Dawn of the Jedi ~ Act I: There is no Emotion, There is Peace

[Liliedhe]

Rover hesitates. "All right. Let us try this. It might at least surprise our pursuers."

[Minchandre]

Jo

"It has been some time since I visited Lacae. Let me see if I recall..."

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In addition to actually trying to remember, Jo will unconsciously reach out with the Force to try and get the info that way.

Use the Force (1d20+8)[14]

EDIT: Also, I'm leaving it up to the GM whether she remembers conventionally. She's been to the city a couple times, but isn't very familiar with it.

[Ascension]

You recall the location of the consulate with ease. Your path there leads you down the mountain via a different road, so you come across no signs of the struggle between the Fear Troopers, Bricriu, and Li Mehk.

It takes at least an hour and a half of walking to reach the consulate, but finally you arrive. Upon entering the consulate Lady Norala is immediately recognized by the receptionist.

"Lady Norala!" she exclaims, "What brings you here? And who are these..." she greets your traveling companions with a single arched eyebrow, "these people?"

[Rettu Skcollob]

The pain becomes too intense for Li to even think of concentrating on his footwork, let alone attacking his enemies. He clutches at his face, crying out in illusory agony, barely keeping a grip on his sword. As the fear trooper hacks at him, leaving a profusely bleeding wound in his shoulder, he again emanates a cry of pain.

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No actions taken...

[Ascension]

One Fear Trooper is caught up in Bricriu's vortex.

"Don't worry... about me... Just finish off... the boy!"

The other trooper obeys this request.

Att: (1d20+4)[15]
Dam: (1d8+6)[10]

[Rettu Skcollob]

Li desperately tries to avoid the blade, but when he realises it is moving too fast, he attempts to draw upon the Ashla, moving his own sword to defend himself.

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Block... Which I did NOT completely forget I had... Will edit after result.
(1d20+7)[26]

Whether that works or not, Li will attack back.

Attack
(1d20+4)[10]
Damage
(2d6)[8]

Deftly deflecting the swinging blade, Li attempts weakly to counter attack, but the pain is blurring his vision, making accuracy difficult.

[OldSchoolGamer7]

Bricriu

Bricriu watches Li write in pain, both real and imagined. You should have chosen a different power to subdue the foes...kill them faster... He shakes the doubt from his mind. He refocuses his efforts on giving Li a chance to make it out of this before getting hurt too much more.

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UtF: (1d20+6)[12] to maintain Whirlwind.
Damage, if applicable, to be rolled in the OOC thread.

And Trooper is free. GM decision: I still have a standard action; the way I read the book, I could activate Grip with it. However, with Whirlwind dropping off, it seems like an iffy call to say I could switch.

For a brief moment, his focus slips and the trooper is freed from the vortex. As the body falls to the ground, the trooper feels his chest begin to cave in. Bricriu remains solid, though, doing everything he can to protect them both.

[Ascension]

The abused trooper breathes a sigh of relief... followed shortly by the "Ack!" of said sigh being cut off by crushing pain.

The other trooper continues battling with Li.

Att: (1d20+4)[10]
Dam: (1d8+6)[9]

*I think I can manage to manifest one more fear effect...* he thinks to himself, *If I can just time this properly... I may still get out of this...*

[Rettu Skcollob]

Seeing Bricriu incapacitate the other trooper, Li attacks at his opponent with new fervour, regaining hope that he might get through this alive.

"I'm not going down that easily, damn it!" He says, confidence more evident in his words. He nimbly sidesteps a powerful swipe from the trooper, lashing his sword out with a lightning fast thrust.

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Standard Action: Attack
(1d20+4)[10]
(2d6)[10]
Move Action: None
Swift Action: Catch a Second Wind, +7 Hit Points.

[OldSchoolGamer7]

Bricriu

Bricriu gasps with effort as he fells the first trooper. I didn't want to kill him, but there was no real choice...it was either this or possibly die at their master's hands...both of us. As he shakes his head, clearing the cobwebs, he closes on the second trooper, lashing out with a wicked right hook.

Attack: (1d20+1)[16]
Damage: (1d6+2)[4]

[Minchandre]

Jo

Relieved to have made it to the consulate, but slightly annoyed at the reception, Jo speaks quickly, "These are my traveling companions," she says in a tone that allows no challenge, "And we are here because we were accosted by some sort of thugs. presumably working for the general who seems to have taken control of the city. They threatened us and tried to take us into custody, as well as intimidating Lord Perio in his own estate. We are here for safety, and to find some idea what is going on. Is the consul in?"

[Ascension]

The Battle

"You're g-going... to kill me!" the fear trooper Bricriu is strangling gasps.

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I didn't see you roll for this round's grippage, but I'm just going to say that he will die next round unless you relent. Now we will see if Bricriu is willing to kill...

The other continues his assault on Li.

"Go down already!"

Att: (1d20+4)[8]
Dam: (1d8+6)[8]

[Ascension]

The Embassy

"How terrible!" the receptionist replies, "The General will hear about this! Threatening a Norala! What was he thinking?"

She turns her gaze back on Jo's "traveling companions."

"As for these... Are they even Ontian citizens?"

[Minchandre]

Jo

"These are my companions and employees," Jo says firmly. "If you wish to contest their status, I recommend you call my brother. Now, where is the consul?"

[Minchandre]

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I realized a Persuade check might be in order.

Persuade: (1d20+8)[19]

[Ascension]

"The consul is right this way, Lady Norala," she gestures toward the back of the consulate, "but we won't be able to provide assistance to your companions. Not without proof of citizenship."

[Liliedhe]

Rover somewhat expected that, but not willing to admit defeat yet, he stays silent and allows Jo to handle the situation further.

[Minchandre]

Jo

"Thank you," Lady Norala says coolly to the receptionist, moving in the direction indicated. "I am certain the consul and I will be able to come to an understanding."

[Ascension]

The consul is a bearded fellow who introduces himself as Proxenos Cimon.

"What can I do for you, Lady Norala?" he asks.

[OldSchoolGamer7]

Bricriu

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I had asked in the OOC thread for you to roll it and I would accept the results, no matter what. I didn't feel right double posting.

"Would you have done any different? You are ambushed by soldiers who are armed to the teeth and capable of tapping into your greatest fear...what do you do?" Bricriu bites back the bile rising in his throat. Let him die or he will always be a threat, coming back more powerful.

Or his master will cast him aside as a failure...

With a decisive growl, the elder releases the trooper. "Unlike you Bogen dogs, I do not kill unless I need to...and there is nothing to be gained by your death." Instead, he walks over by the trooper, watching to make sure he doesn't make any sudden movements.

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Releasing Grip, Move action over to the trooper's side, reserving an action to take a swing should the trooper move to either attack them or use Fear again.

[Rettu Skcollob]

Ducking under a rather ineffectual swipe at his head, Li once again thrusts forward with his vibroblade, trying to go for his opponents stomach.

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Attack
(1d20+4)[12]
Damage
(2d6)[11]

[Minchandre]

Jo

Jo offers her hand to the man to be kissed and begins,"Thank you for seeing me on such short notice, Master Cimon. My companions and I were roughed up by some uniformed thugs just outside the Perio estate, where I was visiting on personal business." She pauses for a moment to compose her thoughts before continuing, "Normally, I would go to the highest levels to complain about this, but I must admit that I was, frankly, quite afraid for my personal safety. Further, I have heard nothing good of this new general who seems to have installed himself here in Lacae, and so I thought that I could perhaps lodge my complaints at the Lacaean embassy at home, rather than in person here. In the mean time, I was hoping either for secure transport back to Ontium for myself and my companions, or sanctuary until I can arrange for transport of my own. Do you think that might be feasible?"

[Ascension]

Battle

The fear trooper, glad to be alive, makes no move to escape.

Li finally manages to hit the other one with his blade, laying open his thigh. Screaming, the wounded trooper strikes back.

Att: (1d20+4)[19]
Dam: (1d8+6)[11]

Diplomacy

"We can, of course, offer you sanctuary, Lady Norala, we'd be glad to, but we cannot afford to endanger diplomatic relationships with Lacae over the fate of non-citizens. Speaking frankly, Ontium owes nothing to your companions, but if we were to take them in we could possibly lose everything. The latter is true even if we shelter you, of course, but Ontium takes care of its own regardless of the potential fallout. You can't expect us to show that same level of dedication to any random Tom, ****, or Harry who walks in off the street."

He frowns.

"I'm sorry, Lady. I wish I could be of more help, but I simply can't take the risk of taking them in."

[Rettu Skcollob]

Almost as surprised as the trooper that he finally managed to score a hit, Li weakly attempts a counter to the pain-fuelled blow.

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Block
(1d20+7)[9]

The much larger sword barely grazes Li's ineffectual counter, stabbing deep into his side, and narrowly missing his stomach, among several other vital organs. Li gurgles, barely managing to pull himself away from the blade, and raises his own in a defensive position. Blood continues to pour from his wounds, leaving deep crimson stains on his clothing.

[Minchandre]

Jo

"I see," Jo says coolly. "And there's nothing I can do to persuade you? The facilities are completely up to your expectations? Very well. I will consult with my companions. And of course, my brother. Do you have somewhere we could speak privately for a few moments?"

[Ascension]

"I'm afraid there's nothing I can do... not right now. You may speak privately in the conference room, down that hallway, over to the left... You can't miss it."

[Minchandre]

Jo

Jo gestures the others to join her in the room. As soon as they are in, and the door is closed, she says, "Obviously, these people will not shelter us. While I am somewhat..." Jo pauses to wrinkle her nose, "Annoyed, I cannot in entirety blame them: Lacae needs little enough reason to make war on Ontium. I suspect that Gorgias' boat will have left or been detained by now. As I see it, we have two options: we can attempt to locate local transport, or I can call my brother and arrange for something. In the latter case, though, we'll almost certainly have to wait until morning."

Jo abruptly pauses in her stream, and spends a moment in thought before worriedly creasing her brow, "I wonder what happened to Mehk and Nesson?"

[The_Snark]

Rosa

"Well, we were supposed to meet them at the estate, or on the road back, but we didn't go by the same road," Rosa says, and from her tone of voice it's a wonder she's managed to remain quiet this long. "Why did we come here in the first place, if these people don't have a boat or something we can use? It's not like we'd want to stay here even if they would give us sanctuary. We should have just gone back to the boat before they realized anything was happening."

[Liliedhe]

"By now, the boat is almost certainly compromised... Let us try for a different pier and hope we still can elude them."

Rover's blue eyes look very concerned. The big man opens and closes his fists, as if loosening them up.

"I am not optimistic, though."

Closing his eyes, he once more tries to feel the Ashla, and if there enemies are already closing in...

Use the Force - (1d20+5)[17]

[OldSchoolGamer7]

Bricriu

His self-control breaks for a brief moment, watching Li wounded so. He turns to the Trooper next to him. "Do you see now what pain you bring to others through the Bogen? Look into my companion's eyes! LOOK! We have done nothing to you or your superiors and you continue to attack and attempt to kill us! I ought to kill you where you stand..." He takes a deep breath. "But killing you won't save him should he fall. I say this one last time: move and you're dead."

With a roar of a battle cry, Bricriu charges at the Trooper assaulting Li with a powerful punch, hoping to distract or otherwise save Li...

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If it's a clear shot over to the second Trooper, he's charging. If not, the "charges" line is fluff and subtract 2 from my attack roll.

Attack: (1d20+3)[10]
Damage: (1d6+1)[2]