Ignatius, seeing everyone busy with themselves, gets bored, and wavers off out the inn, being still invisible. He makes his way to the mayor's house. What does he see?
Ignatius sees several guards posted around the building. There are roughly eight of them outside. Looking in through a window, he sees that Emeril and Roan are standing in the foyer, around a table covered in a large map and talking. Another four guards are also standing at the entrance and the bottom of the stairs leading up into the familiar hallway from before.
Ignatius (invisible) sneaks in through the window and hovers above to where Emeril and Roan are standing. He tries to listen to what they are saying and also peers into the large map laid on the table.
Ignatius, seeing everyone busy with themselves, gets bored, and wavers off out the inn, being still invisible. He makes his way to the mayor's house. What does he see?
Ignatius sees several guards posted around the building. There are roughly eight of them outside. Looking in through a window, he sees that Emeril and Roan are standing in the foyer, around a table covered in a large map and talking. Another four guards are also standing at the entrance and the bottom of the stairs leading up into the familiar hallway from before.
Ignatius (invisible) sneaks in through the window and hovers above to where Emeril and Roan are standing. He tries to listen to what they are saying and also peers into the large map laid on the table.
As Ignatius passes through the window, Emeril turns her attention to his general direction and casts a spell. Ignatius is no longer invisible.
The guards start to tense up when they see him, but they do not make a move, as Emeril holds up her hand and says “I take this to mean that you have returned? That is good.” She turns her attention back to Roan. “We should wait for the others to get here before we continue. It may be beneficial for everyone to hear it.” Roan shrugs and continues looking at the map.
Ignatius can see that the map is a map of Callus and the surrounding landscape. On the map’s northern edge, there are a number of small metal pins thrust into the parchment in a triangular formation, pointing towards the town itself. The point is represented by a larger, black pin.
When the party arrives to the mayor’s house, Emeril and Roan both acknowledge them.
Marco, as well as the rest of the party, see a young woman with long black hair, wearing a shirt of black chain underneath a long, black leather overcoat that is buttoned up to just underneath the collar. At her hip rests a long, curved sword, a katana. Welcome back,” Emeril says. “We’ve managed to secure some more information from our scouts in the field.” She points to the pins on the map and says “Here is where the enemy force is coming from. They are currently a three days’ march from here. They are being led by a most interesting commander.” Her finger moves from the mass of smaller pins to the larger, black one. “I believe you said you met a scorpionman on an earlier job, yes? A half man, half scorpion creature? He has been spotted leading the march.”
The young man standing across from her at the table, Roan, is wearing loosely fitting black silk trousers and an equally loose-fitting black silk shirt. He seems to be at ease as he also looks over the map. He has short chestnut hair and a comfortable smirk on his face. “Seems pretty straightforward, right?” he says. “A single force charging straight for the town. Well, that’s not all we have to worry about, unfortunately.” He pulls out another handful of pins and sets them into the map, just to the east of the first mass of pins. “We spotted another, smaller force moving on its own here. They seem to be sappers for getting through the walls.”
As Ignatius passes through the window, Emeril turns her attention to his general direction and casts a spell. Ignatius is no longer invisible.
The guards start to tense up when they see him, but they do not make a move, as Emeril holds up her hand and says “I take this to mean that you have returned? That is good.”
Ignatius realises that he must have made some noise while coming in, or else, Emeril must be having a very keen perception. Either way, he is not bothered that he is found, though he thinks that there might be more to Emeril than they could see. He crosses his arms, gives them a smile, and keeps on hovering.
He looks at the guards, and could not help smiling thinking of how foolish they must be to still be in the dark of the things and not realise what actually happened. He cannot blame them, however, their lady was too cunning and deceitful for these simple, ignorant commoners to see through her actions. Ah, that malignant, manipulative, snake-tongued liar! No doubt she has escaped, and with the Soultaker dagger as well. Where did she go? Somewhere to Baator or the Abyss? Or is she still hidden somewhere in Callus?
Seeing the guards tense up on seeing him, Ignatius' smile widens, and he says to them:
"You folks still look afraid of me, Yet you never sought to know the truth. For that I can't blame you, really, For 'tis not easy to be a sleuth.
Why do you think your lady fled, Whilst she left you in her burning house, And her husband, brutally burnt and bled? No sorrow, no tears for her deceased spouse?
You have been loyal, which I commend, But to her intentions, you've been blind. To what depths of evil she did descend And stabbed the unsuspecting lord from behind!
If you don't believe in what I said, Go along the basement and have a look. The devil's cult your lady has laid, And what vile actions there she undertook."
"We should head out and face this smaller group. If we take out the sapper team, the town doesn't have to split its forces to stop the incoming attacks and we can avoid them to sneak into town from that angle. What do you say, friends?"
Vaga has been silent first, and far from a strategist, but he understand the basics of combat and thinks this is the best way to employ their little group to maximum effiency.
"Harvey, you rolled with this scorpion-man before, you were even on the same side before. What can you tell us about him? What is his experience, his skills and what weaknesses does he have that we can exploit?"
Vaga looks intensily at Marco. Is that a shade of a beard on his chin, did he follow my advice? No, it's too soon to say, but I'm sure he will come around soon. I shall take this puppy under my wing and teach him all the wisdom I have acquired. Ah yes, maybe I will also teach him to drop that silly bow and knife and fight with his fists, his feet and his teeth!?
“Altogether, just over five thousand,” Roan says. “This group, here...” He points to the group of sappers. “Is estimated to be about fifty or so. We need to hit them before they can get to the wall. That’s where your group comes in. Taking down the sappers will be our first priority. While you are dealing with them, the rest of us will draw the attention of the main force away from you. That said, if you see the scorpionman, you should not try to fight him. He is a very dangerous foe.”
“I know enough about him to tell you not to attack him,” Harvey says, his expression growing dark. “Even if you won, it would still be very bad. He’s the last of his kind.”
Emeril and Roan exchange looks. “Taking out the leader is the ultimate plan, yes,” Roan says. “But good luck trying to get to him with all those orcs behind him, let alone fighting him while he’s surrounded by his allies. No, we need to use other methods to whittle down their morale before we go after their boss. Removing the sappers is only the first step.” He steps toward the party and gives everyone a long look, his eyes lingering on the newcomers. Finally, he takes a step back and says “I am entrusting their removal to you. My advice is to hit them when they have stopped marching for the day and plan to rest. That is when they will be most vulnerable. If you feel you need help, I can arrange for Miranda to accompany you.”
5000 younglings. These Orcs are simply migrants looking for a new home. Maybe... Maybe we should see this as an economic opportunity. Think of the potential 5000, cheap, orc labourers could do to the local economy!
Ignatius gets amused at the words of the gnome nanny. He says:
"These orcs are proud, not beasts of burden, Mustered as they are in common grudge. Who leads them is, to us, hidden, And why towards Callus they trudge.
Yet, in all this, they must have some aim, For this looks not like a common raid. Something in this town attracts them, And that is obvious, without being said.
Towards power, chaos gravitate, Driven by hunger, lust and greed, For which men, each other, hate, For which they do many a vile deed.
Something is hidden somewhere here, Probably in the basement right under, Which to one or more persons is dear, For which, this town, they would invade and plunder.
I say we seek this threat within, And learn the purpose behind this attack. If we can tap on this hidden power, We can, without doubt, drive them back."
“I could probably talk to Ixion,” Harvey says after hearing Marco’s suggestion. “We’re not really friends, but we do respect each other, at least a little bit. I could probably convince him to leave your town alone, though it will be a long shot. He despises humans.”
Roan is already shaking his head. “And if that fails, we will have wasted precious time. By all means, try if you like, but we’ll still go with my plan.”
"Then let's now waste any more time standing about chatting. I'm read to go now and I trust my team is as well. Marco, you are welcome to come with us. I haven't seen Khaled yet, so another set of able hands is most welcome."
"If anyone need to prepare anything, now is the time. I suggest we leave within the hour."
We have around 5k gold in the stash. But, as said before, it's hard finding the vendor inventories after so many pages but I seem to recall there was a sash of haste. I don't remember if the cleric (forgot her name, the one Anduin inpersonated) had that or if that was the smith in S&A. Another APR for Fi or someone would be most welcome, or for Vaga if no other item are more needed. Perhaps now with such imminent danger, the vendors are willing to open a secret stash for a weary band of adventurers ready to go out and save the town?
*Nanna gazes off into the distance, mouthing words silently, as if receiving instructions from her own personal god, before shaking herself out of a revere.*
I don't like killing. No. I detest death. No one should die...
I don't think I can help.
*Nanna's face hardens.*
I'm going. I'm going to keep everyone alive.
*Nanna Andaweena becomes flustered that she has become the focus of attention and distracts everyone by clucking and fussing over Vaga's thong, pulling it so it covers another cheek a little more.*
Marco sees a tall, red-haired man with one eye working at the forge. When asked about the magic arrows, the man grunts and points to a section of the store where various ammunition types are stored. Marco sees full quivers of +1 and +2 arrows, as well as Fire Arrows, Acid Arrows, and Cold Arrows. Arrows+1 are 150 gp, Arrows +2 are 450 gp, and the other various arrows are priced at 200 gp.
Marco then asks about the potion, to which the blacksmith replies “Upstatirs.” So Marco walks up the stairs and sees a short, thin young woman with dark hair who, after much exasperated sighing, tells him that antidotes cost 50 gp each, and potions of explosions are priced at 300 each.
After Nanna's degrading butt-patting, Vaga stretches and make himself as tall as possible, act as casual as he can and flexes his muscle a bit to ensure everyone about his manlyness. It looks just as insecure and obvious as could be expected from someone who was just objectified and patronized at the same time and trying to recover.
Hey guys, would appreciate if everyone could write some input regarding purchasing items. I don't want to hog all the gold or anything, but at the same time it's just sitting there and could be better used. Without @lolien being active, most of those scrolls are wasted and could be sold for cash and converted to upgraded gear for our frontliner Fi or more magicky stuff for Igna and of course arrows etc for Marco. Nanna is high-level but could of course also use the scrolls, but since I have no idea what Anduin has memorized I don't know if that's needed. Same with Ignatius of course who could also stash the scrolls in his pockets and use them during the adventures.
Waiting for his friends to get ready for marching, Vaga has nothing else to do so he kneels down as per his usual MO and sits idly waiting for everyone to return.
" We need to be as prepared as possible. I suggest with get supplies, and quickly."
irl is a little busier than I'd like right now and I'm not not even 100% on what Fiora currently has equipped/owns. I'll try to be active but I don't know how much.
As Anduin walks to the stairs, the guards at the entrance block the way with their spears. “Entry is forbidden by anyone except the lord,” one of them says.
@nimran, can you please post the inventory of the magic merchant and the magic items that the S&A have? I'm thinking maybe we can afford some cool things to increase our survivability. For everyone's ease of use, perhaps those inventories can be posted in the googledoc as well so you don't have to re-post them whenever someone (ahem.. just me ) asks for them.
Comments
"So, you thinking of joining us?"
*She gives a serious look*
"You need to pass the test first."
*She takes a deep breath and cheerfully asks Marco*
"What is you favorite animalfoodcolor?"
The guards start to tense up when they see him, but they do not make a move, as Emeril holds up her hand and says “I take this to mean that you have returned? That is good.” She turns her attention back to Roan. “We should wait for the others to get here before we continue. It may be beneficial for everyone to hear it.” Roan shrugs and continues looking at the map.
Ignatius can see that the map is a map of Callus and the surrounding landscape. On the map’s northern edge, there are a number of small metal pins thrust into the parchment in a triangular formation, pointing towards the town itself. The point is represented by a larger, black pin.
Marco, as well as the rest of the party, see a young woman with long black hair, wearing a shirt of black chain underneath a long, black leather overcoat that is buttoned up to just underneath the collar. At her hip rests a long, curved sword, a katana. Welcome back,” Emeril says. “We’ve managed to secure some more information from our scouts in the field.” She points to the pins on the map and says “Here is where the enemy force is coming from. They are currently a three days’ march from here. They are being led by a most interesting commander.” Her finger moves from the mass of smaller pins to the larger, black one. “I believe you said you met a scorpionman on an earlier job, yes? A half man, half scorpion creature? He has been spotted leading the march.”
The young man standing across from her at the table, Roan, is wearing loosely fitting black silk trousers and an equally loose-fitting black silk shirt. He seems to be at ease as he also looks over the map. He has short chestnut hair and a comfortable smirk on his face. “Seems pretty straightforward, right?” he says. “A single force charging straight for the town. Well, that’s not all we have to worry about, unfortunately.” He pulls out another handful of pins and sets them into the map, just to the east of the first mass of pins. “We spotted another, smaller force moving on its own here. They seem to be sappers for getting through the walls.”
He looks at the guards, and could not help smiling thinking of how foolish they must be to still be in the dark of the things and not realise what actually happened. He cannot blame them, however, their lady was too cunning and deceitful for these simple, ignorant commoners to see through her actions. Ah, that malignant, manipulative, snake-tongued liar! No doubt she has escaped, and with the Soultaker dagger as well. Where did she go? Somewhere to Baator or the Abyss? Or is she still hidden somewhere in Callus?
Seeing the guards tense up on seeing him, Ignatius' smile widens, and he says to them:
"You folks still look afraid of me,
Yet you never sought to know the truth.
For that I can't blame you, really,
For 'tis not easy to be a sleuth.
Why do you think your lady fled,
Whilst she left you in her burning house,
And her husband, brutally burnt and bled?
No sorrow, no tears for her deceased spouse?
You have been loyal, which I commend,
But to her intentions, you've been blind.
To what depths of evil she did descend
And stabbed the unsuspecting lord from behind!
If you don't believe in what I said,
Go along the basement and have a look.
The devil's cult your lady has laid,
And what vile actions there she undertook."
Vaga has been silent first, and far from a strategist, but he understand the basics of combat and thinks this is the best way to employ their little group to maximum effiency.
"Harvey, you rolled with this scorpion-man before, you were even on the same side before. What can you tell us about him? What is his experience, his skills and what weaknesses does he have that we can exploit?"
Vaga looks intensily at Marco. Is that a shade of a beard on his chin, did he follow my advice? No, it's too soon to say, but I'm sure he will come around soon. I shall take this puppy under my wing and teach him all the wisdom I have acquired. Ah yes, maybe I will also teach him to drop that silly bow and knife and fight with his fists, his feet and his teeth!?
*Nanna looks hopeful.*
"These orcs are proud, not beasts of burden,
Mustered as they are in common grudge.
Who leads them is, to us, hidden,
And why towards Callus they trudge.
Yet, in all this, they must have some aim,
For this looks not like a common raid.
Something in this town attracts them,
And that is obvious, without being said.
Towards power, chaos gravitate,
Driven by hunger, lust and greed,
For which men, each other, hate,
For which they do many a vile deed.
Something is hidden somewhere here,
Probably in the basement right under,
Which to one or more persons is dear,
For which, this town, they would invade and plunder.
I say we seek this threat within,
And learn the purpose behind this attack.
If we can tap on this hidden power,
We can, without doubt, drive them back."
Roan is already shaking his head. “And if that fails, we will have wasted precious time. By all means, try if you like, but we’ll still go with my plan.”
"If anyone need to prepare anything, now is the time. I suggest we leave within the hour."
We have around 5k gold in the stash. But, as said before, it's hard finding the vendor inventories after so many pages but I seem to recall there was a sash of haste. I don't remember if the cleric (forgot her name, the one Anduin inpersonated) had that or if that was the smith in S&A. Another APR for Fi or someone would be most welcome, or for Vaga if no other item are more needed. Perhaps now with such imminent danger, the vendors are willing to open a secret stash for a weary band of adventurers ready to go out and save the town?
Edit: I updated the google doc, subtracted Vaga's spent 4 gold coins and moved the Sunblade to Fiona's personal inventory. @Shandyr, you can add Marco to the list as well.
Link
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1orvKxtIVOidnCMGY8kQ_8OH8SYfY5cWD7cntYjesnbE/edit#
I don't like killing. No. I detest death. No one should die...
I don't think I can help.
*Nanna's face hardens.*
I'm going. I'm going to keep everyone alive.
*Nanna Andaweena becomes flustered that she has become the focus of attention and distracts everyone by clucking and fussing over Vaga's thong, pulling it so it covers another cheek a little more.*
Marco then asks about the potion, to which the blacksmith replies “Upstatirs.” So Marco walks up the stairs and sees a short, thin young woman with dark hair who, after much exasperated sighing, tells him that antidotes cost 50 gp each, and potions of explosions are priced at 300 each.
I need to know... more... Did he have the sword? Where did he get it from? Where did it go? What deal did he make with the denizens of hell?
*Without thinking Nanna pats her little mans cheeks and heads towards the stairs in the mayors house searching for clues.*
[Spoiler]I'm expecting to just find guards... but you never know... [/spoiler]
Waiting for his friends to get ready for marching, Vaga has nothing else to do so he kneels down as per his usual MO and sits idly waiting for everyone to return.
@nimran, can you please post the inventory of the magic merchant and the magic items that the S&A have? I'm thinking maybe we can afford some cool things to increase our survivability.
For everyone's ease of use, perhaps those inventories can be posted in the googledoc as well so you don't have to re-post them whenever someone (ahem.. just me