DrK's Shackled City IC

[DrK]

In general, life in Cauldron is good. The town guard deals with local troublemakers but leaves the bigger problems (like marauding monsters) to the lord mayor or one of the many churches in town. Both the lord mayor and the priests of Cauldron periodically hire adventurers to deal with such problems directly. In fact there are several shops that specialise in dealing with the adventurers.

Townsfolk are generally pleased with the lord mayor, although a recent string of disappearances and robberies worries them. People have been taken from their homes during the night, and the town guard has been unable to identify the culprits or locate the vanished citizens. Moreover, the victims’ homes were stripped of portable valuables. It seems that no place is secure. The recent disappearance of four children from the Lantern Street Orphanage has outraged many locals and prompted a distraught cleric of St. Cuthbert to use a holy relic in her church to cast a divination spell. The spell has revealed several important clues, which the cleric has been unable to piece together.

The guards are hard pressed to give answers about what they've found either. "People have been kidnapped from every district. The crimes aren't localised," one will say, while another says, "the victims are mostly low to middle class." The crimes are done exclusively at night, specifically when it's overcast or the moon is new. The perpetrators pick the locks of the victim's dwellings. Once inside they what they can and then vacate as fast as they can. Of course this leads to everyone expecting the Last Laugh or the Alleybashers (local gangs) of the wrong doing, but no one can pin it on them. The kidnapped apparently do not struggle or scream for help. So far that's the only leads anyone has.

Which leads us to now. A wretched drizzle falls from the ash-gray sky. The crowded, rain-slicked buildings seem especially bleak and frightful this evening, hunched together beneath the gloomy skies. A few lights burn in their windows, but mostly their shutters have been closed for the night. The scent of chimney smoke fills the air, and the din of water trundles from the rooftops, splashing into dark alleys and turning street gutters into rivulets. The streets near the church of the cudgel are normally quiet so the sudden shouts and cries from the nearby alley are out if place. All around some passer bys look curious whilst others spin on heels to walk away...

Spoiler: Welcome!

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Please describe yourself and then why you are walking down Lava avenue

[Stegyre]

Etienne

Another wasted day in a string of wasted days, Etienne thought to himself, as he moved along Lava Avenue. The rain dripped from his hat brim and spattered his jacket and trousers. More boy than man he looked. Skinny, though that was hard to tell in his baggy clothes, stepping around puddles and trying to avoid touching the others passing by.

He was leaving Maavu's and heading for home on the other side of the crater, near the Academy. Home, where he hoped his parents and younger brother and sisters were safe. The recent disappearances troubled him, as they doubtless troubled everyone in the city. It seemed that everyone knew at least one family who had disappeared. Anyone could be next. My family could be next. He walked a little faster, though really, what difference would it make whether he was with them or not? I would try something . . .

He had been in the bookshop all day, but there had been no errands for him to run, no new books. He had re-read some chronicles – stories of greater men and women, doing good and making something of themselves. In this weather, at this time, such stories only seemed to highlight his purposeless existence. Now, a threat had come home. I have to do something.

At the sudden sound of shouts, he startles and turns, running to the sound.

Spoiler

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I'm wet, a little depressed, a little scared, a little excited.

I'm probably going to break something.

Oh, and I lay claim to this color!

[Felhammer]

Cecily

The bronzed-skinned Half-Elf meandered down the road. She quite liked the rain for it reminded her of her youth. Of better days. Happier days. Of time spent learning the mystical arts of her elven tribe. Cecily's forehead was tattooed with the symbol of the Wu Jen, the practitioners of magic in her tribe. The Half-Elf stopped for a moment to catch some rain in her hand. It was laden with smoke, much like everything in Cauldron. Even though this place had been foreign to her when Cecily was brought here by her Human father (Joshua), it had come to be her second home. She loved the circular pattern of the avenues, its bustling streets and diversity of people. Everyday was an adventure in Cauldron, today was no exception. Cecily had left home to buy a new ink-pen, for her old one had been... Misplaced by Lilith's housekeeper. Lilith was Joshua's wife and therefore Cecily's step-mother. The two had never seen eye to eye. Lilith went out of her way to embrace and shame Cecily. Although her words hurtful, Cecily knew Lilith's vile nature was born more out of resentment towards her father for straying with a beautiful Elven maiden he chanced upon in the forest than anything the Half-Elf had done herself.

The Wu Jen sighed, "At least it is a pretty day." And your new inkpen is much nicer than the old one! A wide smile drew across the Half-Elf's face, "Indeed. Today is a pretty day!" Cecily twirled some ribbons and baubles she had tied into her long sandy-brown hair. Many people in Cauldron did not understand why she did this, for to their eye it looked childish and garish. To Cecily, it reminded her of the forest where she grew up and of her mother, Rowen. Such memories were all that kept her sane during the tortuous years in the warmage college of Tarth Mooda. She pushed such thoughts away, "Today is a beautiful day and I am happy to be here."

A shout rocks Cecily out of her thoughts, "I hope no one is hurt!" The Wu Jen runs towards the direction where the shout emanated from, "Hurry, hurry! Maybe I can be of some help!"

[DrK]

As Cecilly and Etienne reach the end of the alley they can see down the dank 10ft alley a quarter of men kicking and clubbing a 5th figure some 40ft down the alley. The attackers are garbed like common thugs save for the half white half black paint on their faces.

Spoiler

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Know(local) will give you a clue

The man they are beating looks old, with greying hair and the tunic of a priest. The symbol of St Cuthbert around his neck.


As you both skid to a halt looking down the alley one of the thieves bellows at you Shift yer arses lest ye want 'em whipped...

[Stegyre]

Etienne

Oh, crap! I'm no hero, Etienne thinks, as he sees the gang. In trouble, he takes refuge in deception: "Guards! They are down this way! Hurry!" He waves his arm as if leading others forward, hoping this will distract the thugs and break off their attack, but just in case . . .

Spoiler

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Untrained Knowledge (local) (1d20+2)[4] (EDIT: Ha, ha, ha! I think this will establish Etienne as being introverted and somewhat reclusive, obtusely ignorant of local politics and local goings on beyond the most obvious knowledge like the recent wave of kidnappings.)
Bluff, trying to make them think the guards are coming: Bluff (1d20+4)[10] (EDIT: and yes, that's not much better.)

I think Bluff is typically a full round action (at least) by RAW, but if not, I'll also ready an action to Shatter the weapon of the first thug to come within range (25').

Did – did my voice really just crack?? He realizes how poorly this is going. I'm no hero.

[Felhammer]

Cecily frowns as she watches the men with the painted faces assault an old man, a priest no less! Putting on her best "Lilith face" she calls out with a deep, authoritative voice, "You do not know who I am but I am a Warmage, trained at Tarth Mooda. I know a plethora of spells which could kill both of you with a mere flick of my finger. I am a weapon of a war, an instrument of destruction. I command you to lay on the ground and wait for the guards to come arrest you. If you refuse, I cannot guarantee you will survive the oncoming tsunami of pain. Cecily was satisfied with the content of her threat but her high-pitched voice and odd cadance of speech makes the threat sound... Childish. "I hope they don't laugh..."

Spoiler

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Intimidate: (1d20+2)[3]

Ready an action to attack the one on the left with Magic Missile.

[RolandDeschain]

Having just left the Lantern St. Orphanage behind, Sinora stalks down Lava Street gripping and regripping the handle of her morningstar.

"What kind of bastard kidnaps orphans?" She growls under her breath.

"No that's not right is it? Obviously nobody kidnaps orphans, those children were abducted -plain and simple!"

Short and bordering on stocky(whenever Sinora thinks about her appearance she immediately hears her mother's voice, the Lady Aebberin saying, "put down those sweets dear or you'll end up as fat as the widow Terren!"), armor clad, and carrying both shield and morningstar, Sinora hardly looks the part of a cleric of Wee Jas.

Her long, raven-colored hair becomes plastered to her face, as she wanders down Lava Street in the drizzling rain, pondering the recent 'disappearances' plaguing the citizens of Cauldron. Small rivulets form on her recently purchased and rather ornate breastplate, pooling and dripping onto her black doeskin pants. She stops to tug on the leather straps of her amor, and chuckles mirthlessly, "What would you say dear mother if I told you the armorer had to 'let out' this bloody contraption once already and it's STILL too tight?"

She stops and looks around to get her bearings, slowly realizing where she's at, "Looks like the long way 'round again; that's what I get for daydreaming.".

She briefly considers turning around and retracing her steps, when a scream splits the unusually quiet evening. She whirls back the direction she was going, and takes off at a run(as fast as her chaffing armor will allow). Sinora reaches up around her neck and grasps the richly carved flame-wreathed skull of her goddess, "Stern Lady grant me speed and courage this night!"

Spoiler: Actions

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Sinora channels divine energy through her holy symbol of Wee Jas enacting her Divine Vigor ability, unstraps her shield and morningstar, and sprints towards the Church of St. Cuthbert.

[Cardea]

Atrugash walked through the city streets with a layover of cloth draped across his shoulders and head. The cold hit him still, and rain hit his face, and he missed the fires of his people. Large. Warm. Rain scaring. The... Inns in these lands... they had fires. Small. Dwindling. Rain feeding. They were disheartening, but they were dry. And the people there scattered from one another were together in weariness.

Time had given the half-orc weariness. He wanted to return. Wanted to lay next to fires, beat down beasts for his people to eat. God of the Wilds, he missed it! He missed not being near the humans and elves and little peoples. His rage, his battle lust, let him tell a half-orc brother from a beast. But sixteen years he spent with them. In the two he had spent wandering?

His rage had not learned to tell him the difference.

The half-orc found himself at the end of an alley. Three men on one. Faces painted. Kicking. An older man. A priest. They were threatening others in the alley. Whipping? He saw no whips. He saw cowards. Baby men.

The half-orc drew his weapon and moved. The cloth dropped off of him, showing his form. Black scales grew all over his body, a thing already made of muscle. His legs moved him faster than he should be allowed. His weapon was no better than an anvil with a handle, a massive thing made of solid metal, wrapped in leather for gripping. He moved at the cowards, and swung his weapon up.

Spoiler

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Charge: +2 to Hit.

Hit: (1d20+7)[27]
Damage: (1d12+6)[12]

[RCgothic]

Zooey

A young woman walks the streets, no particular destination in mind.

She has a cloak, but the hood is down and in this drizzle her fiery red hair is more of an umber colour, plastered against her face. There are a number of her usual haunts nearby where she could get out of the rain, but right now she has to be out and doing something, even if that something is not very much. She stops under a streetlight and for a moment just enjoys the feel of the rain on her cheeks. The early autumn rain is not yet so cold as to be unpleasant.

Then the shouts, from a nearby alley. Reacting before thought, Zooey finds herself, as per usual, running towards trouble, bow in hand.

Spoiler

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Knowledge (Local): (1d20+4)[5]

[RolandDeschain]

Sinora rounds the corner just in time to see a half-orc charging down the alley swinging a massive hammer.

She takes a moment to survey the situation, noting the painted faces of the attackers, the presumed cleric of St. Cuthbert being assaulted, and the gathering group of individuals near the mouth of the alley.

"Guide my hand, and bolster my heart Lady."

Spoiler: Spell

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Sinora casts Divine Favor +1 attack/+1 Damage

Her morningstar begins to softly glow with a flickering, flame-like aura and she charges the nearest ruffian.

Spoiler: 2nd Action

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charge attack (1d20+6)[7] damage (1d8+4)[5]

[DrK]

Even as Etienne and Cecily ineffectually threaten 4 armed men the lead painted thug kicks the priest again Stay away from the orphanage or its your throat next to...SPLAT. His words cut off by the sudden blow of a massive hammer that stoves in his head killing him! Massive half orc - possibly one from the camp outside the south gate.

In the excitement Cecily lets loose a magic missile that smashes into one of the attackers. Even as she does so an armoured figure with a morning star and a sign of Wee Jas arrives as well as a young girl bow in hand.

Two of the thieves whirl around, short blades stabbing at the hulking orc, the third draws a short bow and fires an arrow at Cecily hoping his allies cover his back! The priest curls into a ball, face black and blue from the beating.

Spoiler: thugs

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Arrow at Cecily (1d20+1)[15] dam (1d6)[6]
Stab Atrugash (1d20+4)[6] dam (1d6+2)[7]
Stab Atrugash (1d20+4)[20] dam (1d6+2)[3]

[Stegyre]

Etienne

Oh, good! I guess the guard must have been close by after all, Etienne thinks, in all the confusion. He moves closer to the thugs, trying (again, perhaps ineffectually) to shield the young woman near him from the bowman, while loosing a sonic blast at the thug's bow.

Spoiler

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Advance to within 25' of the bowman and try to shatter the bow. Will save DC 12; if it fails, the thug must make a fort save (same DC) or be dazed one round and deafened one minute.

[Cardea]

Atrugash shouts, low and feral, swinging his greathammer against the attacker who was effective.

Spoiler

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Attack: (1d20+5)[20]
Damage: (1d12+6)[8]

[RolandDeschain]

Sinora skids to a halt witnessing a young half-elf maiden get skewered on an arrow fired by one of the painted villains. She reaches out to the half-elf, noting the pretty baubles in her hair, and says, "May you find favor with and be restored by The Lady."

"Guide my hand, and bolster my heart Lady."

Spoiler: Casts

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Divine Favor: +1 attack/+1 Damage luck bonus

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* post roll count doesn't match database

[Felhammer]

Cecily

Cecily is wounded grievously by the brutal assault but her pain is lessened by Sinora's timely aid. "I thank you priestess. These bandits shall pay for what they did to one of your spiritual cousins!" Cecily flings another Magic Missile at the nearest enemy!

Spoiler

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Magic Missile on the nearest Bandit

d (1d4+1)[3]

[RCgothic]

Zooey

So there are two totally bad dudes who should not be allowed to continue doing what they're doing. Her weapons are normally for show, but you don't get to be indecisive during a fight in progress! Drawing back her bowstring, she lets fly at the bandit who makes the easiest target.

Spoiler

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Move within 30ft.
Attack unengaged bandit with Shortbow: (1d20+3)[18] (-4 if no unengaged targets)
Damage: (1d6)[2]

[DrK]

Spells and sparks fly! Etienne's curse unable to destroy one of the swords but Cecily's force missile stoving in the bow mans head as he takes a second magical missile, her training at the academy making them especially deadly.
Zooey's arrow goes wild in the melee as Sinora presses a healing hand to the war mage.

In the alley the smaller man grunts as the hammer breaks his arm, he tries to roll past the massive orc, fighting defensively as they try to roll by.

Spoiler: thieves

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Both fight defensive
(1d20)[14] dam [roll[1d6+2[/roll]
(1d20)[19] dam [roll[1d6+2[/roll]

Try to tumble past the half orc to begin to escape
(1d20+4)[7] DC15
(1d20+4)[16] DC15

If they suceed move 15ft away

[RCgothic]

Seeing one of the men in danger of making a break for it, the young woman decides to shaft him.

Spoiler

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Attack: (1d20+3)[17]
Damage: (1d6)[5]

[Stegyre]

Etienne

With the guards (?) here, the fight has definitely shifted against the thugs. I can perhaps help apprehend them, Etienne thinks, as he tries again to shatter their weapons.

Spoiler

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Not sure where they are in relation to me, but I assume they are moving around the half-orc toward where I and Cecily are. If so, I'll drop back, so as to remain in front of them, nominally blocking their way, but again seeking to be as far away as possible yet still in range (25') for a shatter.

And shatter I shall. This time, more with an aim to the daze effect to stop their retreat. Same DC 12, will (for the weapon) and fort (for the holder, assuming the will save fails).

[RolandDeschain]

Sinora charges the closest assailant, swings wildly and misses.

Spoiler: undefined

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Thanks DrK for letting me cast the Cure Light Wounds. I'll stay true to what I wrote earlier - if you look back you'll see I rolled a nat 1 on my charge attack.

[DrK]

The first bandit slips as the priest of Wee Jas grabs at his ankle, and the result is both messy and immediate as the thug's chest implodes with the hammer strike. The wounded man staggers away, blade cutting across Atrugash's legs before he runs clear, the half orc's hammer still wedged in his friend. The escape is not long lived as Zooey launches an arrow that wedges in his back leaving him bleeding and dead on the filthy alley mud and grit.

In the faint moonlight the priest looks up at the disparate collection of saviours and slowly staggers to his feet, a hand pressed to his Holy symbol as his bruises fade. My thanks, I am Ruphus Laro, an Initiate of the Cudgel. My thanks for saving me.

[Stegyre]

Etienne

Etienne hurries to the thugs to see if any can be saved.

Spoiler

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Four untrained heal checks:
thug 1 (1d20+1)[11]
thug 2 (1d20+1)[8]
thug 3 (1d20+1)[14]
thug 4 (1d20+1)[12]

Edit: about as successful as one migh expect. He'll keep trying, assuming any of them can be saved.

In the wake of the melee, he also gets a closer look at the others. "You're not the guards??"

[RCgothic]

"Allo there, Mister Ruphus! What rough company you keep! Spare a few suns for your noble rescuers, eh?" Zooey asks as she pats down the bandits for valuables.

Spoiler

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Search (1d20+7)[8]

"Do I look like a bleedin' guard? Never one around when you need them, is there?" She laughs at Etienne's assertion, with a knowing smirk.

"Glad you're okay, Mister," she adds to Ruphus Laro.

[RolandDeschain]

Sinora gives Initiate Laro an ever so slight nod, "Initiate Laro. It's indeed a blessing that we happened along when we did."

She moves toward the large, menacing half-orc, looking over her shoulder at the young man kneel over one of the thugs, "I'm not a member of the city-guard friend, but rather a servant of The Stern Lady" holding out her holy symbol.

She stops, craning her neck to look up at the half-orc, "Well fought brave warrior. Are you injured?"

[Cardea]

Atrugash, stares down at the woman, sniffling. He rips off the few scratched scales on his leg and chest, ten at a time, and drops them to the ground. Shortly after, they are replaced by new ones. He shakes his head. He walked over to the fallen priest. Frail. Cowardly. Injured. He hoists the man up and crouches, offering the priest his back. "Cudgel man. Where you goin', I take you. Copper girl," he calls out, after the Ruphus man comes along, whether on his back or in his arms, it did not matter. "Two of them are mine."

As he leaves the alleyway, he picks up the rain cover he bought, putting it over the priest.

[Stegyre]

Etienne

The thugs seem well and truly dead, particularly the one with the bashed-in skull. This is some ghastly company, Etienne thinks to himself.

But he feels obliged to follow along to ensure the priest reaches his home in safety. "Wait for me!" he calls out, as he walks after them.

[Felhammer]

Cecily

The Half-Elf rushes up with the others to make sure the priest is alright. She smiles widely when his injuries prove less damaging than she had feared. "Hello, Initiate Laro. I am Cecily of Seren, pleased to make your acquaintance... Even under circumstances such as this. When the others bridge the topic of escorting the man home, the Wu Jen cannot help but agree. She tags along with the motley crew

[RolandDeschain]

Sinora watches the small group move off, and turns back the way she came. Before she takes her first step she recalls that one of the street thugs had said something to the Initiate about staying away from the orphanage.

She wheels back toward the receding group and scrambles to catch up.

Pulling up next to the half-elf maiden, she reaches out her hand and says, "I overheard you introduce yourself as Cecily, my name is Sinora. Strange circumstances under which to meet. How's your wound?"

[Felhammer]

Cecily

Cecily greeted the Cleric with a smile, "My wound is doing much better now that you mentioned it. My arm still hurts when I lift it but I believe I will survive to see another sunrise." The Half-Elf giggled softly to indicate her playful mood, "So tell me, Miss Senora, what brings a Cleric to this part of town on such a dark and rainy night?"

[RolandDeschain]

Sinora

I was making my way back to the Cathedral after spending the evening at the Lantern Street Orphanage, when I heard the ruckus. I'm glad you weren't injured more severely. Who are your friends?