3.5 Dregoth Ascending IC

[paradox26]

The refugee shrugs. "Got to the city if you really want. It is your funeral. Just avoid the southern gate. That is where the main army is, as well as the Dragon. Going there is certain death," the female bard says.

As the refugees march past as fast as they can manage, the party continues onwards. As you get to the city, the walls loom above you. You can see some sort of activity to the southern side of the city. From what you have been told, there are three entrances to the city. There is the southern gate, which you were warned to avoid, then there are the eastern gate and the northwestern gate. From the direction you approach, it is roughly an equal distance between these two, and the road splits and heads towards both. There are slums around the outside of all of the gates, much like in most of the cities.

[violet42]

Aramil slips ahead of the group, wrapping the dusty vestments tight so that he can barely be seen. “I will go ahead stealthily into the slums, and see if perhaps something will prevent our entrance. That is, if no one has objections.”

[Rex500]

"Hmm... no objections on my end, Aramil! So long as you come back safely." the half-giant smiles.

"From which gate should we enter?" he asks his wiser companions. "The southern appears to be more trouble than its worth." he continues. Although a part of Kronus wishes to face the enemy army directly, it must take a backseat to strategy and tactics at the moment.

[paradox26]

Aramil heads stealthily into the slums surrounding the walls at the north-western gate. Although it is absolutely deserted there, it is possible to hear yells and screams coming from within the walls, since the city is not huge and the walls seem to be making the high pitched noises echo enough that they can be heard from outside. Aramil finds that the buildings, ramshackle as they are, are also basically all intact. There doesn't appear to be any sign of an enemy here, nor anything blocking the way to the gates.

[Daishain]

Brandon proceeds with the rest, alert to any signs of trouble. His psicrystal follows along from above, getting an overhead look at the surroundings.

Spoiler: OOC

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Psicrystal's 500 feet up and keeping pace. It's spot check (1d20+6)[7]
Brandon's spot check (1d20+7)[12]

[paradox26]

Brandon doesn't really spot anything special. Abandoned houses, and no people outside the city walls. The psicrystal can't see anything since it is hovering high enough that the wall of smoke is blocking its vision.

[violet42]

Aramil listens, trying to glean information from the yells inside the walls. Are they sparse, or does it sound like a fight? Are the voices all human?

Spoiler: OOC

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Listen check: (1d20+11)[20]

[paradox26]

The yells seem to be coming from the middle of the city, with more humanoid yells coming from the north, and the screeches of what you can only assume must be the dray coming more from the south, along with the occasional humanoid cries. But from outside the walls, it is hard to get a real idea of where exactly things are coming from.

[violet42]

“Interesting,” he notes, and sneaks back to the group and relays this information in detail.

[Daishain]

Brandon winces, and has the psicrystal drop down lower, at least to the point where it can see past the smoke once more.

Otherwise he continues with the others towards the gate.

[paradox26]

The city-state of Raam is in a state of pandemonium that rivals that in Tyr following the death of King Kalak of Tyr twelve years past. The repugnant stench of sewage in the streets and the vermin crawling everywhere remind you of the poor health conditions most Raamites must endure every day. Here and there citizens rush blindly from building to building, many doing their best to hide from the advancing army threatening from the southern gate. While many Raamites have decided to take their chances in the desert, a small group of men are frantically herding others into the secure walls of a northern district of the city where it appears they wish to make their last stand. To the south you hear frequent screams of terror, see sporadic flashes of magical energy, and hear inhuman cries of triumph from the enemy.

As you reach the gate, you see a tired middle-aged man wearing filthy and bloodstained rags hauls a corpse on his back towards the gate. With a chronic cough he dismisses the beckons of one of the men telling citizens to head north to the Noble District. The man calling out to him, a battle-scarred veteran mercenary, if you read his stance and many scars right, sheathes his bone sword as he sees you and signals peaceful intentions. “It must have been a fierce pack of tembo that chased you into Raam on this day, strangers,” the mercenary rasps and grins, “for our city has naught but death to offer weary travelers. I suggest you turn back. You will have a better chance in the wastes than to face the enemy that has descended upon our city. The tales of the Dragon’s death were false – the beast has returned to claim its levy by force! Leave while you can, strangers. Raam is doomed.”

[Rex500]

"So we have been told, quite a few times by now." answer Kronus simply. No need to add more panic to the situation.

[Warlawk]

J'Tora steps forward with a grin, reaching out to clasp forearms with the merc. "We've got friends in the city that we need to look in on, but we may be able to help a bit while we look for them. That chaos to the south is expected, what's all the hubub to the north?"

[paradox26]

“Word has it the merchant house of M’ke knew of the approaching army for days before the Dragon’s forces appeared at the Southern gate,” relates the Raamite, “and did nothing but bicker with the nobles until it was too late. The army paused outside the gate for some time. For what, I’m not certain, but it gave Leviath the Calm a chance to rally a force of men and women to repel the assault, though it was doomed from the start. Those who either fled or survived the first attack say the opposing horde of strange creatures numbered over two thousand, and the paltry few defenders stood no chance. And to top it off, those sons of kanks nobles and merchants pulled their considerable forces to the Noble District and sealed the gates. Were it not for Leviath breaking down the gates, we would have all had to flee into the desert."

“When the first wave was over, the enemy stood victorious over the ruins of the Southern Gate, and it was then the Dragon appeared. We had all been told the Dragon was killed two years ago by rebels from Tyr, and none of us expected to ever see the beast again. If the morale of Raam wasn’t already broken by the invasion, it was shattered at the sight of the Dragon descending on the city.”

“The nobles stepped forward and sent an emissary to see to the creature’s demands, which was what Abalach-Re used to do for the levy. The outlying forces attacked the man beneath his white flag, and dragged his bleeding body before the Dragon. As the man pleaded for his life, the monster drained the lifeforce from his body, reducing it to nothing more than ash.

“Lastly,” the mercenary concludes, “before many of us made our way toward the Noble District we witnessed a group of several hundred people, of a mixture of races, issue forth from a building thought to be unoccupied. They presented themselves to the Dragon, praised him as their ‘savior,’ and were then sent to the same horrid death as the noble’s emissary. This seems to be the fate of nearly all who face the enemy, as they are concerned more with capturing people and presenting them to the Dragon for their lifeforce. With what’s left of Leviath’s force pulling back to the Noble’s District, those left behind have hidden in buildings from the patrols that now roam the southern quarter. One thing is certain: Raam is never going to be the same again.”

“Now that a large number are safe for the time being behind the walls of the selfish nobles, many of those from Leviath’s force are going back into the southern city sections to try and rescue those who may be trapped there, and maybe kill a few of those hideous creatures for what they did to our city. Enemy patrols have broken away from the main force still poised at the front gate, and may be easier to defeat with quick strikes and ambushes in dark alleyways. Since you’re still here and not half way to Urik or Tyr, are you with us?”

[Daishain]

"We need to get moving before things get even more difficult. Where would your friend most likely be?"

[paradox26]

The man gestures with one hand. "Leviath the Calm is to the north, in the Noble District. We have set up a barricade there, to protect as many as possible. Go in that direction, and find him there," he said.

[violet42]

Aramil looks at the mercenary intensely, trying to ascertain his motives, but eventually nods and agrees with Brandon. “Let us go then,” he says almost mechanically.

Spoiler: OOC

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Sense Motive Check: (1d20+3)[14]

[Spiritus]

"Indeed," Calopodius says. "We have a goal and we have a location. Best be about it."

[paradox26]

As you head for the gates to the Noble Quarter, you find that the gates have been broken down. It appears that they have been physically destroyed, rather than broken by magic, as you heard the Southern Gate to the city had been.

The Noble District resembles a walled sub-city designed to keep others out. Unlike the rest of the city, this area does not reek of sewage and appears less plagued by
vermin. “The first part of the battle is over, my friends,” states Leviath, “and we have lost much. The creature that appears to be the Dragon has killed thousands, and more are dying at its claws as we speak. Were not the Dragon reported dead, one would think the levy had returned to Raam. Regardless of what has begun, it is far from over, and many are still trapped in the southern half of the city. My scouts have reported that the enemy creatures, whom we think call themselves ‘dray’, have conquered a large portion of the southern city and are searching for hidden citizens still trapped there. Another group is reported to be engaged with a large number of the Night Runners in the heart of the Tradesmen District, and it appears to be the largest single battle still going on.”

“In just a few moments,” the half-giant concludes, “a group of us are going back in to try and rescue those still trapped in the southern parts of the city, before they’re found by the dray. The Dragon’s main force is now scattered throughout the area searching for hidden victims, small forces of up to a dozen dray have fanned throughout the streets and alleyways. We could not stand up to their full force, but these smaller groups are another matter. We would welcome your help. Are you with us?”

[violet42]

“Obviously we are not hospitable to these dray, but what reward can we expect if we do choose to ally with you? Our talents seem to be in high demand.”

Spoiler: OOC

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Bluff check: (1d20+5)[10]

[Daishain]

Brandon glances towards Aramil annoyed. He doesn't say anything aloud, but Aramil can hear a slightly distorted version of his voice in his head. "Are you certain this is the time to be haggling? We stand a considerably better chance of achieving our objectives by working with them for now than just wandering about on our own, that alone is worthwhile. Besides, chances are that they won't be able to pay us when this is done regardless of what is promised."

Spoiler: OOC

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Telepathic speech via psicrystal. Technically I think the crystal would be talking, repeating what Brandon wanted to say, but this makes more thematic sense I think.

[Warlawk]

J'Tora settles his shield more firmly on his arm, adjusting the straps and positioning until it sits just right. "Unless one of my companions has reason we should go another route I am happy to go where you think is best friend. While I agree that saving those who may be trapped to the south is important, a flanking force may be able to turn the momentum of the battle these 'Night Runners' are waging. Should they lose and the Dray circle back to the south that could be catastrophic for both the inhabitants and any forces trying to rescue them. Since you know more about the disposition of the city I would defer to your judgement on where our talents would be best applied."

He glances at Aramil with a look of faint disapproval, though not surprise. "For myself I would not require anything more than a place in your barracks to recover and the services of your medic just as any other soldier would. Compensation can be negotiated individually if needed, but I fear our time would be better spent helping our hosts with pest removal.

[violet42]

Slightly spooked by the sudden presence of Brandon’s thoughts, Aramil drops the notion of payment for the moment. “Yes, yes. We must help turn back the Night Runners and stop the Dray advance first, haggling may come later if we’re not all dead.”

[Spiritus]

Calopodius nods to J'Tora. "Agreed. We can dicker over bits later, but an atrocity is happening now. Besides" he turns to Aramil and grins, "Just think of how much stronger our negotiating position will be after they realize how much they need us!"

[Rex500]

Kronus grins at Aramil's question, but doesn't.comment. For now, he appears content just following the others.

[violet42]

Mollified by Calopodius’ answer, Aramil smiles and nods his head decisively. “Shall we set off, then?”

[paradox26]

Leviath says, "You appear to be more skilled than my own troops, so you can decide where to go, and I will work my patrols around your actions. The elven Night Runners seem to need help, but they didn't help with the defence of the city until they were attacked, so I would prefer to help the trapped members of the public than those opportunists. But it is up to you. Just don't go out of the Southern gate, or you will run into the Dragon and his lieutenants. You will stand no chance against them, so stick to the inside of the city."

"So, which direction do you want to go? The city has several districts. The Palace District is to the East of the Noble District, but that seems to be blocked somehow, so I am not sure if you can get in there. The Templar District is to the East of the city, with the Slave District to the south of that. To the west of the city is the Weavers District, with an abandoned district south of that, alongside the Elven Quarter. The Merchant District is to the South of here, with the Tradesmens District just past that, in the middle of the city."

"To the very south of the city is the Living Quarters District to the west, and in the central southern part of the city is the Artisans Quarter. The Slave District is to the east of there. So that is the general layout of the city. You can go where you want, and I will work my patrols around you."

[Rex500]

"I think...!" Kronus smiles "that the trapped people need our help more than soldiers, like you said, Leviath." the half-giant stretches his neck a little.

"Artisans quarter. That is my vote."

[Daishain]

Brandon shrugs, "That seems to be a reasonable path to me, we can likely get a decent sense of what else is going on in that quarter and adjust as necessary."

[Spiritus]

I say we go to the Night Runners first. Calopodius intones. As callous as it may seem, I believe that freeing up another force to contribute to the defence will save more lives than simply aiding private citizens. He turns to Levath. Could your men aid those trapped while we help the elves?