to pay homage to the King."  He paused.  "As well to bring him critical information, and a possible alliance to depose the illegitimate queen whose demented policies are currently tearing Korvosa apart.  In these difficult times," the silver-haired man shook his head sorrowfully, "friends are some of the most important things you can have."

Vaddis bit his lip to keep from laughing at the flattery for the pig-man, just nodding agreement.

Kenswa cocks a bushy eyebrow. "Uh. Yeah. So I'll be sure ta pass that message on along. " He waves a hand for you all to skeedaddle. "While ya wait...why don'tcha go move some rocks or somethin'? That'd really impress tha King."

"That we have successfully escaped from the reach of the Queen should be impressive enough.", he says dismissingly.
Never mind that this is almost an outright lie, her reach is a lot longer than that., he thinks.
"We will wait upon the King's call."
Chandanar makes no move to 'move some rocks' at all. Instead he waits patiently and with an amiable smile.

Selvin let out a long breath, almost a sigh, and moved away from the officious person, glancing at his allies and giving a shrug. "So...now we wait? do we have a strategy for what we're gonna say when we meet the....king?"

Tarrov shrugged.  "I think we see what he says to us and play it from there.  We've put several thorns in the Queen's paw, so that at least should put us in his good graces.  I think anyone who's planted their flag against the Queen is--or should be--on the lookout for allies with similar allegiances.  I can't imagine he would turn his back on a group who has had proven success against her minions."

As you stand there discussing, you see several large men walk through. They stop to talk to Kenswa.

"Oy! Kenswa! There gonna be a court today?"

"Well," Kenswa says shrugging. "Nit 'lees we getta challenger in. Bocro's group is...well. You know."

Tarrov raised his hand.  "Excuse my ignorance, but a challenger to whom?"  He asked as politely as he could.  "Why would the king only hold court if there was a challenger?  And who is this Bocro, if you don't mind my asking?  And what exactly is wrong with his group?"


20:15, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 31 using 1d20+11. Knowledge Local Check re Bocro.

Boom.  Who's the bard with the knowledge?

Selvin frowned when he heard Kenswa being talked to. Tarrov beat him to the bunch but he nodded. He was curious as well, though he had the sinking feeling they were going to have to fight or compete or something to see the King.

'Bocro' could be Churl Bocro, a well known bare knucle brawler. He doesn't travel in a group as far as you know. But then again, things in Korvoso have changed drastically over the last week.

Kenswa looks over at you. "Bocro's men were mostly injured durin' tha last court. I think you're gettin' confused. I'm talkin' about court as in the game. Not the 'oh-lookee-me-I'm-tha-king-an'-now-we-gonna-talk-politics-an'-stuff' court. Not Blood Pig. Tha's tha game court. Get it?"

"Bread and Games.", Chandanar mutters with a nod

"Eeeexac'ly," Kenswa says to Chandanar.  "Keepin' tha people fed an' entertained is tha cornerstone a' his majesty's domestic policies."

He rubs his chin and looks you over. "Hey. There's five a' you. Ain't there? Have any a' youze ever considered a career in political entertainment?"

Chandanar chortles.
"I might actually be of help as concerns the 'Bread' part of your majesty's challenges. Given time, of course."
"Not so sure about the 'Games', though. What exactly do you mean ?", he replies.

Selvin looked surprised and slightly...amused? disgusted? confused? It was hard to tell. "Political entertainment? That's two words I never thought I'd hear put together before." He gave a snort. "I can honestly say I've never before given that any thought, no."

Kenswa smiles. One of his incisors is cracked but the rest of his teeth are remarkaby white. "Oh ya have quite cut to tha heart of tha matter there friend. Those two words do seem to be of a mutually exclusive nature, no? But our King is a wise one. He knows tha workin's of a political type court is above an' beyond the simple keen of his loyal subjects. So issues get debated in tha most sportsmanlike manner. I mean understandin' the pros an' cons of economic alliances through debate ain't somethin' your regular chimmney sweep is likely ta do. Yeah? But knowin' tha blokes on tha Red Team are for a conservative marketplace ideology an' they must be right cos they just won tha round...well. Who don' understand that? "

He blinks as if it does indeed make perfect sense. He then leans back, smirking at you all. "Youse wants ta discuss the benefits of mutual assistance in tha resistin' a' tha Queen's local expansionist policy. Right? Well then. I can set it up so you can present the merits a' your arguments in  manner that demonstrates you are worth being mutually assistant ta. One game. This afternnon. Blood Pig. Tha sport a' kings. Or our King anyhoo. " He grins into your faces. "Wanna give it a go?"

Blood Pig didn't exactly sound like the kind of game Izzick would like, but too curious to resist, he asked, "And what exactly is Blood Pig?" Maybe he'd be surprised by a game of chance or a game of wits...but he doubted that very much.

In reply to Izzick (msg # 26):

"A game involvin' strah-ta-gee an' wits! Well. There's a pig involved too, yeah. But 's mostly strah'agee an' wits. Yeah." He blinks. "Yeah." Kenswa blinks again and then claps his hands together. "Game's real simple. Ya gotta getta pig into a goal. An' yeah there's some blokes who try ta stop ya. But tha's about the long an' short a' it. Anyhoo. A match is abou' tha only reason his Kingness would be bothered wid taday. In fact he left word he ain' ta be disturbed. So. Ya's wanna see 'im ta make a case, that'd be tha only way I would know of."

(Feel free to come up with other plans. Depending on the plan, yes it may have a chance of success.)

Tarrov ran a hand through his hair in frustration.  They really didn't have time for this sort of distraction--who knew how long it would take to set up a game of Blood Pig and get the audience together?  And that didn't account for the possibility of the Queen's agents getting wind of the match and showing up just when it would be most inconvenient, arresting everyone involved.

There had to be a way to get to the "King" without jumping through all these ridiculous hoops.

"I don't think you understand," said Tarrov seriously, leaning in and giving Kenswa his best level stare.  "The.  Queen.  Is.  MOVING.  She's got her pieces on the board, and we," he waved his hand around, indicating the entire group of them, "have not yet started to play.  We have no time for games to impress the masses, and neither does the King."  Tarrov paused.  "If His Majesty does not work with us, and if we don't share information and resources?  Well, the Queen's Gray Maidens will be falling upon your 'games' with swords drawn sooner rather than later."

"And that won't go well for anyone."

Tarrov shook his head.  "We have critical information that will allow the King to more fully understand what he is facing here.  We believe the King may have similar information that he can share with us.  But every minute you prevent us from seeing him is a minute that the Queen is marshaling her forces to destroy.  Us.  All."

"We can help the King.  We've already foiled several of the Queen's plans.  And if we have to continue operating on our own, we will.  But if the King should find that you turned away an opportunity to recruit an elite strike team because you were looking for someone to play a game?"  The bard shook his head again.  "I can only imagine what his reaction might be."

"Yeah. But I know what his re'ction'll be." Kenswa sighs. "Lissen. You seem ta be thinkin' ol'Kingie is playin' out of a sense of political savy. Ya might be overestimatin' 'im a touch. As for Queenie..." He smiles at you. "Why hadn' she already done us in? I'll tell ya why friend. The Arkonas. Tha's whozits."

The Arkonas are a powerful noble family. Before the plague they were easily on of the three strongest families in Korvosa. And were rumored to be the real authority here in Old Korvosa.

Kenswa shrugs. "She's gotta factor that lot in. Sure she'll come rumblin' for 'em...and us...sooner or later. But somes a' us plans to get whats we can and be gone 'fore then. In anyway, Queenie Dear ain' gonna come marchin' 'gainst the Arkonas. Yet. She tried that already an' they beat her back at the bridges. Or...well. Somethin' did. At any rate, I'm tellin' ya how's ta see tha King. If'n you wanna try to find 'im yourselves an' set up an appointment direct like, I won' stop ya."

He jerks a thumb towards the roof of one of the buildings. "I'd guess he's holed up in there. Tha's a guess. Kingie is kinda whimsical like when it comes ta his accomadations." He waves a hand in the direction of a nearby staircase. "Off ya go. Best a' luck to ya."

Chandanar mused.
"Arkonas ? Why don't they rule here then instead ?", he wondered

Selvin let out a sigh and shook his head. "Well, this might be a waste o'time, but I don't see any way t'get t'see the King outside of agreein' t'the game. What say you all?"

Kenswa laughs at Chandanar's question. The man seems to like having an answer for everything, whether it's a good one or not. "If they was ta take tha reins, they'd have ta feed tha horse and muck tha stalls, wouldn' they? As is, everyone knows tha score. When tha Arkonas say jump, we'll do it."

(Okay folks. One vote for Blood Pig. One vote for trying to find Kingie. There is no right answer. I refuse to railroad ya'll here. Vote tonight please. Thanks.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:06, Wed 05 Aug 2015.

Kenswa claps his hands together and rubs them eagerly. "Right! Knew we could come ta terms! I think you lot stand a good chance! Should make quite a pot off this un." He gestures for you to follow him and turns and walks deeper into the makeshift Keep. "I'll make sure his Highness is up an' sober. You lot give 'im a good show. If ya win...Ya think ya can win?" He looks back over his shoulder at you all. "Oh. Stupi' me. Ya don' know tha game. Lemme lay it ut for ya."

He heads inside one of the buildings and begins to climb a staircase. "'s pretty straight forward. There's a pig. You lot gotta get him inta tha other teams goal. They tryin' ta do tha same. Now one a' you has ta carry 'im in. No kickin'him across tha line or magickin' him in there. You all gotta stay inside the field. So's tha pig. If'n tha pig gets out, everyone goes back to their side an' we start over. "

The building seems to have once been an old tenement. You pass rows of doors into what must be small cramped apartments. But as you climb higher, the doors become fewer and are spaced further apart, incpdicating larger apartments. On the floor next to the top, you notice a pair of burly guards outside one such apartment, but otherwise nothing that seems out of the ordinary. Or as ordinary as anything ever is these days.

Kenswa continues as you come onto the top landing and head for a staircase leading onto the roof. "Only other rule is no spells or arrows or any o'her kinda projectile can leave tha field. An'." He stops and whirls around, poking a finger in your direction. "Any magick or such goes flyin' towards tha King, then both teams is forfeit. Other than that, rules abou' use a magic an' weapins is left up ti tha two teams ta decide. Any questions?"

No questins then. 

kenswa opens the doorway.

Outside, the roof of the building yawns like a parade ground. The 'field' Kenswa was going on about is laid out in paint. It encompasses most of the rooftop. There are two large wicker baskets set at each end, each basket large enugh to hold a dwarf with ease. Those must be the goals.

Across the way, stands have been set up on top of another building in the idst of them is what can only generously be called a throne. It is obviously made of plywood and paintedin gaudy gold paint. It looks more like the prop for a theater prodution than an actual seat of authority.

Completing the picture is the guillotine. Kenswa never mentiond that. It stands at the far end of the field, tucked to one side, as if it is in storage.

There are six people grouped around one of the benches. Three large burly men. A thin, pale elven woman. A halfling woman with an uncharacterisically long braided ponytail draped over one of her shoulders. And a bluish looking gnome. The gnome has a collar around his neck. The collar is attached by a long leash to one of the burly men.

Kenswa nods at them. "Tha other team. Go on an' introduce yourselves. An' decide what rules ya wanna have about weapons an' magic. I'm gonna go get the Court ready."

"Wait, what is the guillotine for ?", Chandanar asks

Selvin stopped and looked at the group over there for a long moment. But then he nooded to Chandanar's question. "Right. I don't remember you mentionin' that. Is that for the losin' team? If so, that's a pretty big omission. Also, why is the gnome on a leash?"

Kenswa glances at the guillotine. "Hmmm? Oh. Tha's jus' Occum's Razor. You got no worries with it. 's only used for executin' prisoners." He stops and looks at the gnome. "Tha's Scullywog. 'e's just a player on tha other team."

He sounds like there's more to the story than just Scullywog being 'a player'. But he simply shrugs and scoots off to rund up the King and his cronies.

The other team starts to notice you. One of the burly men walks over, waving a hand and smiling. "Well. How're ya? Name's Lexi. I'm captain of Bruno's Bruisers. You our opponents?"

Selvin, are you all Zac'd up at the moment?

OOC: Was going to say he wouldn't be if we're just walking around and talking to people, but he was when we met the guys taking the painting and then came here, so yeah he likely still is.

Selvin looked the other team over, and the burly man when he came over as well. He gave a nod of greeting to the man. "That's the rumor. I'm Selvin. Tarrov's our team leader." He nodded his head towards the bard.

Lexi nods and grins amiably. He turns towards Tarrov. However as he opens his mouth to speak, another voice shouts from behind. "KITTY!"

As you look, the gnome-on-a-chain is staring at Zac/Selvin with eyes that are cartoonishly round. A small trail of saliva falls from the corner of his mouth. Scullywog makes choking noises. You realize the burly man who has hold of his leash is pulling on it, choking the gnome who is leaning against the leash with all his might. The burly man seems to be straining in his efforts to restrain.

Lexi blinks at the scene. Then turns back to you. "So anyways, I was thinkin'...if this is your first game, we'd make it pretty straightforward. One point to decide the match. Magic an' projectiles allowed, but only from inside the ring. They tell ya no spells that might blow anyone outside the field up, right? We won't go for intentional kills if'n you don't. Winner gets King's favor tonight. Sound good? "

He waves a hand as a couple of you have questioning looks in your eyes. "King's Favor means ya eat at tha King's table tonight and sleep in his guest chambera. Closest thing ta heaven in this neck a' tha woods."

Tarrov tried to follow the rules of his ridiculous game as best as he could.  They seemed . . . incomplete.  "Wait," he protested, "aren't there any rules of conduct?  Fouls?  Referees?"  He looked pained.  "Most sports have those, don't they?"

He turned to greet the hulking Lexi, shooting Selvin a long-suffering glance for his impromptu designation of "team captain."  "Greetings," Tarrov said, shaking Lexi's hand.  "I am Tarrov, captain of," he flailed slightly, "Tarrov's Terrors."  He tried not to wince at the name.  "Let's have a good game, shall we?  What is your normal stance towards magic and weapons on the field?"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:04, Mon 10 Aug 2015.

The half-orc smirked and snorted at the name, he couldn't help but get a chuckle out of 'Tarrov's Terrors'. "Those rules sound fair to me." His own magic included a few spells that would likely be outlawed, but in an arena such as this, he wasn't sure the massive explosion of a fireball would even be all that helpful. He could easily drain strength, speed up his allies, or even disarm his opponents.

Selvin slowly leaned his body to one side to look around the burly man standing in front of him and Tarrov so he could see the gnome better. He blinked a few times at the sight and hoped the gnome wouldn't choke himself out trying to get to Selvin and Zac. He also wasn't looking forward to being 'hugged' or grappled in combat by the...mentally-impaired?...gnome. He waved one 'paw' at the gnome in greeting.

Lexi shrugs at your question Tarrov. "That's what we talk about now. Tha use a' magic an' weapons. The only rule the King has is nothing that will spill over into the bleachers." He points across the space to the bleachers on the rooftops. So no big fire bombs or arrows shot off thataway. Other than that, it's between us ta decide. We can do fists. Blunt weapons. Real deal weapons. As far as magic, I'm assumin'from your fella here, ya'll will wanna use eidilons at least. If you wanna use spell magic, that's kosher with us. That means we can use it to. 

Scullywog seems to putstrain harder against his leash Selvin once you wave. The halfling woman walks cautiously over to him and begins to stroke his forehead gently, obviously trying to calm him.

Lexi ignores them. He instead lays out the options. "Since this is your first time, I will leave it to you ta decide. First weapons. We can go barefist...Or claw. Or whatever.., blunt weapins only, or full armory. As far as magic, we can go none at all of any variety, only spells ta buff us or debuff each other, or fling everything we got except for anything that would be a danger to tha spectators. And, lastly, if someone goes down, do we step over 'em or make sure they never stand up again? There are no refs. It's just us decidin' thongs between ourselves. I am an honorable man. You treat me with honor, I'll do tha same to you. " A quick glance at Vaddis gets a nod. Lexi may not be good. But he is whiffing as a man f his word. He smiles at you all. "How'dja wanna go about this?"

"Lexi, all we want is talk to the King. It has nothing to do with getting a nice place to sleep or getting a nice dinner.", he smiles somwhat sardonically pointing at his holy symbol, "It's not even for glory. Not ours, not that of my goddess."
"We do need to talk to the King tonight."
"And we must not fail in this.", he pauses to let the importance sink in, not at all as a threat or a poor attempt at intimidation.
"As such, none of us see the need to cause severe inury, or death."
"Even so, I believe the King would be able to discern if we were playing false, and none of us wants that either."
Chandanar then looked at their designated team captain, his gaze suggesting that Tarrov should offer the least lethal choices.

---

Chandanar Jedekiah rolled 15 using 1d20+13. Diplomacy (Glory-touched).
Damn :-(
Tarrov, keep in mind that my touch on you is still available, you can use it once within 1 hour.

Lexi arches his eyebrows. "Ya just wanna see the King, eh? Well. Would you be interested inna deal? A sorta win-win for both sides?" He claps his hands together. "If you guys want, we can switch a player. One a' your guys plays on my team. Then Tarrov's Terrors throw the match an' your guy can make the pitch tonight at the King's table. An easy match for all of us."

"I think we'd rather play fair; least I would." Izzick didn't see the point in throwing the fight - important or not, they didn't have a place to stay either - it was hard to say if the King even could help them. "I'd vote no limits save avoid killing each other. But I'll leave it to our fearless leader Tarrov here."

Tarrov nodded at Chandanar, Izzick, and Selvin.  No one getting killed sounded good, but he also figured the King might know if they were putting on nothing but a combat-oriented mummery.  "I don't want to take the chance that the King gets upset if we make an under-the-table deal," he replied to Lexi's offer.  "That said, if you win perhaps you could convey our offer to the King," he grinned, "for a suitable reward, of course."

"So, the game."  Tarrov focused on the task at hand.  "I propose the following limits--no edged weapons and no evocation spells.  Any participant can 'tap out' at any point, whereupon they are considered defeated--they may not be attacked further but must immediately quit the field without offering any further assistance to their team.  If anyone is rendered unconscious they are considered to have tapped out--they may not be attacked and anyone on their team, including anyone who has previously tapped out, may remove them from the pitch."

He looked at his team.  "How does that sound to you?  Any suggestions?"

The priest nodded.
"Sounds fair enough."

Selvin frowned at Tarrov. "I'd say no killing an' leave it at that, but no edged weapons kind of take me out." He showed his claws and teeth

Tarrov scratched his head.  "I thought claws and teeth would be considered natural weapons, not
edged weapons."

Lexi looks thoughtful. "You guys really are on some kinda mission, huh? Sorta remind me a' someone.  "

He shakes his head as if clearing his thoughts. " I'm good wid all that. And I don't mind given you..." he gestures to Selvin. "...an exception on tha whole edged weapon thing. " He glances back at Scullywog. "You're gonna need it," he mutters under his breath.

Lexi turns back and smiles, holding up a pointer finger. "One other thing. I got six people on my team. If I can make a suggestion. There's a guy around here. Belgar. A dwarf. His team got aced out the other day. We got a little bit before Kenswa can get Kingie up an' dressed. Lemme fetch Belgar and see if he'll join you. " Lexi cocks his head and studies you all. "Don't know why but I got the feelin' you'll get along wid 'im."

Without waiting for an answer he turns and shouts at one of the other muscled bohunks on his team to find this Belgar.

Belgar, your solitude is interrupted by someone calling your name. Sounds like one of the muscleheads from Lexi's group. Sure enough, standing at the top of the stairs is...Musclehead 1. You never caught their names.

"Hey," says Lunkhead. "Lexi's lookin' for ya..."

You climb up the stairs and out onto the rooftop where the Blood Pig field is set up. You see Bruno's Bruisers milling about on one end and another group you haven't seen before on the other. You study them as Lexi jogs up to you. "Hey. " He ods and jerks a thumb at the other group. "Those guys wanna take us on, but I'm a player up on 'em. You wanna give 'em a hand? " He cocks his head and looks at you like he's figured something out. "They seem to be on some kinda mission. Or at least they're the type who wanna be on a mission. Maybe you help them out, they can help you. Wouldn' hurt to talk to 'em. Right? "

I will let you all describe yourselves. Thanks.

Belgar doesn't look Lexi in the eye, rather he surveys the scene as he speaks.  "Huh?  Yea...  Sure...  Thanks."  He wields his waraxe and shield.  "Say, Lex...  You must not think much of this crew, askin' me ta join 'em...  This gonna be another bloody wipe?" He grunts as he shuffles over to the new team.

This dwarf stands about four feet tall and has a slight build as far as dwarves go.  His hair is reddish brown and tied back with an oily leather strap.  His beard has been coarsely chopped, probably with an axe.  His skin is tan and leathery except for his face and hands that are flushed beet red.  He wreaks of the pungent aroma that can only come from weeks of sleeping in back alleys.

His breastplate is distinctively dwarven in style and form.  It's geometric lines alter the dwarf's natural shape, making him look almost architectural.  The armor would be quite beautiful if it were polished, however it is coated in a dingy oily film.  A light shield hangs off his left shoulder, and follows the design of his breastplate.  It is perfectly square and has a broad pyramidal spike in it's center.  Jutting out behind his right shoulder is the handle of a dwarven waraxe and hanging from his belt are a throwing axe to his right and a boarding axe to his left.

"So... Who's runnin' this rabble?"  He twists and pops his neck as he begins to loosen up.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:18, Mon 17 Aug 2015.

A handsome, silver haired human man opens his mouth to answer you Belgar,  but Lexi yells out " Tarrov! Get over here! " from the other side of the roof. Looks like Kenswa is back. The Court should be arriving soon.

The silver haired man sighs and nods to you, "Tarrov. Sorry. One moment." He looks at the others. "Introduce yourselves. Let me ee what's going on." He jogs ver towards Lexi and Kenswa.

A big man in leather armor nods to you. "Vaddis." He smells like a paladin. All holy water and incense.

Weekends can be a bit slow Belgar. Introduce yourself all..

Chandanar raises a disapproving eye-brow at the seeming lack of personal hygiene of the dwarf.
He sighs, then - with a visible effort - smiles amiably.
"Chandanar."
He then turns to Tarrov.
"Excluding edged weapons was a poor choice.", he points at Vaddis' and his own sword. "The sword is our lady's chosen weapon, so of course we are armed with it. I don't have any other weapon with me. We should have excluded all weapons instead."
He shrugs.

Belgar grunts at Chandanar.  "Bah!  Don't sweat it.  Just keep yer sword handy."  He leers over at the other team.  "Mark my words, they'll be cheatn' at some point.  And when they do, all bets are off."  Chuckling under his breath.  "If ya know what I'm sayin'."  He looks around the area.  "We just need to get us some clubs or maces or somethin' for the time bein'."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:58, Sun 16 Aug 2015.

A couple of men walk onto the roof, carrying a basket of weapins between them. Blunt weapons of all descriptions.

All kinds of mundane, non-masterwork blunt wepaons. Help yourself to one non-exotic blunt weapin if you like. 

"I think we'll do just fine. My name is Izzick - Sorcerer," says the half-orc, trying to bring a half dozen spells to memory at the moment. Green and covered with tattoos, the rather tribal looking half-orc non-the-less speaking perfect common. "<darkgreen>I'll be speeding us up and slowing them down. But if you have any other suggestions for spells, I'd be happy to hear them."

I found a new picture for Izzick's icon that looks a lot more like the art I threw in my description page - I hated the hooded orc because Izzick's got mad tats to show off yo!

Belgar nods.  "Sounds good."  He shuffles over to the weapon pile and rummages around a bit before pulling out a flail.  He stares at it for a second but tosses it back in.  He pulls out a heavy mace and swings it across his body a couple times and grunts happily.  He walks back over to Izzick and stands close.  Looking down at his new mace he whispers, "I'll try and charm that pig if I can.  That's about as tricky as I'm gonna get.  Poundy pound pound after that.  Oh, watch the illusionist and the spriggand.  They'll be fightn' dirty."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:00, Sun 16 Aug 2015.

Alrightie. I'm working out the maps. We will begin Blood Pig tomorrow. Thanks. 

Selvin is a half-elf standing around five and half feet in height, with a body that is more nimble than muscled. His black hair hangs down past his shoulders and tends to be in small braids or free-flowing. His eyes are black in color as well, and his skin shows a light tan of someone who has worked outdoors quite a bit. He has some visible scars as well but overall he is very good-looking and has a charming smile.

However, he is surrounded by an otherwordly form, like a suit of armor, he wears a being from the outerplanes. The being resembles a tiger somewhat, striped white and black and blue but seemingly burning with a blue flame that doesn't burn. The creature is about 4 feet tall at the shoulder, about 7 feet in length not including the tail, and looks to weigh several hundred pounds. The teeth and claws are long and jagged, and the beast seems to be quite fast as well. The eyes appear to be glowing blue in color. It has a long tail with a large scorpion stinger on it. On his back there is a pair of bat-like wings as well. There are gills no the side of the neck also. Selvin is sort of floating inside of it.

He gives a nod of greeting to the newcomer. "I'm Selvin. I'm a Summoner, an' the not-tiger with me is my friend..." He paused. Names have power. "He can be called Zak."

Belgar holds perfectly still as Selvin approaches.  He struggles to maintain his usual blank stare, but cannot resist any longer as only his eyes turn to take in the spectacle.  You can hear the sound of popping leather as Belgar's grip on his mace and shield tighten under the tension.

After a long moment, his eyes blink a few times and he is able to re-establish his scanning view as his blank stare returns.  He coughs...  "Um...  Yea...  Belgar...  "  His wheels begin to spin as he tries to understand this unusual half-elf summoner.

OOC - Belgar Ironclad rolled 16 using 1d20+5. Spellcraft to understand what Selvin is.

After another good long moment, Belgar seems to relax a bit.  "Well...  Zak looks handy enough.  He'll get their attention that's for sure.  Not likely that pig'll get anywhere near ya.  I know I wouldn't if I were a pig."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:38, Mon 17 Aug 2015.

Selvin gave a wide grin and an amused snort. "I'd imagine that's not really my job in this. My job is t'keep the others away or down."

"That'll work." He says with a nod.  "You guys planin' on usin' some sort of strategy?"  Raising an eyebrow.  "Or are ya the kinda fend for yourself types?"

Map uploaded to Group 1. Color codes:

Bruno's Bruisers

Yellow, Lexi and the two lunkheads
Grey Scullywog
Red Walla

Tarrov's Terrors

Tarrov, White
Selvin, Blue
Belgar, Purple
Chandanar, Orange
Izzy, Green

Key to Map

C2-Watchtower

C3- Kng's seat and 'bleachers'

C4- The Court
        a) Their Goal
        b) Their Tag Out Bench
        c) Their infield
        d)Your infield
        e) Your goal
         f) Your tag out bench

C5- Other roofs

You can have one player by your goal. Everyone else starts in your infield when the pig is released. Afterwards the whole court is open except for the tag out benchs. Players who go to the bench are off limits but can not participate further in anyway.

You need to get the pig into the basket at C4(a). The basket is just that: a large bushel basket. The pig has to touch the floor of the basket in order for the point to count.

No edged weapons except Selvin's natural weapons. No weapins or magic can violate the airspace outside of C4. Any damage inducing effects aimed at anyone on C3 results in the immediate execution of the entire team.

Tarrov, Kenswa just verifies the Kng is arriving soon and that the terms of the game are agreed to on both sides. Lexi nods to you. "Good game... " and then trots over to his team.

You all begin to take your positions. Up in the 'bleachers', people are staggering out of a side door and taking seats. Most of them appear to be common citizens. Most act like they are hung over. A few are pulling on clothes.

Someone yells out, "All Hail's da King! " With that Kng Pig arrives. An impressive figure he is not. His crown and royal fur are obviously stage props who have seen better days. His face is vaguely ferret like, assuming the ferret suffered horribly from acne as a child. His hair is braided into a long, greasy strand. A hooded gnome skips by his side, bearing an executioner's axe.

King Pig comes up to the railing before his throne and gives you all a wave. "A new team eh? How exciting." He peers at Selvin and then shrugs. "Well. I guess it takes all kinds. Alright. Are we ready? Gimme a good show you pigs!"

Who's tending the goal, if anyone? Otherwise, tell me where inside the infield you wish to stand: the eastern border, the western border, the southern border, or the northern border of C4(d).

Belgar strolls out onto the infield and stares down the other team.  He rocks his head to the left and to the right, popping his neck and hops a couple times before turning and walking to the right.  He swings his mace left and right and slams it into this shield and lets out a loud grunt that ends up sounding more like a belch.   He mutters to himself.  "Bah...  I'll just club'em."

Belgar Ironclad rolled 5 using 1d20+4. Intimidate.

He lines up on the east side, turns and stands at the ready.

Belgar Ironclad rolled 24 using 1d20+4. Initiative.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:43, Tue 18 Aug 2015.

Izzick, being a back laner anyway, took to the goal - he wouldn't be much help catching a pig. But making his companions much faster so they could? Very doable - and as soon as the game had started, he was muttering the words.

Haste!
Well, first if it matters
23:18, Today: Izzick rolled 10 using 1d20+6. Initiative.

Then cast Haste!
So everyone on the team gets:

• When making a full attack action, a hasted creature may make one extra attack with one natural or manufactured weapon. The attack is made using the creature's full base attack bonus, plus any modifiers appropriate to the situation.
• A hasted creature gains a +1 bonus on attack rolls and a +1 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves. Any condition that makes you lose your Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) also makes you lose dodge bonuses.
• All of the hasted creature's modes of movement (including land movement, burrow, climb, fly, and swim) increase by 30 feet, to a maximum of twice the subject's normal speed using that form of movement.

Selvin took his place in his team's inner field and got ready. He was thinking about whether to cast his Glitterdust spell or just attack when the game started.

10:50, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 9 using 1d20+3. Initiative.

Tarrov moved towards the western border and unspooled his whip, ready for anything.


11:19, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 3 using 1d20+1. Initiative.

Lexi lines up across from you Belgar. Selvin,  you notice Scullywog line up in the western corner with his handler standing back some distsnce, hand on the leash. Scullywog is staring at you. He mumbles, "petdakittypetdakiddypetdakittypetdakitty" over and over. The rest of you take your places.

A man arrives with the pig. The pig is slicked up in blood and the man is barely holding on. The man cautiously stops outside the midline of the infield, glances at both teams, and then the King. Someone shouts "GO!!!" and the man throws the pig on the ground and scurries backwards as if scared the sky will fall on him.

Things happen quickly. First, Scullywog is nine feet tall and bulging with muscle. He screams "I! PET! KITTIES!". He begins to launch himself at Zac/Sevin.

There are suddenly three pigs on the field.

Lexi raises his fists. He has gauntlets on, though they are nor spiked. He strts forward.

Pigs are the black dots. Belgar you got your spell off. We'll find out if it works in a bit. Remeber all you are hasted. Everyone gve me an action and the rolls to support it. Map is updated. Thanks.

Displaying unnatural speed, Belgar lurches forward and engages Lexi.  He grunts, "Ya shoulda joined me Lex!" With the clatter of clashing metal and a broad smile on his face, Belgar roars and launches a barrage of mace swings and shield bashes.

06:04, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 15 using 1d20+13. Heavy Mace attack (Haste).
06:06, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 13 using 1d8+6. Heavy Mace damage.

06:04, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 28 using 1d20+11. Heavy Mace attack.
06:07, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 11 using 1d8+6. Heavy Mace damage.

06:05, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 33 using 1d20+13. Shield Bash.
06:08, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 30 using 1d20+13. Shield Bash crit check.
06:10, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 17 using 2d4+12. Shield Bash crit damage.

06:05, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 23 using 1d20+6. Heavy Mace attack.
06:11, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 12 using 1d8+6. Heavy Mace damage.

(OOC - I forgot to add +1 to attack rolls for haste so I made the proper adjustments.)
This message was last edited by the player at 11:31, Wed 19 Aug 2015.

Izzick was far back, but knew several of his spells could reach. He'd seen Selvin take on many a foe without aid, so as he took on the giant, Izzick provided support instead for the new comer - it'd probably be better to take out their leader Lexi anyway. The sickly green ray poured out of the half-orc's finger into the middle of the fray.

Firing a Ray of Exhaustion at Lexi.

Ranged Touch Attack
10:04, Today: Izzick rolled 13 using 1d20+6.

If that hits her touch AC, then she gets a DC17 Fort save. Failure and she's exhausted. Success and she's still fatigued.

Selvin's eyes widened as the little crazy (or maybe mentally-challenged) guy suddenly transformed into a huge freakin' guy and headed towards him!! If he hadn't been so startled he might have cast a spell - but he certainly didn't want to be hugged and squeezed by the giant! He lashed out in a bit of fear with his bite twice, claws, and tail stinger with the electricity crackling around him as he did so.

OOC: CRAP. I said I power attacked but then didn't adjust the damage for that. Do you want me to bump up the attacks by 2 as if not power attacking or up the damage by 4?

Hit AC 19 for 10 damage. AC 15 for 9 damage. AC 19 for 5 damage. AC 28 for 13 damage. AC 15 for 7 damage.

12:06, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 19,15,19,28,15 using d20+8,d20+8,d20+8,d20+8,d20+8. Hasted full attack power attack on Gnome Hulk.
12:07, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 12 using 1d20+8. Critical hit check.
12:08, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 6,4,8,1,4,1,9,4,6,1 using D6+3,1d6,D6+3,1d6,D6+3,1d6,D6+3,1d6,D6+3,1d6. Damage if they hit (2nd D6s are electrical).

Your beam goes slightly wide Izzick. You see two of the pigs sort of running towards Belgar. Chandanar rushes towards one. Does he know which one is the real pig?

Tarrov  tries to encircle one of Scullywog's legs with his whip. The prattling giant lifts his foot at the last moment and the trip fails. The bard does notice on of the lunk heads is trying to come around the outside of the lash up between the spriggan and the summoner.

Belgar, you must have some pent up  rage, because you slam into Lexi with the force of a charging bearded rhino. Lexi manages to solidly in the side of the head. He spits out blood and grins. 9 pts dam Belgar

"KITTY STINGY!" bellows the 'special' spriggan. "BAD KITTY!!!" He connects a solid blow to Zac/Selvin
11 pts Selvin and a less solid blow 5 pts Selvin

Updating map. Go again all.

"Oooh..."  Belgar growls and laughs deeply from his chest, eyes bulging and wet as his swings fly at Lexi in a blur.  "That's it lad!"  He's not overpowering the human, its almost as if he knows Lexi's moves before he makes them.

05:46, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 27 using 1d20+13. Heavy Mace attack (Haste).
05:49, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 10 using 1d8+6. Heavy Mace damage.

05:46, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 30 using 1d20+11. Heavy Mace attack.
05:49, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 13 using 1d8+6. Heavy Mace damage.

05:47, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 33 using 1d20+13. Shield Bash.
05:48, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 21 using 1d20+13. Shield Bash crit check.
05:50, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 16 using 2d4+12. Shield Bash crit damage.

05:48, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 9 using 1d20+6. Heavy Mace attack.
05:50, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 14 using 1d8+6. Heavy Mace damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:35, Fri 21 Aug 2015.

Selvin let out a growl as he unleashed another flurry of attacks on the creature. "BAD SCULLYWOG! NO HURT KITTY!"

OOC
Hit AC 21 for 10 damage, AC 24 for 7 damage, AC 21 for 10 damage, and I assume AC 14 misses but if not then another 10 damage.

07:57, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 21,14,11,24,21 using d20+10,d20+10,d20+10,d20+10,d20+10. Full hasted attack.
07:59, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 7,3,7,3,4,1,9,1 using D6+3,1d6,D6+3,1d6,D6+3,1d6,D6+3,1d6. Damage from attacks.

Lexi takes the blows, beeding from several places Belgar. And then unleashes a barrage that strikes you in the side and on the nose. 5 ans 8 pts dam. He doesn't look to be in great shape, but knowing him,he'll hang on until the end. Odd he hasn't been more aggressive yet though.

Behind the dwarf, Chandanar grabs at the pig. It squeals and tries to slip through his arms, but the cleric mnages to tighten a grip on him.

Scullywog moans and swats at Zac/Selvin  after three of their attacks land. His big palm smashes against the eidilons side, making a huge THWACK noise as he connects. 11 dam. "Ah damn!" bellows the lunkhead who was trying to sneak around the side of the conflict as Tarrov's snakes across his ankle. He manages to avoid being pulled over but now he can't move.

Izzick, you raise your hands getting ready to cast when you hear a noise to your left. It seems to be coming from the side of the roof.

Izzick looks towards where the sound is, trying to make out what it is among the chaos of the game. But assuming it was nothing, he quickly moved to make another blast of sickly green at Lexi.

Perception?...

01:35, Today: Izzick rolled 3 using 1d20-1. Perception.

....or if that's just for why I miss an action - fair enough. Here's my attack for the turn - trying again to hit Lexi with my touch spell.

01:35, Today: Izzick rolled 26 using 1d20+6. Ray of Exhaustion.

Damn! Shame I didn't use Scorching Ray!
She gets a DC17 Fort save. Failure and she's exhausted. Success and she's still fatigued.

The gauntlet smashes begin to take their toll.  Belgar staggers for a moment blinking widely, mouth hanging wide open.  Then he grumbles and smiles, "That's it, that's it..  Se ya in the mornin' Lexy boy." and he unleashes another flurry of swings with otherworldly speed.

06:00, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 23 using 1d20+13. Heavy Mace attack (Haste).
06:01, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 11 using 1d8+6. Heavy Mace damage.

06:00, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 12 using 1d20+11. Heavy Mace attack. (crit fail)
06:01, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 13 using 1d8+6. Heavy Mace damage.

06:00, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 26 using 1d20+13. Shield Bash.
06:02, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 8 using 1d4+6. Shield Bash damage.

06:01, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 17 using 1d20+6. Heavy Mace attack.
06:02, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 10 using 1d8+6. Heavy Mace damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:14, Fri 21 Aug 2015.

Selvin let out another grunt as the giant gnome smacked him around again. "Tap out if you need to, Scullywog! Or go down and stay down. I don't want to hurt you...too much." The last part was said quietly.

Even so, however, Selvin and Zac let loose one more time....even as the half-elf realized that the only person not treating this like an arena battle was Chandanar. That made him both chuckle and sigh at the same time.

OOC: Wow that sucked. Hit AC 16 (if that's a hit) for 9, AC 16 for 14 and AC 24 for 14 damage.

12:49, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 16,13,16,26,14 using d20+10,d20+10,d20+10,d20+10,d20+10. Full hasted attack again, no power attack.
12:49, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 4,5,8,6,9,5 using D6+3,1d6,D6+3,1d6,D6+3,1d6. Damage if they hit.

Lexi lands one mpre blow, but it's weak. The sickly green ray that struck him a moment before your blows must have really put the fire out Belgar.. 3 pts dam. He's smiling though.

The giant begins to topple Selvin. In fact he starts to fall right on top of you. And then...poof. He's not there.

Speaking of toppling, the lunkhead with your whip around his ankle comes down Tarrov. He's falling face forward, but he is falling.

Chandanar manages to grip the pig and dodges around Belgar and Lexi. He starts to move to the far end of the court.

Seems like it's all over but strangling the cripples, huh?

Izzick, you are probably grinning after what can only be described as beautiful use of the fine arts of necromancy. You should be. But as you turn your attention to the rest of the field, from your left you hear, "Hey! Green an' Sexy! Think fast!" And then everything gets loud. Fort save DC 15- for deafness please Sir

Tarrov, Lunkhead lands neatly on the palm of his hands. The whip is now stretched under his body. Perception check vs 19-, unless you know what he's doing. You can act as you see fit if so.

"Kitty is mean..." You hear the voice Selvin at the same time Zac tells you there is something on his/ya'lls back. Scullywog is laying there, griping Zac with one hand. "Kitty needs a nap..." He seems to be getting heavier according to Zac.

Chandanar, you see that elven woman at the other end of the court and the other lunkhead beyond. If one of the others comes free and can run interference for you, you can get this stupid, slippery pig into the basket. But then the pig suddenly sprouts wings and begins beating them in your face. You may either make a str check to hold on to the pig or take another action of your choice. Your call Sir.

Will update map in the morning. Thanks.

Belgar wishes Lexi would just go down, he's starting to feel bad about clobbering him.  "Aww c'mon lad.  Take a nap will ya?"  He seems energized as he tries to put Lexi out of the match in a hurry, which make his swings appear a bit sloppy.

05:46, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 23 using 1d20+13.  Heavy Mace attack (Haste).
05:47, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 7 using 1d8+6.  Heavy Mace damage.

05:46, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 15 using 1d20+11.  Heavy Mace attack.
05:47, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 7 using 1d8+6.  Heavy Mace damage.

05:46, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 29 using 1d20+13.  Shield Bash.
05:47, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 7 using 1d4+6.  Shield Bash damage.

05:46, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 8 using 1d20+6.  Heavy Mace attack.
05:47, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 14 using 1d8+6.  Heavy Mace damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:35, Sun 23 Aug 2015.

Izzick hears the noise, followed by nothing, disrupted so, he tries to focus on where it came from. His words, he couldn't hear, so he went with a spell he knew he'd long since memorized.

20:37, Today: Izzick rolled 9 using 1d20+2.  Fort save.

Assuming I see the creature, I'll attempt Magic Missile on it.
20:40, Today: Izzick rolled 93 using 1d100.  Spell failure 20%.

20:41, Today: Izzick rolled 11 using 4d4+1.  Magic Missile.
(if I can't see who hit me with the sound wave, redirect these to Scullywog)

Lexi takes the hits like a pro Belgar.  He grins at you as he flops backwards. "Gibe 'em hell Belly..."

You turn to see Selvin being overtaken by a gnome turning into a giant on top of him, Tarrov loosing his whip to a lunkhead, Izzick firing one of his spells at the halfling who somehow made it down to your team's goal...though without a pig thankfully...and Chandanar just sort of standing there. The pig is wriggling from the cleric's grasp.

Belgar watches Lexi go down with a great deal of respect, then turns and snarls at Scullywog.  He launches himself at the grey giant and unleashes a barrage of mace and shield blasts.

00:35, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 9 using 1d20+8.  Heavy Mace attack (Haste).
00:36, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 13 using 1d8+6.  Heavy Mace damage.

00:35, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 14 using 1d20+6.  Heavy Mace attack.
00:36, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 12 using 1d8+6.  Heavy Mace damage.

00:35, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 23 using 1d20+8.  Shield Bash.
00:36, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 8 using 1d4+6.  Shield Bash damage.

00:35, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 2 using 1d20+1.  Heavy Mace attack.
00:36, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 11 using 1d8+6.  Heavy Mace damage.

I attempt to flank.  If I land a flanking blow I will utilize my ring:

00:44, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 5 using 1d6.  Ring of Swarming Stabs.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:52, Mon 24 Aug 2015.

Anyone else besides Belgar? 

Woops!

Izzick reaches for the halfling who'd blasted him, hoping to weaken the caster's mental faculties.

Casting Touch of Idiocy and going for the halfling

I got a 95% for the failure check, but only a 7 to the attack roll.

Izzick still has the spell in hand charged however.

Selvin let out a yelp as the gnome-thing started to fall on him! But then it disappeared completely. "What the hell?" The gnome had somehow gotten on to Zac's back without being noticed at all? Selvin let out a growl. "Alright, I gave you your one chance t'stand down, ya lil' jackass..."

He whipped around and Zac showed the almost-boneless-like quality of many cats as he struggled to bring his natural weapons to bear on the growing gnome thing.


OOC: Dude. I don't feel well, and apparently it's making me a bit slow. I kept hitting Refresh the Dice Log when I was trying to roll dice! I got so frustrated! lol

Hit AC 18 for 7 damage, AC 20 for 11 damage, AC 28 for 11 damage (crit no confirm as usual), AC 23 for 11 damage, and AC 25 for 9 damage.

12:31, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 18,20,28,23,25 using d20+8,d20+8,d20+8,d20+8,d20+8.  Full attack on Scullywog while grappled.
2:33, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 12 using 1d20+8.  Crit confirm check.
12:33, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 6,1,8,3,7,4,9,2,4,5 using d6+3,d6,d6+3,d6,d6+3,d6,d6+3,d6,d6+3,d6.  Damage if hits.

The hafling chuckles and steps backout of your reach Izzick. At least you think she chuckles. Hard to tell. She mouths something. It doesn't appear to be a spell. More like "Nyah Nyah..." I did forget in my prior post to mention your Magic Missle did go off and did hit. I assumed max damage. Sorry Sir.

Scullywog mutters something. About kitties more than like. But then he is caught up in a Zac, Selvin and Belgar slice and bash. He stumbles backwards, sits down heavily on his ass, muttters "I...did it for...the kitty...", and falls over backwards.

You see Tarrov next to the lunkhead, pointing a wand at the man's temple and saying, "Don't move." Lunkhead isn't moving.

A pig rushes up behind Belgar  and hides behind the dwarf's legs.

All is quiet for a moment.

Will have the map updated presently.

Belgar looks back to the pig and makes eye contact.  In as gentle a voice as he can muster, "There there little one, stick with me." he says with a friendly smile.  "NOW!" he growls, standing and turning to the illusionist and opposing golie, "STAND DOWN!!"  Shield and mace dripping with blood, he wields them menacingly and snarls as he slowly walks towards the goal.


05:56, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 13 using 1d20+4.  Intimidate.  (Hopefully with some good modifiers?)
This message was last edited by the player at 11:06, Wed 26 Aug 2015.

Selvin let out a long sigh. This was less a game and more an arena battle. Had he already had that thought? He didn't remember and his head was ringing a bit. He gingerly shook it.

"Somebody get the damn pig in to the goal, please."

OOC: Is the illusionist battling Izzick visible and chargable?
This message was last edited by the player at 21:59, Wed 26 Aug 2015.

17:52, Today: Izzick rolled 6 using 1d20+4.  Touch Of Idiocy.

Izzick continued to swing wildly, half distracted by the fact he could no longer hear and half distracted by the fact that he was trying to watch the goal. "Come here you," he yelled, but he didn't succeed at so much as touching the little rascal.

Something I did just notice, instead of rolling 1d4+1 four times, I rolled 4d4+1 - my magic missile should have done +3 damage to her.

Tarrov continued to point his wand at his opponent's head, attempting to look as menacing as possible.  He saw the lunkhead's eyes shift to the side, and thought it was time to remind him who was in charge.

"Uh uh, punk. I know what you're thinking. 'How many charges does he have in that wand?" Well to tell you the truth in all this excitement I kinda lost track myself. But being this is a Wand of Magical Decapitation, the most powerful wand in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've gotta ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya, punk?  Do ya?"

So noted Izzy.

The lunkhead blinks at Tarrov. "Whhhhaaaaat?"

The elven woman sighs and tosses up her hands. "Oy. Whadda cluster. Walla!" She screams down the court like a fishwife haking wares. "Stand down!" The halfling grins and backs away from Izzick. The elf turns back to you all.

"Alright. Let's settle this the easy way. Frankly I don't wanna have to spend another night scrubbin' blood from under my fingernails." She puts a hand on her hip. "A riddle. You guys get it right, we concede. If not, you do. Here it is..

My brother has a wooden crate that weighs ten stones. He put something in the crate and then it weighed eight stones. He put more of it in and then it weighed five stones. What did he put in the crate?"

Izzick deafened so, couldn't hear the offer or the riddle (how much longer anyway), so pulled back to the goal, trying to guard it while keeping his working senses on the halfling.

In reply to Izzick (msg # 96):

In the interest of moving things along, you can hear and did hear the riddle Izzy

Belgar's arms drop and shoulders slack, and his eyes roll up in his head in disbelief.  "Seriously?", groaning... "Aaarg...  I hate riddles.  To be honest lassy, there's really only two ways this plays out.  You wake up in the mornin' losers, or you come to in the mornin' losers.  Catch my drift?  Besides, I'm not sure King Pig would appreciate our match endin' like this."  He resumes his slow walk towards the goal.  "But I'm in a good mood today.   I tell ya what.  I'll give ya some credit for this move.  It gives ya a fightin' chance ifn' we accept your challenge.  Ifn' we don't you got no chance.  I gotta admit, my first thought for the answer to yer riddle was elf heads.  But who would bother puttin' elf heads in a box really?  Belgar stops and laugh loudly and deeply and turns to the cround and shouts, "AM I RIGHT??"  He takes a deep breath and again resumes his slow walk towards the goal.  "So then I thought to myself... 'Self!  What do ya put into somethin' to make it lighter?'  The only answer I could come up with was a hole."  He turns his focus on the goalie and glares as he prepares himself to move the lunkhead if need be.

The elven woman's smirk goes a little sideways. A little twitchy. "So...'s that your final answer?"

"Oh stop!" The halfling rolls her eyes and shouts down the court. "Don't L. He got it. Even if that's not the answer you thought, he got it."

The Illusionist opens her mouth to argue and then drops her hands. "Fine! I hate this stupid town anyway!"

"BWAH HA HA HA!   BWAH HA HA HA HA! " A cackle echoes over the court. You all turn to see King Pig, seated on his cheap prop if a throne, holding his sides and guffawing his head off. "Oh! Tha's wonderful! Simply a delight! I don't know who's funnier! The silver head or Mister Bashy Dwarf! " He waves a hand. "Maybe it's because I'm just stoned. But that was all really delightful.  I award the prize to Tarrov's Terrors. As a consolation prize I say the other guys get some nic vino. C'mon. Scullywog's always a hoot." He wipes a tear from his eye. "Come on in and have some vittles my fine folks.   "

Within the hour you are shown to what used to be a large apartment where the walls have been gutted. A fine ling table has been set inside, covered with the finest in looted damask and family silverware. Several geese are laid out, roasted to a fine turn, and someone begins serving from tapped barrells of dwarven ale and hard cider. Three men play fiddle, fife, and tambourine in the corner.

King Pig arrives after you have all been seated. He lifts a cup. "To Tarrov's Terrors! A minstrel show of ass whup if there ever was one!  " He downs his cup. " Seriously. You guys woulda been a killer on stage back in the day. Were you always this funny? Or does armageddon just bring out the best in you? "

Belgar sits at the table on a chair built for a man.  His stumpy arms lay out on the table and his scruffy bearded chin rests on the edge between them.  As King Pig addresses the party, Belgar's eyes turn to the members of Tarrov's Terrors.  He wasn't really trying to be funny, he was trying to be intimidating.  Not something he's ever been very good at and it is painfully obvious he still wasn't.  He becomes flushed with anger and nearly speaks out, but catches himself and with a growl slouches down in his chair.  These guys seem to be a pretty handy lot and may come in handy, but he certainly couldn't speak for them.  Nor should he.  He snatches up a fork and examines it for quality and craftsmanship.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:11, Sun 30 Aug 2015.

Selvin looked over at Belgar with a look that was at first angry and confused mixed together. Not only did he jump ahead and not give them a chance to discuss as a team but... Elf heads?? Seriously?? Racist bearded bastard!! He forced himself to be calm and shook off the angry and attack-y thoughts. It took a moment. He glanced at Tarrov from behind Belgar, and gave a look that clearly indicated that he did NOT want the dwarf coming with them after this little charade was over.

Nevertheless, the 'king' seemed pleased so that was something, he supposed. He looked at Tarrov to respond as their 'team captain'. He spoke quietly around his cup. "Butter 'em up first 'fore broachin' the subject, maybe? Or dive right in? I think we wasted enough time an' say dive right in but..."

"Ugh..  Hey Selvin.  I was tryin' ta intimidate that illusionist.  I never got any reason to hate elves.  They been nuthin' but kind to me.  Unlike...  Ugh...  Oh I better just keep my mouth shut.  People tend to dislike what I say most times..."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:41, Sun 30 Aug 2015.

"Mind my sense of humor isn't what most people call 'decent'. One of the funniest things I ever saw was a fist fight between a legless beggar and a blind woman. I think they ended up getting married. She would strap him to her back and he would complain about how she was always getting lost. She would complain about how fat he was. Would tell him he should get more exercise. HIL.LAR. I. Ous.  " Pig quaffs a draft. "So. I thought I knew most of the stragglers who were adventuring types. Where'd you lot come in from?"

"That's something that we'd rather discuss with you privately, Your Majesty," Tarrov said diplomatically.  Who knew where the Queen might have agents?  And the King certainly didn't seem to be a stickler for security.  Although again, who knew?  He lowered his voice.  "We've been having a lot of tussles of late, with grey women, if you take my meaning.  My father taught me to never hit a girl, but in their case," Tarrov smiled, "I think he'd make an exception."

"But if you're serious about your Kingship," he continued in a low tone, "you need to be resisting the queen.  We can help you do that.  And we think you might be able to help us as well."

Pig chuckles when you tlk of hitting a girl Tarrov, and then motions with a hand. "Take five..."

People load up plates with food and then scatter from the hall, with the exception of a gnome wearing a hood and Kenswa. Pig ignores them and pick up a goose leg.

"I was under the impression I had been resisting Queenie. What should I be doing really? According to you that is."

As a reminder, don't forget what you learned in Vencarlo's home about the missing Seneschal and Scream

Belgar's head swivels on his chin as his eyes widen and rise to Tarrov.  "You been tusselin' with them girlies?"  A grin spreads across his face.  "How bout that."

"Well, for starters," Tarrov replied, "we are looking for Salvatore Scream, who we think might have some important information that would let all of us resist the queen more effectively.  We're also interested in the whereabouts of Seneschal Neolandus, who we have come to think might not be quite as completely disappeared as is commonly believed."

He smiled at the King.  "I'm Tarrov Garrick.  You may have heard of me, apprentice to the late Mikael Burwich?  We were certainly aware of the avant garde performances in your theater.  I'd always wanted to meet Salvatore, and this seems like an excellent time for that to happen, if you can arrange it."

Belgar raises his eyebrows at Tarrov and looks back at King Pig.  "Umm..."  He looks back to Tarrov, "Didn't you know?  King Pig IS Salvatore Scream."  He gestures his upturned palm towards their host.  He then rolls his eyes up, wondering if that was the right thing to say...  He sighs and shakes his head, dropping his chin back on the table.

King Pig listens with a bemused look until Tarrov mentionw wanting to meet Scream. Then Belgar  'introduces' him as Scream. His face is now a snarl of rage. He slams both fists down on the table. "DON'T EVER SAY THAT NAME!!! "

His brow then furrows, his mouth collapsing in on itself until it's just a quivering upperlip, and his eyes go moist. "...help please...'e's in my 'ead..."

The rage returns. "THIS IS MY HOUSE NOW! I AM KING PIG!"

The lip begins to quiver again. "...really would like ta jus' get some sleep..."

"A'ight Yo' Majesty. A'right. Maybe 's time for a bit a tha ol' shut eye an' such." Kenswa sweeps forward sets a hand on Pig's shoulder. "Maybe we can figure this out 'morrow like. Eh?"

Pig collapses into his chair in a sulk. He glances around at each of you. "I don' like them...  " he mutters.

"I know. But they're jus' insane's all. You jus' never know wha' a crazy man's gonna do, eh?" Kenswa glances at all of you and then smiles back at the King. "Now c'mon. Don' worry about this lot now. We'll get 'em sorted. Let Billy 'ere take ya on up for snuggles, right? 'illy?" Kenswa gestures to the hooded gnome. "Go on an' take 'is majesty on up ta beddie bye now. Right?"

The hooded gnome cmes and pulls on Pig's hand. The sulky king/lunatic gets up and follows like an obident child. Pig glares at you all over his shoulder once or twice. Kenswa merely hums until they've left the room.

"Right. So...I bet you gots all sorts a' questions. So...lemme jus' sorta sum it up." Kenswa waves his hand. "King Pig is Switzel Pitts. But Pitts 's sorta Salvatore Scream at tha mo. That probably doesn' explain much. Lemme try again. See Pitts and Scream was at the theater. I worked for Mistah Pitts as a stage hand. Anyway, we was all hunkerin' down at the theater when tha riots got rollin'. Mistah Pitts...well...he always had him some grand ideas in 'is head. And while we was waitin' for tha riots ta stop, he kept goin' on abou' how this was an opportunity. Well. One thing lead ta another an' he tried ta stir up tha crowd. That...didn' go so well. Coupla guys actually strung 'im up. I gots Mistah Scream back inside an' we 'id under tha stage. I'm not proud a' it. But a man can sometimes keep 'is pride or 'is skin. Ya know whad I mean? Anyhoo...that night, I hear someone walkin' around up in tha stage. So I peeked out. An' I swear to ya...it was Mistah Pitts walkin' back an' forth across tha stage. Well. My Mum didn' raise any fools. I kept me mouth shut. Mistah Scream...well. His Mum wasn' so diligent in her maternal instruction like. He musta woken up too. But he blurted out somethin'. Well. Next thing I knows, Mistah Pitts 'as run cross tha stage an' is chokin' on Mistah Scream. An' then they got all fuzzy like. An' of a sudden. Mistah Scream was Mistah Pitts. Well. Mistah Pitts kinda walked back out an' started 'is rabble rousin' again. This time though he was a bunch more effective. And then them Grey Maidens started comin' cross tha bridge. An'...well. 'ere we are." He shrugs. "Mistah Pitts was doin' pretty good about keepin' in control. But he gets testy when someone calls 'im Mistah Scream. So we took ta callin' him King Pig. Which he likes as a nom-er-ker for some such reason. Never seen 'im fly off tha handle like that though."

Kenswa sighs. "So. How we gonna do this gentlemen? You lot gonna play along? I feel certain we can come to an accomodation like."

Selvin just sort of stayed stock still as 'King Pig' up and went crazy. He didn't say anything. He didn't blink for a long moment. He just...stared. Then his eyes slowly slid to the left and glanced at Tarrov and then to Kenswa. He listened politely to the 'story' that was told and still looked a bit wide-eyed. "That's...just...wonderful. Our new potential ally is insane. First the racist dwarf and now this. We lead a charmed life, Tarrov." He gave a snort mixed of amusement and exasperation.

He glanced at Belgar with a raised eyebrow. "You realize, of course, that this is all your fault." But he couldn't hold the straight face long, and he shook his head with a small smile on his face.

Then he got serious. "So. Right. Play along. Not get killed. Sounds wonderful."

Belgar nods, "Yep, usually is.  Sorry bout that."  He sits, visibly defeated.  He places the fork precisely where it was when he had picked it up.  He then picks up a spoon and begins to examine it.  He mutters to himself, "Ifn' ya wanna call me racist that's fine.  Look at these problems, all caused by elves?  No..."

Izzick had more often then not been the butt of the judgement in such cases, and being on the outside, it seemed even more a strange exchange. "And how exactly do you think that?" He wasn't sure they'd seen an elf involved yet - excluding of course, present company. "Either way, we need to try and get information without upsetting a mad King - still seems better than dealing with Maidens to me."

Belgar scowls at Izzick, "Well, the villains so far as I can tell have all been humans.  Am I wrong?  I don't believe there's been an elf runnin' around causing trouble.  Even that illusionist was just tryin' to win a pig match."  He grunts.  Now he's getting yelled at for defending elves.  He shakes his head.

"Yeah...I hate ta break up this meetin' a' tha Korvosa Committee on Racial Harmony  an' all but do you lot think we can maybe get back 'round to tha talkin' abou' tha bloodthirsty queen an' her flyin' monkeys? That'd be lovely." Kenswa rubs his forehead. "Right. So. King bein' a loon or whatev' facts is we gots only a small amount a' time 'fore she marches a bigger force back 'ere.  You lot said ya wanted ta discuss. Why'd ya wanna ask about Scream anyhoo? And wha's this abou' the Royal Senschal?"

Tarrov  explains what you found in the letter in Vencarlo's home. Kenswa rubs his chin. "Huh. Didn' know he was skulkin' about o'er here. I woulda made an effort ta fins 'im if I'd known. If I recall my lessons in Governmental Theory like, the Senschal's the only one who can legally bring a declaration of unfitness 'gainst the current occupant a' tha throne. If Queenie knows he's o'er here...damn my fine buttocks. She'd be like to send everythin' she got towards rippin' Old Korvosa apart ta find his sorry ass."

Chandanar shakes his head at the futile discussions about finding a culprit for seemingly all the evil in the world.
"Kindly everybody stop with that non-sense about racism. There's trouble right at out hands and I couldn't care less about the Queen's race."

He turns back to Kenswa.
"So you have not head anything about the Senechal. Most unfortunate."
"Say, Kenswa, that painting that your people took and brought here. That would be one painted by Scream, right ? Would you know whether that one was drawn on commission ? For example for Neolandus ?"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:21, Tue 08 Sept 2015.

Tarrov scratched his head, then sighed in frustration.  This was very disappointing.  He nodded along with Chandanar's question, then posed one of his own.  "Is there anyone in the area who Neolandus might have used in order to help him go underground?  I know there are those who perform services like that--maybe Neolandus used one?"


10:39, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 14 using 1d20+10.  Knowledge (Local) Check re: people who Neolandus might have used to help his escape.

Zuni pushed her way passed the guards and through the door, barely flashing the patch of bloody flesh in her hand.  She was on a mission and was not going to be bothered with pointless niceties.

"King Pig, I must speak with you on...an...urgent...?" she started to call out, expecting to find the man holding audience as she had been told but instead there were some strangers speaking with Kenswa.  The young woman paused for a moment to take in the scene.  "Kenswa?  Where is King Pig?  I must speak with him.  It's...urgent...important..."

It looked like she wanted to say more but held her tongue, not knowing who these strangers were.  The hand holding the patch of flesh moved slowly behind her and out of sight.

Selvin rolled his eyes at people taking the racist comment seriously. He had tried to be obvious in the fact that he was kidding but the dwarf had just met him and Chandanar didn't seem to possess a sense of humor thus far. He shrugged and shut his mouth for the moment to let the big boys talk. He did turn to look at the woman who burst in to room.

Kenswa scratches his chin at Tarrov's  question. "A bunch actually. But if I 'ad ta hide myself...an' I was in his position...I'd go ta the Arkonas. Like they would be the only ones left who'd have a chance a' kepin' me safe at this-"

Then Zuni bursts in. Zuni, you see Kenswa, Pig's left hand man, sitting at the head of the banquet table with a bunch of fellas. Must be the latest winners of the Blood Pig game.

Kenswa blinks at the woman. "Zuni? Wha' tha hell 's goin' on? I thought yoj was-"

And then someone else bursts in. One of the King's 'maids'. She is pale and looks frantic. "Kenswa! Men in black pajamas 's tryin' ta murder tha King!"

Belgar sits up at Kenswa's comment, but holds back comment.  He looks around to see the reactions of the group around him.

Zuni looks at the maid as she explains the situation.

"I came to warn the King about just that." She says dryly.  Zuni walks along the table to where the maid is standing.  When she passes by Kenswa, she puts into his hand the piece of flesh that she cut from the man who attacked her.  "Hold on to this.  This is the mark of the men who are trying to kill the King.  I'll explain more later."

Drawing her blade from its scabbard, Zuni looks at the maid.  "Where is the king?"  There is some urgency in her tone now as her next course of action is clear.

Protect King Pig.

Kenswa grabs the flesh you've handed him Zuni and then makes a face. "Oooh. Gross like." He stands and heads towards a doorway.

"This way..."

Everyone else? What are you doing?

Kenswa leads the way down a back hall and up a flight of stairs. Ahead you can hear shouting and what sounds like steel smashing against wood. Around the corner is a doorway that's been broken open. From inside you can see two large men using axes on what appears to be a closet door.

Charging in? If not need stealth rolls please. Of so then please roll init. Will have the map up later tonight.

Selvin doesn't hesitate. They might need information from King Pig, and he IS opposing the crazy queen. Plus, they are RIGHT THERE so it would be kind of unheroic to NOT go help. He charged in to see about stopping the bad guys.

10:45, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 17 using 1d20+3.  Initiative.

Tarrov felt vindicated.  If the king had just seen them rather than insisting upon this dog-and-pony show, maybe he would have been able to avoid this attack!  But vindication was a poor substitute for action.

Standard Action:  Casts Invisibility
Move Action:  Enters room using Stealth

10:19, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 35 using 1d20+28.  Stealth Check with Invisibility Bonus.

Belgar hesitates a moment.  Remembering the pounding Selvin took in the blood pig match, Belgar knew he would be needing support and now.  "You'll not be havin' all the fun now!", he grunts as he charges through the door.

18:52, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 21 using 1d20+4.  Initiative.

Sorry for the delay in the map. Should be up now. Color Key:

Tarrov is Silver
Belgar is Brown
Selvin is Blue
Izzy is Green
Chandnar is Purple
Zuni is Red

The two guys are Black

As Tarrov wiggles his fingers and mutters his words, Belgar, Zuni, and Selvin enter the room, with Izzy and Chandanar trailing behind.

There are two large men in black outfits. They are standing in what appears to be a small and garrishy decorated antechamber, trying to smash down a door on the far side of the room. The two men appear similsr to the man you klled earlier Zuni. Tarrov, Selvin, Izzick, and Chandanar:  you recognize the outfits right away. Red Mantis assassins. Belgar, they look lkke big burly guys with swords and wearing...well...black pajamas.

One of them pivots and launches himself at your group. The other one shoves his hand inside his shirt.

Alright. Give me actions and rolls all. Thanks.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:19, Sat 12 Sept 2015.

Belgar loves the feel of his trusty axe in his hand.  "Hey boys!", he says charging the one on the left with a flurry of blows.

05:55, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 15 using 1d20+10.  Dwarven Waraxe attack.
05:57, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 9 using 1d10+6.  Dwarven Waraxe damage.

05:55, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 23 using 1d20+12.  Shield Bash.
05:58, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 10 using 1d4+6.  Shield Bash damage.

05:56, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 11 using 1d20+5.  Dwarven Waraxe attack.
05:58, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 15 using 1d10+6.  Dwarven Waraxe damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:27, Sun 13 Sept 2015.

Selvin rushed forward with a quiet growl as his wings flapped and he lashed out with his fangs, claws and tail stinger, aimed at the bad guy furthest away from him.

OOC: So hit AC 25 for 14 damage, AC 17 for 11 damage, AC 17 for 12 damage and AC 19 for 15 damage.

18:38, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 25,17,17,19 using d20+9,d20+9,d20+9,d20+9.  Charging further bad guy with power attack pounce.
18:40, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 12,2,8,3,10,2,13,2 using d6+7,d6,d6+7,d6,d6+7,d6,d6+7,d6.  Damage on attacks.

Zuni, sword in hand, hesitated upon entering the room.  She had intended to attack the Assassin on the right but seeing Selvin, or rather what Selvin had become, caused her to pause.  The man was surrounded by a glowing tiger like creature and Zuni had never seen such a thing before.  Not knowing it's nature and seeing its temperament, she decided to shift her attack to the assassin on the left.

"What is that thing?" She said, referring to Selvin, as she lunged at the Assassin with her blade.

OOC:
Initiative: 21
Attack with Sword: 13
Attack damage: 19

"Friend of ours," Izzick answered as he took a step back and began to recite a spell. Missiles burst from his hand and struck an assassin.

19:36, Today: Izzick rolled 13 using 1d20+6.  initiative.
Four magic missiles at one of the targets
19:37, Today: Izzick rolled 15 using 4d4+4.  Magic Missile.
15 damage

The assassain on the right falls back agains tthe wall as Selvin/Zac slam into him. The one on the left manages to fend off Zuni and two of Belgar's blows before Izzick's missle barage spins him around, leaving him open for the dwarf's last chop.

Both of them fall to the floor. Neither seems to be moving.

Selvin grinned back at Zuni from inside the blue tiger thing. "Hi there! This thing is Zac, he's a friend. I'm Selvin. Let's go kill more stuff, I mean save the King!" He let out a laugh.

He stepped back to let someone else open the closet door, however, in case it was a 'friendly', so he didn't frighten them.

Belgar stands aside, breathing heavily, eyes bulging.  His grip pops and creeks as he bares down on his shield and axe and waits for the next move.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:04, Tue 15 Sept 2015.

Kenswa strides in...after all the fighting is done...and goes to the door. "Hey. Uh. King? Your highness?"

The door opens a crack.

"Are they gone?"

"Yes your Sireness."

"Are they really gone?  "

"Yes."

"Are they really really gone?"

"Get outta the closet."

King Pig pushes open the door a bit more and pokes his head out. He looks around. "Why were they trying to kill me?"

Kenswa sighs. "They musta been all jealous a' your reputation an' majesty like. Yeah. Let's go with that." Kenswa looks back at you. "Thanks to all a' you. Lemme have someone show ya to your rooms. I'm gonna lock his Majesty up tight tonight."

Belgar's arms drop slack and the head of his axe clangs against the floor.  His eyes roll up...

"Yes thank you.  A room would be nice."  he says to Kenswa.

Moving over to Tarrov, "If you have a few minutes, could you catch me up on the mission you are on.  I also am on a mission that I would need help with if you would hear me out."

Selvin let out a sigh and rolled his eyes at the 'brave' King Pig's antics. "yer welcome." He moved away and closer to the door in case more bad guys showed up. He glanced at Zuni to see how she was taking things in as he listened.

Zuni returned her blade to it's scabbard with a flourish.  It did not take a great effort to see the disappointment on her face as King Pig finally emerges from the closet, although she was trying to hide it.  Zuni's impression of the man was something far more lofty and noble, and seeing him now, cowering as he was, knocked him off of the pedestal that she had put him on.

"Kenswa wait.  There's...more."  No matter how King Pig looked to her now, Zuni was still determined to fulfill her duties to the man.  "The men who planned this.  I overheard them in the city.  They mentioned something about red powder and Scream and the Senescheal.  I don't think that this is over."

She glanced around at the assembled group and for a brief instance there was suspicion in her gaze.  Perhaps they were part of this plot.  That thought faded when her eyes passed on to Selvin.  The suspicion was replaced by curiosity.  A blue tiger had encased the man and that was not something that you see every day.  She hesitated, wanting to ask about...what had he named it...Zac...but she ended up trying not to stare at Selvin.

"uhm...thank you for your assistance."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:04, Thu 17 Sept 2015.

"Of course there's more. I mean sure. Why not?" Kenswa rubs his face. "Okay. We jus` gotta deal with wha' we got, eh?" He looks around the room. "Lissen. You lot wanna earn a bit o' gold? Should be easy peasy. I don't  want to leave his majesty unguarded. An' to be jake with ya...I doubt we got many blokes who could deal with Red Mantises as well as you lot. You wan'ed ta talk to Scream anyways right? Well lemme bunk the King with you tonight an' we can figure it out in the mornin'. Be honest wide ya…I think we'd be best to chuck the whole thing an' paddle down river. But whadda I know? "

Which is how in short order you all find yourselves in a suite downstairs with Pig. Kenswa at least selected a room that is fairly defensible. Though there are four rooms off the main room, only two have windows and these are both covered with thick iron bars. Old Korvosa was never the safest neighborhood.

As soon as the door shuts and you are all locked in, Pig's shoulders slump. The corners of his mouth turn down and he slouches. It appears Scream has taken back over. The dejected looking artist glances at you all and then wipes his nose with his hand. "You wanna see my latest work?"

Without waiting for an answer, he goes to one of the doors and opens it. Inside is what appears to be a storage closet. Tucked admit a pile of old boots is a canvas. Scream pulls it out and sighs at what he sees. For those of you who were in the theater, the portrait is in the same style. A skeleton wearing a crown is loading over a pile of corpses. But somehow it seems amateurish. There's no…for lack of a better word for it…life to the painting. For those who have never seen a Scream painting before, it just looks like something a talented but depraved teenaged boy who dresses in black leathers might scrawl on a dreary afternoon. Scream shrugs. "My Dream Lizard doesn't come to me anymore." You did hear him correctly. He just look like what he said explains everything somehow. He stuffs the canvas back into the closet. "You guys want to find Neolandus, huh? I hope he's alright. He was the only one I could really talk to about things. He's my friend. Scream shuts the door. "He came to see me right before everything went to hell. I let him crash on my couch for a couple of days. He was scared. Said the Queen was after him. The Dream Lizard is talkin' to her now. "

Scream wrings his hands and looks at his feet. "Pitts is gonna get me killed with all this King Pig stuff. But I can't get him outta my head. I can never get anyone outta my head. Well. Nothing new there. But I wanna help my friend. Neolandus was always nice to me. " Scream sighs.  "I helped him get in touch with the Arkonas. They used to buy some of my paintings. The good ones. Honestly people who bought my stuff always kinda creeped me out. But it was a living. Anyway. He should be with them now.

Scream looks around, still wringing his hands. " You could probably sneak out now. Go find him. I wouldn't blame you if you did. So…uh…are you? Gonna sneak out?

"Eventually," said Tarrov, looking skeptically at the painting.  It certainly didn't seem to be up to Scream's normal standards.  "I'm interested in your 'Dream Lizard,' though.  What did it do for you?  And why do you say it has gone to the Queen?  That could be important."  It could also be the ravings of a troubled artist who had finally gone over the edge into madness, but Tarrov saw no need to belabor that particular point.

Tarrov looked over at Belgar, eyes narrowing almost imperceptibly.  "We are resisting the Queen, to the best of our ability.  Right now we are attempting to track down Neolandus, the former Seneschal.  We have it on good authority that he might have information that would help us in our efforts."

Knowledge: Local check regarding the Arkonas, including family estates, reputation, etc.

11:02, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 25 using 1d20+11.  Knowledge (Local) Check.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:06, Tue 22 Sept 2015.

Scream scratches his head. "Ohhh..'s the lizard that came to my window when I was trying to sleep. He would take me to Hell. And I would paint what I saw. I don't think he had my best interests at heart though." He stops scratching his head and sticks his finger into his ear. He twists about the finger as if trying to screw it into the hole.

"He stopped comin' and my work turned to manure. The Queen started acting weird pretty son after. Neolandus would tell me about it. I told him about the lizard and he got really interested. I know he's visiting her window because…well. A leper knows a lepers you know?"

If you needed to describe a corrupt noble line, one would have to look no further than the Arkonas as an example.  They have the kind of deep set, delicious corruption that only power can bring. If you were to attend one of their banquets and we're served chilled grilled orphan in a sauce of puppy hearts, it would come as no surprise. They have several homes about Town but the main family compound is nestled in the hills of northwestern Old Korvosa. The family currently consists of two sisters and their uncle. Pana, Hecenda, and Koch respectively. They are supposed to be old Chelation blood but their names are a curiosity considering the lineage. Those who ask about it usually disappear into the night.

Selvin shrugged at Kenswa when the offer was made, but it seemed reasonable to keep King Pig safe.

He turned to look at Zuni and gave her a smile...two smiles sort of, as the half-elf smiled at her in a friendly way and the tiger-creature also smiled in what it assumed looked like a friendly fashion as well.

He turned his head back as he listened to 'Scream' and Tarrov. He squinted a bit as he tried to follow what the crazy painter was talking about. Dream Lizard? Who took him to hell but now was with the Queen and making her act strange? That...was probably the oddest thing he'd heard in at least 4 hours.

Why did he want them to sneak out? It kind of seemed like he alternatively wanted to talk to them but wanted them to sneak off and leave him alone. He glanced at his companions with a raised eyebrow. "This...yeah okay. So we should go in the morning?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:47, Thu 24 Sept 2015.

Izzick wasn't sure what to believe. A lizard from hell sounded bizarre, but had they finally reached the point where the ravings of a mad man made more sense than anything else? Dream lizard or not, they needed a solution to the dictatorship that had come to be. "I do hope you find a new muse... or lizard soon, but you mentioned Neolandus - where is he now?"

Belgar sits back, arms folded.  Speaking out of the side of his mouth to Tarrov, "I'd be happy to assist in any way I can.  Would your team be willing to help me rescue a boy?"  He leans in and whispers, "He was kidnapped by the Arkonas.  I can't get in there by myself.  I'm responsible for the lad and he's been held by them for some time now."

Unfazed by the ravings of King Pig, his mind drifts to the boy he failed to protect.  He preferred action and the Blood Pig games to keep his mind off of the guilt.  But perhaps this could be his opportunity to set things right.

Zuni listened in to the conversation and was having a hard time following it.  King Pig had turned out to be...weird and not like she had thought him to be.  She'd go along to protect him because that was her duty.  At least Selvin was there as well.

Throughout the night, Zuni was having trouble taking her eyes from Selvin.  The melding of Selvin and his tiger creature was oddly fascinating and had piqued her interest.  She wanted to know more about the both of them and could probably pepper the held-elf with a flurry of questions but she held her tongue, difficult though that was.  Zuni just didn't know how to approach him to ask.  Instead she watched him and tried to make it look like she was not watching him.

Her Selvin obsession was broken when Belgar mentioned a boy that needed rescuing.  "What's this about a boy?" she asked Belgar.  She then looked over at Tarrov.  "And what do you want with the Seneschal?"

In reply to Izzick (msg # 142):
Scream takes his finger out of his ear and inspects the tip of it before turning to <Bold>Izzick </Bold>. <Goldenrod>"Hmm? Oh. He snuck off to try to make contacts with the Arkonas. I saw him as far as my contact's flat. And I saw him get into one 9f the Arkona's carriages later. So. With them maybe?" </Toldenrod>

Belgar sighs...  "It was durin' the battle of the bridges.  I left a boy under my care with a neighbor.  When I returned the neighbor was dead and Pol was gone.  A witness said they'd seen two men wearin' livery of the Arkona family broke in and stole Pol.  He was a merchant's son and I hear they've been kidnappin' survivors of affluent families."  Belgar shrugs.  "I dunno, but I gotta do somethin'.  I was hopin' you guys would lend a hand."

Selvin gave a shrug and nodded. "I suppose. We can try t'help you. I mean, important things're goin' on, but if we can't take a lil' time out t'save a boy on our way, are we really the good guys?" Very obviously he didn't use the word 'heroes' to describe them, just good guys. Even that was sort of dubious in his mind, but it was the only term he could think of.

He didn't quite know what to make of Zuni. She seemed nice enough, though quiet and kind of staring at him off and on. He was used to it, though, since he allied himself with Zac. He got lots of looks, and very little of them to do with the half-elf himself.

"I agree with Selvin," Tarrov says in reply to the dwarf. "It sounds like we are headed that way regardless. But let's look at the problem closest at hand. Zuni was it? Those men you saw...would you recognize them if you saw them again? Maybe it's time we bring the fight to the Mantis. What say everyone?"

Zuni is shaken out of her distractions with Selvin with a start when the questions turn to her.

"I don't think so."  She says with some disappointment.  "Most of them were wearing cloaks and the lighting was poor where they were plotting.  I do know that one of them was a Dwarf with black and red patches on his clothing.  Other than the red Mantis tattoo that I brought back, that's about all that I can give you."

Maybe she could have stormed the decrepit building and forced the others into an encounter but Zuni was not sure that she was skilled enough to handle 3 opponents at one time.  She could have tried though, but there was Ruin and she had to get the scavenger to safety.  She frowned at her choice of action though, wondering if maybe she should have pursued the plotters.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:20, Tue 29 Sept 2015.

Selvin was glad Tarrov agreed with him. He glanced at Zuni when the question was asked of her, and listened to her answer. His eyebrows went up at the mention of Red Mantis tattoo. "Hmm. Not much to go on, but not the end o'the world. Some info's better'n none."

He looked at his companions. "Well. Much as I'd like t'go now, we should likely finish out our...guard duty here...an' head out in the mornin', right?"

Izzick nods, "Sounds like all we can do is take this one clue at a time."

Belgar smiles and nods.  He folds his arms and lowers his head, eyes glistening in the candle light.  "I'm at your disposal Tarrov." he grunts.  Nodding again, he straightens out his face to conceal his emotions.

"Tha's Bixel."

Scream speaks softly but at the same moment all other conversation has ceased. You all look at the possessed pseudo-king. The finger that had been in his ear is up his nose. He blinks at you all. "What? Dwarf. Red and black patches. Ya know. My cook."

"Your cook?" Tarrov clears his throat. "You mean the one who prepared the meal we just ate?"

"Well duh. Who else-ooooooooh wait. Yeah. That's bad."

<Bold>Zuni and Belgar </Bold>, you know the "castle" kitchens are a converted shack located across the street from the main building.

"Of course, leave it to a dwarf to pull a weasel move like that."  Belgar clamors to his feet and grunts.    "Ya know the kitchen is just across the street."

In reply to Belgar Ironclad (msg # 154):

Across the street indeed. The kitchens appear to be a converted bakery. Even at this time of night, smoke the color of crimson floats out 9f the chimney. The windows are covered in boards and the front door is locked. There are definitely sounds from inside though. Metal clanking on metal. Less like sword on armor and more maybe like spoon against the sides of a pot. The smell of lemons and fresh baked bread waft through the cracks in the door.

There is a door around back of the building. It too is locked up.

Selvin looked at the crew with him. "Goin' in with force might be a tad brutal an' cause 'im t'rabbit. We should cover the exits...an' is someone good with pickin' locks perchance?"

"Agreed.  We should do this quietly" Zuni said, assessing the situation.  She wanted to charge in and attack the man who had orchestrated the attack on King Pig but that would be imprudent.

"I can try the lock, though it's been a while since I've had to crack one open." Zuni said, softly.  She stepped forward and pulled out a small set of tools from a belt pouch.

OOC:
Disable Device -> 8 (Rolled a natural 1 :[ )

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 157):

The door is actually barred from the other side in front. Around back, it seems to be just a latch Feel free to give the back door a go Zuni

Realizing the situation with the front door, Zuni would suggest trying the back door.  Once more, she takes out her tools and tries the lock.

OOC:
Disable Device -> 14

Belgar stands close by.  All of his energy is focused on his senses.  Dwarves are not to be trifled with, especially one known to be a spy.  This one most certainly would be prepared for such an eventuality, and Belgar for one would not be caught of guard.  His are eyes held wide and waraxe and shield are at the ready.

22:34, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 27 using 1d20+13.  Perception.
22:38, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 18 using 1d20+13.  Stealth. (w/ armor penalty)
This message was last edited by the player at 03:40, Fri 02 Oct 2015.

Selvin waited around by the barred door, figuring it would be a good idea to have both exits covered just in case. Besides, it wasn't like he couldn't go in that way if he really wanted to...it would just require him using up one of his symbiote's special tricks for the day.

<Bold>Zuni </Bold> slides in the rat tail and lifts the latch on the other side of the door. The hinges squeak as the door slides open. However the clatter and bang from the front of the bakery does nother abate. It seems no one has noticed.

The door opens into a store room. A narrow lane winds between two overstocked shelves and ends in a slightly shut wooden door. From beyond the door, the sounds and smell of cooking  continue.

<Bold>Belgar </Bold>, you notice something odd. The sounds from the kitchen...they sound like they are the same ones, repeated over and over.

From under all the banging and clattering you make out a small groan.

Going in?

"Wait."  Belgar whispers, "The kitchen sounds...  They are too repetitive.  Like...  Like a repeatin' illusion or some sort of contraption.  Smells like a trap to me."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:57, Sat 03 Oct 2015.

Zuni returned her tools to their belt pouch and slowly drew out her sword.

"Did you hear that groan?  Someone's in there.  We'll just have to be careful."

In reply to Belgar Ironclad (msg # 163):

The groaning continues. Then...

"Quiet you"

There'should a thump. And then the groaning stops. The other noises continue. Whatever is happening in the kitchen, you can'tell see because of the partially closed door on the other side of the the store room.

Belgar attempts to move stealthily through the store room to the partially opened door to peer through.

22:47, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 18 using 1d20+13.  Stealth.

In reply to Belgar Ironclad (msg # 166):

Beyond the door is a large open room with tables and cabinets pushed around the wall. A large oven is roaring in the corner across from you.

Laying on the floor is a dwarf. He is bleeding from a head wound. A tall man wearing black leather is wiping blood off the corner of his boots with a dirty towel. You can'tell see anyone else. The sounds must be an illusion.

Zuni crept in behind Belgar.  She followed the Dwarf through the doorway but slipped off to the side to flank.

OOC:  Stealth -> 22

"Are we almost ready?" says the big man in the kitchen.

"Almost," says a voice from behind the other side  door you are both using as cover.

"This fool did all the prep work. The bred should be risen within the hour."

Huh. Maybe they are just bakers. Just really violent ones.

Selvin kept an eye (and ear) out for anything on the front door, making sure there would be no escape if things got heated. He looked around the street as well to make sure no one was coming or watching the place.

Zuni looked over at Belgar and nodded her head in the direction of the voices.  Ready? was the unspoken question and then she mimed herself opening the door and Belgar taking the initiative.

Belgar nods at Zuni.  He takes a moment to prepare himself and his eyes widen and he takes a deep breath.  Suddenly Belgar slams through the door and unleashes into the man standing over the dwarf.  His first swing is sloppy but he follows it with a quick one two.



19:52, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 12 using 1d10+6.  Dwarven Waraxe damage.

19:52, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 8 using 1d4+6.  Shield Bash damage.

19:51, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 7 using 1d10+6.  Dwarven Waraxe damage.

19:50, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 17 using 1d20+5.  Dwarven Waraxe attack.

19:50, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 27 using 1d20+12.  Shield Bash.

19:49, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 11 using 1d20+10.  Dwarven Waraxe attack.

19:47, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 18 using 1d20+4.  Initiative.


This message was last edited by the player at 01:01, Fri 09 Oct 2015.

You hear three voices shouting from inside Selvin. One sounds like the dwarf. The other two are human like. Then out of the corner of your eye you see a glint in the moonlight. You barely have time to step aside before the dart flashes by your face. It came from above. The bakery roof. You see two black leather clad men up there taking aim at you with blowguns.

Meanwhile. In another part of the combat...

Zuni, you see Belgar wade in. The man who was kicking the cook steps back drawing a serrated blade of some kind. He takes the hit from the axe and shield with a shout. But does not go down. He sinks his own blade into the dwarf'so side.

From behind the door, the second voice shouts "Kill Flopsie!"

5hen, what can only be described as a glowing man sized wererabbit comes hurtling past the door, racing towards Belgar's back. It looks almost like Selvin's... whatever. Except there'should no half elf inside it. You hear movement from the other side of the door. Apparently whoever is there doesn'the know are there.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:13, Fri 09 Oct 2015.

Selvin flinched and gaped a bit. A dart? Blowguns?? The hell was going on? He quickly uttered the arcane words and wove his fingers through the complicated gestures to a spell as he grabbed some ground mica from his pouch. A burst of golden particles exploded in the area the black-clad men were at as Selvin rose in to the air with flaps of Zac's wings and flew towards the figures.

OOC: Casting glitterdust on the enemies and moving towards them, flying up towards them.

16:43, Today: Izzick rolled 15 using 1d20+6.  Initiative.

The half orc watched Selvin's form glide to the illuminated men. He could certainly handle it himself. Instead, his focus went onto the strange glowing creature that charged into the room. What in the world was...? Well, either way, he knew with certainty that some spells were good in any situation.

Trusty old magic missile: All four bolts being thrown at the were-rabbit-ish thing
16:49, Today: Izzick rolled 17 using 4d4+4.  Magic Missile.

Also knowledge Arcana if I know anything about it.
16:49, Today: Izzick rolled 21 using 1d20+7.  Knowledge Arcana?

Zuni had been making to follow Belgar but see the giant rabbit gave her pause.  "Behind you, Belgar."  Changing plans, she moved to cover Belgars back, taking a swing at Flopsie.  "Back off Flopsie." she growls.

OOC:
Attack -> 19
Damage ->18

Belgar growls in pain and glides five feet to the right.  He glances over his shoulder to get a bearing on Zuni and sees the creature.  "Flopsie??" he frowns and turns back on his quarry.  He launches another barrage.


20:46, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 8 using 1d10+6.  Dwarven Waraxe damage.

20:45, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 19 using 1d20+5.  Dwarven Waraxe attack.

20:44, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 9 using 1d4+6.  Shield Bash damage.

20:44, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 23 using 1d20+12.  Shield Bash.

20:43, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 11 using 1d10+6.  Dwarven Waraxe damage.

20:42, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 22 using 1d20+10.  Dwarven Waraxe attack.

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 174):

Selvin. Having a brain farther and can'take check at the moment. What's the DC save vs your glitterdust? 15?

As Zac wings ya'last way upwards, you see there are three men on the rooftop Selvin .

Izzy, Selvin is out front. Since you're targeting the Eidolon I am guessing you are inside. Or more accurately just inside the backdoor to this place. So you'll be with Belgar and Zuni. See below. Thanks

Zuni , you hear the halfOrc mutter something that sounds arcane and then four glowing balls whirl around either side of you and smash into Floopsie. The glory half rabbit thing whirls and manages to whirl right into your blade. It soundlessly roars and then pummeled you with a fist. Another fist and a vicious chomp from it's over bite miss you by inches.

Belgar, as you look c back quickly, you see Zuni charging the...rabbit? Yeah. We'll go with rabbit...as behind her another black leather clad man is raising a crossbow and aiming at her back. You have to turn your attention back to your man though as he manages to slash at you twice more before you lean into him. Hard. But it is like beating on iron. This one is tough.

Izzick Your bolts strike as you knew they would. But now a third opponent has stepped in. A man with a crossbow is aiming at your new comrade's back. It occurs to you that the man with the crossbow must be a summoner. 'Flopsie' must be his Eidolon.

Huh. Well whadda know. Not everyone rides around inside their Eidolons.

Belgar. 10 pts dam. Zuni. 8 pts dam. So everyone knows

Selvin is on the roof fighting three guys. Everyone else is in the kitchen.

Belgar is fighting Ironguts.

Zuni is fighting Flopsie.

Crossbow guy is aiming at Zuni's back.

Izzy. You can launch your spells at either Ironguts, Crossbow Summoner, or Flopsie. I guess you could target Zuni or Belgar too. But they might not appreciate that.

Glitterdust Save DC 16, sir.

Zuni glanced back to see where the magical bolts came from and noticed the man with the crossbow aimed at her.  She couldn't move away from Flopsie without exposing Belgar.  Keeping the point of her blade pointed at Flopsie, Zuni hopped back a few feet, pulling her star knife from her belt.  Turning her attention from Flopsie for a moment, Zuni threw the Starknife at the crossbow wielder.

OOC:
Starknife to Hit -> 19
Damage -> 12 points

Belgar bares his teeth in pain, still feeling his lumps from the blood pig match.  He roars, "Not today!!" as he slams into Ironguts with another flurry.

16:46, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 10 using 1d10+6.  Dwarven Waraxe damage.

16:46, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 23 using 1d20+5.  Dwarven Waraxe attack.

16:45, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 7 using 1d4+6.  Shield Bash crit damage.

16:45, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 21 using 1d20+12.  Shild Bash crit check.

16:45, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 10 using 1d4+6.  Shield Bash damage.

16:44, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 32 using 1d20+12.  Shield Bash attack.

16:44, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 7 using 1d10+6.  Dwarven Waraxe damage.

16:43, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 20 using 1d20+10.  Dwarven Waraxe attack.

In reply to Belgar Ironclad (msg # 181):

Flopsie takes advantage of your distraction <Bold>Zuni </Purple>and slashes you twice. It'soundlessly bucktoothed maw misses your shoulder though. Your knife finds purchase in Crossbow's arm. He jerks back instinctively, sending the bolt slamming harmlessly into the side of a butcher'so block.

Ironguts whuffs as you again beat him Belgar . But damn his chain mail bikini briefs if he still roars and comes at you like there's nothing been done to him before now. Stepping over the dwarf in the floor to rake your shield with his blade throws him off through. So no fresh cuts for you this exchange.

Meanwhile...back on the roof...

The three blind leather clad glory mice are striking poses Selvin . Like they are ready to spring into action. None of them are facing your direction and all three are rubbing their eyes with their free hands. But if you were to shout Marco for some reason, know that their Polo will be deadly

Selvin charged in to try and drop two of them if he could while he had the advantage, as he knew it might not last long. He grinned but for once kept silent and didn't give his usual howl as he leaped into battle. Electricity arced along his symbiote's body as the fangs, claws and tail stinger lashed out.

OOC: Hit AC 27 for 14 dmg, AC 13 for 15 dmg, AC 23 for 12 dmg, and AC 28 for 9 dmg.

21:28, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 27,13,23,28 using d20+9,d20+9,d20+9,d20+9.  Charging pounce with power attack.
21:31, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 8,6,12,3,11,1,8,1 using d6+7,d6,d6+7,d6,d6+7,d6,d6+7,d6.  Damage for Fangs, Claw 1, Claw 2, & Tail Stinger.

Belgar, feeling a sense of urgency presses his attack.  "How much more of this can ya take big fella?!"

07:28, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 14 using 1d10+6.  Dwarven Waraxe damage.

07:28, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 16 using 1d20+5.  Dwarven Waraxe attack.

07:28, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 7 using 1d4+6.  Shield Bash damage.

07:28, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 17 using 1d20+12.  Shield Bash attack.

07:27, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 10 using 1d10+6.  Dwarven Waraxe damage.

07:27, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 17 using 1d20+10.  Dwarven Waraxe attack.

In reply to The Dealer (msg # 178):

The magic missile was meant for flopsie, as was the knowledge arcane to see if I knew anything about it.

Izzick continued his barrage of spells on the rabbit like creature, this time creating rays of flame, one striking true, the other angled slightly off. He'd like to see how the rabbit like creature handled the burning flames.

Scorching Ray, both rays at Flopsie

11:49, Today: Izzick rolled 22 using 1d20+5.
11:51, Today: Izzick rolled 14 using 4d6+1.  Damage, attck roll 22.

11:49, Today: Izzick rolled 10 using 1d20+5.
11:52, Today: Izzick rolled 11 using 4d6+1.  damage for attack roll 10.

Both vs touch AC. Doubt the 10 hits but can't hurt to check

Shaking his head and dismissing the torpor that had temporarily crippled him, Tarrov began singing a rousing tune of battle, inspiring everyone who could hear him to further feats of valor.

OOC:  Begin "Inspire Courage"  (+2 morale bonus on saves v. charm/fear effects, +2 “to hit,” +2 damage for allies able to perceive performance)

In reply to Tarrov Garrick (msg # 186):

Izzy, I did count the missile damage against Flopsie. Just wanted to make sure everyone knew there were two separate combats. Sorry if that caused any confusion. I answered the arcana role in post. Summoner Eidolon with Crossbow man as the Summoner and Flopsie as his odd Eidolon.

I'm assuming Tarrov is at the back door so his song will reach everyone in the kitchen. Selvin, you can hear it as well. Our bard has quite a set of lungs.

Ironguts grunts and manages a slash for you to remember him by Belgar then falls to the floor.

Crossbow curses as Flopsie is seared by one of Izzick's  rays. The man furrows his brow in concentration. Zuni the wererabbit redoubles his attacks in almost a panic. You have to drop offense for defense but manage to avoid his blows.

Izzick you notice Crossbow Summoner's lack of action. He must be using his own life force to keep Flopsie up and running.

Belgar 6 more pts dam but Ironguts is on the floor.

You make quick work of one of them Selvin . The third manages a wild slash at Zac but it is a soft hit. 3 pts dam

Don'the forget to add Tarrov's bonus to your next round all. Thanks

Belgar turns and grins at Tarrov.  He runs past the wererabbit and engages Crossbow.  "You don't worry 'bout them.  I'm yer problem now!  Lets dance!"  His swings come a bit faster as Belgar is enlivened by the song!

06:03, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 15 using 1d10+8.  Dwarven Waraxe damage.

06:02, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 19 using 1d20+7.  Dwarven Waraxe attack.

06:02, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 12 using 1d4+8.  Shield Bash damage.

06:01, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 15 using 1d20+14.  Shield Bash attack.

06:01, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 11 using 1d10+8.  Dwarven Waraxe damage.

06:01, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 30 using 1d20+12.  Dwarven Waraxe attack.

Selvin grinned and stayed silent as he ripped in to the so-far blinded enemies as he lashed out once again with his ally's natural attacks at the second enemy.

Only then did he say, "Who sent you?" As he flew back slightly and to a new angle after he spoke to avoid any attacks.

OOC: Hit AC 13 for 14 dmg, AC 21 for 11 dmg, AC 23 for 17 dmg, AC 27 for 18 dmg.

10:45, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 13,21,23,27 using d20+9,d20+9,d20+9,d20+9.  Full round power attack.
10:53, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 12,2,10,1,13,4,12,6 using d6+9,d6,d6+9,d6,d6+9,d6,d6+9,d6.  Damage for attacks (Bite, claw, claw, tail stinger).

Zuni cursed as she narrowly evaded Flopsies attack.  With Belgar turning his attention to the crossbow wielder, she was free to deal with the were-rabbit.  Zuni lunged at Flopsie, sword point first.

OOC:
To hit -> 28
Damage ->18

Turning his attention from summoned to summoner, the half-orc decided to take a step back and then begin to cast a spell in each hand, firing on scorching ray at either. Though the large eidolon proved a much easier target for certain.

21:45, Today: Izzick rolled 9 using 1d20+5.  Summoner.
21:45, Today: Izzick rolled 21 using 1d20+5.  Scorching Ray vs Flopsie.

21:46, Today: Izzick rolled 18 using 4d6+1.  vs Flopsie.

Well at least good damage on the critter!

In reply to Izzick (msg # 191):

The smell of cooked Flopsie fills the room as Izzick cooks him and Zuni fillets him. The glory wererabbit flickers and begins to fade.

Crossbow sidesteps Izzick's other beam and manages to walk into Belgar's axe and shield display. "FLOPPPPPPSSSIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeee!" He bellows in the manner of a child whose puppy has been roasted by a Half Orc and gutted by blade welding wild woman before falling to the ground.

---

Meanwhile. On the roof...

The second man falls to your strikes Selvin . The third man manages to keep his feet. He turns his head, Spits blood, and looks in the direction of your voice. "Yo' Momma," He says in response to your question.

"We need this dwarf to live right?"  Belgar walks over and checks to see if he can be stabilized.

05:49, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 30 using 1d20+11.  Heal.

Selvin rolled his eyes and let out a sigh. "Wow. Really? That's the best you can come up with?" He shook his head and charged in, clearly done with the lame wannabe tough guy.

OOC: Hit AC 22 for 14 dmg, AC 15 for 15 dmg, AC 16 for 19 dmg and AC 29 for 12 dmg.

09:21, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 22,15,16,29 using d20+9,d20+9,d20+9,d20+9.  Full round power attack on last guy.
09:21, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 10,4,10,5,14,5,11,1 using d6+9,d6,d6+9,d6,d6+9,d6,d6+9,d6.  Damage for attacks (Bite, claw, claw, tail stinger).
09:32, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 10,10,3 using d20+9,d6+9,d6.  Critical confirm (like it matters).

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 194):

"Yeah? Well you momma so lame-" And then of course you are claw claw bite all over him Selvin . So how lame you momma is will be a question left to the philosophers.

Belgar, the dwarf on the floor is alive but just. He took quite a few boots to the head. You do notice there are smears of a reddish powder all over his hands. What the powder is though you can not say.

Zuni gives her sword a quick flourish to clean the blood from the blade and scans the room looking for any other threats.  She walks over to the crossbow wielder and pulls her star knife out of him, wiping the blade clean on her opponents clothing.

"How is he?" she says, referring to the injured Dwarf.

OOC:
Perception -> 16

Selvin look around slowly at the other rooftops and streets nearby to see if there was any more imminent assault. Then he flew down towards the entrance where the rest of his party had gone inside. He took in the odd scene for a moment and then looked at his companions. "I got attacked by some fellas on a nearby roof. What happened here?"

"Well this big fella over here, looks like he was tryin' to put ole Bixel here out of his misery."  Belgar nudges the dwarf with his foot.  "He's still kickin' though.  Us dwarves are a resilient bunch if nothing else...  There is some sort of strange red powder on his hands though."  Belgar bends over, and without touching it sniffs at the powder...

05:54, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 24 using 1d20+5.  Knowledge: Nature.

05:54, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 11 using 1d20+5.  Knowledge: Geography.

05:53, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 9 using 1d20+5.  Knowledge: Dungeoneering.

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 196):

Zuni, a quick once over of dead crossbow guy yields little of interest except for his bolts. He has three separate quivers tied around his belt, as if he wanted to be sure not to get the various contents mixed up. One has about fifteen bolts that seem well made upon insoection. The next quiver holds three bolts with odd green feather fetching and some symbols carved near each silver tip. The inside of this quiver smells like incense and there is and lump of waxy incense at the bottom of the bag. The last quiver has a single...for lack of a better word...'bolt`. Though it seems to be made of fired red clay.

Bixel groans as inspect his hands Belgar . The powder has an odd, not at all pleasant floral scent. It's also out too sweet a smell. You notice the powder is mixed with flour and has caked on Bixel's hands. He may have been making bread recently perhaps.

Belgar huffs, [Language unknown: "Rotio ce ofncnd...  T shehouave ckus thukoroun t his outoll me ar Fousiv houlationson?"]  He turns to Ironguts and begins picking through his things.  [Language unknown: "Eauce ectoreineher a andallear la be Ch ng..."]

22:27, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 19 using 1d20+11.  Perception.

"We need someone to live who can answer questions," Tarrov replied, crossing his arms and looking unhappily at their defeated assailants.  Someone knew far too much about their movements.  Was it just that the Queen had good scouts?  Or were there spies about?  His eyes flicked around the room.  And if there were, who would they be?

"Zuni, let me see those bolts, would you?"  The bard requested.  "Might be I'm familiar with those symbols."

23:31, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 20 using 1d20+9.  Knowledge Check:  Symbols.

Zuni had been examining the bolts that were in the quivers, but she was not sure why they looked so odd.  She handed the bolts to Tarrov when he asked.

"So what do you think?" she asked the Bard.

In reply to Belgar Ironclad (msg # 200):

Bixel groans something in response Belgar . It sounds like "...'S ta make 'em weep..." or such. Bixel passes back out.

Ironguts has a few items of interest. A small vial of the reddish powder for one. A flask with a thick purple liquid for another. Lastly, wrapped in a thick piece of muslin, is a small rock that glows. Cursory inspection mages you think the rock simply had some kind of permanent illumination cast on it. But unlike similar instruments you've seen like this, the rock casts a sort of reddish light.

Tarrov, Your best guess about the symbols is they are religously in nature. They don'the correspond to any kind of magical script you are familiar with. You think they form the words Dark Kiss from the One Who Preys but there's some guess work there.

Someone begins to hammer on the front door of the building. A quick look shows it's a couple of humans. Zuni , you know one of them. Guy named Rolf. He'said been on some of the scavenger runs with you. Rolf bangs on the door again. "C'mon Bix! Hurry up! First shift'll be up soon!"

That's right. Rolf is one of those charged with delivering bread and water to the various collection points for distribution in the morning and evening. The first shift of workers will be rising soon to collect their breakfast before work begins today.

OOC: Ugh. Sorry. Sick right now so short post.

Selvin raised an eyebrow from inside his tiger-shaped ally. He kept a watch to make sure no one else came up on them while the group looted. He knew at least half the group so he was sure he wouldn't get shorted unless Belgar or Zuni discreetly pocketed things.

At the banging from the front door, he said "Uh oh. Now what'd we do?"

Belgar quickly pockets the vial, bottle, and rock.  He looks to Selven, then to Tarrov knowing that he himself rarely says the right thing in these situations.  Surely the bard would be the best choice if it came to diplomacy...  Belgar slips back into the back room and attempts to conceal himself.

13:32, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 24 using 1d20+8.  Stealth.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:41, Tue 20 Oct 2015.

Zuni looked back to the door upon hearing the man's voice.

"I know that voice.  That's Rolf." she said quietly to her companions.  "He's here to collect Bixels bread.  I didn't realize that it was the time."

Sheathing her blade, Zuni glanced about the room again, to look and see how much bread Bixel had made, then a thought struck her.  The bread might be tainted.  There had been something mentioned about red powder when she was spying on the assassins, and now she started to think that it might have been some sort of poison.

"If Bixel was baking the red powder into the bread..." she mused out loud, not liking where this line of reasoning was going.  "...we can't let any of this bread go out.  It might be poisoned."

The hammering on the door continued.  "I can go and talk to Rolf, maybe stall him while we finish up here."

The cleric Chandanar reaches down and pla c especially a hand on Bixel's forehead. He takes out his holy symbol but looks at Zuni and the rest 9f you before doing the healing thang. "We're here on Pig's authority right? So...we're either arresting Bixel or saving him." He grins as a warm light spreads from his finger tips across Bixel's wounds. "I would just say we are investigating the situation and need to ask your friend Rolf some questions. It is the truth, right?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:29, Thu 22 Oct 2015.

Zuni nodded at the clerics words, and mentally chided herself for thinking the situation more complicated than it actually was.  She walked over to the door and opened the door.

"Hullo, Rolf." she said in a friendly tone and realized that she probably looked out of sorts compared to her tone of voice.  She had just been in a fight only a few minutes ago and that were-rabbit thing had scratched at her, enough to draw some blood but nothing serious.  "We may have a delay in getting the first shift it's breakfast.  Bixel has had some trouble."

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 208):

Rolf blinks when the door opens Zuni . Obviously he wasn't expecting it to be you.

"Zuni? Uh...okay. Well we'Lloyd just hand out what we got then. Everything okay in there?"

"No, but we're looking in to it."  Zuni replied.  "When we get things going again here, we'll let you know.  Don't want the shifts to miss their meals, right?"

She was about to bid the man goodbye but then she paused.  "Hey, Rolf.  You haven't heard of anything odd occurring over the night, have you?  Anything out of the ordinary?"

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 210):

Rolf shrugs. "Garrick was complainin'about how none a' the west sentries had sent in a report yet. But you know those guys. They're probably in a dice game. 'S not like anyone's comin' to kill us all."

Garrick is the closest thing to a staff sargent Pig has. Garrick insists on regular check ins from all sentry points. The west sentry point is a former cobbler's shop that overlooks a square where five roads intersect.

Selvin looked at the companions other than Zuni who was at the door. "Anyone good at baking?" He flashed a grin. "Seriously, are we going to try and replace the possibly-tainted bread? Or are we just gonna go inform someone of what happened?"

Zuni couldn't help but turn and look towards the shop that was the west sentry station, even though she couldn't see it.  She bit her lower lip in thought.  "You're right.  It might be nothing.  Just a distracting dice game." she said softly.

A brief memory of Gaedren Lamm flashed through Zuni's mind at that moment.  She shivered at the thought of what he would have done to her if she had been playing dice instead of out in the streets picking pockets like she'd been taught to.  Zuni could still feel the switch biting into her skin and the sneer on the mans face as he dealt out the punishment.

"...still...it couldn't hurt to stop in and make sure."  Zuni turned back to Rolf, trying to force the memory away.  "Are you sending someone to check up on them?  We've already had to deal with one assassination attempt on the King."

"Wha-huh?" Rolf blinks. "Someone tried ta off Kingie?"

The western sentry post is about two blocks over according toZuni and Belgar . As far as breakfast...setting Rolf to boiling potatoes may be your best bet. But then again, if you could whip up a large batch of Selvin's famous Goblin Gut Fritters, you could certainly boost morale in the compound.

Sensing that they may have to move out soon, Belgar pulls out his healing kit and tries to patch himself up a bit while he has a moment.

21:54, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 12 using 1d20+11.  Heal himself.

In reply to Belgar Ironclad (msg # 215):

While ya'll decide whether to go look into the missing sentries, bake bread, or sleep until morning, go ahead and level up please. Thanks

OOC: I haz famous food? Lol!

Selvin went ahead and started baking the bread to try and help out. Anything more than bread would likely be easy for him to completely mess up, but bread wasn't too hard. He didn't mind keeping himself from having time to think about things and help out before they headed out to try and save the kid. Then he went to catch a little sleep after casting spells to heal his eidolon.

Zuni invited Rolf into the building and took a moment, probably with his help, to bandage her wounds.  She would explain the situation to him to the best of her understanding.  The guy was partly responsible for the sentries so it made sense to keep him informed.

Afterwards, Zuni wanted to check on the missing guards.  She wasn't going to be much help baking bread so it looked like she would have to part from her new allies for the moment.

"I'm going to go and check on some missing sentries.  Any of you want to come with?" she asked them.

OOC:
Heal Roll -> 14

The kitchen is soon filled with the smells of Pumpkin Spice Brioche and Sourdough Muffins. You wipe dough off your hands Selvin and head over to the 'keep' to go to bed.

Rolf listens with a mild look of confusion Zuni . But he seems to get the gist. He toddles off to inform the powers that be of the situation and that the Onion and Cheddar Bagels  are to die for.

The sentry post is deserted. A lantern is lit and a small fire burns in the stove of the old shop, but the three men who were to man it are missing. You see no signs of a struggle. It looks like they were playing dice. A cup with dice is set on the table and there are three small piles of coins.

The only obvious clue, other than the lack of people, is a spear laying outside in the square. It looks like it's standard issue from Pig's arsenal. In other words poor quality and cheap. The haft is broken and there is a sort of greasy brown smear along the tip of the blade. It's not blood. It doesn'T smell pleasant.

Zuni and whomever else is headed to the sentry station, please roll me Perception checks. Thanks

The empty sentry post was concerning.  Rolf hadn't said who was on duty but Zuni might have known them, and for them to disappear without a seeming reason had her wondering.  Attempting to kill the king was one thing but to kidnap, or worse, three sentries?  What was that going to accomplish?

She picked up the remains of the spear and sniffed at it, her nose wrinkling at the unpleasant smell coming from the tip.  Poison maybe?  Zuni wasn't sure.  She'd need to bring this to someone who might be able to identify it.

Zuni started to look around for more clues.

OOC:
Perception -> 11

Belgar opts for sleep...  he's feeling pretty sore and a warm bed it to inviting to decline.  Before heading off to bed, he hands over the vial of red powder to Selvin, figuring he'd have a better chance of identifying the substance.

Zuni, the substance on the tip smells like some odd kind of jerky. There's no other way to describe it. You do notice one other thing, and as contradictory as it sounds, what you notice is there is nothing else to notice. If this were a simple case of desertion...and that does happen in Pig's 'kingdom'...you doubt these men would have left their coin behind. But at the same time if this were an ambush, there should have been more signs of a struggle.

Someone cleaned up after themselves. After the events of last evening, it sounds like a Red Mantis strike. But if so, it seems sloppy.

With no firm answers you notify the keep and wait until replacement wanders arrive. You then head back to join your new comrades in some rest.

All three of you awake sometime around noon. The day is overcast and a thin rain starts as you chew on some of Selvin's left over Cinnamon Chili Scones.


Kenswa enters as you finish your lunch. "Mornin' you lot. Had a bit of a knock up this morn I hear. Chin up. Savin' that castle 's what you lot do, right?" He chuckles and then waves his hand. "Alright. I did some askin' around and found someone who knows someone who knows them Arkonas. Or at least has a cousin who works for the family. They told me the family kinda holed up at their estate. Which we already knew. However he says there's a way in you might be able ta use if you wanna go in all sneaky like.

"The estate sits up on the northwest edge a' the island. An' it'seems surrounded by these tenements full a people not allowed on that Estate see. Well. Them Arkonas had these apple trees near their gate. An' all that tenement rats...tha kids I mean...they'don't sneak in an' steal these apples. You know kids an' apples. You could lay trenches an' barb wire aroun' a fruit trees an' any kid worth their childhood would breach that perimeter quicker than a gnome would snatches up somethin' shiny. So this cousin told his cousin about all the ways these kids would get in. Seems there's a way in through the sewers. You want the details?"

Belgar tends to his wounds overnight.

06:15, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 27 using 1d20+13.  Heal - long term care. (16 hp)

Belgar keeps shoveling in the food while Kenswa speaks, listening intently.  "Yer damn right we do."  he barks with a mouth full of food.  "Finally some good news."  He lifts his plate and scrapes the remaining food down his throat and wipes his face with his sleeve.  "Say, you got any clerics around?  I could use some magical healin' before we shovel off."  He belches loudly.

"Oh, hey Selvin.  Any idea what kind of enchantment is on this rock?"  He slides the red glowing rock over to the elf.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:45, Sun 01 Nov 2015.

"I . . . guess that's good news."  Tarrov wasn't exactly excited by the idea of mucking about in the sewers, and even less excited about meeting the Arkonas while covered in said sewage, but beggars couldn't be choosers.  The bard shot a glance at his companions, nodding along with Belgar.  "And I think we'd certainly like to know more about that route into the castle."

"But," Tarrov held up a finger as he took a bite of his pumpkin spice brioche, which was really quite excellent, "what are the chances we could just bluff our way onto the Arkona estate?  I mean, I don't want to brag," he said, modestly brushing brioche crumbs off his tunic, "but I am pretty good at that sort of thing."

Selvin looked up at Kenswa and gave him an arched eyebrow. But then the talk got interesting. He let out a small chuckle at Belgar's reply, but have a shrugging nod to Tarrov's comment-not-boast.

"Talk to Chandanar. He's pretty good at healin'." He glanced at Belgar, and then at the stone, and shrugged. "I can take a look. Here, let me see it please." He took the stone and muttered a few phrases as he gestured a the stone with his free hand.

OOC: Cast Detect Magic.
11:25, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 11,19 using d20+8,d20+9.  Knowlegde Arcana and Spellcraft.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:25, Mon 02 Nov 2015.

Kenswa shrugs at Tarrov's question. "Don' know nothin' 'bout your chances with their front door. You can try I guess. Keep the other in your back pocket as sorta a 'other option'like. Anyhoo. There'should a street that runs alongside the wall look that Arkona's compound. Hammer 'n' Anvil Way. This here sewer line they were talkin' about runs under it. But it continues on past the wall and into that compound like. Apparently a bunch a' the buildin's along Hammer 'n Anvil have access to that sewer line. But most are thone entrances are either bricked up or small holes. But known' how cheap us Old Korvosa so are, I doubt any of the masonry blockin' off the sewer l I need is all that  fortified."

Chandanar looks up from tending Belgar "Sorry you'really saying we would just need to search through the buildings for a basement with a  thin wall and knock it down?"

Kenswa nods.

Selvin, the rock is not unusual. You know casting spells of perpetual illumination on rocks or small trinkets is common for adventurers. It's cheaper than constantly restocking torches and lamp oil. What is odd is the color. Usually those spells  create a white light. You have no recollection of one being colored before. It doesn'the appear to have any other properties. It just casts a bright red light.

Everyone is healed up

Selvin let out a little laugh after the spell wore off. "Y'gotta 'dmit, it certainly has the element o'surprise.....AND stench to it!" He gave a shrug and looked at Tarrov. "If you think you can really talk us all in, then cool. I know I'm hard t'talk in unless I ride solo." By that, he clearly meant without his eidolon companion. "Which takes a full minute to summon up later on. Otherwise, sewer's an okay option for me."

He tossed the rock back to Belgar. "Sorry, mate. Just a rock with a light spell like on it, jus' with a coloration different'n what I'm used to it looks like. It's weird an' unique I s'pose."

Tarrov nodded, he'd been adventuring with Selvin long enough to know his issues.  "We can always cast invisibility on you, Sel," he proposed, "we've done that sort of thing before.  But the real question is whether we'd be able to convince whoever is guarding their gates to grant us entrance.  And for that, we might need a backstory."

The bard sat back and pondered what he knew about the Arkonas for a moment, trying to come up with believable reason for an Arkona audience . . .

Employ Lore Master (automatically score natural 20 on knowledge check) for:

Knowledge Local - good reason why a group similar to the party would visit the Arkonas.

Tarrov scores 31.

Belgar is not stranger to being patched up by clerics.  He sits perfectly still and patiently waits for Chandanar to do his work.  After he finishes, Belgar hops up and bounces a couple times, swings his axe and shield around, before nodding to the cleric appreciatively.  "Right as rain."  Belgar snatches the red glowing rock out of the air.  "Some sorta signal I'm guessin'.  May come in handy if it is...  Thanks."  He drops it in his pocket.  "Well, I'm as happy in a sewer as I am anywhere.  Spent alota time down there as a kiddo playin' goblin hunter."  A smile spreads across his face as he recalls the good times had.  "Ifn' ya think you can get me in through the front doors that's all fine, but I never had a very good reaction from those types.  Prolly cuz I smell like the sewer."  He chuckles.

"I can't say that I'm thrilled with the idea of going through the sewers."  Zuni said.  She'd done enough of crawling around in smelly places in her youth and was none too eager to repeat that history.  "We could always try for an audience first and see how that goes.  Play nice first and if that doesn't work, then we go through the sewers."

She looked at Tarrov.  "We need to figure out what would interest the Arkonas family.  Merchants?  Entertainers?"

OOC:
Assist Tarrov with Knowledge Local ->27

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 230):

Impressive roll and assist. Here is a short primer on all things Arkona. I will also mention that the sewer and front gate may not be your only options. Most Manor walls in Korvosa aren'the unscalably high. Depending on patrol patterns, you might just be able to shimmy up a rope. But...

Next to the royal family, the Arkonas keep the largest private fighting force of any nobility in the city. It is not just private guard either. The Arkonas are believed to bankroll some of the more notorious gangs in Korvosa.

Koch Arkona is the titular head of the family. He is rumored to have been quite a sportsman in his younger days. And even today he is often out in the countryside on hunts. He has a well known love of beautiful women though, or because of, he remains unmarried.

Pana Arkona is his eldest niece and rumored to be the true ruler of the family. She is an unabashed 'rich bitch' and cares little who knows it. Her disdain for the Queen, even before recent events, was never a secret. While often seen dashing about Town in the latest and most expensive silks, she is as avid a hunter as her uncle. She has a few large dire boars stuffed and on display in their home supposedly. Trophies from kills she made on her own. Pana likes her boys bad. She never keeps a lover for longoing though. She seems as determined as her uncle to remain single.

Hecenda Arkona is odd one out in terms of notoriety. She is supposedly a studious woman who is more comfortable studying history than being out in the public eye. A number of notable scholars have received her patronage, as well as having been rumored to be her lovers. In this respect at least she is as Arkonan  as her uncle and sister.

The family has a thing for cats. It is known they have a tiger as a house pet. Or did at one time. Perhaps that explains the running feud they allegedly partake in with the various wererat gangs in Korvosa.

They will hire the best artists, musicians, illusionists, and acrobats to entertain for them even when there is no party being hosted at their mansion. They pay so well some of these artists immediately retire from the public eye. The only other oddity about the family is their lack of piety. As Chela Xian gentry, they should be staunch pillars of the Asmodean church in town. However they have all three made public statements about their disdain for the clergy here. Oh. And they apparently hate the color green. All shades of it are banned from their wardrobes for some reason or another.

Any questions?

Well. You guys can mull it over. We have a slight detour before we get there...

Kenswa is able to put together a few packs for you. A couple of crowbars. Various coils of rope. The basic breaking-and-entering package. The Arkona Manor is roughly thirty blocks northwest of here. Well outside what's considered Pig's territory and beyond the usual scavenger routes Zuni worked. Before the plague riots, this area of Old Korvosa was a bit of a catch all. One of the oldest sections of the cities, families who lived here tended to have deep roots, often living in the houses their great great great great grandfathers built. So you would have successful merchant families living next to run down tenements. Crime was high but no one was leaving. This is where their family had always lived.

Blood Veil of course changed all that. The scars from the riots grow deeper the further north you go. There is one block that is completely burned down. The destruction is impressive. Bodies litter the streets in places. Crows and dogs and whatever else have been at most of them. The city stinks like death.

Then you come to the clothesline man. It is just after the lane you are following turns a corner. The lane narrows up ahead where buildings on both sides push out into the street. Several clothes lines run from one building to the other overhead. A common feature in Korvosa. However it's been out to new use here.

A man has been suspended from one of the lines. The rope runs up the sleeve of the shirt he's wearing and then runs out the other side. The man's head juts to the left at an unnatural angle. He had his throat cut so deeply, it is only attached due to the fact his spine is unsevered. Under him, a line has been drawn across the alley in dried blood. Probably his blood. Around his neck is hang a sign. NO MENZ LAN D it reads.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:22, Fri 06 Nov 2015.

"Entertainers sounds good," Tarrov responded to Zuni.  "Especially seeing how I am one.  'Keep your lies close to the truth,' I've always said.  And I think it makes sense.  Entertainers aren't going to be in much demand in most parts of the city.  But at the Arkonas' fortified compound?  They're probably going stir crazy, especially Koch.  So it makes sense that an troupe would take the risk of moving through the city in hopes of securing their patronage."  He clapped his hands together.  "That's it!  We'll just have to figure out what kind of entertainer each of us could be.  I'm easy, of course, but you all . . .," he inspected Zuni, almost as if seeing her for the first time, "Zuni, how are you at dancing?"

After everyone in the group had chosen their particular specialty, it was time to leave.  But of course they couldn't just have a nice walk to the Arkona compound.  No, that would be too easy.

"Well, that's ominous," said the bard, looking up at the nearly-decapitated victim of whomever had written the poorly-spelled sign.  He looked back at the party.  "I'm guessing someone doesn't want us to come this way.  Let's see if we can talk our way through."  He walked up to where the lane narrowed.

"Hello in there!"  Tarrov shouted, his rich baritone voice carrying surprisingly well.  He was glad they had already dressed for the occasion.  "We are a simple group of entertainers who wish to pass through this area.  Does anyone have an issue with that?"

Selvin grimaced slightly at the thought of playing up an entertainer. He wasn't really that good at that sort of thing. Maybe he could be one of those 'accidentally funny' sorts...

His thinking was interrupted at the sight of the brutally killed and strung up person as a warning. He glanced at Tarrov and chuckled at the man's style. He waited silently to see what would happen.

Zuni looked surprised when Tarrov asked her how good she was at dancing.  "I'm...I've never really had cause to dance..." she said softly, the admission sounding embarrassing.  As graceful as her movements were, they were always a means for survival, fighting with a blade, running over roof tops, dodging guards, picking pockets and the like.  "I suppose I could try but I'd probably be better as some of those acrobats that you see in the markets.  I do have some talent with sleight of hand.  Maybe I could combine the two."

The sight of the hanging man did not faze her.  She'd seen worse during her time in the city, as awful as that sounded.  Zuni stayed quiet, letting Tarrov do the talking while her gaze swept the area around them.

OOC:
Perception -> 29
This message was last edited by the player at 01:21, Sat 07 Nov 2015.

Belgar's eyes roll back in his head and he sighs loudly like an indignant teenager, "I suppose I could be an axe thrower...  Or a grumpy clown...  Or a grumpy axe throwing clown...  "

19:23, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 18 using 1d20+17.  Perception.

Preparing himself for the unknown on Korvosan streets is second nature, but with the prospect of entertaining the Arkonas and finally retrieving the boy on his mind, he's just to distracted.  He tightens his grip on axe and shield, he'd much rather just duke it out.  Judging by his current surroundings, he may get his wish.

The only response to Tarrov's hallo is the echoes that spill back up the lane from his call. Zuni, Your eyes scan the buildings and rooftops and all abouts. Nothing. Not even a rat or a fly. Come to think of it, this guy should be maggot food. And he isn't. Well. He's really, really dead. But not being feasted on.

It seems you won'T get much of a response at the moment. At least not on this side of the line...

"Well," said Tarrov, looking pensively at the undoubtedly-dangerous path they were to take.  "I have an idea."  He lowered his voice.  "Let's see what happens."

He led the others around the edge of a building.  "Now, be as quiet as you can."  He waved his hands and suddenly every member of the party had a doppelganger standing next to them.  The images looked at each other, nodded, and then began making their way, slowly and carefully, hoods up, towards their intended destination, as if they were trying to sneak their way through.

"Let's see what happens," the bard repeated absentmindedly as he concentrated on moving the "party."  "Let's just see what happens."

Cast:  Silent Image

Move illusionary party into restricted area.

In reply to Tarrov Garrick (msg # 239):

The lane runs ahead a half a block or so and then ends in a square. The ghosts of you all stride forward, looking for all the world like some portion of a bard's tale where the souls of the recently departed leave behind their mortal shell and stride towards the light.

Nothing jumps out at them. No hatchets are hurled. No blazing alchemical fire pots thrown. Not even a poisoned dart.

Zuni and Selvin , you do notice thin straps of wire strung across the laxe up ahead at several points. Your apparitions simply walk through them. You all will not be so lucky. They seem to be laid about every twenty feet.

Selvin watched intently and quietly as Tarrov went to work. He watched for any signs of movement -the roofs, the windows, doorways. But nothing happened. Then he squinted a bit more with narrowed eyes. He spoke quietly to the group, "I think...I see some wires across the walkway in a few places. Likely traps. Looks like...roughly every...15 to 20 feet? Something like that."

Watching their magical duplicates walk down the street was amusing to see.  It was like watching a carnival magician at work.  It might have fascinated Zuni more had not their current situation been so serious.

"I see them as well."  Zuni said, her practiced thieves eye picking out the camouflaged tripwires.  "Can we go around?  Now that we see them avoiding them shouldn't be too difficult but there may be some that we don't see."

"Huh," Tarrov grunted as their apparitions arrived in the square none the worse for wear.  "Well," he said after Zuni and Selvin informed the group about the tripwires, "that was well spotted.  But," he turned his gaze back to the square, "I'm not sure we know anything about an ambush or not.  Any ambushers would realize something was up because the illusions didn't set off the traps."

"Do you think you can disarm them?  I don't think we should just leave them active for the next people who have the misfortune to stumble through here."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:40, Wed 11 Nov 2015.

Tarrov had a point, Zuni thought.  "I can try.  It's been a few years but I still have my tools." she said, looking back from Tarrov to the trip lines.  Zuni pulled out a small length of string and tied back her long hair.  "Just watch my back, 'kay?"

Taking one last glance around, Zuni started to creep forward towards the first line, carefully picking her way and keeping to the shadows as much as possible.

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 244):

Zuni, can you make two different Disable Device rolls please? If either is below a 15, please make a Perception check vs TN 12. Thanks

Belgar had encountered various traps over his years running the Korvosan streets.  He always found them to be cowardly.  This whole situation was frustrating to Belgar, and he fully expected to be jumped by weasels at any moment.  While Zuni works on he traps, Belgar scans the ground looking for any sort of tracks.  In an area such as this with such little traffic, tracks may be a bit easier to pick up.

05:52, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 25 using 1d20+13.  Survival (tracking). +4 from favored terrain = 29
This message was last edited by the player at 13:33, Wed 11 Nov 2015.

Zuni crept up to the traps in order.  She reached into a pouch on her belt and pulled out a set of tools and began to work on disabling the traps.

OOC:
Disable Device:  15 and 19

Selvin gave a nod to Zuni. He didn't flirt, he was all business. He went back to scanning the rooftops, nooks and crannies and everywhere with his eyes and listening to his ears as they moved forward. He didn't want to be taken unawares.

Belgar, the signs of passage on this lane are unmistakable though not recent. From what you can tell, besides cats...and there have been a lot of them...a group of somewhere between eight to twelve came through. Probably yesterday near evening. You don't think anyone else has been through since.

Selvin, there's a tawny colored house cat sunning itself on ledge above, watching you through a bored expression. That's all. Which seems...odd. Though why you can't say.

Zuni, there seem to be two types of traps, alternating down the lane. Neither is sophisticated. One set would trigger various landfills like drainpipes or  masonry o come clattering down. The other type seems guard more towards making racket. Meant as an alarm more than likely. Both sets are easily sidestepped and even more easily disabled. Just having everyone step over them would be quicker...

You guys can just step over the trip wires or you can have Zuni cut them. Need to know which you choose. Zuni, if it's cutting then no new roll is necessary. You will succeed automatically. Thanks

"Hey fellas, I am seein' some tracks..."  Belgar whispers loudly as he scans the ground, "Cats, prolly eight...  no twelve, came through here last night.  That's about it though...  Huh..."

Selvin blinked a few times then broke out in a grin. "Maybe things've gotten so bad that even the alley cats're gettin' t'gether an' formin' gangs for protection an' such?" He chuckled a bit, especially considering he was 'wearing' a cat-shaped 'suit'.

To Tarrov he asked, "Want me t'fly up above just in case, or stay down with you all?"

Tarrov squinted at the sky.  "I can't see how it would hurt."  He looked back at Selvin.  "But we don't want anyone drawn to the area either, and you're a little . . . noticeable.  But I think we can deal with that."  He waved his hand over Selvin, and the man suddenly vanished.  "There we go.  You can be our ace in the hole."

Cast Invisibility on Selvin

Thinking back to what Tarrov had said, Zuni decided to disable the traps entirely.  There was a hint of a smile as she snipped away at the tripwires, knowing that these traps were not going to hurt anyone else.

Her work done, Zuni would slink back to the others.  "It's all clear." she said proudly.  The bards may not sing in the taverns about Zuni against the Traps but she was satisfied with the conclusion nonetheless.  "They won't be catching anyone anymore.  I can take point and...where's Selvin?"

Selvin the view from above is surprisingly positive. All clear. The rooftops are full of shanties and squatters lean-tos...this is Korvosa. The Shingles are spread out all over town...but there's not a sign of anything stirring other than some  birds and a few cats.  Not even any Chokers.

The lane empties into a square...

Obviously there was some major clash that occured here, probably during the Riots. The dead lay scattered about. Men. Women. Children and their Grandparents. Some obviously died of Blood Veil. Others look to have been stabbed or bashed. Along one eastern wall are a group of bodies that appear to have been burnt. From what you can tell, these people were forced against the wall of a workhouse and someone cast some kind of fire magic on them. The only places on the wall free from soot and scorch marks are the spaces the victims must have stood, leaving an odd 'reverse shadow' on the bricks.

There are five other exits to the square. Only two of them head in the direction you want to continue. One, a wide Avenue heading west and then turning northwest, is scattered with more bodies. The stench from that direction is quite strong. Even by recent standards.

A smaller, narrow alley heads northwest. It is blocked by an overturned wagon.  Almost as if someone had tried to use the wagon as a barricade to seal off the alleyway. But it would be easy enough to scramble over it or push it aside.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:45, Fri 13 Nov 2015.

Belgar sighs...  "Look, nothing about this is right."  scanning the area skeptically, "If it were safe, there'd be people.  Plain and simple.  This isn't safe.  Since there are no people, there should be more animals.  Stray dogs, varmints, even wild pigs could find refuge in a place abandoned like this.  But, just cats?  This place is trouble I tell ya.  I can feel it in my bones, death abides here."  Feeling a bit nauseous, he furrows his brow as he struggles to make sense of this.

06:59, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 28 using 1d20+9.  Knowledge: Geography.
06:58, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 16 using 1d20+5.  Knowledge: Nature.

Selvin smiled when he heard (from a distance, of course) Zuni's question. But he kept silent as he flew, keeping an eye out, like some twisted feline angel watching over his friends and allies.

The square, however, was a disturbing sight. Selvin's eyes narrowed and he let out a quiet growl. <b>"butchers."</blue> He looked around slowly from above.

12:52, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 17,17,7 using d20+12,d20+9,d20+6.  Perception (looking around), Spellcraft (identify fire magic), Know-local (in case beneficial).

Belgar You seem to be correct. There is a decided lack of animal life here. From your experience, Korvosa in general, and Old Korvosa especially, are crawling with parasites. Chokers should be flocking to the streets, enjoying the bounty of dead flesh. And the Imps that tend to run wild in these parts...you haven't seen one since before the plague hit. Usually the Imps are kept in check by the faerie dragon population. But you haven't seen sign of the little winged lizards either.

All there is are cats. None of whom look quite right now that you study them. They're a little too large or a little too small. Their tails seem to move in an odd, labored sort of way. Some have too many whiskers while others have too few.

Selvin, the marks on the wall are without a doubt from that Grandaddy of all fire enchantments, a fireball. If these were normal townspeople, it was an awful lot of magic to use. Like dropping an anvil on an ant.

You can'try help feeling someone is watching you all. There's the cats of course. There must be ten of them just on the rooftops. And you can see several more in the windows of the surrounding buildings.

Belgar, in your musings on the lay of the land, it occurs to you this area is built on a small hill. The alleyway seems to head up the hill. If you recall correctly there are some old fortified buildings up that way. Remains of the original Fort Korvosa when this was just a Cheliaxian outpost. The buildings are old but still pretty solid. They would make an excellent defensible position.

Not sure why that just popped into your head. But it did.

"Hey...  now that I think about it.  I think this alley leads up to the original Fort Korvosa, from back when this was just a Cheliaxian outpost..."  He rubs his chin.  "A fort on a hill...  It's almost as if something's found a place to defend...  To protect itself...  Ya don't think...  These strange cats?"

Selvin eyed the cats a bit but they didn't seem to be eyeing him back. He frowned a bit as he recognized the markings of a fireball having been used. A fireball....on townspeople? Talk about overkill. What was going on in the city??

And who was watching them? He felt it even while invisible and flying above. He narrowed his eyes as he followed the group and kept a watch.

"Well, those cats do not seem to actually be cats," Tarrov said after hearing about them.  "Perhaps they are something that can shapeshift, or . . . .," his voice trailed off as he racked his brain, trying to think of a creature that might be able to present these not-quite-right cat images.

Knowledge checks regarding what these cats might be, please roll for the appropriate check.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:11, Sun 15 Nov 2015.

Tarrov, there are numerous creatures of lore who could handle such a transformation. Given the locale, the most likely is Imps.  But not every Imp can transform. And there are a lot of cats. Forty now at least. Most seem to be lingering in the windows of the surrounding buildings or are on the rooftops.

As you all consider, there is a bright flash and a small Ka-Thoom from one corner of the square. A Persian reclining on a barrel has coughed up a flaming hairball. The small ball of burning blue flame is sizzling on the cobblestones. The cat goes back to licking it's paw.

"Holy Hammerstocks!"  Belgar exclaims as he seems stunned by what he has seen.  Mouth hanging open, eyes glazed over.

Selvin quickly breaked his forward flying movement, his wings simply keeping him in the air, almost on automatic....as he stared at the cat that had just coughed a fireball instead of a hairball. That was....what the hell was going on?? What were these cat creatures? He noted how many of them were around and started to get a bit nervous for his teammates. But he kept silent and invisible for the moment.

"That's . . . that's disconcerting," said Tarrov, staring at the fire-breathing cat.

Knowledge check to determine what Tarrov knows about fire-breathing cat creatures. 

"Ugh...  If we're dealin' with fire breathin' monsters I could have prepared fire resistance spells...  Always tha damn way."  Belgar grumbles.

In reply to Tarrov Garrick (msg # 264):

Tarrov, you are drawing a blank on this one. Some kind of weird wizard'so familiar maybe?

Across the square, one tabby looks at a Persian and says quite distinctly and in Common, <Grey>Should we go now or wait a bit longer? </Grey>

The Persian looks you all over and answers his compatriot, Let's wait for King Cat to get here...

"Fire breathing...cats?" Zuni muttered to herself.  They seemed harmless enough for the moment.  Even though they were belching fireballs, they hadn't turned to attack anyone yet.

Zuni glanced back at her colleagues, gave them a shrug and then took a few steps forward towards the cats.  She held her hands out and away from her sword and dagger.  "Hello." she said to the cats, trying to sound friendly.  "While we wait for King Cat, may I ask who might you all be?"

Selvin almost fell out of the sky, as he was stunned for a moment when he heard the cats actually TALKING! His wings faltered and then started back up again before he could fall too far. He still a small distance above his allies for the moment but close enough to hear the conversation....with CATS that could also BREATHE FIRE!!! And had a KING apparently!! His invisible face was showing his shock, and he wouldn't believe it if he hadn't seen and heard it all!

The Persian and the Tabby look over at Zuni in the same way two dutchesses might look at a fishwife who invited them to tea. They then look at each other, ignoring her in the same way two dutcheeses might ignore a fishwife who invited them to tea. Mice are so impertinent these days, no?

Absolutely. It's shocking. Mice should be played with. Not heard.

Both of them hop off the bric a brac they were perched on and saunter towards a nearby alley. As if that were a signal, other cats begin dispersing from around the square.

Somewhere, down the street you came down, a cat starts mewling loudly. The sound is repeated aso another cat somewhere catches the sound and repeats it. And then another. It sounds like sentries passing word along a corridor.

A shocked look fell over Zuni's face as the cats simply dismissed her and walked away.  Forgetting for the moment that she had been speaking with fireball spitting cats, that she had approached them in good faith and been so rudely dismissed stung.  They had called her a mouse.  A Mouse!

Her hand went to the hilt of her sword as her eyes narrowed into a scowl at the retreating felines.  She was no mouse.  She might not have a great name, or maybe she did but that would have been before she ended up as a Little Lamm, but Zuni was not going to take a slight from a cat lightly.

She took a step forward, her hand still gripping the hilt of her sword.  A mouse indeed.  She'd show these cats who was a mouse.

A few of the cats turn, their eyes glinting in the afternoon sun. They seem to be waiting to see what you will do next.

Selvin bit back a chuckle when Zuni got the brushoff and was called a mouse. He could only imagine what the cats would say about his symbiote! But when Zuni moved forward and looked hostile, Selvin stiffened and drifted down a bit more. He didn't think it was a good idea to attack the cats, but he didn't want to reveal himself just yet. So he gave the others a chance to intervene first.

Belgar looks to Tarrov for a signal.  "Well, maybe we spread out as we move through so that we don't all get caught in a burst of flame together?"

As <Purpke>Zuni and Belgar</Purple> take up positions, several of the cats in the square stop their exit and turn to look at you. There are a total of seven of them who have not left, including the one you saw breathe fire. Their ears begin to lay back against their heads.

Selvin there are still several cats on the rooftops that seem to be just watching events in the square. You think there are around twelve of them. N
At this point, none of them are really making a move to join their seven compatriots in the square below.

Alright. Seven cats including the fire breather down in the square with Belgar, Zuni, Izzy, and Tarrov. Selvin is still airborne. There are twelve cats on the rooftops at the moment who seem to just be observing.

Ya'll  have init. 

Zuni picked one of the closest cats and held it's gaze for a long moment.  Her hand still held on to the hilt of her sheathed blade but she did not draw it.  Flickering about the street, Zuni took a count of how many cats were around, seven by the looks of things, and more on the rooftops.  She was confident that she could take the seven of them, especially with her new companions backing her up.  What held her back was consideration of whether this fight was truly necessary.  Sure, she'd felt insulted by the cats but there were bigger things to worry about than her feelings.  And she was not that familiar with this part of the city nor it's power dynamics so just making herself feel better might cause more problems than was worth.

Then she noticed the cats ears.

The seven on the street began to fold their ears tightly against the tops of their heads and that sight brought a smile to her face.  That wasn't the behaviour of cats who felt totally at ease when confronted by a mouse.  That was the action of an animal that felt threatened.

Zuni relaxed and straightened up, letting her hand fall away from her sword and instead ran it through her hair, untying the ribbon and letting her hair fall over her shoulders.  She took a moment to shake her hair loose and then turned away from the cats.  As if she wasn't giving the cats a second thought, Zuni turned and walked back down the street towards her companions, whistling a tune.

Tarrov nodded at Belgar's suggestion that the group spread out.  "That seems like a good idea.  There are a lot of those freaking cats.  And I have no idea what they are, which concerns me.  I would think I'd at least have heard of a creature like this.  So if we're worried about magic with . . .," his mouth hung open as Zuni began walking down the street back towards them, whistling as though nothing special was going on.

The bard moved his hand in a quick motion, muttering an arcane word of power, then pointing at each member of the party in turn.  "Zuni," he subvocalized quietly, only the power of his magic allowing each of his companions to hear, "do you know something we don't?  And does anyone have an idea how to deal with these cat-things?"  He grimaced ruefully at the alley.  "I must admit that I'm somewhat at a loss."

"But not entirely.  Selvin," he sent to the flying summoner, "do you see any cats off by themselves?  It's possible I could charm one.  Might be our best bet to figure out what they're up to.  I don't know if we want to take on a score or more of them without at least some idea of what we're up against."

Selvin, you can see the streets around by rising a little. There are cats everywhere though not in the hundreds. The most likely looking targets for Tarrov's plan are a Siamese sunning itself on the back stoop of a house the next street over and some odd bluish-grey looking cat ducking into a barrel in an alley to the south.

Zuni the cats slowly loose interest and begin to wander away.

This message was deleted by the player at 21:36, Mon 30 Nov 2015.

"Let me see if I can't befriend one," Tarrov proposed.  "Could be that they'll let us through unharmed if accompanied by one of their fellows.  Or maybe they can speak a language.  Can't hurt to try."

Well, there was no better time than the present.  Tarrov walked toward the barrel where the bluish-gray cat was scavenging.  "Hello," he said, trying common to start, "how are you?  Can I ask what you might be doing around here?"

OOC:  Casts Charm Monster on cat.

Belgar cautiously moves through the courtyard.  Eyes wide, he silently scans the area.  Keeping an eye on every cat he could close on quickly.  There won't be any funny business perpetrated by these cats if he has anything to say about it.  Specifically he watches his comrades' backs as they work to solve this puzzle.

Zuni walked back to Tarrov.  She gives a shrug at his question.  "No, not really.  I was just a little...pissed...that they called me a mouse." she admitted.  Thinking back to seeing the cats ears flooding flat on their heads made her grin.  "But mice don't get cats on edge like that."

She glances back at the now disinterested felines.  "I don't think that they're a threat to us."  When Tarrov started to walk towards the felines, she simply stood ready, a hand resting lightly on her star knife.  Maybe he'll have better luck than she.

The other cats seem to be clearing out Belgar .

"Mrrow. Me?" says the Blue-Grey. It sidles out of the barrel and begins twirling around your ankles Tarrov . "Why, just looking for a shady spot. I like to meditate when the day gets hot. And yourself Hair-Like-Cream? What are you here for? Do you not know King has no love for Uprights?"

It worked!  Tarrov suppressed the urge to pump his fist as the cat slithered around his shins.  "Sadly, I am not native to this part of the city, so I was not aware that King ruled here.  I certainly have no desire to antagonize him." Tarrov responded with a sorrowful note in his voice.  "I don't know if you're aware of the upright Queen, but she's gone a little crazy.  We're trying to escape her wrath by getting to an upright estate, but we must go through King's area.  Will we be allowed to pass, do you think?"

Selvin breathed a quiet sigh of relief when things tampered down from escalating into combat. Not that he was opposed to combat - far from it! He just wasn't so sure of the outcome with that many opponents...especially when they were...cats or cat-like beings...with unknown abilities.

He watched and waited as Tarrov spoke to one of the cats to see what would come of it.

In reply to Tarrov Garrick (msg # 283):

"Oh I doubt it," says the Blue-Grey quite matter of factly. "The King hates mice. He says they'really only good for the abattoir. Whatever that is. Buuuuttt..." It flicks it's tail back and forth, cooking it's head as it looks you over. "You could ask the Skin Birds for help. They hate the King. Go to the building that smells like old fish. Down that way." He flicks his head towards an alleyway. "OR you could make a run for it. Though the King does like a chase. You might make it. Maybe. Best of luck to you though."

"Hey," said Tarrov as the cat turned away.  "Would you mind showing me the way to the Skin Birds?  And would you mind telling me some more about them?  Will they be friendlier than the King?  Is there any particular way we might be able to win their favor or their help?  And where did the King come from, anyway?  Has he always held sway in this area of Korvosa or is his reign of a more-recent vintage?"

Korvosa was minting entirely too many self-styled royals for Tarrov's taste.  And he didn't particularly like any of them.

In reply to Tarrov Garrick (msg # 286):

"If you want the Skin Birds to help you," says the cat, glancing backwards, "The last thing you want is to show up with me anywhere around you. They hate the King and his children. As to your interest in history...which by the way is proper for a mouse. Mice should generally be cognizant of their ignorance. So I applaud you in seeking to remedy yours...in brief, the King was summoned to this world by some mouse who believed he could rise above his station. The King of course taught him the error of his ways. But alas the Skin Birds took offense at that. They do that you know. Take offense. I doubt they have any other purpose in life. But I digress. The King, weakened from his transport and the ensuing altercation had to flee the fury of the Skin Birds and took refuge here. He tucked in amongst the rulers of House Granny Abigail. A fabled haven House Granny Abigail. A mouse who existed only to serve as many of the gentry as possible. If only all of you mice knew your stations. Whilst there he sired many nobility. And of course the addition of his seed only enhanced the awesomeness of the feline bloodline, ensuring that once the mice had done away with themselves, we of the nobility could rise and take our stations. Now. Up the alley and down about sixteen or seventeen stoops. You best hurry before he arrives."  The Blue-Grey purrs. "Mice should be unseen and not heard. So scamper."

"So," Tarrov said, returning to the group.  "Sounds like these cat-creatures are the result of some sort of summoning-gone-wrong."  The bard pointed down an alleyway.  "The cat told me of a group called the 'Skin Birds' who are based down there, in a 'house smelling of fish.'  It sounds like they'd be willing to help us take out the cats, as there is no love lost between the two groups."

"Of course," he shrugged unhappily, "there's no guarantee they'd be any friendlier to us than the cats would be.  But it sounds like our options are to get their help or to just sprint our way through cat territory."  Tarrov scratched his head doubtfully.  "And I'm not too fond of that second option."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:02, Mon 07 Dec 2015.

"Well then.  To the birds it is."  Belgar begins marching down the alleyway.

Selvin came down to just above the groups' heads so his voice wouldn't carry far. "Yeah. That sounds right. I know a bit 'bout summonin' after all." He snorted. "We're all mice apparently t'them."

He shook his head but then realized no one would see that. "I agree. I don't wanna tangle with the cats if we can help it."

The alley runs parallel to a main Avenue than turns sharply south. As you head in that direction, your nose begins to pick up the odor of rotting fish. At first it's subtle. This is Korvosa and it is after the riots, so any odor worth it's stench has to compete with the usual smells of garbage, decaying onions, and corpses in the hot sun. But as the alley branches, you are able to follow the fish stench more towards the west. You hear the rush of the river ahead and realize you have come up to the western docks of Old Korvosa.

Sitting at the end of one pier is an old warehouse. A mound of old fish lays like a seige wall along one side of it. One of the warehouses walls is broken down and part of it's rood is charred as if it had been struck by lightning. Here and there are the bodies of what look to be mangled cats, though one of the dead cats has two heads and another has a snake for a tail.

Flying all about the air of the pier are faerie dragons. They wheel in the sunlight, their delicate looking wings forming rainbows as the glide hither and then glide yon. They belch small clouds of pastel colored smoke into the air and then fly out over the city in small groups of three or four. There must be over a hundred  of the small winged lizards here.

A group of five detach themselves from the chaos over the warehouse and fly in your direction. They stop just outside of reach and look you over. One, with eyes like emeralds, floats forward a bit from the others. He gives you a rather imperious round of scrutiny and then says, in the deepest voice he can muster, "Why aren't you dead yet?"

Zuni had heard of rumours of faerie dragons in some part of the city but she had never seen them for herself.  Now that had changed.  She took a few steps forward in order to get a better look at the creatures, and really felt the urge to reach out and touch one of them.  She didn't though.  That might not have gone over very well.

"Why should we be dead?" she asked impetuously.

OOC:
Knowledge Local -> 28

Faerie Dragons?  Interesting.  Tarrov thought to himself.

"Greetings, my friend," Tarrov said, bowing.  "We are having a problem with the cats over yonder," he waved his hand in the direction from which the group had just come, "and we were told that you had no love for them.  Perhaps we could work together to thwart their plans?"

OOC:

10:58, Today: Tarrov Garrick rolled 29 using 1d20+17.  Diplomacy.

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 292):

The Dragon seems surprised by Zuni's question. "Why you came through Rimburat's territory, did you not? Come along. You can speak with Old Mab"

Old Mab turns out to be a long slender bluish Purple dragon perched on an old desk inside the warehouse. If length is a sign of power among faerie dragons, Old Mab must be the boss. He is as long as a man'slumps arm.

"And what are these?" He asks your escort. He nods at the explanation and turns to you all. "Well. You have the bad fortune of walking into a war zone. We are at war with the Imp Rimburat and his offspring."

Zuni, this fits with what you know about the dragons. Students at the Magic College are infamous for summoning Imps and then losing control of them. Bands of Imps roam the city even during peaceful times. The dragons often form small communities and fight the imps. Two or three times a year, large clutches of Imps will battle squadrons of dragons in the air above the city. But this seems a bit different. The cat angle to be precise.

Mab curls his tail around his leg. "The Imp Rimburat hid himself as a cat many years ago. He has apparently been spring offspring. His blood has caused a taint amongst felines in this area. Well. I am sure you have noticed. You said something about an alliance?"

Selvin stayed invisible and quiet, letting the others do the talking. He watched the small dragon-like creatures for any signs of treachery...or that they could see him. His eyebrows shut up at the thought of the cat-creatures being imps and imp-spawn. That...sort of fit, but it was disturbing. He hoped Tarrov wasn't about to get them involved in a war, though imps were definitely usually more evil then faerie dragons. In a normal world.

Tarrov bowed to the leader of the faerie dragons.  "Mab, we are on a mission of urgent importance.  I'm sure you know about the disease spreading through Korvosa and the Queen's . . . unusual response to it.  We desperately need to get to an estate on the other side of Rimburat's territory."

The bard ran a hand through his silver hair.  "At this point we do not have time to engage in a protracted conflict with Rimburat.  We would, however, be willing to participate in an attack that ended up with us on the other side of his territory."  He gave Mab a sincere look.  "We need to get this done.  For everyone in Korvosa."

Zuni's eyes widened at the tale.  An Imp disguised as a cat?!  That made perfect sense.  It was most likely that Imp's ill-manners that had caused the cats to behave so rudely towards her earlier.

Oh, how she wanted now to find that Imp and introduce it to her blade.  Zuni had never thought of herself as the vindictive sort, except when it came to Gedran Lamm, but those cats ad really rubbed her the wrong way.

"We would be more than willing to take part in such an attack." Zuni added.  "If that was our only option."

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 297):

Mab leans forward sl8ghtly. <-Darkgreen>"An estate? Do you mean the Arkonas?"</Darkgreen>

The dragons in the room tense. All eyes are on every last one of you. Including the space Selvin occupies.

"And what is your business on this estate?"

Belgar steps forward.  "To rescue a young boy for one!" he growls, "His name is Pol and he was under my guardianship when the Arkonas took him.  They took advantage when I went to help defend the bridges.  Nothing but snakes they are!  Cowardly snakes!"  Belgar's eyes are wide with rage and his veins throb in his neck and face. "And if you have a problem with THAT, then you have a problem with ME!"  His arms flex and fists tighten on shield and axe as his knuckles turn white and the familiar sound of popping leather in his palms.