Shadows of the Past IC

[userpay]

Kauiak nods. "I am as ready as I'll ever be then." A pause. "I'll just go with you Grik'Nik for the time being, I'm afraid the guards didn't let me see the route into the building." He gives Egan a bow before following Grik'Nik to the courtyard.

[I_am_an_undead]

Seeing as the meeting is finished, Erick rises from his seat. "I too will go wait in the courtyard." He respectfully bows his head at Egan before leaving.

[Mathis]

Gareth smiles and bows graciously towards the Inquisitor General, " You have my word that we will return with the hoard and news of the two previous groups Inquisitor. Knights of the Order of Dawn do not fail in their endeavors." He then turns to the rest of the group and asks: "Since some of us are ready, and miss Do'Rain has to get some things from her inn why don't we meet outside of this inn to save time? I know that all I have to get is my horse. What say you all?"

[Aergoth]

"I will require Acolyte Do'Rain for another moment, as well as Model 25. The rest of you are free to depart, you have an hour."
Egan indicates the Warforged and Issa almost casually.
"Ser Ward, it would be more efficient if you left from here. There is a contingent being sent to the dwarven outpost. A temporary portal, one way. It would remove a day and a half from your travels."

[redmane]

Warforged nodded.

- Awaiting further instruction.

[The_JJ]

Issa sighs and sets her bag back on the table. "Sir?"

[Aergoth]

Egan waits until the rest of the party has left before closing the door and opens another drawer of the table. A smooth stone with a simple glyph on the top is removed.

"Acolyte Do'Rain, you are charged with seeing this mission through to completion. Recovery of the hoard is the primary objective. Failing that, information. This sending stone is for your use to report to us. Keep it hidden. Aside from yourself and Model 25, the expedition is considered expendable, use it as you will."
Egan turns to the warforged.
"Model 25, if Acolyte Do'Rain shows any signs of duplicity, you are to incapacitate her using any means necessary. Understood?"

[redmane]

Warforged pondered on the instructions for a moment.

- Instructions partially understood, vague terms detected. Usage of available inexact parsing facilities not recommended, due to the perceived importance of the matter. Vague terms - "duplicity", "incapacitate". Please clarify.

[Aergoth]

"Any attempt by Acolyte Do'Rain to undermine or hinder objective will be met with non-lethal force. She is not to be killed unless your own safety is at risk."

[The_JJ]

Issa glowers at the Inquisitor and hefts the stone for a moment, as if feeling its weight, and then drops it into her bag.

"I'll do my job, sir."

Then she spins on her heel and walks out of the hall, any excitment started by that beautiful map or the thought of adventure and information to be found in a dragon's hoard quashed by her unsavory new job and the rather unsubtle threat hung over her head.

"Bloody Inquisition. No respect. 'Oh here you're looking for employment, well have a week long brush off while we're to busy to bother talking to you, while we arrange a death threat for you.'"

She takes a deep breath as she steps outside and approaches the stables, only to turn her gaze on her horse innocently chomping through some hay. Issa's eyes narrowed.

"... you probably think this is funny, don't you?" She asked the horse, but felt better for it. A little joking to set herself back on keel.

Spoiler

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Anyone not the war-forged who was still hanging around would've only heard some under the breath grumbling, since Issa's smart enough not to babble out in front of everyone.

[redmane]

Warforged nodded, his eyes gleaming orange for a moment.

- Acknowledged and ready to proceed. Goodbye.

With these words, he turned around and followed Issa outside, without a word. He didn't react in any way to Issa's monologue outside, either, though his thoughts were in quite the chaos.

"Combat self-assessment: medium-low. Analyzing potential target... Challenge Rating estimate: ECL3. Chance of succeeding a mission: 40%, variation 0.2. Recommendation: assess weak points of target, if available. Query: ways to deal with the subject after incapacitation, assuming success? Need to assess options: Dispose; Retain in current state; Force to carry on the mission... "

[Aergoth]

The sun moves ahead on its slow crawl through the sky and stands high as a small group of armoured warriors and clerics with horses assembled before a narrow stone arch set into one of the walls. There is a gnome tinkering with some reagents at the base of the arch.
One of the clerics gives a sign and the group moves into single file.
"We're ready for departure."

[The_JJ]

Issa snaps the hood of her traveling clock over her head- short cut like this could sometime dump you in unexpected weather- and tugs her horse toward the arch.

"I'm ready as well."

[Mathis]

Gareth finished drinking from his water-skin as the men fell into single file, a glorious display of dicipline he thought to himself. He was clad all in armour and a travelling cloak pulled tightly around his shoulders, a helmet hung from a strap attached to the saddle. His horse whinied and strutted back and forth restlessly, as eager to get on with their travels as it's master; "I'm ready to leave as soon as possible, let's get this done."

[userpay]

"And I to." Kauiak rumbled from where he leaned against a wall.

[I_am_an_undead]

''I am ready to depart as well.'' Erick said.
He let his gaze wander on the group before them, before glancing at Issa for a moment, frowning as he did so. He wondered what the inquisitor general had said to her, but he felt it would be improper to ask. Maybe later, if an opportunity presented itself. He looked away and returned to a more neutral expression, waiting for the departure.

[Satyrus]

Grik'Nik took up a position in front of the golem, trying to make sure he would be able to see something ahead of him at least. Indeed, let's begin our mission.

[Aergoth]

A burst of noise emits from the other end of the courtyard and two guards escort a slender, blonde, female humanoid in chains forward. She is bruised and appears to have been beaten and wearing rags. Despite the injuries and general unkempt state of their captive, it is clear that she was, at one time, quite attractive.

She is paraded towards the gnome at the archway, who draws a slender knife from his belt.

[Mathis]

Gareth followed the blonde, beaten shape with a watchful gaze and a deep furrow formed between his eyes; he had failed in his attempt not to take pity with it and his tongue spoke before he could think. "Master gnome!", Gareth shouted out above the crowd that waited by the stone archway. "May I ask you what this woman has done to deserve such cruel treatment from the guards, and how dangerous she is if you really need to draw arms in the presence of such a sorry shape? Surely there is no need for weapons?"

[Aergoth]

"Aberrant. Celestial ancestry. Essence is potent material component in portal spells." The gnome's voice is short, clipped and scholarly. "Difficult to apprehend, difficult to hold. Seven escape attempts, three guards dead."
"Essence is only useful fresh." The gnome explains as a he moves to cut the prisoner.

[Mathis]

Gareth growls an annoyed, but whispered: "bloody purgers...", just loud enough for those in his immediate vicinity to be able to hear it. "But surely Master Gnome", Gareth continues. An attempt to stop the gnome in his tracks, addressing the crowd around them as much as the gnome himself; "There is no need to hurt this woman? And certainly not with lethal force? I mean, I'm sure you could find something else to complete your magics with." It is made clear by the way he speaks about the magic that Gareth is not quite familiar with how magic actually works.

Turning to look at each of his fellow adventurers with a questioning look, as if looking for support Gareth continues: "I can't be the only one who disagrees with this?"

[The_JJ]

"Sigis record this-" Issa's hand flies to her forehead and stays there. "I would really rather not do this. Is there a terribly pressing time constraint... I know I... 'accepted' this damn mission perfectly fine with the prospect of walking."

Spoiler

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Know Religion on the celestial. Like, say, would mom/dad of whatever number of greats be waiting in the afterlife to deliver just revenge. Or not waiting for the afterlife: (1d20+10)[11]
Lore for the above: (1d20+7)[27]

Spellcraft on the portal: (1d20+10)[22]
Knowledge Arcana on the portal: (1d20+7)[21]
Lore on the portal: (1d20+7)[26]

Here I'm looking in particular for if we're looking at a slit throat or a nick on the finger.

[I_am_an_undead]

Erick observed quietly Gareth as he interpelled the gnome. A quirk of his eyebrows was his only outward reaction to the annoyed whisper, but he felt rather bothered by the harsh way he had refered to the inquisition as ''purgers''. Could the knight not show a little more respect for the inquisition? he knew, of course, that Korbinians do not have much love for the inquisition, but at least, he should understand that he is currently working for the inquisition, and that it is not his place to question its work.

He said none of this, of course, as it would not do to risk insulting someone he would have to work with for a certain period of time, at least not for that. He did, however, answer the question Gareth had asked to, not him personally, but all of their little group: ''I do beleive that this is not of our business, Sir Gareth. We have a mission to accomplish. The inquisition will sort out what is necessary and what isn't.'' He kept his voice even, hoping to calm the knight so they could begin their journey.

Spoiler

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following JJ's idea, knowledge religion roll on celestials (1d20+7)[8]

[Satyrus]

Grik'Nik had never had much of a stomach for obtaining spell components from live creatures, especially ones that could think and speak. Nonetheless he had observed such things before in the academy and so shifted his eyes away from the scene, it was not his place to object.

He tried distracting himself by trying to recall what sort of spell such a component might be used for.

Knowledge(arcana)
(1d20+5)[9]

[The_JJ]

"It's a tainted way to travel," says Issa, not quite certain exactly in what way she means that, "Hey, for our friend here, she nods at Gareth "make sure you heal her up when we're done. Apparently he's a sucker for a pretty face, and we wouldn't want to muss her up on our account."

Issa levels a look at Gareth that promised words later on.

Spoiler

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Issa's uncertain how she feels, but she's damn well acting more confident than she feels.
Bluff: (1d20+3)[12]

... but she's also trying to smooth a situation over quickly.
Diplo: (1d20+11)[20]

Hmm. Synergy bonuses are actually worth a lot at lower levels.

[Mathis]

Gareth could feel a load lifting from his chest as he understood Issa thought that the woman would live. Then it wouldn't need to come to threats afterall , thought Gareth. He recognized her attempt at smoothing the situation over and kept quiet after that, but gave the gnome a single, stern nod. Turning to Issa, he kept her gaze for a moment and said "Thank you", quickly before turning his uneasy horse to the portal once more. Something in her eyes told him that this wouldn't be over quite yet however. A sucker for a pretty face, Gareth's inner monologue continued; She doesn't understand does she, oh well. I'll attempt to talk to her about Korbinians teachings on our journey. Unless you run off from underneath me Troll [his horse], arn't you a good boy! Yes you are!

[userpay]

Kauiak stands, quiet except for a low rumbling that could be thought to be a grow, as he watches the proceedings. "Nothing more than slavery..." He muttered, though to which situation he meant isn't clear to those that may have heard him. A slight movement sends his boulders clacking together pointedly as he turns his head towards the gate.

[Aergoth]

The gnome raises the knife and slices the girl across the hand. The blood drips into the bowl of reagents off of the knife. The gnome begins to incant in a low, deep voice, deceptive for his size. Harsh, guttural sounds flow through the air and the bowl begins to smoke. The archway shimmers and shines. The incantation changes and so does the voice of the gnome, clear and almost lyrical, pronouncing the words with orderly, musical syllables. The archway flares with power and the bowl seems to ignite. A final shift in tone and the gnome's voice becomes booming and sibilant. Some of the words crackle like fire, others make the wind rush through the courtyard, as though driven by great wings.

The archway splits open with a crackling sound.
"It is done"

[The_JJ]

"Alright horsey, let's do this."

Issa grabs her mount's lead and pulls it through the portal.

[Mathis]

Giving the gnome a stern look as he passes on his way into the gateway, Gareth says:Thank you for understanding master gnome.