Knave

OOC IaM - On a miss, you reveal some information to the monster or whoever you are talking to TyG - the Keeper will tell you a general direction to go. Take +1 forward as you explore that As the tall porter locks the door again, you all feel slight warmth in the air around you. Those among you who are the most attuned to such things have a faint sense that something has just taken notice of you. For Ekram, the sensation is more specific. His eye is drawn out of the corridor window, into the main quad, and to the out-of-place untidy tangle of cones, tape and tarpaulin that encloses and conceals a central section of the neatly manicured grass. A handwritten sign is attached to the nearest cone: DANGER

Name: Kirit | Class: Fighter 6 AC: 16+1| HP: 53/72 | Hit dice: 4/4d10 SR Abilities: SDice: 4/4d8 1/1d6 | Action surge 1/1 | 2nd Wind 1/1 LR Abilities: Luck 2/2 | Adamant 1/1 Attacks Extra attack, and off-hand attack Rapier +7 1d8+3 Magic short sword +8 1d6+4 Light crossbow 80/320 +6 1d6+3 | Saves Str +3 | Dex +4 | Con +4 | Wis +1 | Int -1 | Cha +0; | Maneuvers Precision attack | Menacing attack | Trip attack | Parry | Riposte | DC 14; The climb looks unappealing, especially after having his arm torn up. And sheathing the swords doesn't seem like a great idea... hopefully the rest will find a way to come down. Kirit feels Niko's power flow through him, and just as quickly, it is gone, blasted away by the other werewolf. Maybe all the magic folks would cancel each other out and they can all just have a traditional brawl. A man can dream. Kirit's swords are working away, his mind a little elsewhere. These folks have bite, but they aren't the main course. OOC Attack, Extra attack, Off hand attack I'll move through the nearest enemies as and when they die, aiming to end up beside Niko. I'm not attacking the dragonborn.

Name: Kirit | Class: Fighter 6 AC: 16+1| HP: 72/72 | Hit dice: 4/4d10 SR Abilities: SDice: 4/4d8 1/1d6 | Action surge 1/1 | 2nd Wind 1/1 LR Abilities: Luck 2/2 | Adamant 1/1 Attacks Extra attack, and off-hand attack Rapier +7 1d8+3 Magic short sword +8 1d6+4 Light crossbow 80/320 +6 1d6+3 | Saves Str +3 | Dex +4 | Con +4 | Wis +1 | Int -1 | Cha +0; | Maneuvers Precision attack | Menacing attack | Trip attack | Parry | Riposte | DC 14; The big one disappears, and already the plan is gone. In some ways, Kirit prefers it that way. Just take care of things as they come up. He runs through the nearest enemy and moves towards where the press is thickest. OOC 5 feet to close with nearest enemy Attack, Extra attack, Off hand attack If he dies, move south towards Niko (if my first target dies before my last attack, I use the attack on any enemy I can reach)

It's just where the token already was. I expect him to be in the front line

Isn't the big bad up on the rock with us?

The porter looks at you all a little suspiciously, as though suspecting a prank or scheme, but looks reassured by David's presence, and wordlessly picks up the desk phone and dials through to Alice's room. He lets it ring for a minute, then replaces it. "Since you've raised a safeguarding concern, I'll check her room. You can come, but I can't let you in." He picks up a ring off keys and leads you around the main quad, a large portion of which has been hastily covered with tarpaulin, and cordened off with cones and cheap orange tape. The porter leads to you to the first floor and an oak door. He knocks for over a minute, and then turns a key and steps inside, calling out. Thirty seconds later, he's back. "No one home". He sounds a little accusing. "We can keep a note at the front desk?"

Heather Nonameyet AC: 15 | HP: 16/20 | Hit dice: 3/3d10 LR Abilities: Taunt: 2/2 | Fearless 1/1 | 1st Level 1/3 | Primal spell 1/1 AttacksShortbow 80/320 +7 1d6+3 P || Handaxe 20/60 +5 1d6+3 S || Hoopak (sling) 40/160 +7 1d4+3 B || Hoopak (spear) +5 1d6+3 P : 1d8 per turn Colossus Slayer; | SavesStr +1 | Dex +5 | Con +1 | Wis +3 Adv vs Fear | Int +1 | Cha -1; | Spells+5 attack, DC13 Hunter's Mark; Ensnaring Strike, Speak with Animals | Seeing their quarry turn to flee, Heather murmurs some words that her grandmother taught her in the old tongue. She lets fly another arrow, but it goes wide. Where it lands, a thorny briar patch explodes from the ground and withers away just as quickly. She scowls, and makes to draw again. OOC Bonus action : Cast Ensnaring Strike Action: Attack shortbow Concentration: Ensnaring Strike

Name: Kirit | Class: Fighter 6 AC: 16+1| HP: 72/72 | Hit dice: 4/4d10 SR Abilities: SDice: 4/4d8 1/1d6 | Action surge 1/1 | 2nd Wind 1/1 LR Abilities: Luck 2/2 | Adamant 1/1 Attacks Extra attack, and off-hand attack Rapier +7 1d8+3 Magic short sword +8 1d6+4 Light crossbow 80/320 +6 1d6+3 | Saves Str +3 | Dex +4 | Con +4 | Wis +1 | Int -1 | Cha +0; | Maneuvers Precision attack | Menacing attack | Trip attack | Parry | Riposte | DC 14; Kirit looks a little bemused as the diminutive hand slaps his chest. "Settle down, kid, or... I'll tell your mother, I guess." Then he frowns. "Didn't mean to make you sad though. Let's be friends? World's dark enough without us all falling out." When they arrive, Kirit looks around for any sign of Niko.

Absent any other pressing engagement, the hunters make their way towards Alice's college, splitting up to cover the most likely routes. But no one spots any sign of her, and so in a short time they all reconvene at Merton Lodge in the dusk. Merton is a small college, with less than 300 undergraduates, and famous for only two things: consistently leading the Norrington Table that ranks colleges on their exam performance, and for walking backwards around their main quad at 2am once per year to ensure the clocks go back on schedule.

Heather Nonameyet AC: 15 | HP: 16/20 | Hit dice: 3/3d10 LR Abilities: Taunt: 2/2 | Fearless 1/1 | 1st Level 2/3 | Primal spell 1/1 AttacksShortbow 80/320 +7 1d6+3 P || Handaxe 20/60 +5 1d6+3 S || Hoopak (sling) 40/160 +7 1d4+3 B || Hoopak (spear) +5 1d6+3 P : 1d8 per turn Colossus Slayer; | SavesStr +1 | Dex +5 | Con +1 | Wis +3 Adv vs Fear | Int +1 | Cha -1; | Spells+5 attack, DC13 Hunter's Mark; Ensnaring Strike, Speak with Animals | Heather has been hunting her whole life, and it's not hard for her to pick out the wounded goblin in the bushes. The battle is almost over, but this is a dangerous moment: the enemy is desperate, and it is easy to become complacent. Finish the job. OOC Perception to detect hidden 9 Bonus action : Hunter's mark Action: attack shortbow (plus hunters mark, plus Colossus slayer)

Name: Kirit | Class: Fighter 6 AC: 16+1| HP: 72/72 | Hit dice: 3/4d10 SR Abilities: SDice: 4/4d8 1/1d6 | Action surge 1/1 | 2nd Wind 1/1 LR Abilities: Luck 2/2 | Adamant 1/1 Attacks Extra attack, and off-hand attack Rapier +7 1d8+3 Magic short sword +8 1d6+4 Light crossbow 80/320 +6 1d6+3 | Saves Str +3 | Dex +4 | Con +4 | Wis +1 | Int -1 | Cha +0; | Maneuvers Precision attack | Menacing attack | Trip attack | Parry | Riposte | DC 14; Kirit chips in too, coming back from purchasing two healing potions. "How do you pay for protection around here? We can talk about dragon fees another time, but you need extra guards until this threat has passed. We don't do backcountry doorman rates, it's mercenary day rates, and probably a bonus since the problem is so substantial."

Name: Kirit | Class: Fighter 6 AC: 16+1| HP: 72/72 | Hit dice: 3/4d10 SR Abilities: SDice: 4/4d8 1/1d6 | Action surge 1/1 | 2nd Wind 1/1 LR Abilities: Luck 2/2 | Adamant 1/1 Attacks Extra attack, and off-hand attack Rapier +7 1d8+3 Magic short sword +8 1d6+4 Light crossbow 80/320 +6 1d6+3 | Saves Str +3 | Dex +4 | Con +4 | Wis +1 | Int -1 | Cha +0; | Maneuvers Precision attack | Menacing attack | Trip attack | Parry | Riposte | DC 14; "A duel? A battle of honour with a werewolf? We should rather assassinate him. Approach asking to parley, you can even ert if you like, then someone strong grab him, and I will skewer him before he can run. The rest will fall into lime behind Niko once the big one is down. I'm feeling more and more like this is the only play."

Name: Kirit | Class: Fighter 6 AC: 16+1| HP: 72/72 | Hit dice: 3/4d10 SR Abilities: SDice: 4/4d8 1/1d6 | Action surge 1/1 | 2nd Wind 1/1 LR Abilities: Luck 2/2 | Adamant 1/1 Attacks Extra attack, and off-hand attack Rapier +7 1d8+3 Magic short sword +8 1d6+4 Light crossbow 80/320 +6 1d6+3 | Saves Str +3 | Dex +4 | Con +4 | Wis +1 | Int -1 | Cha +0; | Maneuvers Precision attack | Menacing attack | Trip attack | Parry | Riposte | DC 14; Kirit looks at Niko like she's crazy. "Alone? Honestly, do you have a deathwish? I'll come with you, I've done some bodyguarding. No one ever really looks at the lackey. And no I can't outrun them, but I'd bet on myself to stay alive until the others arrive." But when the response comes, that plan is already dead. "So, he doesn't want to cure them. He wants to make them more powerful. Aaliyah, you see this is war now? If we kill the leader, before he bites them again, maybe the others can be reasoned with, and then be cured for real. That should be our plan - cut a path to Indominus, and put him down. He's the alpha, they are his pack. The rest might be cowed then, enough to submit to new leadership..." He points to Niko. "Let's make her the alpha bit...female. And if they still try to fight..." He deliberately avoids looking at Aaliyah. "Then we kill them all, no mercy."

It doesn't even ring once. The cut glass RP voice of British Telecom clicks on: The number you are trying to reach, is unavailable. Goodbye. The line goes dead.

Name: Kirit | Class: Fighter 6 AC: 16+1| HP: 72/72 | Hit dice: 3/4d10 SR Abilities: SDice: 4/4d8 1/1d6 | Action surge 1/1 | 2nd Wind 1/1 LR Abilities: Luck 2/2 | Adamant 1/1 Attacks Extra attack, and off-hand attack Rapier +7 1d8+3 Magic short sword +8 1d6+4 Light crossbow 80/320 +6 1d6+3 | Saves Str +3 | Dex +4 | Con +4 | Wis +1 | Int -1 | Cha +0; | Maneuvers Precision attack | Menacing attack | Trip attack | Parry | Riposte | DC 14; Kirit waves away Aaliyah's question, and then more forcefully waves away her suggestion about territory marking. "I'm with the new fellow. We can fight now or fight later. Now, we can choose the ground, choose our time. Later... We won't have a choice. Unless they are here for a specific reason... But hard to imagine finding out what that is and staying alive in the meantime."

Name: Kirit | Class: Fighter 6 AC: 16+1| HP: 72/72 | Hit dice: 4/4d10 SR Abilities: SDice: 4/4d8 1/1d6 | Action surge 1/1 | 2nd Wind 1/1 LR Abilities: Luck 2/2 | Adamant 1/1 Attacks Extra attack, and off-hand attack Rapier +7 1d8+3 Magic short sword +8 1d6+4 Light crossbow 80/320 +6 1d6+3 | Saves Str +3 | Dex +4 | Con +4 | Wis +1 | Int -1 | Cha +0; | Maneuvers Precision attack | Menacing attack | Trip attack | Parry | Riposte | DC 14; Kirit resists the temptation to go through all Nicolette's possessions while she's out, and hands her pack back unopened. "If we don't fight them now, then what? We lose their trail and they just eat another town, and another." He tears off some of the bread. "Can we move whole town out of range of their hunt before nightfall? Let's arm them. It hurts less to die fighting than to die running, I've seen."

Name: Kirit | Class: Fighter 6 AC: 16+1| HP: 72/72 | Hit dice: 3/4d10 SR Abilities: SDice: 4/4d8 1/1d6 | Action surge 1/1 | 2nd Wind 1/1 LR Abilities: Luck 2/2 | Adamant 1/1 Attacks Extra attack, and off-hand attack Rapier +7 1d8+3 Magic short sword +8 1d6+4 Light crossbow 80/320 +6 1d6+3 | Saves Str +3 | Dex +4 | Con +4 | Wis +1 | Int -1 | Cha +0; | Maneuvers Precision attack | Menacing attack | Trip attack | Parry | Riposte | DC 14; Kirit relays Praetorian's words as near as he can. "But remember he has lied before"

The Hunters pass the time in the of the common room, until almost an hour has slipped by. Then, one by one, their phones variously buzz, ping and chime as they all receive an identical text message from the Acting President. Oh dear! I shall be too late! OOC Ekram, Hal, David - feel free to fill Sophie in on any current emotions or intentions that weren't made clear in your opening posts.

Name: Kirit | Class: Fighter 6 AC: 16+1| HP: 72/72 | Hit dice: 3/4d10 SR Abilities: SDice: 4/4d8 1/1d6 | Action surge 1/1 | 2nd Wind 1/1 LR Abilities: Luck 2/2 | Adamant 1/1 Attacks Extra attack, and off-hand attack Rapier +7 1d8+3 Magic short sword +8 1d6+4 Light crossbow 80/320 +6 1d6+3 | Saves Str +3 | Dex +4 | Con +4 | Wis +1 | Int -1 | Cha +0; | Maneuvers Precision attack | Menacing attack | Trip attack | Parry | Riposte | DC 14; "Gods I wish I was an orphan." He touches the handle of the rapier. "Well that's one more reason than I can think of. No use for clerics myself, except for healing. Even then, a potion is better. I'll add my head if you lkke, but I prefer to leave the thinking to other folks when I can. I say prefer, but really have to."

Heather Nonameyet AC: 15 | HP: 16/20 | Hit dice: 3/3d10 LR Abilities: Taunt: 2/2 | Fearless 1/1 | 1st Level 2/3 | Primal spell 1/1 AttacksShortbow 80/320 +7 1d6+3 P || Handaxe 20/60 +5 1d6+3 S || Hoopak (sling) 40/160 +7 1d4+3 B || Hoopak (spear) +5 1d6+3 P : 1d8 per turn Colossus Slayer; | SavesStr +1 | Dex +5 | Con +1 | Wis +3 Adv vs Fear | Int +1 | Cha -1; | Spells+5 attack, DC13 Hunter's Mark; Ensnaring Strike, Speak with Animals | Heather grits her teeth as the wickedly-barbed arrow finds her flesh. Reaching up, she snaps the shaft off, leaving just a few inches protruding. She doesn't bother with the ones hiding in the bushes, but lines up the goblin silhouetted against the defences. "They hit me, but it's not bad," she calls to Bastion, after the hail of arrows falling around them is spent "How are you holding up?" OOC Bonus action: Hunter's mark to 3 Action: Attack 3 with shortbow. If they have taken damage already they also take colossus slayer damage.

Name: Kirit | Class: Fighter 6 AC: 16+1| HP: 72/72 | Hit dice: 4/4d10 SR Abilities: SDice: 4/4d8 1/1d6 | Action surge 1/1 | 2nd Wind 1/1 LR Abilities: Luck 2/2 | Adamant 1/1 Attacks Extra attack, and off-hand attack Rapier +7 1d8+3 Magic short sword +8 1d6+4 Light crossbow 80/320 +6 1d6+3 | Saves Str +3 | Dex +4 | Con +4 | Wis +1 | Int -1 | Cha +0; | Maneuvers Precision attack | Menacing attack | Trip attack | Parry | Riposte | DC 14; Kirit sighs but nods. "I can come too. Just in case." He looks at the newcomer with a somewhat skeptical eye. "Prepared to fight how? Magic is it? What's your expertise?" He turns to Murdain. "Should we ask about his parents? Isn't it a party rule that you can't be on good terms with your parents?" Hopefully Murdain has been around the old fighter long enough to know this is a joke.

Name: Kirit | Class: Fighter 6 AC: 16+1| HP: 66/72 | Hit dice: 4/4d10 SR Abilities: SDice: 4/4d8 1/1d6 | Action surge 1/1 | 2nd Wind 1/1 LR Abilities: Luck 2/2 | Adamant 1/1 Attacks Extra attack, and off-hand attack Rapier +7 1d8+3 Magic short sword +8 1d6+4 Light crossbow 80/320 +6 1d6+3 | Saves Str +3 | Dex +4 | Con +4 | Wis +1 | Int -1 | Cha +0; | Maneuvers Precision attack | Menacing attack | Trip attack | Parry | Riposte | DC 14; Kirit nods along to Hjallmyr's explanation. "Seems about right. I had to take the oath to get it out of the block of stone it was in. The thing talks, has a whole personality. He seems to think there's an empyrean or something like it hereabouts. But I'm getting confused at all the things he's been saying to be honest. I don't think he's truthful. But best for me if I don't know. If I don't know, I can't keep the oath or break it neither. I found it in a hole in the ground round here, with a stone fella. I don't remember the name of the place or the fella, if I ever knew it. The others might recollect." He sheathes the sword "Murdain, can you decide if this job is worthwhile? I'll go if you are going. The others seem like they have a lot to figure out." He turns back to the barman. "And it's the one thing I never try to get out of paying for. I don't need those sort of complications. Life is complicated enough."

Name: Kirit | Class: Fighter 6 AC: 16+1| HP: 66/72 | Hit dice: 4/4d10 SR Abilities: SDice: 4/4d8 1/1d6 | Action surge 1/1 | 2nd Wind 1/1 LR Abilities: Luck 2/2 | Adamant 1/1 Attacks Extra attack, and off-hand attack Rapier +7 1d8+3 Magic short sword +8 1d6+4 Light crossbow 80/320 +6 1d6+3 | Saves Str +3 | Dex +4 | Con +4 | Wis +1 | Int -1 | Cha +0; | Maneuvers Precision attack | Menacing attack | Trip attack | Parry | Riposte | DC 14; "My comrades usually call me Kirit." Kirit replies to Barkvin's introduction. His age is hard to guess, weathered face covered in black beard, scowling and scarring, but he seems to be in his late thirties or forties. He stands a little under six feet tall, with a wiry strength and ease of movement. His clothes, boots and armour seem very worn but well-cared for. The only signs of any wealth are a pair of very well-made swords. "I'll not pretend this sounds like a great proposal to me. I prefer contracts that have a clear missing and a specified payment. But I'm also tired of pretending I'm not going along with these folks. They do have a habit of stirring up treasure. Expert in old things are you? What do you make of this?" He draws Praetorian and lays it on the table so the newcomer can examine it while he heads to the bar. "Ale, please. And a private room. Can you sort out companionship for the evening?" He glances into the magic shop, looking for anything that might be of interest to a soldier.

Name: Kirit | Class: Fighter 6 AC: 16+1| HP: 66/72 | Hit dice: 4/4d10 SR Abilities: SDice: 0/4d8 0/1d6 | Action surge 0/1 | 2nd Wind 0/1 LR Abilities: Luck 2/2 | Adamant 0/1 Attacks Extra attack, and off-hand attack Rapier +7 1d8+3 Magic short sword +8 1d6+4 Light crossbow 80/320 +6 1d6+3 | Saves Str +3 | Dex +4 | Con +4 | Wis +1 | Int -1 | Cha +0; | Maneuvers Precision attack | Menacing attack | Trip attack | Parry | Riposte | DC 14; Kirit shakes his head. "He lied about everything, why should this be the truth? Even if she confirms it, hard to know what to believe. Changes nothing anyway. Means nothing." He grasps Praetorian's holt. "Maybe thirty years ago it might have. But it's ancient history now. The Morys? They..." He brightens a little as something occurs to him. "I do get to be less careful about the ladies I chase now. When I didn't know, I always worried."

Michaelmas vacation is over, the arrival of Hilary term heralded by the traditional flood of undergraduates returning from Christmas visits in time for Noughth week, either to make use of the libraries for some last minute preparations for Collections, or to get day drunk before tutorials begin again, according to their disposition. The OUMHS is gathered in their private snug in the back room of the Bird and Baby, but Alice hasn't arrived yet. It's not her preference to arrive first anywhere. The Hunters wait for the Acting President to appear.