Month 2 - Into the Border Zone

[TheFred]

 

 

Nancy finds herself in the middle of a street, mumbling something incoherent, still clinging onto that damnable beast for dear life. She looks around in confusion, feeling a little ashamed that she turned and fled and wondering how far away her friends are. Scanning the area, she catches sight of Quim nearby and tries to make the horse move towards him, even as he moves back towards the wagon.

What happened to the... the thing? Did it just... fly away? As her horse finally starts to move in approximately the right direction, Nancy peers nervously around, looking up in the air for any sign of the monster.

 

 

 

Statblock

[URL=/sheets/?id=2079966][B]Nancy Netherwater[/B][/URL] [B]Senses:[/B] Darkvision 60ft, Perception +6, [B]Init:[/B] +3 [B]HP:[/B] 16/16, [B]Resist:[/B] Cold 5, Elec 5, Fire 5 [B]AC:[/B] 18, [B]Touch:[/B] 13, [B]Flat-footed:[/B] 15, [B]CMD:[/B] 12 [B]Saves:[/B] Fort +0, Ref +3, Will +5 (+2 vs divination/fear) [B]Mythic Power:[/B] 5/5, [B]Spells:[/B] L1: 4/5, [B]Other:[/B] Unearthly Terrain 6/7 [B]Special:[/B] Spell Resistance 7

Nancy Netherwater
Senses: Darkvision 60ft, Perception +6, Init: +3
HP: 16/16, Resist: Cold 5, Elec 5, Fire 5
AC: 18, Touch: 13, Flat-footed: 15, CMD: 12
Saves: Fort +0, Ref +3, Will +5 (+2 vs divination/fear)
Mythic Power: 5/5, Spells: L1: 4/5, Other: Unearthly Terrain 6/7
Special: Spell Resistance 7

[Illogictree]

Coalscuttle

Coalscuttle Kobold Paladin 2 || Guardian Tier 1 LG AC 21 HP 24/24 Speed 20ft Str 11 (0) Dex 13 (1) Con 11 (0) Wis 10 (0) Int 9 (-1) Cha 15 (2) Attacks Dagger +3 (1d4), +1 Longsword +4 (1d6+1), Light Crossbow +4 (1d6) Mythic Power 3/5 (+1d6)

---

The unnatural terror that had gripped Coals' heart and sent her scurrying from the cart into Draco's arms slowly subsided now that the creature was gone. Now that she could think clearly instead of running on adrenaline and primal fight-or-flight instinct, she felt a deep shame that she'd been so weak as to fall for such a trick. Whatever magic had caused it was done, and she allowed herself to turn her attention to the man they'd tried to rescue.

"Oh no!" she cried, and clambered as fast as she could up the cart. Bee, clearly injured, turned pain-glazed eyes up to her. But he insistently pointed to the dying guard, eyes imploring her to do something.

Coals spread her scaly hands and placed them on the man, closing her eyes and praying. "Gods, let this man live," she whispered, "please."

OOC

Lay On Hands

[Basil_Bottletop]

 

 

In all of the chaos of the evening, Quim suddenly felt the great guilt of forgetting his responsibilities. The warg pup was likely still in the room at the inn. He'd left it there in his quick escape earlier in the evening and now he felt leagues away both mentally and physically. He knew he was only a few city blocks, but he wasn't sure how easily it would be to get back there unnoticed or without some kind of altercation with the incoming local law.

But it felt like the only thing he could focus on in the moment. His limbs felt little pins were pressing in all over his skin and he was having a tough time gathering enough of his wits to formulate anything resembling a reasonable plan. After a few seconds, he simply blurted out, "I gotta get back to the inn! But, like, I'll see you guys after? I'll catch up on the road?" His feet were already dancing in the stirrups and he had a hard time waiting to see if anyone was even paying him any attention. "Get outta here already!" He yelled, unclear if to himself or the others.

 

 

 

 

[Pheonixfire]

Draco Tiras (sheet)
Male NG Human (Brass) Eldritch Scion Magus 1, Arcane Duelist Bard 1 (Aristocrat 0), Level 2, Init 3, HP 21, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 14, Flat-footed 14, CMD 14, Fort 3, Ref 5, Will 4, CMB 0, Base Attack Bonus 0
+1 Rapier +4 (1d6+3+1, 18-20/*2)
Explorers outfit donned under Chain Shirt (+4 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 10, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 11, Cha 15
Condition None
Speaks Common and Draconic

---

 

Draco finally calms down as the thing flies off. Honestly, he was just grateful that it was going so he could think. As the others start moving about, he stands up, then follows Coals to the Guard. He hesitates a bit, then reaches over and also tries to imbue some of his magic into the guy, hoping that the healing he did before would still work. "We should, starting to move so we can avoid getting arrested. I really don't want to have to explain this to the law and get arrested" He starts to move to his horse once he tried, heedless of if it worked or not.

 

Actions

Standard: Casting Cure Light Wounds on the Guard for 1 Bard spell slot.

Cure Light Wounds

[Doby]

~ Citadel Forge, Wagon Chase  ~

~ Month 2, Day 6: Evening ~

Coalscuttle and Draco's combined healing powers are enough to jolt the life back into the man. His head and chest shoot upright into a nearly seated position, and pulls his legs that had been splayed out over the driver's box closer to him. "Gods, what happened?" he says to himself as he looks up to see his saviors. His face betrays his confusion, and his narrowing eyes and facial expressions clearly indicate feelings of caution and wariness. He looks around for the creature, but seeing no sign of it he turns back to Coal and Draco. "Ok, you got me. Now what?"

A few hundred yards away, it appears the guards have finally been summoned. Torches and the familiar clanking of heavy armor indicate their approach in the distance.

 

 

For Quim

Whatever Quim's motivations, fear, duty or frustration, he finds himself back at the entrance to the inn in short time. No one from the city watch crossed his path, though he also did his best to keep to the alleyways and side streets.

It doesn't take long to put the horse away and get back to his room. The little warg has chewed some of the wooden bed legs, and put a good enough sized hole in the mattress to yank out a lot of the straw inside that is now strewn about the small space. Though the beast appears to have had worn itself out as Quim finds it curled up in a ball and sleeping on the floor. As he stands there and surveys the scene, the warg wakes gently and looks up at Quim before cocking his head to the side almost as if to ask, "Where you been, dad?"

Edited September 26, 2023 by Doby (see edit history)

[Basil_Bottletop]

 

 

Quim's mouth turned crooked as he surveyed the damage. He couldn't remember if anyone had put down their names for the rooms, but he was certainly hoping it couldn't be traced back to them; specifically him. He hadn't been privy to just how much they'd made in selling off the junk but he did know what debts looked like in this hellhole. Haste was better than valor. Quim quickly scrambled about the room and grabbed anything he thought was his or his companions and stuffed it into whatever containers lie about.

The warg pup jumped up and joined him in his frantic moving about, diving between his steps and trying to predict every move. The distraction made clean up more difficult, but it did give Quim quite the advantage when it was time to corral the young thing up into his arms. It only took a few minutes before Quim was back at the doorway ready to exit, but his forehead was damp and his breath was heavy. The warg pup clutched in his arms.

He dared one last look back over the room, but his eyes barely registered anything beyond broad shapes of furniture. His mind had already left the building. He closed the door behind him and raced down the stairs before catching his speed at the bottom and walking back out toward the stables. Out in the stables, he cursed himself for the off chance he brought attention to himself on the stairs, but he didn't have time to linger on the issue. He quickly tied the sacks and satchel to his saddle and prepared to leave.

 

 

 

 

[Illogictree]

Coalscuttle

Coalscuttle Kobold Paladin 2 || Guardian Tier 1 LG AC 21 HP 24/24 Speed 20ft Str 11 (0) Dex 13 (1) Con 11 (0) Wis 10 (0) Int 9 (-1) Cha 15 (2) Attacks Dagger +3 (1d4), +1 Longsword +4 (1d6+1), Light Crossbow +4 (1d6) Mythic Power 3/5 (+1d6)

---

Coals sighed and sat back, seemingly quite tired but relieved as the guard sat back up.

"Um..." she stumbled at the man's question. Things had absolutely not gone according to plan, and she was kind of at a loss for words.

No, wait, she knew what to ask. The words immediately started tumbling out.

"What was that thing?! Was that why you weren't able to tell us anything? Are there more of them? Is that why Cessah is in danger? What was it having you do? What did you need the slaves for?"

There seemed to be an awful lot of commotion farther up the street...

[Doby]

~ Citadel Forge, Wagon Chase  ~

~ Month 2, Day 6: Evening ~

As Coalscuttle continues to pepper the man with her series of question, he waves them off with a look of frustration. "You have all the questions, I get it, but they are going to have questions, too." He points over his shoulder at the approaching city watch. They are getting closer and coming into clearer view. "Personally, I'd rather talk to you then them, but you're the one with the sword." He cranes his neck to look around the side of the wagon, then turns back to Coalscuttle and adds, "There's also the matter of what to do with them." He shrugs his shoulders before crossing his arms over his chest, "In case you hadn't noticed, my wagon is broken now."

 

For Quim

After nearly running into a pair of other guests as they were entering the inn, Quim quickly prepared his horse for travel. "You all right, mister? In some trouble?" Quim spun around to see a young man, probably in his middle or late teens. He held a bucket in each hand, one filled with feed and the other with water. He stared at Quim expectantly as he waited for his answer.

[Basil_Bottletop]

 

 

"No trouble." Quim lied, giving the boy just enough attention to avoid a knife in the back. He stuffed his things into the saddle bags with some haste, but then caught him going to fast and slowed down. Instead of moving to the next piece of gear, he checked over what he'd just shoved in as if double-checking his work. It was meant to look less conspicuous, but he wasn't sure it was working.

The warg's claws tapped at the cobblestone. "Just think we overstayed our welcome, that's all." Against his better judgement, Quim went back to preparing his saddles to leave.

 

 

 

 

[Doby]

For Quim

The boy was quiet for a moment, then slowly turned back towards his duties of providing food and water to the stabled animals. He set the bucket of feed down as he used both hands to heft the water bucket. The warg's nose perked up as it started sniffing the air, then quickly lurched for the feed. Before Quim could act it was snout deep in the bucket. The young stablehand seemed amused and smiled broadly. "I like your dog, mister. What's it's name?"

[TheFred]

 

 

 

Nancy wants to know what in the Hells is going on, and give Coalscuttle a good scolding for whatever it is... but as she gets closer to the wagon, she notices movement in the distance. Guards.

"We need to get out of here right now," she says, glaring at the others. "Come on!"

 

 

 

 

Statblock

[URL=/sheets/?id=2079966][B]Nancy Netherwater[/B][/URL] [B]Senses:[/B] Darkvision 60ft, Perception +6, [B]Init:[/B] +3 [B]HP:[/B] 16/16, [B]Resist:[/B] Cold 5, Elec 5, Fire 5 [B]AC:[/B] 18, [B]Touch:[/B] 13, [B]Flat-footed:[/B] 15, [B]CMD:[/B] 12 [B]Saves:[/B] Fort +0, Ref +3, Will +5 (+2 vs divination/fear) [B]Mythic Power:[/B] 5/5, [B]Spells:[/B] L1: 4/5, [B]Other:[/B] Unearthly Terrain 6/7 [B]Special:[/B] Spell Resistance 7

Nancy Netherwater
Senses: Darkvision 60ft, Perception +6, Init: +3
HP: 16/16, Resist: Cold 5, Elec 5, Fire 5
AC: 18, Touch: 13, Flat-footed: 15, CMD: 12
Saves: Fort +0, Ref +3, Will +5 (+2 vs divination/fear)
Mythic Power: 5/5, Spells: L1: 4/5, Other: Unearthly Terrain 6/7
Special: Spell Resistance 7

[Pheonixfire]

Draco Tiras (sheet)
Male NG Human (Brass) Eldritch Scion Magus 1, Arcane Duelist Bard 1 (Aristocrat 0), Level 2, Init 3, HP 21, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 14, Flat-footed 14, CMD 14, Fort 3, Ref 5, Will 4, CMB 0, Base Attack Bonus 0
+1 Rapier +4 (1d6+3+1, 18-20/*2)
Explorers outfit donned under Chain Shirt (+4 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 10, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 11, Cha 15
Condition None
Speaks Common and Draconic

---

 

Draco was busy racking his brain for an idea or plan. But it wasn't exactly useful as nothing he could think of would help them get away and he knew, just knew, that if the guards caught up they would be arrested for disturbing the peace or something like that. "Need to go. Let the women go and let's go." That sounded like a decent plan, right? He didn't really fancy trying to talk their way out.

 

Actions

 

[Illogictree]

Coalscuttle

Coalscuttle Kobold Paladin 2 || Guardian Tier 1 LG AC 21 HP 24/24 Speed 20ft Str 11 (0) Dex 13 (1) Con 11 (0) Wis 10 (0) Int 9 (-1) Cha 15 (2) Attacks Dagger +3 (1d4), +1 Longsword +4 (1d6+1), Light Crossbow +4 (1d6) Mythic Power 3/5 (+1d6)

---

"Oh! Yes, of course," Coals says quickly. "We should let them go. Hold on."

She hurries to the back of the wagon where she stares at the lock on the door.

"Um... I should probably have borrowed the key," she admits sheepishly.

She shrugs and then aims a sword blow at the lock, hoping to break it.

OOC

Attack

Damage

Edited October 19, 2023 by Illogictree (see edit history)

[Doby]

~ Citadel Forge, Wagon Chase  ~

~ Month 2, Day 6: Evening ~

Though many in the group express a strong desire to leave immediately, everyone watches as Coal takes a hack at the lock of the wagon's rear door with her sword. Despite hitting it with as much might as she can muster, the lock doesn't seem to have taken a scratch.

"You do most things the hard way, don't you?" Coal looks up to see the guard looking down from atop the wagon. He slides an iron key out of a pocket in his shirt and drops it down to her. "Running out of time, here," he adds to Coal with a raised brow. He gently climbs down the side of the wagon, still obviously hurt and pained from the cloak monster's attack. He starts off towards the multitude of tents and booths in the open air market nearby. "We leaving or what?" he says rhetorically as he quickly walks away from the wagon.

[Doby]

~ Citadel Forge, Wagon Chase  ~

~ Month 2, Day 6: Evening ~

Coalscuttle has only to open her palm and let the key drop into it. With all due haste, she inserts it into the simple padlock on the wagon's door and throws it open. The women inside immediately run from their confinement, thanking Coalscuttle profusely, and extending that to any other party members they pass by as they scatter into the night. The guard takes that as his cue, and swiftly leads the party away from the ruined wagon. Fortunately, Quim returns to the area with his mount and pup just in time to see the group fleeing. He's able to keep his distance from the approaching guards and to catch up to the party.

The guard lead everyone to a relatively quiet and dark part of the town. He stayed mostly to the alleyways between buildings and streets where he could. Avoiding the regular patrols didn't seem to be too challenging, or at least he made it look easy. You eventually arrived at his destination, a fairly nondescript house. The windows barred with wrought iron indicated how seriously the owner took security, but otherwise the abode was relatively unremarkable. As the guard pushed open the heavy door with both hands, your eyes immediately and reflexively scanned for danger or threats that never emerged. As the guard calmly walked into the home, he immediately moved to get a fire started in the hearth as he suggested someone grab the wine and cups from a nearby room. His body warmed and his thirst sated, he willingly provides answers to all questions asked, first of which was his name: Byran.

Byran's tale began in a place all too familiar to you, save Quim (though even he had heard the stories told after the collapse of the mountain); it began in the ritual chamber where Cessah first unlocked the power you all now wield. When the shades attacked, Byran's fellow guards had no defense against the creatures. Byran was the last of Cessah's personal guard still standing, and he thought that surely he'd die like the rest did. When Cessah took a hold of the man and plunged both of them into the endless darkness below, it was with the knowing that her magic ring would carry them safely downward. Even Cessah didn't know what lay beneath them, only that it had to be less dangerous than where they had just been.

After what seemed like minutes of falling, eventually the two landed in the Pit Below. While Byran's eyes were helpless without light, Cessah's could pierce the dark with ease. She kept Byran alive for days as they foraged for what food they could, and traveled by torchlight when it was safe. Eventually, when it seemed like they might just survive and make it back to the surface, they were ambushed by strange frog-headded, green-skinned humanoids. Their mouths were wide with a row of sharp teeth, more like a fish then a man. They overpowered Cessah and Byran and took them before their overlords; the same type of creature that accompanied Byran on his back disguised as a cloak.

The overlords quickly decided that Cessah should be used to breed more of the frog-fish creatures, and that Byran would be killed. But Byran offered an alternative: if the overlords needed breeders, Byran would bring them from surface cities, but only if the creatures set Cessah free. The overlords accepted Byran's offer, but Cessah would not be freed until Byran had returned with others to take her place. They also didn't trust that Byran wouldn't return with help, so they sent one of their own with him in disguise, the creature the group had encountered at the marketplace.

Byran's plan was to take the servant women he had purchased and use them to trade for Cessah's life. "I don't like it. In fact, I hate it," Byran said with his eyes on the floor. He lifted his cup to his lips, which was at least his third for anyone who was counting, and emptied it into his mouth. After a hard swallow, he finished, "But I just don't see how I've any choice. She saved my life. I can't let her die."

His request was a silent one, but none of you had to look very hard to see his eyes were begging for your help. Despite whatever misgivings you may have had, or whatever good sense told you otherwise, the group consensus was that you would help free Cessah. If nothing else, she had information that mattered to you, and she might be the only one who had it.

 

~ Leaving Citadel Forge ~

~ Month 2, Day 7: Morning ~

Before dawn, Ingrid fetched Suliyah's family. They had sold off most of their shop and goods. They probably took less than it's worth in their hurry, but they also seemed to be at peace with the decision, and maybe even pleased to be striking out beyond the Citadel's walls. Their wagon was large, with plenty of space for goods and people. While the party rode their steeds as escort, Byran put himself to use driving the wagon. While some of the group were concerned they may be stopped by the guard after the disturbance the night before, Byran seemed to have a friend or two amongst the guard and the group was able to pass the gate unharassed.

The group didn't have a plan, not yet, but Byran had some ideas. As the group put some distance between them and Citadel Forge, his words flowed more freely. He could lead the group to the passage the frog men had used to enter and exit the Pit Below. It was only a few days North. His suggestion was to trick the sentries who guarded the cave by having the group hide in the wagon. The hope was that they'd be able to draw all of them out before springing the trap and attacking. It wasn't much, but it was the best he could think of. "After we down the surface scouts, we can leave the family here in a safe place and go below. The only advantage we'd have is surprise, but it might be enough."