Homebrew group 1

[Solophoenix]

Solo

"Explain yourself now, or we're not going quietly" Solo yells at the man.

[Alebeard_Thunderax]

The man sighs and crosses his arms, briefly looking down as the dog flickers out of existence.

Please, be reasonable. I have the entire weight of the city guard behind me. If the constable wished you to be harmed, I could have you harmed.

He then draws a fine looking longsword from his hip.

Now, will you come quietly?

[Snowfall]

Laryth

Lowering his sword, Laryth replies, almost cordially, "Well sir, courtesy dictates an introduction. I am Laryth Sylvanus, Cleric of Corellon Larethian, and these are my friends. I agree with you, you certainly seem to have the best of us. Perhaps you could give us your name, as well as the additional courtesy of waiting a few moments while we get dressed. I believe our clothes have finished drying and we would be better suited for journeying."

[obliged_salmon]

Fence

Fence remains quiet and hidden, but puts his crossbow away and quickly hides his dagger as he sees the probably of combat dwindling, and the probably of survival increasing.

[Sampi]

Andor

Andor undraws the bow, but remains wary, ready to draw and loose in an instant.

"So what does the city guard want with us? We've committed no crime to my knowledge."

[Alebeard_Thunderax]

The man steps into the room, sheathes his sword and draws forth a iron bound leather scroll. He begins reading off in an official manner.

For the crime of treason, these following individuals are to be arrested and punished to the full extent of the law: Andor Havaral, Solo Phoenix, Eranti Pendoch, Laryth Sylvanus. Signed by, in service of his Lordship Duke Leo, Constable Dongle.

He replaces the scroll in the case at his side and once again addresses the party directly.

I simply must carry out the will of the constable, resisting will only strengthen the claims of treason. The Duke's courts are fair, and rely upon higher guidance for truth. If you feel you are wrongfully accused, come peacefully, and this shall soon be resolved. In all honesty, nothing would please me more, I would hate to see honest men put to death.

[Sampi]

Andor

Andor stays silent, but glances at Laryth, as if asking something. He does not lower his guard.
We seem to be outmatched.

[Snowfall]

Laryth

"Well now, that is very strange, especially since it was a messenger from the Duke himself who brought us here, with the Duke's request for us to help his Excellency with a small task." Laryth pauses to describe the messenger and give his name, "So perhaps you can understand our confusion around why the Duke's constable would send an order to arrest us in the middle of a bath, just as we getting ready to go see his Excellency!"

"Your proclamation states no crime for our supposed treason, but I do know it is a crime for us not to answer the summons of the Duke, for us not to present ourselves before his Excellency. Would you ask us to commit such a crime because of a claim that we committed another, especially, as we know is likely, if that claim is shown to be utterly false?"

[Alebeard_Thunderax]

The man's countenance suddenly harshens, and he once again draws his blade. He points the tip in the direction of Layrth's breast. He speaks softly, but his voice carries great scorn and malice.

At the end of this day, it matters not where my blade has been. Whether in its' sheathe, or a man's breast, it will end the day in the same place. I will sit by my fire, and polish it as my wife tells me of all the mischief my son has caused. The constable has deemed you to be traitors. I have been ordered to escort you to him. I will bandy words with you no further. Do I make my self clear?

He remains steady, but his posture shows the steely grace of a trained swordsman. You begin to wonder if he even would need to call upon his guards to aid him.

[Sampi]

Andor

With the guard's hostile action of drawing the blade, Andor has once again drawn his bow.

"So the constable has an order of arrest for treason for us the minute we walk into town while the duke invites us in. Sounds like we're involved ourselves unwittingly in human politics. I find it hard to believe that we'll be granted a fair trial."

[obliged_salmon]

Fence

Fence cries out before the guard can react, Wait a minute! and steps out of the shadows with his arms in the air. Even if we're being captured under someone else's orders, I just can't see how a fight with the city guard is our best option. I say we go where this nice fellow leads and get a better perspective. He smiles ingratiatingly at the guardsman.

[Sampi]

Andor

Andor lowers his bow and replaces the arrow in its quiver.

"Very well, then - if you think it best. I will now get dressed to see your constable in a more presentable form.

He takes the pile of clothes and starts dressing.

[Solophoenix]

Solo

"It's not as if we can't just escape later, if need be" Solo remarks as he too goes to the drying rack and begins dressing.

[Snowfall]

Laryth

Laryth nods at the man's words, "Yes Sir swordsman, you have made who you are and what you will do clear enough. I understand now that an introduction or an explanation would be irrelevant, this is not your conversation to be had."

Laryth turns away from the guards and begins to don his clothes. After pulling on his armor and shouldering his bow and pack, he holds out his sword and quiver to the guards, "I assume you will be needing these. Please take care of them, they have been blessed by the Church of the Seldarine."

[Alebeard_Thunderax]

The man relaxes once again and gestures to the guards. They take your weapons and wait for you to finish dressing. After you are done, manacles and hoods are brought forth. The man presents the hoods and speaks once again.

For your own safety, I assure you. It would be better to bear an indignaty anonymously, than to suffer the recriminations of the townsfolk.

[Sampi]

Andor

"The hoods I can understand but manacles for our safety? Well, I don't see that we have much of a choice in the matter."

Andor accepts and dons the hood, then presents his hands to the guard with the manacles.

[Solophoenix]

Solo

"I too understand the importance of anonymity, but I wear the manacles under protest"

Solo dons a hood and submits to the manacles.

[Snowfall]

Laryth goes along with his companions.

[Alebeard_Thunderax]

After being chained and hooded, you are lead through the city. You are pulled along rather roughly, but the many strong hands that guide you do not allow you to fall, and as such you make great haste through the city streets.

The hoods are loose enough to allow for easy breathing, but are weighted at the bottom, so you can not wriggle out a peephole. However, you can tell that you are first lead down several cobbled roads. At one point you are certain there is a body of water in the vicinity, but after some minutes you return to the inner city.

A well-greased portculis can be heard rising in front and falling behind you. What sounds like large double doors also allow your passage, and you are lead indoors. Once inside you are lead down a maze of corridors and up a set of spiral stairs. Finally, the hoods and manacles are removed and you find yourselves in a small office.

A man sits at a desk in front of you, with a wave the breastplated man and the two guards are dismissed. The man at the desk is of middling age, with slightly graying hair and a rather noble aire about him. He sits shuffling papers and furiously inking at parchments. The room is bare except for two large bookshelves and a small cot in the corner.

Without looking up from his papers, the man produced a document and places it on the front of his desk, and motions for the party to come forward.

Names and occupations here if you will.

[Sampi]

Andor

Andor picks up the document and reads what it says. While approaching the desk, he addresses the man:
"Are you the constable Dongle who has accused us of treason? If so, I would ask what the reason for this accusation is."

[Snowfall]

Laryth

Laryth steps forward with Andor and reads over his shoulder.

"I am Laryth Sylvanus, Priest of the Seldarine, in the city of Sigil. My companions and I are more than a little confused as to why we were brought to you this way, as we came to this city by summons of the Duke."

[obliged_salmon]

Fence

Fence looks the room over curiously for a few moments, then goes and scribbles the word "fence" on the piece of paper. He ponders a moment at what his "occupation" might be, and finally decides to write "fortune teller" on the paper. He then settles back into a corner of the room with a smirk on his face.

[Solophoenix]

Solo

Solo fills out the document with his name, and thinking quickly, lists "Travelling Librarian" as his occupation.

[Alebeard_Thunderax]

The man at the desk closes a ledger, places a quill neatly in am inkpot, and looks up at the group with a bright and strangly disarming expression. You can't help but be slighlty lulled by his soft voice...

Yes, yes, I am Constable Dongel. You must be the party I sent for. Now I must apologize for the inconvenience. This venture, shall we say, must be a bit ...ahhhh... off the books. The Duke requested the utmost secrecy, and this was my solution. Hire some mercenary-types, and keep them completely anonymous. The only official records shall state that you were tried and summarily executed for high treason. Our actual relationship shall be much healthier and lucrative. I have a task I might have you perform, with full compensation of course.

With this he produced from a drawer four heavily clinking bags and a leather scrollcase, which are placed on the desk.

Compensation on the order of 25 platinum pieces for each individual upon completion of your task. Now, this case contains your specific orders. You are to leave out the western sortie gate, the guards will direct you. Do not under any circumstances open the orders until you are out of sight of the city. Would you like to discuss anything further before you are off?

Sampi: You read the document, and from the gist of the legalese, it states that the following individuals were executed later this evening. Funny, you don't feel dead...

[Sampi]

Andor

"I see. Well, I guess I can sign my own execution certificate. I expect our weapons will be returned to us?"

Andor signs his name and marks "journeyman" as an occupation.

[Snowfall]

Laryth

Laryth stares at the constable for a moment, intensely, but then he shrugs, a smile creeping onto his face. "Well, I suppose I am looking for a bit of a fresh start. Since we'll be leaving the city, do you have any supplies for us? And of course, as my friend states, our weapons?"

[Solophoenix]

Solo

Solo takes a look at the constable

I can't say I like the way you operate, but 25 platinum is hard to ignore, I'll accept the offer.

[Sampi]

Andor

"How do you plan to make a payment upon completion of the mission, if we should be dead and cannot make an appearance in Magna Urba? Also, there is a matter of an unpaid bath bill at The Wasted Waif"

[Alebeard_Thunderax]

Speak with the quartermaster in the courtyard, he has your weapons and can provide any small supplies you might need. You also need not be concerned with your status as criminals. The city has no doubt by now forgotten you ever existed, afterall I do control the guard within these walls. Though, I wouldn't return to the Waif, were I you.

He adds the final comment in an offhand manner, trailing the last words to a near whisper. He continues to look at the group expectantly, but also seems anxious to return to his mountain of papers.

[Snowfall]

Laryth

"Well, my friends, looks like we are now ex-outlaws. What notoriety and we even got a free bath out of it!" Laryth's tone is joking but his face says he is not too thrilled about the circumstances. He bows slightly to the constable and then heads out the door to speak with the quartermaster.