Welcome to the Force- IC

[Grimlocked]

As you step foot into Ro, there is no fanfare.

There is no excited host.

There is no welcome sign.

Instead, the village before you sits quiet, with only a pair of villagers wandering in the distance. Neither seem to notice the newly arrived party however, as they seem to be walking aimlessly in the beautiful warm sun. The town stretches a short distance with a string of small shacks making up a majority of the buildings. The shacks look to barely held together, with crooked wooden slats and thatched roofs. There are two larger buildings, one is simply marked "Bar" and the other marked "Morgana's General Goods". Just beyond the village, the beautiful snow-covered Mons Mountains stand tall.

[Kaptin Keen]

Well there's nothing to steal in this place, ponders Rakash, disappointed, and even if there was, there'd be nothing to spend it on.

Do you think this is one of those cases where our first forced labor is to build our own guard house? He asks the others.

[Ostara]

Mabel took a deep breath, enjoying the crisp air of a fine summer day, and shifted the weight of her basket from one arm to the other, heavy with her spare books and the minutiae of her things. Her Bat was tucked inside of it, currently asleep. Ro seemed a charming little town to her- and similar to home, if even smaller and less well-built. To Mabel, it was perfect.

"If it is we'll just have to do our best. Maybe they'll put us in the upstairs of one of the larger houses?"

[Kaptin Keen]

Labor camp slash city guard - why am I not surprised. I suppose we could go ask at the tavern, and maybe stea .. I mean purchase .. a nice refreshing mug of ale to wash down the road dust.

Rakash sets off for the building marked Bar, hoping to find the common room bustling with goodfolk with full purses and low attention spans.

[Greater Cantrip]

"Don't be silly. There is already a guard house - it's just closer to the mountains. It has such a pretty view!"

Odette practically bounces with excitement. She totally derails Rakash's plans to hit up the bar by taking him by the hand and pointing the entire group towards the guard house first thing. "Come on! I'll introduce you to uncle Eldred. You're going to love him!"

Fido trots along behind her, tongue lolling and a doggy grin on his maw. He's pulling a little cart, but it only has a few odds and ends in it - like the tent Odette has been sleeping in on the road - so he seems entirely unbothered by the weight.

[Kaptin Keen]

But .. but ... objects Rakash, feet working futilely at the ground as the foul giant drags him along.

[Deadguy]

Vesta Pyralis
Discordant Daughter

"First order is to bring our stuff to the guard house. Even if Eldred is probably at the bar." Her tone held a hint of bitterness.

"It's best to go in there with only the clothes on your back and blade at your hip... Trust me" She remembered plenty of brawls spilling out into the street. Despite the roughness, most of them had been good-natured wrestling matches between locals. It always seemed to be the travelers that took offense and pulled a weapon of some sort. Of course it was easy for Eldred to step in then, since he was either already at the bar, or in the middle of the scuffle himself. She smirked at the thought of her traveling companions getting into a bar fight.

Spoiler: OOC

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[Kaptin Keen]

I don't really have any stuff, mutters Rakash - not really loud enough to be easily heard, nor quiet enough to be undetectable. But by the looks of it, it's not far off the mark: Rakash's total belongings amount to a cloak, a suit of leather armor, a sling, a dagger and a pair of boots - plus some rags and tatters. And if you look closely enough, you realise most of the leather items are made from the same piece of leather.

Spoiler: In case anyone cares =)

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All of Rakash's gear is hand-made from a nobleman's cloak he once found - when the original cloak was made into boots, armor, wrapping for the dagger handle (which is actually the point of a broken old spear) and a sling, there was just enough left over for a new, goblin-sized cloak.

[Grimlocked]

As you walk through the doorway of the guard house, you find yourselves in what is little more than a cabin. The guard house is a single room with a small bathhouse behind it. The room is about twenty feet by twenty feet, with most of the space being taking up by bunks and random messes of clutter. Various articles of clothing are scatted across the room and countless bowls litter the floor. There's something long and dark on the far wall, but you cannot seem to make out what it is.

Then it hits you. That horrific smell. Your nostrils burn with a pungent musty smell.

On the far side of the room, a few bunks clutter along the wall. On one of the bunks, a stocky man slowly stirs as the sun hits his face through the doorway. He wears a rusted out breastplate and stockings. Little else. He lets out a muffled groan as he cranes his neck to view the intruders.

"Mmf... what... are you?"

As his eyes make out the figures before him, Eldred lets out a groan. "No... please sweet gods no. Don't tell me that you are the new recruits?"

[Kaptin Keen]

Doomed, thinks Rakash to himself, we're all doomed ...

Recruits? No, noo, he laughs desperately, we were just looking for the ... local constabulary to ... report a bar fight .. um, at the, um, bar.

Rakash looks hopefully towards the other members of their little troupe, his eyes signalling 'sweet dark powers below, can we just make a run for it?'

[Ostara]

"They didn't let me keep a blade after training...do I have to buy one to get in?"Mabel asks in a worried tone to Vesta's suggestion for Ro bar-hopping(though really, it's more like bar-stepping, since there seemed to be only one.) Luckily that discussion is tabled, and despite her earnest words she's glad she wouldn't have to actually build a guard house.

Although once they enter and that stench hits them she's more than a little willing to pick up a hammer. She covers her nose with a fold of her guard uniform, coughing as her eyes sting. She waves a hand, and the nearest window or door to the outside pries itself open.

She does her best to make a proper salute with one hand covering her face.

"Um...reporting for duty?"

Spoiler: OOC

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Gonna use open/close to help air our the cabin without having to touch any of the windows/doors yet :P

[Greater Cantrip]

"Yeah, Uncle Eldred, it's us." Odette announces.

Then she asks How long has it been since you've had a bath? - A question which would be entirely out of line for a new recruit addressing their superior officer, but which fits a concerned young niece talking to her favorite uncle.

[ngilop]

Tarik stands there mouth agape, this is nothing at all like the guardhouse his father was stationed at in Extravaga, and a guard would have been whipped if they looked.. let alone smelt like the man in front of him. He looks to the goblin whos slumped posture says everything one needs to without words, Tarik nods in agreement with the unspoken message.

Tarik manages to straiten himself and stand at attention putting his jaw back in the normal position, not trusting himself to say anything for fear it would be insubordination.

[Grimlocked]

Eldred rubs his eyes as a loud groan escapes his mouth. His gaze falls to the floor as he mutters with a gravelly deep voice.

"I can't believe they sent you, Odette! How did you even pass the tests?" Eldred asks as he rolls his eyes and sighs. Eldred sits up, covering himself in a raggedy red blanket that looks like it may be more itchy than comfy. His sandy blonde hair is stringy and clumpy on his head, looking like it may be glued together in some parts. He looks over the rest of the recruits, but he stops and squints at the sight of Rakash.

"What even is that thing?" Eldred asks, pointing at Rakash. "Is that one of your pets?"

Noises rise in volume outside. It starts as a distant yell, but it grows in volume quickly as it is joined by other yells and shouts. It has the roar of battle, or the chants before a fight breaks out in the schoolyard. Eldred lets out a painful groan and looks to you. "You want to start guarding? Go deal with the drunks!"

[Greater Cantrip]

Odette balls her fists and presses her lips into a thin line.

This isn't over she promises Eldred. Before she can go see what is happening outside she needs to, at the very least, get Fido out of his harness. She tries to do that as quickly as she can.

[Kaptin Keen]

Does it strike you as ironic at all that you're an unwashed, low-brow, tubby human asking a goblin to do his job for him - yet you're the one trying to be condescending? Snarls Rakash, don't worry, we'll settle this little dispute right quick. Right?

He turns to the others, obviously waiting for them to take the lead - even when angry, caution remains the better part of valor.

He also does what all goblins do, but should learn not to: Smile. Showing far too many sharp, pointy teeth for human comfort, in a maw seemingly too wide for his head.

[Grimlocked]

"Whatever," Eldred says as he waves off Rakash. He has a coughing fit before laying back down. He rolls over, turning his back to the party.

As you step outside, you are hit with a breath of fresh air as the warm sun hits your face again. As your eyes and nose adjust to the outdoors again, you see a crowd has formed just outside the bar. By rough estimate, it appears that there could be twenty or thirty people crowded with more checking out the scene from a distance. The crowd chants and hollers, taunting the individuals in the center. Through the maze of people, you can see that two individuals have already begun trading blows. They stagger around each other like boxers, throwing out the occasional punch.

[Deadguy]

Vesta Pyralis
Discordant Daughter

"Don't worry about the blade for now, Mabes. We'll get you a dagger when we're settled." She had a soft spot for the wizard, glad to have made her acquaintance at the academy to help both Odette and her study for exams. In return Vesta had taken her under the wing like she had with Odette during their youth.

Vesta nearly growled like Fido might if approached by a stranger as Eldred made his presence known and subsequently refused to do his job. "The more things change, the more they stay the same."

She stomped outside and marched toward the crowd. Already clad in her armor, she drew the longsword at her hip. "So help me, if it's him..." Looking down toward the slinking goblin, she her voice was stern. "Don't stab anybody unless they stab first... or they really deserve it." She added the second stipulation to cover the fact that she had a deep seated desire to do some stabbing of her own if a certain person was the one brawling.

Vesta gave a sharp whistle and bumped the nearest person with her shield. "Make a hole, clear the way!"

Spoiler: OOC

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Intimidate vs crowd: (1d20+5)[12]
Swift Action: assume Punishing Stance

[Greater Cantrip]

Despite every attempt to hurry, Odette is one of the last ones out the door. Freed of his burden Fido gives a happy bark and follows along after her, both of them eager to see what Vesta is going to do.

[Kaptin Keen]

Rakash slinks along behind the rest, using his natural advantage of being small and sneaky to remain out of sight - not exactly invisible, but maybe closer to beneath notice.

Rakash is naturally indisposed to violence, but he's also strangely reluctant to abandon his travelling companions. He readies his sling while falling into the background, hoping to keep his ... loose allies' backs safe.

Spoiler: Stuff

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The original Rakash had a deal with the GM to be allowed to attack for sneak attack damage, non-lethal, by loading his sling with lumps of clay. I'm not sure whether it's to be considered OP to be able to knock enemies out rather than kill them - but if it's ok with Grimlocked, I'd like that option =)

Otherwise I'll be perfectly fine without it.

[Grimlocked]

"Make a hole, clear the way!"

The uproar dies down abruptly as all eyes turn to Vesta. They begin to shuffle and step over each other as they rush to get out of Vesta's way. Some point, and others cower, but all are cautious as Vesta approaches. A few quiet apologies come out, but little else is said or heard.

As the crowd clears from them, the brawlers drop their fists and turn to look at Vesta. One, a Dwarf, steps forward. A ball of thick, curly, black hair sits where his head should be. Somewhere in that messy ball of hair, a pair of deep blue eyes peer through. His tanned fists curl up tight at his sides, and he stands before Vesta.

"Oi! Who do ya think ya are?! Messin' with me fight, ya?"

[Ostara]

It takes Mabel a minute or two longer to get outside as well-partly because she let everyone else go first, and partly because she had to hunt for a place to drop her basket and hurry back out. She makes it outside just in time to see Vesta stalking into the crowd imperiously.

Fearlessly(though a little breathlessly-Vesta has such a long stride compared to her!), she steps close into Vesta's wake. Her bat hangs from the edge of her wide-brimmed magicians hat, peering at the drunk combatants through tiny black eyes far more intelligent than they should be.

"I didn't know fights could be owned Vesta." She stage-whispers as the man speaks.

[ngilop]

Tarik steps out in front of Vesta interposing himself between her and the dwarf. He shakes his head and answer's Mabel's question. "Indeed, they cannot. Especially on our watch. Calm down, take a few deep breaths and tell me what the issue here be Sir dwarf."

[Grimlocked]

The Dwarf looks Tarik over, examining him closely. In the ball of hair, you can see his blue eyes scanning the party. He finally lets out a sigh and his shoulders lower just a touch.

"Aye, I s'pose you all did not come to cause trouble. We have been strugglin' lately here in Ro. You could say things have gotten... weird. Ever since those varmints have been showing up, nothing's been normal."

The crowd behind him mumbles in agreement, offering several nods and words of confirmation.

Spoiler: OOC

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Everyone roll a spot check

[Ostara]

"Varmints?"

Mabel makes sure to grab the tiny bat hanging from her hat and hold him between her hands protectively.

[Grimlocked]

The Dwarf nods. "Yes, there be varmints in this town. Strange ones too! Furry little beasts with far too many legs. Teeth like needles!"

"Tell them about the voices Dumpy!" A voice calls from the crowd.

"Aye, there be... voices. They speak to us in our minds," Dumpy says as he points a finger to his head. "They control us. Someone tried to stop these little varmints once. He's... very ill now. He may be dead now."

Dumpy and the rest of the villagers go quiet. A gentle breeze rustles through the village, offering up some of the only noise you can hear.

"If you be the guards, I s'pose you have to help us... aye?"

[Kaptin Keen]

From behind the legs of someone larger and more easily targetable, Rakash will pipe in:

That sounds like the kind of mess a group of responsible adults would solve on their own - rather than dump it in the lab of a group of strangers who were press ganged into service and sent across the land to serve under a fat, speciest guard captain.

Unless, of course, there were some sizeable reward involved. Then we'd certainly hear you out.

[Greater Cantrip]

Does Eldred know about these 'vermin'? Odette asks, sweetly.

[ngilop]

"Multi-legged furry creatures than can control your thoughts?" Tarik thinks for a moment before giving a judgemental glare to the goblin "That is what guards are supposed to have 'dumped' on them protect the citizenry under their watch. Not for any reward.. that is merc talk.. and you can only trust a merc for as long as you pay them, somebody else has more gold, or they die"



SPOT: (1d20+2)[19]

[Kaptin Keen]

In my experience, mutters Rakash, you cannot trust the guard no matter how much you pay them.