[WFRP] The Hour After Midnight (II)

[Another_Poet]

Raffy the Sparrowhawk and Pieter the Awesome

Spoiler

Show

OOC:

As the cat runs away, Raffy's constant paranoia gets the best of him. "Have you had the cat with you all day since the duel? Did he ever leave your sight?"

Once his hands are "tied" he comments to Pieter, "You better think of a good reason why there's just one of you," but he offers no suggestions. He watches where Pieter puts his pistols and falls into step, being driven forward by the man with the sword.

As they approach the guards he will act angry but too drunk to do much of anything, muttering about how he killed the Witch Hunter as if justifies his immediate release.

[-Sentinel-]

Pieter and Raffy

Spoiler

Show

As the cat runs away, Raffy's constant paranoia gets the best of him. "Have you had the cat with you all day since the duel? Did he ever leave your sight?"

The question puzzled Pieter.
"I lost him right after the duel, when I left in the confusion. I came back to Judge's Square an hour or two later and found him. A sign of Ranald's favor, if you ask me."

He jabbed the muzzle of the blunderbuss into Raffy's back. "Now act like a drunken prisoner."

At gunpoint, he led the young man out in the open and towards the gatehouse.

"Got someone for yer gaols," he barked at the guards gruffly, trying to imitate the Hounds' arrogant tone and uncouth accent. "Lemme in."

[LCP]

Pieter & Raffy

Spoiler

Show

At the top of the winding road to the gatehouse, the guards stood at Pieter's approach, shouldering their halberds and walking towards the pair.

"Got someone for yer gaols," he barked at the guards gruffly, trying to imitate the Hounds' arrogant tone and uncouth accent. "Lemme in."

"What, you ain't got your own?" said one of the guards, looking Pieter and Raffy up and down. "What's wrong with the lock-up in Judge's Square?"
"Yeah, on whose orders?" said the second. He gave Raffy a distasteful stare. "Castle dungeons aren't for roundin' up drunks, mister."

[-Sentinel-]

Pieter and Raffy

Spoiler

Show

A sudden doubt gnawed at Pieter's stomach when he remembered something von Brucker had said to Lothar, just after the riot.

Pieter's memory (i.e., not Raffy)

Spoiler

Show

"Alright. Make sure you're back at the Guard House before sunset. You know Illiiya, you can argue her corner better than I."

"Rafale. Are you sure Illiiya's in the castle? If there's any doubt, I'm not going any further."

How stupid would they look, getting arrested for trying to infiltrate the wrong place? It was the last chance to turn back.


OOC: Seriously, I can almost imagine LCP smirking evilly right now...

[Exeson]

Ithelus

Spoiler

Show

Ithelus moves over to the group, 'Care if I join?' he asks, motioning at the cards.

[LCP]

Ithelus

Spoiler

Show

The men looked up at the elf suspiciously.

"Elf," grunted one of them, stating the obvious.
"What's yer name, mister?" asked another.

OOC: People are on edge right now - can I get a Fel test from Ithelus to win acceptance into their circle?

[Another_Poet]

Raffy and Pieter

Spoiler

Show

Raffy's heart clenched up as he realised Pieter might bail. Of course I'm not sure, he thought. I told you that... I think.

But he's at a loss for how to make any complex answer without giving away the game to the guards, so while drunkenly muttering about "I'd do it again, too!" he nods his head "yes."

[-Sentinel-]

Pieter and Raffy

Spoiler

Show

"Sorry, we're not doing this, I don't think she's here. I'll explain later."

He turned to the guards: "Aye, but our cells are all full, what with all those traitors an' rioters," he complained. Muttering under his breath against his job, he turned Raffy around to lead him away from the gate.

OOC: Ugh, got to leave now. I'll be back as soon as I can.

[Another_Poet]

Raffy the Sparrowhawk and Pieter

Spoiler

Show

Coward, he thinks.

"I killed Dagroon an I'd do it again!!" he bellows loudly.

[LCP]

Raffy & Pieter

Spoiler

Show

At Raffy's shout, the two guards looked at each other, then back at the departing duo - with a shout for them to stop, one of them ran after them, stumbling up alongside the two with a disbelieving stare.

"Hey - is that who I think it is?" asked the guard of Pieter, looking at Raffy.

[-Sentinel-]

Pieter and Raffy

Spoiler

Show

"He's drunk," grunted Pieter. "Thinks he's that Sparrowhawk madman."

"Rafale, damn it... I think she's still at the guard house."

Pieter hoped Raffy would quickly understand that the plan had already failed.

[Another_Poet]

Raffy and Pieter

Spoiler

Show

Raffy continues to act drunk and confused as he waits to see what the guard will do.

OOC:

Spoiler

Show

Right, because it would be such a shame to find out for sure. We don't have a chance at the guard house right now....

[-Sentinel-]

Pieter and Raffy

Spoiler

Show

"That's it." Pieter spat on the ground and undid the knot that tied Raffy's hands. "Follow me. And let me explain everything before you kill me."

The initiate turned and walked away briskly, still carrying Raffy's equipment. He kept watching the guard from the corner of his eyes, ready to point the blunderbuss at him if he tried to stop them.


OOC:

Spoiler

Show

Right, because it would be such a shame to find out for sure. We don't have a chance at the guard house right now....

What if she's not in the castle? We say "oops! my bad", wave goodbye and waltz out?

Believe me when I say I can explain everything. I just blame myself for not thinking of it earlier.

[LCP]

Pieter & Raffy

Spoiler

Show

"He's drunk," grunted Pieter. "Thinks he's that Sparrowhawk madman."

"Here, hang on," said the guard, keeping pace. "The hair, the, the gun... isn't that the description?" He blinked. "You're saying he's some kind of impersonator?"
The other guard had joined them, halberd in hand.
"Hold on a minute there," he said, as Pieter made to untie Raffy. "Whoever he is, you tied 'im up. Why're you untying him?"

[-Sentinel-]

Pieter and Raffy

Spoiler

Show

Now was the time to improvise. Pieter stopped in his tracks, whirled, threw the blunderbuss to Raffy and drew a pistol from Raffy's slingbag.

"None of you move," he said, his voice soft but firm, pointing his weapon at the nearest guard's head.

With his left hand, he motioned Raffy to come closer.


OOC:

Spoiler

Show

Here I'm working under the assumption that the guards don't think in terms of damage rolls when evaluating their chances to take me down with their halberds.

[LCP]

Pieter & Raffy

Spoiler

Show

"Al...right," said the guard in question, very slowly. His eyes flicked sideways to his companion, the two of them staying deathly still.

"Why don't you put the pistol down, sir," said the second guard, as calmly as he could. "Nobody needs to get hurt, right?"

[Another_Poet]

Rafale the Sparrowhawk and Pieter Too

Spoiler

Show

You got a real sense of style to you, Pieter, he cringes as the initiate takes action. But he catches the blunderbuss and joins in.

"Where is the elf girl?" he demands, pointing the 'bluss at the closer of them. "Where is she?"

His voice is intense, but not too loud - if there're men on the walls he'd rather they not open fire.

[LCP]

Pieter & Raffy

Spoiler

Show

"The witch? Hounds shifted her here this afternoon. She's somewhere down near where the Hunter had his things," said the guard, stepping back from the blunderbuss' yawning muzzle.

"Look, I really think... I think you should put the guns down."

[-Sentinel-]

Pieter and Raffy

Spoiler

Show

"Why don't you put the pistol down, sir," said the second guard, as calmly as he could. "Nobody needs to get hurt, right?"

"I couldn't agree more. That's why I'm not putting it down until you drop your halberds."

As soon as Raffy got close enough, Pieter gave him back his other pistol, his slingbag and his sword belt.

"We're going to split up and run. Meet me in the back alley behind the Graf's Arms: I'll give you back the other pistol and explain everything."

"The witch? Hounds shifted her here this afternoon. She's somewhere down near where the Hunter had his things," said the guard, stepping back from the blunderbuss' yawning muzzle.

Pieter cursed himself. So she was at the castle after all... and now the whole plan was ruined because of him. Raffy would never forgive him.

[LCP]

Pieter & Raffy

Spoiler

Show

Looking at each other, the guards slowly lowered their halberds to the ground. They weren't getting paid enough for this.

[Another_Poet]

Raffy and Pieter

Spoiler

Show

Raffy spits on the ground. "Then take us to her," he says to the guard. To Pieter he adds: "Come on, mate."

Hold your ground man.

[LCP]

Pieter & Raffy

Spoiler

Show

Raffy spits on the ground. "Then take us to her," he says to the guard. To Pieter he adds: "Come on, mate."

"We can't just let you walk in there," said one of them, trying and failing to keep his voice level. "We'd be strung up. Same as you."

[-Sentinel-]

Pieter and Raffy

Spoiler

Show

"Rafale," said Pieter pleadingly, "this is pointless. You can't walk into a castle with two hostages at gunpoint. Illiiya is not in immediate danger... Lothar is working to get her freed, he already testified in her favor. He's confident he can argue for her release."

[Another_Poet]

Raffy the Sparrowhawk and Pieter

Spoiler

Show

"Drop your gods damned weapons," Raffy growls, raising his pistol to point at one guard while keeping the 'bluss on the other. He suddenly doesn't look so drunk. "Your boss needs you alive. I don't."

The Sparrowkawk might be ignoring Pieter's whispers, or he might feel he can't respond in kind while holding up a castle.

[LCP]

Raffy & Pieter

Spoiler

Show

The guards backed way from the halberds they had put down on the ground, holding up their hands.

"There's dozens of others in there," said one of them, carefully. "Look, maybe if you put the guns away - we can pretend this didn't happen, right? Just... start where you left off. Kind of thing."

His tone was sounding exceptionally weak: clearly the man was out of ideas. Guards were seldom paid for their imagination.

[Another_Poet]

Raffy and Pieter

Spoiler

Show

"Hoch, tie them up," says Raffy to Pieter. "You two'll both live if you play nice. Leave the dozens of others to us."

He keeps both guns pointed at them.

[-Sentinel-]

Pieter and Raffy

Spoiler

Show

Pieter did not move.

"Rafale. I beg you, don't do this. We'll free Illiiya tomorrow, when... you know. We can't help her from a cell."

"The revolution needs you. Now is not the time to get arrested."


OOC: The other reason is that I don't want Pieter and Raffy to spend the rest of the game in jail. The last two chapters would be pretty boring for them.

[Another_Poet]

Raffy and Pieter

Spoiler

Show

((OOC: so pessimistic! Think of how bored BA must be. I'm springing her!))

Raffy keeps his eyes on the guards. "Just tie their hands, Hoch. There's plenty of rope there. We need to see that elf witch."

[-Sentinel-]

Pieter and Raffy

Spoiler

Show

Pieter let out a sigh of weary resignation. How could he possibly have hoped to make Raffy see reason? It was too late to turn back, and he could not let this madman try his plan alone.

"Fine." If you can't fight the madness, join it. "Just don't expect me to be a hero."

He used the rope to tie up one guard and Raffy's manacles to restrain the other.

"Lead on," he told Raffy. "It's your idea. Hey, can I trade my pistol for your blunderbuss? 'Busses don't need too much skill to use, do they? I'll have some more powder and shot, too."

[LCP]

Pieter & Raffy

Spoiler

Show

Seemingly too concerned for their own lives to try anything rash, the guards allowed themselves to be restrained.

"You know the real Hounds are lookin' for you, right?" said one, looking up at Raffy. He had clearly found another straw to clutch. "You've still got a chance to run, lad. You try to go in there, there's no way you're coming out."