Outside 45

[Morty]

[Temple Assault]

Seems Wenomir has a choice. Either separate from the group, or let the enemy pelt them with fireballs with impunity. He can't actually see the fireball-thrower. So using his knives might accomplish a whole lot of nothing. There's little else to do but head in that direction and hope the rest of the team can handle themselves. Wenomir gathers his focus for a moment, then takes of at a speed that seems to leave him barely touch the ground as he runs.

[Artemis97]

[Degenburg Castle]

Dena can't help but to smile a bit, she had figured it wouldn't be too hard to get a confession out of him. If his people were anything like hers, then sibling killing wasn't exactly frowned upon if you came out as the winner. In addition, she knew that almost boastful tone, she had heard it before when her sister had declared herself matriarch of her tribe. But this time she at least wasn't related to the speaker.

"Well then." Dena replies, dropping the polite act. "So how do we convince you to call off the bounty?" She eyes the guards, this could get messy.

[Degenburg Castle]

"All the same," Reinholdt replies humbly, "My offer still stands, if you're interested."

[Degenburg Castle]

Electra sweeps her gaze around at the the court, noting the guard positions, before returning her gaze to Sszinyon, the ice in her eyes seeming to have reached a new depth, though her expression remains politely neutral. She says nothing at this point, as Dena and Rein may still be able to convince him to withdraw the bounty, and she has little she can add that would help them in that. For now, she keeps her awareness up, in case it should become necessary to pursue a fighting retreat.

There is no one standing as a formal guard, but amongst the crowd stand men and women in grey livery. They are muscular and hold themselves with confidence, and are watching Sszinyon for cues.

"Bring him to me in chains, begging and pleading, and I may see fit to spare his pitiful life." The drow snarls. "As far as I am concerned that traitor deserves what is coming to him."

[Shadowcaller]

[Degenburg Castle]

Dena sigh internally, couldn't he at least have pretended to call the bounty off? This is what family did to you, it made you into a emotional mess. "I doubt we could convince him of that, nor do I think my boss would find that offer tempting. So I'm going to ask you a question instead, do you really want us to become enemies? Since if we are paid to make sure that he's safe, and if you're sending assassins after him, I see a direct conflict of interests, and I'm not interested in acting body-guard until your family feud is over. So perhaps you should consider talking to him instead. I mean, we could escort you right to him, so you can work things out. It certainly would work out better than making me your enemy, if you know what I mean?" She smiles sweetly, but the mass of snakes that make up her hair have started to get increasingly agitated as Dena talked, crawling over one another to raise into the air, looking ready to bite anyone getting too close. Their cloven tongues vibrating in the air as they all let out a chorus of hisses.

[Green Elf]

[Temple Assault]

The ranger throws down two shield generators creating a dome around him and anyone within about three feet of him. He then picks up his bow and now being able to see everything, including the effects of the curse and the figures coming towards him that Steve is fighting, shouts, "Steve, do you have any idea what these demons are?" He may not get a reply because of the silencing effect though.

[Morty]

[Batu & Myobu]

Not trusting himself to perform precision-shooting with the energy gun just yet, Fayyaad cups his hands and thrusts them forward, emitting a narrow, intense beam of fire. He aims it into one of the holes in the torso. He hopes the fire will fry whatever inside workings the machine has that the hole exposed.

[Nova_Eclipse]

[Ruins]

The machine rocks back as Fayyaad's fire stream destroys something internally, an explosion inside the body ripping the raised arm off and sending it flying back the opposite direction. Its eye winks out as it collapses with a massive shriek of bending and torn metal, flames still licking up from the holes for a few moments, before dying out. The smell of burnt circuitry pervades the area. Curiously, the second bot seems oblivious to the demise of its companion. It can still be heard as it makes its way around on its patrol route.

[Slii Arhem]

[A Morning Stroll]

"Um." Sakura is silent for a moment. She tries to think of times where she and Adir might have slipped up recently. The fact that she doesn't have to think long is pretty telling, though. "We're... going to need to get ready then." Living at Cessie's house isn't exactly what she'd call ready. She already knows her friend isn't going to be impressed, and now Adir is going to start worrying...

A Morning Stroll

"Well, I'm glad I could keep you well-prepared. Now, about that spirit within you? I just want to talk with it, if you know how to let me." Lee's lips quirk, trying to keep in mind her goal here now that she's proven her point.

[Gullara]

[A Morning Stroll]

"Well, I'm not sure I can." Sakura says uncertainly. Of course, uncertainty is just the word to describe everything about the kami situation. "The only time she was... separate from me was when this woman with some kind of powers that let her do it. And she wasn't very kind..."

[Slii Arhem]

[A Morning Stroll]

"Well, I'm not sure I can." Sakura says uncertainly. Of course, uncertainty is just the word to describe everything about the kami situation. "The only time she was... separate from me was when this woman with some kind of powers that let her do it. And she wasn't very kind..."

A Morning Stroll

"Well, maybe I can help. What does it feel like when you think about having another baby?" As she speaks, Lee brushes some hair back over her ear, hooking a finger over her bangs but not moving them away from her eye just yet.

[Gullara]

[A Morning Stroll]

"I feel... anticipation, I guess. Happy and excited." Sakura pauses and bites her lip. Maybe there are some more worrying feelings if she's entirely honest with herself. It's so easy to ignore those, though. "I feel like everything will be right. It's just really hard to describe how it feels knowing there's a baby growing inside of me." Though she doesn't mention how so often the opposite never feels right.

[Rebonack]

((It lives!))

[Toward the Underdark]

"Avoiding tragedy would be preferable. It is, in fact, the purpose of our expedition," Raven muses. "Or, perhaps, reversing tragedy. I can not help but believe that Mother's death was quite preventable."

Preventable how, Raven?

The Union folks weren't exactly keen on her to begin with. What could have been done? Ask politely not to blow her up?

Ah well.

What's done is done.

"The monuments are curious," she observes idly. "I wonder, do they serve a purpose beyond ornamentation?"

They might be some kind of nefarious warding system.

Or just pretty rocks erected by gnomes. Since they are the sort of thing gnomes would make. Speaking of, something out there in the tall grass is rustling ominously, a dark figure slinking low to the ground toward the road.

[Reinholdt]

[Toward the Underdark]

"Well we're here to make sure there aren't any. That's your job, right? Preventing tragedy." Ilpholin puts her finger dangerously close to poking Alex in the chest. Shi very well better do the job or Ilpholin's going to make sure shi gets a one star review.

Ilpholin turns back toward the front, though she shifts her stance as her muscles coil a little. Calling out the danger gives the enemy equal warning. Better to let it think it has the element of surprise and counter strike it when it reveals itself. She thinks. At least that would be true if she only had to worry about the people on Mister Squiggles. If the unknown element attacked Raril and Raven, she couldn't cross the gap in time to protect them. Damn. She'll have to spread awareness instead.

"Did you hear something?"

[Recaiden]

"One particular tragedy. Alex leans back, just an inch, to avoid that poking finger.
"But I'll do what I can." If something happens to Raril, how would shi get paid?

Alex turns entirely the way the slinking figure isn't.
"Yes. You should keep your eyes open even here on the surface."

[Lord Raziere]

[Orc Story][Rural Town]
"Sure, we can always use some pelts." That was a lie. "I'll lead you fellas to the grocery store. That's where the trading is done. I'll just give the shop guy a call so he knows what's up, alright?"

"....Do you think us stupid just because we don't have your fancy clothes and well built homes?Your planning on ripping us off of our valuable pelts! Probably give us low prices for them, or even just give us bottle caps in return."
"ooh, more I can add to my collection!"
"Shut up Madak. I'm not falling for it. I bet we can get better prices elsewhere, at an actual leather-worker! Not a store for selling food and small household goods!"

[Reinholdt]

[Degenburg Castle]

"Now Dena. There's no need to get confrontational about this," Reinholdt says, trying to defuse the situation a little bit. Why was she so insistent on rampant escalation? She has been itching for a fight ever since they got here. "Raril has just been accused of treason. The matter deserves a little deliberation and I'm sure even MERC would need to think twice about supporting a traitor. Provided, of course, this declaration is a state matter and not a personal one?" He glances to Sszy in hopes the drow will confirm one way or the other what he meant by traitor.

The fey continues regardless of Sszy's clarification or lack thereof. "There are, however, other matters to consider in this issue. While MERC needs to think of its reputation in regards to criminal sanctuary, I'm sure the great Lord Sszyinyon wants to think of his reputation in regards to the assassins he employs. The attempt on your brother's life not only failed, but came with a great deal of collateral damage and several injuries to innocent Nexus bystanders. If the assassin continues without regard to incidental casualties, I fear it will come back to tarnish you and your realm's good name. At the very least it may be more valuable for you to recall this particular agent and... reevaluate his usefulness."

[Cola]

"....Do you think us stupid just because we don't have your fancy clothes and well built homes?Your planning on ripping us off of our valuable pelts! Probably give us low prices for them, or even just give us bottle caps in return."
"ooh, more I can add to my collection!"
"Shut up Madak. I'm not falling for it. I bet we can get better prices elsewhere, at an actual leather-worker! Not a store for selling food and small household goods!"

[Orc Story][Rural Town]

Yes, Dale definitely thinks the orcs stupid. "The grocery store fella is the only trader we have in this town. If there is a person willing to buy your pelts, it's him. Do you even know how far away the next town is? So far away we don't even have landlines or an asphalt road connecting us to them." It's only about 30 kilometers, a long day's march. And the road, although unpaved, is in very good condition. But Dale hopes that orcs don't know this. "If our store isn't good enough for you fellas, take your pelts and leave us." He ends his sentence with a loud belch, an effect of the can of beer he had guzzled down a few minutes ago.
What if those Ensara's intention of showing up here wasn't even trade in the first place? Maybe this was some poorly thought out scouting plan to see if the town was a worthwhile raid target? Hopefully the other 6 members of the "town guard" were more attentive in their lookout duties than Dale had been.

[Morty]

[Ruins]

That worked quite well. Fayyaad ducks into the path the robot was patrolling before he blew it up. The other machines won't spot him here, so he looks around.

[Nova_Eclipse]

[Degenburg Castle]

Electra casts a glance at Rein, before speaking. Her voice is cool, even and professional, as is her expression.

"To be more specific, sir, your agent saw fit to detonate a shrapnel bomb in a crowded bar. Your ire with your brother is quite obvious, but is it so much that you must involve innocent bystanders in your family affair?"


[Ruins]

The patrol paths actually do link up, forming a square divided into four smaller squares, with each quadrant containing a door. Luckily, the other bot's patrol path means that timing where it will be either moving or facing away from Fayyaad and thus not able to see him is rather simple. Each room in each quadrant is the same: a square room roughly 20 feet to a side, mostly taken up by a cylindrical dais where a massive, prism-shaped crystal floats inside a nearly transparent blue shield, spinning rapidly as both light and little streamers of energy flow into a complicated apparatus on the ceiling. Each crystal is a golden hue, though they are starting to flash to a grey-ish color every once in awhile. From the book he found earlier, coupled with the notes he found in the terminal, Fayyaad can probably deduce that these are the main power generators for the sealing apparatus it mentioned.

[Artemis97]

[Degenburg Castle]

Dena sigh internally, couldn't he at least have pretended to call the bounty off? This is what family did to you, it made you into a emotional mess. "I doubt we could convince him of that, nor do I think my boss would find that offer tempting. So I'm going to ask you a question instead, do you really want us to become enemies? Since if we are paid to make sure that he's safe, and if you're sending assassins after him, I see a direct conflict of interests, and I'm not interested in acting body-guard until your family feud is over. So perhaps you should consider talking to him instead. I mean, we could escort you right to him, so you can work things out. It certainly would work out better than making me your enemy, if you know what I mean?" She smiles sweetly, but the mass of snakes that make up her hair have started to get increasingly agitated as Dena talked, crawling over one another to raise into the air, looking ready to bite anyone getting too close. Their cloven tongues vibrating in the air as they all let out a chorus of hisses.

[Degenburg Castle]

"Now Dena. There's no need to get confrontational about this," Reinholdt says, trying to defuse the situation a little bit. Why was she so insistent on rampant escalation? She has been itching for a fight ever since they got here. "Raril has just been accused of treason. The matter deserves a little deliberation and I'm sure even MERC would need to think twice about supporting a traitor. Provided, of course, this declaration is a state matter and not a personal one?" He glances to Sszy in hopes the drow will confirm one way or the other what he meant by traitor.

The fey continues regardless of Sszy's clarification or lack thereof. "There are, however, other matters to consider in this issue. While MERC needs to think of its reputation in regards to criminal sanctuary, I'm sure the great Lord Sszyinyon wants to think of his reputation in regards to the assassins he employs. The attempt on your brother's life not only failed, but came with a great deal of collateral damage and several injuries to innocent Nexus bystanders. If the assassin continues without regard to incidental casualties, I fear it will come back to tarnish you and your realm's good name. At the very least it may be more valuable for you to recall this particular agent and... reevaluate his usefulness."

[Degenburg Castle]

Electra casts a glance at Rein, before speaking. Her voice is cool, even and professional, as is her expression.

"To be more specific, sir, your agent saw fit to detonate a shrapnel bomb in a crowded bar. Your ire with your brother is quite obvious, but is it so much that you must involve innocent bystanders in your family affair?"

"Though I presently lack enemies, I do not need more, and certainly not an entire organization such as MERC. What my brother has done is to betray my trust, and I want more than just to talk about it." Sszinyon growls. "But if talk is all you will allow us to do..." He spreads his hands wide, aquiescing the point.

The drow is genuinely surprised to hear about the assassin's methods. "Imbecile." He snaps, red eyes glowing angrily. "I will rescind my order, if only for his incompetence. Had I known I would not have hired the fool. Tell me, was anyone killed in the attack? I will pay weregild to their families."

[Shadowcaller]

[Degenburg Castle]

The snakes starts settling down, though Dena hadn't planned to go through this much trouble when there was a easier and safer (in regards to keep Raril alive) solution. But it seemed like Sszinyon wasn't completely beyond reason. "I just came from the scene myself, so I can't give you a number or names yet, but there were bodies that weren't moving after the bomb went off. Couldn't do anything about those poor sods, didn't have nearly enough healing for them. I'm sure I can find out their names too. But first, would you mind telling us just why does Raril have to die? How has he insulted you exactly? Otherwise we'd likely have to ask him about it."

[Reinholdt]

[Degenburg Castle]

Oh. Huh. Sszy agreed to sit down talks with his brother. That's surprising. Rein has to admit, sibling relationships are a little beyond his understanding. But hey, maybe these two can smooth things over and reconnect. That'd be nice.

"The injured were still being tended to when we left. How many didn't make it should be fully determined by this time tomorrow I think. We can get you that information then."

[Nova_Eclipse]

[Degenburg Castle]

Electra nods, confirming what Dena and Rein are saying about the injured and deceased.

"I don't have an exact number or current status, but I believe there were at least three people who were injured. Possibly more, and I'd be very surprised if there wasn't at least one fatality. As Sir Reinholdt says, we should know the full extent of casualties by this time tomorrow." Electra's numbers are from what she remembers seeing of patrons who were unlucky enough not to be able to flee the bar before the bomb went off while she was running for the bar to shield Raril, and it's an estimate based on where the bomb landed in relation to where she remembers them being. 30 years of combat experience tends to give you a pretty accurate sense of things like this, though, and she's confident her numbers are close. At least they've got him willing to talk to Raril, however begrudgingly, instead of still trying to kill him.

[Artemis97]

[Degenburg Castle]

Sszinyon scowls. "It is not something I would normally discuss in public. In fact, I have shared it with very few, but perhaps now is the time to break my silence. The consequences matter little now. Still, it is a private matter." The lord of the castle pushed himself to his feet. "Come with me to the library, and we can discuss it there. Then you can determine for yourself if you understand my ire." He stepped down from the dais and walked towards and swept past the trio of investigators, expecting them to follow. The room became filled with murmurs from the crowd. Though they all knew well Sszinyon's hatred for his brother, few could even begin to suspect why. The pack wanted to know what troubled their alpha so, but was also pleased it may soon be resolved.

The vampire led the three back out of the double doors and into the entrance hall. He glides up the stairs and turns north, to the base of one of the tall towers that adorned the corners of the keep. Inside was a small library, filled with books that largely concerned astronomy and astrology, but there was a growing section on hunting and cooking, quite a few volumes dedicated to the various religions of the Nexus, and, one would note on a lower shelf, a section of children's books in bright colors. The room was lit with oil lamps and a small fireplace crackled warmly on one side. Comfortable chairs were set in a group near the fireplace, and singly throughout the room. The very center of the library was dominated by a large table, on which was spread a very detailed map of the castle's holdings and the nearby city of Inside. Closer inspection would show the map constantly updating, its ink flowing and changing as the Nexus did.

Sszinyon took a seat by the fire and gestured for the others to join him. Once they were all settled he sighed and asked. "Where do I begin? I suppose I should ask you how much you know about House Xar'Cha?"

[Felandria]

Temple Assault

Felandria is likely unaffected by the curse, due to her level of spell resistance, but she does hear the taunting voice from the north.

She chuckles a little at being called a mortal, but bristles at the threats.

Well, then, if that is true, why not show yourself and deal with them in person?

You think me fool enough to be lured into a trap?

Swallow your cowardice, come out here and I'll show you who the mortal is!

Felandria readies herself for a fight, completely unaware of how the curse is affecting the rest of her party, and how they are currently perceiving her.

[Lord Raziere]

[Orc Story][Rural Town]

Yes, Dale definitely thinks the orcs stupid. "The grocery store fella is the only trader we have in this town. If there is a person willing to buy your pelts, it's him. Do you even know how far away the next town is? So far away we don't even have landlines or an asphalt road connecting us to them." It's only about 30 kilometers, a long day's march. And the road, although unpaved, is in very good condition. But Dale hopes that orcs don't know this. "If our store isn't good enough for you fellas, take your pelts and leave us." He ends his sentence with a loud belch, an effect of the can of beer he had guzzled down a few minutes ago.
What if those Ensara's intention of showing up here wasn't even trade in the first place? Maybe this was some poorly thought out scouting plan to see if the town was a worthwhile raid target? Hopefully the other 6 members of the "town guard" were more attentive in their lookout duties than Dale had been.

[Orc Story][Rural Town]
".....Fine we'll trade at this store. Perhaps I was being....unfair. The primary thing we really need is just food."
She says with caution. The town was honestly not worth taking. It simply wasn't a viable option going forward, I mean, it served no strategical importance, it wasn't all that important from a resource perspective, and from a psychological/sociological/political perspective it would make her enemies more likely to attack her if she tried. It simply wasn't worth it to attack a random town that wasn't important to anyone, and would look like a stereotypical orc raid. A successful conqueror and leader did not make such moves. HALO and GLOG would be after her at the very least, and while she didn't believe in their black and white morality, it was useful to make them think that she adhered to it. while at the same time hopefully keeping AMEN from trying to induct them into the Twirly Mustache Club.

Ensara was mostly just hoping to get things that they could plant. With hunting they can ration out the meat a little longer until they find the right place to start setting up crops and living. Then it was a simple matter of setting up defenses and sustainable food sources. It was only phase one of her plan, but it was best to start somewhere. And for that, she needed crops. They follow him there, but not without caution or wariness.

[Cola]

[Orc Story][Rural Town]

Dale slides his whole shotgun into his vest pocket, where it just disappears. While leading Ensara and her entourage to the grocery store, about 400 meters down the road, he gives the shop owner a heads-up call in the local code language.
"Ay buddy, orc chief showed up at mah lawn an she wanna trade dem critter pelts fo sum food. Git dem boys ready, buddy." That last sentence was actually an order. Hopefully the shop owner still knew what it was supposed to mean.
When Ensara and Dale arrive at the store, the owner is already standing on the street, expecting them. And not just him. Loitering at the building's corner are the local policewoman and a 3 meters tall human man with the physique of a strongman champion. Just now arriving on foot are a very unintelligent looking guy with an actual large machine gun and several ammo belts and a tiny halfling woman with a cheap survival knife. Every single one of them gives Ensara and her hunters a disdainful look.

In theory, those guys and girls were supposed to be the intimidating, superior town guard. In practice, their appearance was pretty underwhelming compared to what Dale had imagined.

"You damn greenskins won't get much for those lice-ridden rags." the shop owner immediately yells in full racist mode.
The policewoman gives him a stern look. We've talked about this.

[Morty]

[Ruins]

Hm, interesting. Those machines seem to be still working, but... Fayyaad looks for some sort of terminal or status report. He needs to know if the power is still running to figure out how much time he has.

[Nova_Eclipse]

[Ruins]

Fayyaad won't find a terminal among the rooms, but he will spot something that might be one further down the wide hall, past the second robot's patrol route, in what he can see of the massive room beyond. It should be easy to time the robot's patrol and get past it in order to reach the terminal.

[Shadowcaller]

Steve's eyes finally recover from the blast. He feels the hand touch him, but he swings his shield as he stands up to face whatever touched him around where another creature his height's abdomen would be. He staggers as he atands, obviously having difficulty. He moves his shield to his chest and prays "Great Mender, please heal my wounds, which are to great for me to bear" (Cure Serious Wounds). A light goes out from his palm as an intense amount of healing power goes to it. If it heals the fireball wounds, he resumes his fighting stance.

[Temple Assault]

Seems Wenomir has a choice. Either separate from the group, or let the enemy pelt them with fireballs with impunity. He can't actually see the fireball-thrower. So using his knives might accomplish a whole lot of nothing. There's little else to do but head in that direction and hope the rest of the team can handle themselves. Wenomir gathers his focus for a moment, then takes of at a speed that seems to leave him barely touch the ground as he runs.

[Temple Assault]

The ranger throws down two shield generators creating a dome around him and anyone within about three feet of him. He then picks up his bow and now being able to see everything, including the effects of the curse and the figures coming towards him that Steve is fighting, shouts, "Steve, do you have any idea what these demons are?" He may not get a reply because of the silencing effect though.

Temple Assault

Felandria is likely unaffected by the curse, due to her level of spell resistance, but she does hear the taunting voice from the north.

She chuckles a little at being called a mortal, but bristles at the threats.

Well, then, if that is true, why not show yourself and deal with them in person?

You think me fool enough to be lured into a trap?

Swallow your cowardice, come out here and I'll show you who the mortal is!

Felandria readies herself for a fight, completely unaware of how the curse is affecting the rest of her party, and how they are currently perceiving her.

[Temple Assault]

There is nothing stopping Steve from healing his wounds, but the fog beings are going to attempt to grab him when he does that, there are about a dozen of them and they're swarming Steve now as Luvon just shielded himself, coming in come every direction. Luvon is left alone, they fog creatures avoiding him now that he is shielded.
Felandria is met by a familiar-looking black figure raising up in the fog. She might realize that the figure could have been her own shadow, staring back at her in silence.

Wenomir soon spots three yellow lights that manages to shine even through the thick fog. Once they have appeared, they start moving in three different directions, one moving right towards him, while one goes to the left, and the last one to the right. How confusing.

[Degenburg Castle]

Dena follows along, despite half-expecting some kind of trap. Once they entered the library, she takes a quick look around in case there were any sort of traps here.
Meanwhile, outside the castle, Violet is keeping a track on the soldiers movements from a distance. In case they started to move around in a peculiar fashion, such as gathering for a fight, the golem-drone would warn Dena.
"Nearly nothing, I'm afraid. I just know that Ilpohlin and Nadas are a part of it." Dena admits. "My own clan isn't nearly as illustrious."

[Lord Raziere]

[Orc Story][Rural Town]
They immediately drop the pelts, and draw their weapons: Ensara her battle axe, while the other five of them bring bows and arrows at the ready. The furs would be useless if they didn't live long to use them. they did not attack though.
"Sigh.....I guess it was too good to hope for.... Hunters! If I die here, my last orders to everyone are to run as away and find vegetables! Find a home! Find a place to settle! Plant them!"
They nod in understanding. If she couldn't make her plans come to fruition she could at least set the rest of Tribe on the right path.
"But. It doesn't have to end that way. No one has to die for no reason. I'm no stranger to battle, valor or danger, but I won't do it without a point. Just give us food we can plant, and we will be on our way."
The archers mostly focus their aim on the machine gun guy, their bows going tight. They know that of all these people, that one was the most dangerous by far. They would have to take him out first if it came to a fight- a guy with a gun like that could be dangerous to both friend and ally.