Session 1-1: The Group Forms! The Trial Begins!

[Carthrat]

[00:12] <@Ao> An tall, steel-clad wall surrounds the city of Saradush, with grim-looking guards

[00:12] <@Ao> stationed in parapets all around. More like a fort than a town, the reason why perhaps

[00:12] <@Ao> becomes obvious- one chunk of the wall is cratered and being busily rebuilt.
[00:12] <@Ao> Huge, ugly humanoid-like creatures lift giant stones and set them in place, apparently

[00:12] <@Ao> working very quickly. The hill giants have massive iron collars on their necks,

[00:12] <@Ao> inscribed with strange runes that are visible even from a great distance. They work

[00:12] <@Ao> almost tirelessly, but grudgingly.
[00:12] <@Ao> The interior of the city itself is bustling nonetheless, but is very slick. All the

[00:12] <@Ao> buildings are of recent construction- there are hardly any flaws in the workmanship,

[00:12] <@Ao> which is good. You soon find yourself in front of city hall, where you were told to

[00:12] <@Ao> go.
[00:12] <@Ao> You shortly enter, and after a brief period of waiting, find yourself ushered into the

[00:12] <@Ao> office of the lord mayor of Saradush- along with three others...
[00:12] <@Ao> OOC: Go for the personal description, people, I'll move you on in just a tad.
[00:17] <@Thrall> Thrall is a tall man, standing a good head over most others. His vivid green complexion betrays his heritage clearly, but it hardly takes more than a cursory glance to note his sloped brow and tusk-like teeth that mark him as being of Orcish blood. He's oddly thin for a half-orc, however, carrying himself with a wirey strength beneath his dark steel armour, laden with vicious looking spikes.
[00:17] <@Thrall> A large greataxe is strapped to his back, not seeming any burden as he strides into the mayor's office, sizing up both the location and the others present with quiet intensity.
[00:18] * Hotaru-chan is now known as Seraphin
[00:19] <@Ao> Another figure is shortly ushered into the room after the rest of you, though she's a curious one, to say the least.
[00:21] <@Ao> The Mayor is a burly fellow who looks a little silly in his

[00:21] <@Ao> official, expensive robes of velvet and silk. He has a martial bearing, and a longsword

[00:21] <@Ao> and shield sit in a corner of the office, obviously frequently used.
[00:21] <@Ao> "Mmm. Good to see you," he says, his glance sweeping over you in turn- appraising you

[00:21] <@Ao> like he would a fort, or a rank of men- and his face gives away nothing of his thoughts.

[00:21] <@Ao> His voice is certainly steady, and he acts as if you're hanging on to every word.
[00:22] <@Kethean> Standing by the wall next to the door is a tanned young human monk, leaning casually against the wall as he observes the others, and the entering figure. The monk in question is named Kethean, and his air is a light golden-brown shade. It's short
[00:22] <@Kethean> lenght on the sides and back give it a spiky nature,
[00:22] <@Kethean> though the top of his hair is much longer, and rather
[00:22] <@Kethean> than spiky, it's simply wild and wavy. A small beard
[00:22] <@Kethean> lies around his lips
[00:22] <@Thaeos> Thaeos himself stands around five foot and six inches, weighing around 130 pounds. This makes him shorter than most, but fairly well muscled and lithe. Light brown hair sits atop his face, which has five large gashes running from his brow down the right side of his face, passing over his eyes, which are a vibrant green. The scars lead all the down to his jaw.
[00:22] <@Thaeos> He's well tanned, and wearing high quality studded leather. The armor is well oiled and makes nary a sound as he moves. Across his back is strapped a short bow, along with a quiver of arrows and another at his right hip, with a short sword at his left. Obviously, he is an archer.
[00:22] <@Kethean> ooc - gah on the copy paste part of the description. oh well.
[00:23] * @Maz stands at just under 5 feet, a cloak covering most of her body. She is a slender girl with porcelain-white skin and short, wavy blue-green hair. They, along with the fangs that can be seen when she licks her lips, point to her otherworldy ancestry. No weapons or armor are visible on her figure, and she keeps to herself, standing off to the side.
[00:24] <@Ao> "My name is Castor Langley.. mayor of Saradush, as I'm sure you guessed. You were sent to help me by... a few people, I believe. For various reasons, I suppose, but let's not dwell on them.
[00:24] <@Ao> You're here to work. If you're here for money, you're in luck. If you're doing a favour for someone, you're getting paid for it, too, which should be a bonus. I don't know. I don't care. Now, ah, take a seat."
[00:24] <@Ao> There are five solid wooden chairs for you to do just that on, even if they do look a little uncomfortable.
[00:24] * @Thaeos takes the one closest to the door.
[00:25] <@Kethean> Looking a little injured, but otherwise healthy, Kethean seems to not have anything on him but the clothes on his back and a wooden symbol hanging off a chain around his neck. Someone familiar with deities might be familiar with it enough to identify it as a representation of Savras, a crystal ball with many eyes, though not being a major deity, who knows? Nodding towards the mayor, he moves towards a seat, plopping down comfortably i
[00:26] <@Kethean> in it.
[00:26] * @Maz takes an empty chair at the end of the row.
[00:26] <@Seraphin> Seraphin is rather slim, perhaps even slight in appearances, though the size of her pack would betray this as a lie. Standing in at probably a hair taller than a few in the room, her silver hair glitters under the light, and unnaturally red eyes cast a glare behind her for a moment as she slips into place in the room.
[00:26] <@Seraphin>  No weapons are yet visible, though the cloak kepts pulled around her figure may well explain that. A faint tang of human blood accompanies her entrance.
[00:26] * @Thrall gives the mayor a silent nod, carefully settling himself into a seat and hoping it's as solid as it looks.
[00:27] <@Ao> The chairs do indeed hold, as Thrall finds.
[00:27] <@Ao> "Look, again, I don't know exactly how you ended up here. I don't really care, either. There are a few things that need doing, and you're the group I've managed to pull together to do it. It won't be pretty, and it won't be easy. I'll pay you, feed you, and house you until the work is done."
[00:27] <@Ao> He catches himself, and leans back in his chair a little. "Now. You'll be working closely together soon, so I suggest you introduce yourselves to each other. And me, at that."
[00:28] * @Seraphin slips into a seat, movements slow and formal, like she's wearing a dress and not explorer's clothing.
[00:31] <@Kethean> "My name is Kethean, from the town of Brost. I've been searching for a family member, though I found myself derailed from that when captured by some cultists who stripped me bare. I escaped, ended up here, and now I need to make some traveling money past what the cleric down at Waukeen's temple offered me when I handed him the information on Shar's cult," Kethean summarizes his story, keeping it simple, not giving out much about himse
[00:31] <@Ao> "Ah, yes, I recieved word on that," says the mayor, nodding. "Mmm. Very good."
[00:32] <@Kethean> not giving out much about himself yet.
[00:36] * @Maz shifts uncomfortably, and then shrugs. "I'm Maz," she says, glancing over the others and finally looking straight at the mayor. "Linda referred me to you. She's terribly sorry she couldn't make it, but seeing as I was available, I graciously offered to help in her stead. You need a mage, and you've got one in me."
[00:37] <@Ao> "I see. Linda has already been helpful, so.. yes, you'll do fine, I think," he says, seemingly ignoring your somewhat strange appearance.
[00:37] <@Seraphin> "Mm, I'm Seraphin," the latecomer begins, smiling just a little. "I'm...a professional of various dalliances, from Waterdeep, but like a lot of professions, that can get old in the city of wonders, so I moved to Riatvin. For various reasons, it was suggested I come here for additional work by Ruth."
[00:38] <@Ao> "Ruth, hmm," the mayor says, musing.
[00:39] * @Thrall does glance at Seraphin at the mention of Waterdeep, but holds his peace for the moment.
[00:39] <@Thaeos> "My name is Thaeos, born in Silverymoon. I just 'retired' from the standing army of Silverymoon, where I was a Scout. My only real goal is to travel around and make some money, while heading towards the Deserts, eventually. One of your outfitters led me to you."
[00:41] <@Ao> "If you don't find desert enough in Tethyr, head further south," says the mayor, dryly. "I'm sure you'll find Calimshan to your liking, if you don't rapidly lose your attraction to them."
[00:41] * @Thaeos shrugs.
[00:41] <@Thaeos> "New lands to learn, then."
[00:43] * @Thrall speaks up last, his voice low. "I am Thrall. Bounty hunter and mercenary." Considering a moment, "I'm new to this city," he adds, not mentioning where he came from. It hardly matters, after all, "But an old friend recommended this job for me. You won't find my axe lacking if there's fighting involved in the task."
[00:44] <@Ao> "I'm certain there will be," notes the mayor. "Well..."
[00:44] <@Ao> "Now. Saradush has been reconstructed by order of King Haedrak. There was previous a war

[00:44] <@Ao> with a group of giants, but we pushed them off- after they totalled most of the city.

[00:44] <@Ao> Most of the work has already been done."
[00:44] <@Ao> "The problem is, our ranks were highly thinned by this. You might've noticed those

[00:44] <@Ao> giants outside- they've been.. ensorcelled to aid our reconstruction and defense

[00:44] <@Ao> efforts. Tethyr can't spare many soldiers for us, so, in theory, they're a great help."
[00:44] <@Ao> "Thing is, we need to keep them near the city, and we need to keep soldiers near the

[00:44] <@Ao> giants. They're a great help, but it's possible that the magic involved will fail and

[00:44] <@Ao> they'll go beserk. We need all troops handy to put them down if that happens."
[00:44] <@Ao> "This has caused problems for the surrounding townships and land. Merchants are getting

[00:44] <@Ao> robbed daily, almost, and what few soldiers I can spare are only rooting the bandits

[00:44] <@Ao> out- slowly."
[00:44] <@Ao> "I'm not employing you to hunt bandits- though if you feel like doing some of that,

[00:44] <@Ao> there's a few wanted posters outside for some of the known ringleaders. I'm paying you

[00:44] <@Ao> because last week, Count Carvale's daughter was kidnapped by one group, and the next

[00:44] <@Ao> day, they left *this* at his door."
[00:44] <@Ao> Castor produces a couple of pieces of parchment, scribbled on one with crudely-written

[00:44] <@Ao> common is "Five thousand gold, on the night of the new moon- or the girl dies!" The

[00:44] <@Ao> other contains a crude map of the area surrounding Saradush, and indicates a

[00:44] <@Ao> particularly large tree as the dropoff point.
[00:47] <@Thrall> "A rescue mission?" Thrall asks quietly, an eyebrow lifted on his scarred face. Not really his thing - making sure the victim is safe when you're busy slaughtering the captors is a lot of hassle, after all.
[00:48] <@Ao> "Something like that. As much a detterant to future bandits as a rescue mission," replies the mayor.
[00:48] <@Thrall> A slight smile works its way onto Thrall's face as he silently nods. Deterrent he can do.
[00:48] <@Thaeos> "When's the new moon? It's soon, isn't it?"
[00:49] * @Seraphin frowns a little. "The moon was waning rather hard when I came here..." she nods to Thaeos, looking to the mayor.
[00:50] <@Ao> "Tomorrow, I'm told," replies the mayor. "And that's when we'll spring our trap. We've prepared a chest full of fool's gold- Linda prepared it, to be honest," he says, glancing at Maz. "They can't know- there's no mage guild in Saradush. Linda is just a personal acquaintance that.. came in rather handy."
[00:50] <@Ao> "We'll give them the fake gold, and you'll track 'em back to their hideout."
[00:51] * @Thrall glances at Thaeos. The Scout should come in handy for that, then...
[00:51] <@Thaeos> "Hmm.. They might be expecting that, but are planning on letting the night hide their trail.. Shouldn't be too much of a problem, though."
[00:51] <@Seraphin> "Ahhh...and so they should release the girl on their own, releasing us to do our business, and if they don't...well, that's their treachery, and hardly our faults for taking revenge?" Seraphin inquireshands folded in her lap.
[00:52] <@Seraphin> *inquires, hands
[00:54] <@Ao> "They're bandits. They're outlaws by definition," notes the mayor. "The girls safety is a priority, but so is.. removing them. Just take a look at some of the wanted posters out the front," he goes on. "I'm willing to pay you 20 gold for every bandit scalp you bring in, and two hundred each if you bring back the girl."
[00:54] * @Thaeos raises an eyebrow..
[00:54] <@Thaeos> "That's quite a sum of money.."
[00:54] <@Maz> "Sounds like fun," Maz says simply.
[00:55] <@Ao> "It is. I'm glad I'm not paying it," replies the mayor. "Corvale will be fielding the bill, in this case."
[00:55] <@Thaeos> "Living on a Count's coffers? Hell, that alone sounds like fun."
[00:56] <@Seraphin> "Quite," Seraphin agrees quietly.
[00:57] <@Thrall> "I'm in," Thrall rumbles, not even having to think about it. The job sounds mostly straightforward, the pay is good, and most importantly he was asked by a guildmate to take the job.
[00:57] <@Ao> The mayor pulls out another piece of parchment. On it is the well-drawn profile of a charming young woman, with long hair and an odd birthmark on her cheek- a black, whole circle.
[00:58] <@Ao> "I don't think she'll be hard to spot," he adds, dryly.
[00:58] * @Maz studies the picture intently, memorizing the woman's features.
[00:58] <@Ao> "I assume you're all taking the job? If you require something, now is the time to ask me."
[00:58] <@Thaeos> "Is this the only copy of the picture?"
[00:59] <@Ao> "At present, yes. Portraits are hard to copy, you know."
[00:59] * @Thaeos shrugs.
[00:59] <@Thaeos> "Sounds fine to me.. Guess I'll go along with this, also."
[01:00] <@Seraphin> "I'll do it," Seraphin nods, glancing at the portrait for a moment for where she is.
[01:02] * @Kethean nods. "I, as well."
[01:02] <@Thrall> "So what's the girl's name?" Thrall asks as the others throw their lot in as well.
[01:03] <@Ao> "Isia," replies the mayor. "Isia Corvale."
[01:06] <@Thaeos> "Hmm.. If they've picked this spot, they're probably going to be watching most, if not all, of tomorrow..
[01:07] <@Ao> "If there's some way I can help, do ask. In the meantime, though, I suggest you all get some sleep. You'll need to travel most of the day to reach the spot tomorrow."
[01:07] <@Thaeos> "Hmm.. I need a new cloak, actually, Mayor. Any suggestions where to get a good cloak?"
[01:09] <@Ao> "A tailor? There's one on the main street. 'Erschwells's Fine Cuts', or some such. He's a bit of a pretentious idiot, but the best tailor in town."
[01:09] * @Thaeos nods.
[01:10] <@Thaeos> "Well, I guess I better get to work then. I need to get that cloak and head out if I'm going to the drop off point and watch over it."
[01:11] <@Seraphin> "Hold a moment so we can do this like professionals, and not a minor mob?" Seraphin asks the former soldier, glancing at him as she slowly stands.
[01:13] <@Thaeos> "I wasn't leaving just yet."
[01:16] <@Seraphin> "Just making sure," Seraphin nods, adjusting something under her cloak. "Meet at The Inn With No Name in less than an hour?" she asks, glancing around at the others for yeas or nays.
[01:16] * @Thaeos nods.
[01:17] * @Maz nods curtly, avoiding looking at Seraphin.
[01:17] <@Thrall> "Very well," Thrall agrees, slowly rising from his seat.
[01:20] <@Seraphin> "Then I think I'll take my leave, Mayor. Thank you for the job opportunity," Seraphin manages a curtsy in her cloak, a small flash of curved fangs inside her mouth the more she speaks. Turning, she leaves the room, her steps slow and sure.
[01:20] <@Ao> The mayor nods to all of you as you leave.
[01:21] * @Thaeos nods to the mayor and heads out after Seraphin.
[01:23] <@Ao> 'The Inn With No Name' is about as nondescript as you get. Bland ale, bland food, bland waitress, bland decor. Nontheless, it's a decent spot to meet, and there are several empty tables for you to gather around.
[01:25] * @Thaeos comes down from up stairs, pack slung over his shoulder, and takes a seat at an empty table, leaning his bow against the pack and then ordering a light meal.
[01:30] * @Seraphin enters the inn, her own back over her shoulder, and less of a care taken with her cloak this time, a dagger and shortsword visible beneath it. "Thaeos," she greets as she comes to the table, finger tapping the edge. "Mind if I join you?" she asks quietly.
[01:30] <@Thaeos> "Have a seat."
[01:31] * @Thaeos smiles at her before motioning to get the waitresses attention.
[01:32] <@Seraphin> "Thank you," Seraphin answers on reflex, seating herself, pack going to the floor by her feet.
[01:33] * @Kethean soon comes in as well, looking better in health. Spying two of those he met in the mayor's office, he heads towards them. "Hello again," he says in greeting.
[01:33] * @Thaeos raises a hand in greeting and keeps eating.
[01:34] * @Maz enters the establishment right after Kethean, and heads towards the table everyone seems to be gathering at. She nods in greeting silently.
[01:37] * @Seraphin waves to both new entries, ordering her own small meal the next time the server comes by, and pausing an instant before adding ale, a small cringe to her face at that allowance.
[01:38] * @Kethean checks how much money he has left from what Waukeen's cleric gave him before he orders something for himself.
[01:39] <@Ao> Kethean finds around 10 gold in the pouch.
[01:41] * @Kethean nods to himself, and orders something light and filling.
[01:41] <@Thrall> Thrall is last to arrive, seeing the others dining, he nods to them as he passes, heading to the bar first to arrange a room. That done, he heads directly up there to stow his armour and gear before returning downstairs, ordering a meal - preferably something with lots of meat, and ale before joining them at the table.
[01:42] * @Maz doesn't feel particularly hungry, and only orders ale for herself
[01:45] <@Thaeos> "So, any suggestions on how to do this?"
[01:47] <@Seraphin> "Firstly, we'll have to track them to their hideout...bandits being what they are, I don't consider this an issue. Unless you'd rather ambush them at the drop point?" Seraphin asks, looking around. "Either could work, I guess."
[01:48] <@Thrall> "Before we plan, I have information that may be useful," Thrall begins, a mess of scars and tattoos visible all over his arms now that he's dispensed with his armour. "The bandits we face are likely to number around a dozen, and their leader may have some magical ability." Turning his attention to Seraphin, "It may be more profitable to track their hideout, given their recent successes."
[01:48] <@Thaeos> "It'd be better to plan on following them. Unless they have the girl with them at the drop point, there's no reason to do it there."
[01:48] <@Kethean> "We should plan for the possibility they might bring her though, however unlikely it might be," Kethean comments.
[01:50] <@Maz> "If they do bring her, then for some reason they intend to go through with the deal. And then they would release her, in which case it would still be preferable to follow the bandits to their hideout to eliminate their comrads," Maz says in return.
[01:51] <@Thaeos> "Hmm.. True.. But in that case, we'd need to have at least one of us bring the girl back, or deal with having to drag her *back* to the camp. I imagine she'll complain about that. 'Specially since she's a Count's daughter."
[01:52] * @Seraphin smiles a little at Thrall, nodding. "Their hideout it is, then, which puts us in a slightly more fluid situation. If their leader posesses magic...mmm, it's a possibility we may have to do half of it at the drop point, and half at their hideout, if they detect the false gold."
[01:53] <@Thaeos> "So who's going to watch the girl while the rest of us cut the bandits apart?"
[01:54] <@Maz> "I'll do it," Maz offers.
[01:54] <@Thrall> "That depends on the situation we find," Thrall intones, steepling his fingers. "If we avoid conflict, we could return her home while someone," he looks at Thaeos, "Locates their stronghold. Then we could return in force later on."
[01:54] * @Thaeos shrugs.
[01:54] <@Kethean> "That's assuming there is a girl to find and watch. If she remains at the cave, we'll have to search for her. Thaeos, you said you were a scout correct?" Kethean asks as he turns to the man.
[01:55] <@Thaeos> "That would work fine with me. I was hoping to go ahead of you all anyway and camp out the drop point incase they showed up early to set an ambush."
[01:55] <@Thaeos> "Aye, I'm a Scout."
[01:56] * @Ana-breakfast (dunefar@ip24-253-133-211.hr.hr.cox.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
[01:56] <@Kethean> "So you'd probably be the best suited to finding her and protecting her or getting her out if she's at the cave, I suppose..."
[01:57] <@Thaeos> "Not really... I can find her easy enough, but I rely on my bow, not my blade. In a confined area, I'm not the best choice."
[01:58] * @Kethean nods. "I can manage in a confined area, but I don't know how stealthily I could reach her either."
[01:58] <@Thrall> "If possible, I'd prefer to kill all the bandits before we worry about rescuing our captive - it's best if she stays out of the way while the fighting is going on," Thrall notes. "Hopefully the bandits will be more concerned with fighting us off than doing anything about a bound and helpless prisoner."
[01:59] <@Seraphin> "Most of my experience has been with working in close quarters without being noticed," Seraphin admits, nodding. "I'd be halfl tempted to simply eliminate anyone there if it came to stealth, though."
[02:00] <@Thaeos> "Possibly... It'd be easy enough for me to take out one or two of them before anyone really reacted to my firing."
[02:04] <@Thaeos> "Well, I suppose we can finish up in the morning.. We've got an early start, so I'm going to head off to sleep."
[02:04] <@Seraphin> "So we follow along to the drop point, and stand ready out of sight there. Thaeos, and me if he really wants me along, can track them to their hideout unnoticed, while the rest of the group stays a ways behind, upon locating and evaluating their hideout, we'll come up with a more tactical plan to go forward with."
[02:05] <@Thrall> "A sound plan," Thrall nods agreeably.
[02:05] * @Kethean nods, also in agreement.
[02:05] <@Thaeos> "That sounds good to me. You comming with me depends on how well you can move though.. But that's something we'll find out in the morning.. In the mean time, 'night."
[02:05] <@Maz> "It just might survive first contact with the enemy," Maz agrees, shrugging.
[02:06] * @Thaeos slings his pack back over his should and heads up with a wave to the group.
[02:06] <@Ao> <->
[02:06] <@Ao> The next day... well.. night...
[02:07] <@Ao> The Mayor made sure you had the chest of fools gold the next day (it certainly *looks* real), and soon sent you off. After a day of fairly constant travel, you arrive at the dropoff point.
[02:08] * @Thaeos looks around, looking for a good spot to hide in.
[02:08] <@Ao> The land around is rocky and hilly to an extreme. Though the Marching Mountains are far in this distance, this place has certainly seen their effects- strange stone pillars, hills, and valleys give the illusion of a maze, and you can't help but wonder if the place was arranged this way by someone.
[02:08] <@Ao> The meeting point was supposedly to be under a particularly large, dead tree- and you can see it, a huge, rotted-through plant.
[02:09] <@Ao> There's no shortage of rocks and hills to hide around- yourself, or someone else, at that.
[02:11] * @Maz settles in to wait next to the gold, making sure her crossbow is visible.
[02:13] <@Thrall> Holding his axe ready, Thrall stands by the gold as well. So, they'll make the exchange, and assuming it goes peaceably they can tail the bandits to their base. Otherwise he can kill some of them right here. Either way works, at least.
[02:13] <@Thrall> OOC: strike my line
[02:14] * Ana-breakfast (dunefar@ip24-253-133-211.hr.hr.cox.net) has joined #dunes
[02:14] <@Thrall> Setting the chest down by the tree, Thrall looks around for a place a big armour wearing half-orc can hide out of sight.
[02:14] * Ana-breakfast is now known as Anastasia
[02:14] * ChanServ sets mode: +oq Anastasia Anastasia
[02:15] * @Seraphin just shakes her head as she follows Thaeos into the rocks and crags, finding a hiding spot hopefully within earshot of the drop point, and within communication distance with Thaeos.
[02:15] <@Thaeos> roll 1d20+9 to hide
[02:15] * +Hatbot --> "Thaeos rolls 1d20+9 to hide and gets 23."12 [1d20=14]
[02:15] <@Seraphin> roll 1d20+11
[02:15] * +Hatbot --> "Seraphin rolls 1d20+11 and gets 29."12 [1d20=18]
[02:15] * @Kethean looks around for a decent hiding spot where he can hopefully watch the drop and that it goes smoothly.
[02:15] <@Kethean> roll 1d20+7
[02:15] * +Hatbot --> "Kethean rolls 1d20+7 and gets 13."12 [1d20=6]
[02:16] <@Maz> OOC: Guess I'm hiding as well, instead
[02:18] <@Ao> : 1d20 spotting!, 8 , Total: 8
[02:18] <@Ao> After everyone hides,
[02:18] <@Ao> Five men emerge from around nearby hills and rocks, dressed in a hodgepodge of clothes- there's no uniform, here, but every man for himself. They're at least wearing leather armour, and they glance at you all suspiciously.
[02:18] <@Ao> Er.
[02:18] <@Ao> The perils of copypaste.
[02:18] <@Ao> OOC: Ax that line, and I hit myself.
[02:19] <@Ao> Five men emerge from behind a few hills and rocks, and they peer around curiously after spotting the chest. Not seeing anyone nearby, they quickly grab the chest, and shortly make off with it!
[02:20] <@Seraphin> "...That was easier than I wanted it to be," Seraphin breathes to herself, looking over towards Thaeos and waiting for the one with actual tracking skills to move.
[02:24] <@Thaeos> roll 1d20+9 for move silently
[02:24] * +Hatbot --> "Thaeos rolls 1d20+9 for move silently and gets 24."12 [1d20=15]
[02:24] <@Seraphin> roll 1d20+9
[02:24] * +Hatbot --> "Seraphin rolls 1d20+9 and gets 18."12 [1d20=9]
[02:24] * @Thaeos motions for Seraphin to follow.
[02:24] <@Ao> : 1d20+2 listening!, 11 , Total: 13
[02:24] <@Ao> : 1d20+2 listening!, 2 , Total: 4
[02:24] <@Ao> : 1d20+2 listening!, 12 , Total: 14
[02:24] <@Ao> : 1d20+2 listening!, 3 , Total: 5
[02:24] <@Ao> : 1d20+2 listening!, 1 , Total: 3
[02:24] * @Seraphin follows along as quietly as she can, which is usually quite quietly!
[02:27] <@Ao> After about fifteen minutes of following these guys, you arrive at a large, apparently abandoned farm. Hiding on the crest of a hill, you can see the thugs carry the chest into a ramshackle old house- it's only one story, but it's quite long- perhaps part of it is used for holding cattle.
[02:28] <@Ao> There are a couple of bandits hanging around the front of the house, looking a little edgy.
[02:29] * @Thaeos edges closer to Seraphin and speaks in a low voice...
[02:29] <@Thaeos> "You want to get the others or should I?"
[02:32] <@Seraphin> "I will," Seraphin answers in a similarly quiet voice. "If they move, I won't be able to track them," she nods. "Bring them up roundabout to not get spotted?" she asks, looking for a likely directon to go where vision from the house will be obstructed.
[02:33] <@Ao> The way you came could easily work, but there's no shortage of hiding places, at least at this distance.
[02:34] <@Thaeos> "Yes.. Try to get as close to the house as you can.. Once you're in position, use a blade to flash signal me, and use your body to block it's light in the direction of the bandits. Once I get your signal, I'll move closer and flash you the same when I'm ready."
[02:34] <@Ao> OOC: You can't signal with your blade when there's hardly any light! >_>
[02:34] <@Ao> OOC: Not unless you want everyone else to see it, too.
[02:34] <@Ao> OOC: Or you have light of your own, but then you don't need to use the blade. >_>
[02:35] <@Thaeos> OOC: Ah, didn't know it was full night.
[02:35] <@Ao> OOC: Yes you did. Full moon. :)
[02:35] <@Ao> OOC: Er, new moon.
[02:36] <@Thaeos> "Alright, get them and bring them back here, then"
[02:37] * @Seraphin nods, heading back the way they came with caution, hoping to remain unseen and unheard in the night.
[02:38] <@Ao> It's not hard when there's nobody watching, you soon get back to the place you left the gold.
[02:39] * @Maz leaves her hiding place upon noticing Seraphin, and approaches her. "What did you find?" she asks her quietly, once she's close by.
[02:40] <@Seraphin> "We tracked them to a farm house," Seraphin informs her fellow employees once gathered. "We'll move up to an overwatch point, decide from there."
[02:41] <@Thrall> "Very well," Thrall nods grimly, having left his own place of concealment. "Lead the way."
[02:42] <@Ao> Shortly, you arrive back at the vantage point where Thaeos sits.
[02:42] * @Thaeos raises a hand in silent greeting.
[02:44] * @Thrall returns the gesture, keeping himself hunched low and looking out across at the farmhouse.
[02:45] <@Maz> "Can you take out the guards before they have a chance to alert the others?" Maz asks quietly, looking at her companions.
[02:45] <@Ao> It's fairly nondescript- a bit ramshackle, really. There's light coming from inside, and three guards are out the front with torches.
[02:45] <@Thaeos> "I'm thinking those of us who can, should get as close as possible, take out what guards we can without causing too much of a fuss, and then have the rest of you move up before going for the main house."
[02:46] <@Kethean> "That would probably still be you two then," Kethean points out.
[02:46] * @Thaeos shrugs.
[02:46] <@Thaeos> "That's fine. Just be ready to charge in if we're spotted. Sound good to everyone?"
[02:47] <@Seraphin> "Sounds about right," Seraphin agrees, nodding.
[02:47] <@Thrall> "Any other entrances?" Thrall asks Thaeos. Attacking from two directions would cause a lot more confusion amidst the bandits, no doubt.
[02:48] <@Ao> You can't see any from this viewpoint, but there's probably a rear entrance, and maybe through the windows, if you want to get inventive.
[02:49] <@Thaeos> "I'll leave that part to you.. I didn't see any other doors, but if you want to crash through the windows, it's up to you.."
[02:49] * @Thaeos nods to Seraphin and motions to head out.
[02:49] <@Thaeos> roll 1d20+9 for hide check
[02:49] * +Hatbot --> "Thaeos rolls 1d20+9 for hide check and gets 11."12 [1d20=2]
[02:50] * @Seraphin follows after THaeos, though heading her own path to sneak.
[02:50] <@Seraphin> roll 1d20+11
[02:50] * +Hatbot --> "Seraphin rolls 1d20+11 and gets 22."12 [1d20=11]
[02:50] <@Ao> : 1d20 spotting, 11 , Total: 11
[02:50] <@Ao> : 1d20 spotting, 19 , Total: 19
[02:50] <@Ao> : 1d20 spotting, 13 , Total: 13
[02:50] <@Ao> As Seraphin and Thaeos approach.. "Hey! What's that!" yells one of the guards, waving his torch in Thaeos' direction!
[02:51] * @Thrall grumbles quietly at the hasty action, readying his axe and tensing as the guard yells.
[02:52] <@Thaeos> roll 1d20+5 for intiative
[02:52] * +Hatbot --> "Thaeos rolls 1d20+5 for intiative and gets 20."12 [1d20=15]
[02:52] <@Seraphin> roll 1d20+4
[02:52] * +Hatbot --> "Seraphin rolls 1d20+4 and gets 5."12 [1d20=1]
[02:52] <@Thrall> roll 1d20+1
[02:52] * +Hatbot --> "Thrall rolls 1d20+1 and gets 13."12 [1d20=12]
[02:53] <@Ao> : 1d20+1, 9 , Total: 10
[02:53] <@Ao> : 1d20+1, 6 , Total: 7
[02:53] <@Ao> : 1d20+1, 16 , Total: 17
[02:53] <@Ao> OOC: Everyone else?
[02:53] * @Kethean acts much like Thrall as he tenses his muscles and readies for battle.
[02:53] <@Maz> roll 1d20+3
[02:53] * +Hatbot --> "Maz rolls 1d20+3 and gets 12."12 [1d20=9]
[02:53] <@Kethean> roll 1d20+3
[02:53] * +Hatbot --> "Kethean rolls 1d20+3 and gets 17."12 [1d20=14]
[02:54] <@Ao> OOC: Thaeos > Kethean = Bandit3 > Thrall > Maz > Bandit 2 > Bandit 3 > Seraphin

[Ebiris]

[14:04] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> OOC: Ok yeah Thaoes your turn. Everyone, do try to remember what you *can* and *cannot* do. >_>
[14:07] <Thaeos> roll 1d20+8 to put an arrow through Bandit 3
[14:07] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thaeos rolled :12,0 1d20+8 12,0to put an arrow through Bandit 3 --> 12,0 15
[14:07] * Merc is now known as Kethean
[14:07] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> OOC: Damage yo
[14:08] <Thaeos> roll 1d6+3 for damage
[14:08] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thaeos rolled :12,0 1d6+3 12,0for damage --> 12,0 8
[14:09] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> The arrow whistles through the air, taking the bandit in the gut! He stays upright and lets out a hoarse cry!
[14:18] * Kethean begins to make a cautious move towards the bandits' lair from his hiding place, as he grabs for a piece of cured leather from his things, preparing for the coming fight as he whispers out the spell to summon Mage's Armor around himself.
[14:20] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> While Kethean casts his spell, the bandit Thaeos wounded opens the farmhouse door, shouting something inside.
[14:22] <Thrall> Hunching down low, Thrall breaks into a run towards the bandits, axe at the ready!
[14:22] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> OOC: Charging? Make an attack at +2, yeah.
[14:23] <Thrall> OOC: I can attack? I thought I was too far away.
[14:23] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> OOC: Weren't you in the same place as Kethean, or have I made a mistake?
[14:24] <Thrall> OOC: I was, just thought that was too far for me to cover that distance and attack in one round. But you're the GM!
[14:24] <Thrall> roll 1d20+10
[14:24] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thrall rolled :12,0 1d20+10 --> 12,0 20
[14:24] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> OOC: Damage yo. >_>
[14:24] <Thrall> roll 1d12+3
[14:24] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thrall rolled :12,0 1d12+3 --> 12,0 7
[14:25] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> The thug Thrall chops at gets stuck with a brutal wound across the chest, but he bravely keeps upright, ready to strike back!
[14:25] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> OOC: Mazzy~
[14:30] * Maz frowns, and moves at a quick pace to circle the structure and see if there is another entrance, trying to use the night for cover.
[14:30] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> : 1d20+4, 17 , Total: 21
[14:30] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> : 1d8+2, 2 , Total: 4
[14:30] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> : 1d20+4, 5 , Total: 9
[14:31] * Dungeon_Ana (dunefar@ip24-253-133-211.hr.hr.cox.net) Quit (Ping timeout)
[14:31] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> The bandit Thrall attacked counters with a quick stabs, just nicking Thrall through a chink in the armour! His friend moves up to hit Thrall but fails to land a telling blow.
[14:32] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> Seraphin narrows her eyes, dashing in alongside Thrall to join in the fight!
[14:33] * Dungeon_Ana (dunefar@ip24-253-133-211.hr.hr.cox.net) has joined #dunes
[14:33] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> : 1d20+4, 6 , Total: 10
[14:33] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> She's not able to help him much, though, not being able to dish out any damage.
[14:34] * Thaeos turns to fire another arrow, but at the bandit Thrall has already wounded, this time.
[14:35] <Thaeos> roll 1d20+8 to hit Bandit 3 instead
[14:35] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thaeos rolled :12,0 1d20+8 12,0to hit Bandit 3 instead --> 12,0 18
[14:35] <Thaeos> roll 1d6+3
[14:35] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thaeos rolled :12,0 1d6+3 --> 12,0 6
[14:36] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> The bandit drops to the ground, an arrow through his skull, and he starts bleeding all over the ground, the blood flowing down to where Thrall is fighting.
[14:38] * Kethean decides to throw caution to the wind, and rushes towards the closest bandit, planning to throw a hard kick once he reaches him.
[14:38] <Kethean> roll 1d20+4
[14:38] <Rei-chan> 12,0Kethean rolled :12,0 1d20+4 --> 12,0 11
[14:39] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> Kethean's plan goes astray as his kick slips off his opponents leather.
[14:39] <Thrall> Emitting a guttural growl at the stab, Thrall raises his axe overhead, briefly spinning it in his hands before violently bringing it down on the already wounded bandit!
[14:40] <Thrall> roll 1d20+8
[14:40] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thrall rolled :12,0 1d20+8 --> 12,0 10
[14:40] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> ..who expertly deflects the side of the blade, or, well, he's still alive, you're going to say he didn't?
[14:41] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> Maz quickly skirts past the battle scene; she's now alongside the side of the house. Doesn't seem to be anyone around..
[14:42] * Hotaru-chan is now known as Seraphin
[14:44] * Maz glances quickly into one of the gaps in the wall that serve as windows as she passes one.
[14:46] * Dungeon_Ana is now known as Anastasia
[14:46] * ChanServ sets mode: +oq Anastasia Anastasia
[14:46] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> Inside, Maz can see.. a place that looks awful. The interior of the farmhouse is all smashed up. The walls have blood across them, and you can see a row of sleeping mats on the side closest to the front door. The other side of the house you can see has a huge hole in it, which presumably leads into a basement.
[14:47] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> It's not a trapdoor or the like- it's a huge hole, shattered into the ground by.. something. You can see a side door to the house- across from the side you're looking at, and three or four men are heading out it. Another door is in the back of the room, presumably heading towards the warehouse?
[14:48] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> Inside the house itself you can see.. oh, five men? They look terrified, for some reason, but they're dutifully grabbing long spears and heading towards the front door.
[14:49] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> : 1d20+4, 12 , Total: 16
[14:49] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> : 1d20+4, 6 , Total: 10
[14:50] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> The two bandits decide to focus their attacks on Thrall, but to little avail- their puny longswords clang off his thick, spiky armour.
[14:53] * Seraphin focuses again on the bandit before her, keeping around on his backside as her shortsword flickers out, plunging towards his vitals.
[14:54] <Seraphin> roll 1d20+6
[14:54] <Rei-chan> 12,0Seraphin rolled :12,0 1d20+6 --> 12,0 24
[14:54] <Seraphin> rolll 2d6+3
[14:54] <Rei-chan> 12,0Seraphin rolled :12,0 2d6+3 --> 12,0 10
[14:55] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> With Seraphin's Swift Strike, her opponent keels over and quietly dies.
[14:56] * Thaeos darts around the melee of Thrall and Seraphin, positioning for a shot on the remaining Bandit.
[14:56] <Thaeos> roll 1d20+8
[14:56] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thaeos rolled :12,0 1d20+8 --> 12,0 9
[14:56] <Thaeos> roll 1d6+3
[14:56] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thaeos rolled :12,0 1d6+3 --> 12,0 8
[14:56] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> Thaeos' shot flies far away from his target, the house, and just about everything.
[15:00] * Kethean shifts position so he's facing the remaining bandit as opposed to the one Seraphin dispatched moments ago and throwing a fast, hard punch at the bandit while it's attention is primarily on Thrall.
[15:00] <Kethean> roll 1d20+6
[15:00] <Rei-chan> 12,0Kethean rolled :12,0 1d20+6 --> 12,0 14
[15:00] <Kethean> roll 1d6+2
[15:00] <Rei-chan> 12,0Kethean rolled :12,0 1d6+2 --> 12,0 6
[15:01] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> Kethean lands a blow in the bandit's gut, and he clutches his stomach- you think you ruptured something- and goes down. For the moment, there are no guards in sight.
[15:02] <Thrall> "So much for surprise," Thrall grunts, idly wiping his axe on the back of a deceased bandit. Narrowing his eyes as he takes in the others, "And what happened to the mage?"
[15:03] <Thaeos> "Not sure, but there are probably more. That one yelled into the house."
[15:04] * Maz takes another quick look through through a window she passes, trying to create a semblence of a mental map of the premises.
[15:04] * Seraphin blows at her hair, sighing as she cleans her weapon on the dead bandit. "We'd probably better get into better positions rather than sitting out in the field like a couple of targets then, mm?" Seraphin answers, beginning to move towards the house.
[15:05] <Kethean> "She may have gone around to rescue the girl while we act as a distraction," Kethean notes, but having not been paying attention to her, couldn't be sure. "Hopefully anyhow..."
[15:05] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> From this window you can get good look through the hole. There's.. *someone* in there. Someone big.
[15:05] * Thaeos moves around so he's facing towards the door to the building.
[15:06] <Thrall> "Who knows," Thrall snorts, turning to the door. "Regardless, let's go clean house." Glancing at Seraphin, "You can deal with traps, right?"
[15:07] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> Maz can see through the window one of the longspear-armed men crouching down in front of the door- no doubt to let the crossbow-armed man behind him take a shot at whoever might peep around the side.
[15:07] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> Thaeos gets to see the same thing, except from the unlucky angle.
[15:07] <Seraphin> "Some," Seraphin answers, shrugging. "I don't do locks, though."
[15:08] <Thaeos> roll 1d20+5 for initiative
[15:08] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thaeos rolled :12,0 1d20+5 12,0for initiative --> 12,0 14
[15:08] <Kethean> roll 1d20+3
[15:08] <Rei-chan> 12,0Kethean rolled :12,0 1d20+3 --> 12,0 19
[15:08] <Thrall> roll 1d20+1
[15:09] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thrall rolled :12,0 1d20+1 --> 12,0 10
[15:09] <Thaeos> OOC: I declare the Crossbowman for my Dodge.
[15:09] <Maz> roll 1d20+3
[15:09] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> OOC: Ok. Init.
[15:09] <Rei-chan> 12,0Maz rolled :12,0 1d20+3 --> 12,0 21
[15:09] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> OOC: Seraphin?
[15:10] <Seraphin> roll 1d20+4
[15:10] <Rei-chan> 12,0Seraphin rolled :12,0 1d20+4 --> 12,0 13
[15:10] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> : 1d20+2, 4 , Total: 6
[15:10] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> : 1d20+1, 20 , Total: 21
[15:10] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> : 1d20+1, 2 , Total: 3
[15:10] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> : 1d20+1, 11 , Total: 12
[15:10] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> : 1d20+1, 4 , Total: 5
[15:11] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> OOC: Maz = Bandit2 > Kethean > Thaeos > Seraphin > Bandit 4 > Thrall > Bandit 1 > Bandit 3 > Bandit 5.
[15:13] <Thaeos> "They're defending! They're set up at the door!"
[15:15] * KittyModeAlex is now known as SleepingKittyModeAlex
[15:15] * Maz hears the shout, and takes in the crouching guards, before pointing at the face of the man with the crossbow and calling out, "Let there be Light!", moving away from the window immediately afterwards.
[15:17] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> : 1d20+3, 6 , Total: 9
[15:18] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> Thaeos and Maz see the crossbowman cry out, putting a hand up to his eyes and stumbling away from the door! However, a couple of the guards hear her when she casts- though she can't see what they're doing.
[15:18] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> The pikeman at the door holds his positiong, gripping his pike tightly, but not charging out.
[15:20] * Kethean grips the holy symbol of Savras he carries around his neck as he prays, "Bless my allies with your forsight, that our fists and weapons strike true!"
[15:20] * Maz yells, "Five men inside!"
[15:21] * Thaeos sends an arrow through the door at the bracing pikeman.
[15:21] <Thaeos> roll 1d20+9
[15:21] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thaeos rolled :12,0 1d20+9 --> 12,0 25
[15:21] * Anastasia is now known as Ana-away
[15:21] <Thaeos> roll 1d6+3
[15:21] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thaeos rolled :12,0 1d6+3 --> 12,0 6
[15:22] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> The shot flies true, impacting the guy with the pike somewhere in the leg, causing him to cry out. Sheesh, these guys don't seem terribly tough.
[15:26] * Seraphin waits a little ways off from the door, close enough to ambush whoever might try coming out, but not so close as to screw up Thaeos' shots, and waiting for the archer to soften things up.
[15:27] <Thrall> Since the door is covered, Thrall decides to open up a second front. Rearing back with his axe, he goes crashing at the wall about ten feet from the door, aiming to reduce it to splinters!
[15:27] <Thrall> roll 1d20+8
[15:27] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thrall rolled :12,0 1d20+8 --> 12,0 15
[15:28] <Thrall> roll 1d12+3
[15:28] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thrall rolled :12,0 1d12+3 --> 12,0 13
[15:28] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> Thrall's mighty blow cleaves out some planks and leaves a small hole in the wall, but the whole thing seems to have been weakened pretty badly.
[15:30] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> Everyone hears a muffled yell coming from inside the house.. a deep, long shout that causes everyone to shiver slightly.
[15:30] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> : 1d20+1, 18 , Total: 19
[15:30] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> : 1d20+1, 18 , Total: 19
[15:30] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> : 1d20+1, 14 , Total: 15
[15:30] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> : 1d20+1, 7 , Total: 8
[15:33] * Maz takes out her borrowed crossbow, and moves slightly to the side to try and aim it through the window, targetting one of the pikemen.
[15:33] <Maz> roll 1d20+5
[15:33] <Rei-chan> 12,0Maz rolled :12,0 1d20+5 --> 12,0 17
[15:33] <Maz> roll 1d8
[15:33] <Rei-chan> 12,0Maz rolled :12,0 1d8 --> 12,0 1
[15:34] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> Maz's bolt flies fast and true into one of the pikemen- he was approaching the window before, but with his shoulder grazed, he snarls and rushes towards it!
[15:37] * Kethean decides to help Thrall in opening up a new doorway, moving besides him and throwing a hard punch at the wall in the weakened spot!
[15:37] <Kethean> roll 1d20+5
[15:37] <Rei-chan> 12,0Kethean rolled :12,0 1d20+5 --> 12,0 7
[15:37] <Kethean> roll 1d6+2
[15:38] <Rei-chan> 12,0Kethean rolled :12,0 1d6+2 --> 12,0 7
[15:38] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> Your clumsy punch breaks a little more off the wall. Not much, though.
[15:38] * Thaeos fires another shot at the pikeman
[15:38] <Thaeos> roll 1d20+9
[15:38] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thaeos rolled :12,0 1d20+9 --> 12,0 22
[15:38] <Thaeos> roll 1d6+3
[15:38] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thaeos rolled :12,0 1d6+3 --> 12,0 5
[15:38] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> OOC: NOT YOUR TURN
[15:38] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> OOC: >_>
[15:38] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> OOC: You only think it is your turn.
[15:39] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> "Let's go!" comes a cry from around the corner of the house! Four more bandits rush out, armed with longswords and shield! They don't seem to have a plan or the like, but they quickly rush at the group near the door!
[15:40] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> : 1d20+4, 17 , Total: 21
[15:40] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> : 1d20+4, 4 , Total: 8
[15:40] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> : 1d20+4, 9 , Total: 13
[15:40] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> : 1d8+2, 1 , Total: 3
[15:40] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> One moves to attack Thrall, while the other two go after Kethean! Only the one up against Thrall strikes a real blow, though, dishing another slight wound through his armour. The last bandit is running a little behind the rest.
[15:42] * Thaeos turns and fires a shot at the Bandit attacking Thrall.
[15:43] <Thaeos> roll 1d20+9
[15:43] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thaeos rolled :12,0 1d20+9 --> 12,0 11
[15:43] <Thaeos> roll 1d6+3
[15:43] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thaeos rolled :12,0 1d6+3 --> 12,0 9
[15:43] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> Another wasted arrow...
[15:45] <Seraphin> Not wanting to leave the door unattended and get stabbed in the back, but not really wanting to leave her fellow blood spillers to their own devices, Seraphin shifts hands with her shrotsword, plucking a knife from her belt and throwing it at the furthest bandit with a snap of her wrist.
[15:45] <Seraphin> roll 1d20+5
[15:45] <Rei-chan> 12,0Seraphin rolled :12,0 1d20+5 --> 12,0 17
[15:46] <Seraphin> roll 1d4+3
[15:46] <Rei-chan> 12,0Seraphin rolled :12,0 1d4+3 --> 12,0 4
[15:46] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> The goon takes the knife somewhere, you're not exactly sure, but he gives you a look that says hate.
[15:46] <Thrall> Grunting, Thrall wrenches his axe free of the wall before making a wide swing at the bandit who attacked him, aiming to reduce his height by half!
[15:47] <Thrall> roll 1d20+8
[15:47] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thrall rolled :12,0 1d20+8 --> 12,0 19
[15:47] <Thrall> roll 1d12+3
[15:47] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thrall rolled :12,0 1d12+3 --> 12,0 6
[15:48] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> A bandit charges out of the door, armed with a spear! He quickly glances around, before deciding to rush Thaeos- leaving him open to strikes from Thrall and Kethean!
[15:48] <Thrall> roll 1d20+8
[15:48] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thrall rolled :12,0 1d20+8 --> 12,0 19
[15:49] <Thrall> roll 1d12+3
[15:49] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thrall rolled :12,0 1d12+3 --> 12,0 9
[15:49] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> He practically runs into the backswing of Thrall's brutal axe.
[15:49] <Thrall> roll 1d20+8
[15:49] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thrall rolled :12,0 1d20+8 --> 12,0 21
[15:50] <Thrall> roll 1d12+3
[15:50] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thrall rolled :12,0 1d12+3 --> 12,0 15
[15:50] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> The foreswing then takes off the head of the bandit who charged him in the first place, showering blood all over Kethean, Seraphin, and Thrall, and adding to the pile of corpses at the front of the door.
[15:51] <Thrall> "No survivors!" Thrall roars, turning to face the remaining bandits after that brutal display (OOC: can I do an intimidate check?)
[15:51] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> OOC: Sure.
[15:52] <Thrall> OOC: any bonus from my previous action?
[15:52] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> OOC: Hidden magic GM bonus. Roll away.
[15:52] <Thrall> roll 1d20+5
[15:52] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thrall rolled :12,0 1d20+5 --> 12,0 7
[15:52] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> OOC: uh yeah gj
[15:53] <Thrall> roll 1d20+8 for killing to preserve my manly image!
[15:53] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thrall rolled :12,0 1d20+8 12,0for killing to preserve my manly image! --> 12,0 13
[15:53] <Thrall> roll 1d12+3
[15:53] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thrall rolled :12,0 1d12+3 --> 12,0 4
[15:53] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> The bandits seem a little shaken up. Well, they were before, but now they're a little more shaken. The bandit it front of you scampers just outside your axes deadly head, much to his own relief.
[15:54] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> Two more bandits charge out from inside the room, armed with spears!
[15:56] <Seraphin> Noticing new arrivals, Seraphin turns, shortsword flashing out on reflex as much as anything else.
[15:56] <Seraphin> roll 1d20+7
[15:56] <Rei-chan> 12,0Seraphin rolled :12,0 1d20+7 --> 12,0 21
[15:56] <Seraphin> roll 1d6+3
[15:56] <Rei-chan> 12,0Seraphin rolled :12,0 1d6+3 --> 12,0 9
[15:57] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> Like the bite of a viper, Seraphin's blade is in and out before the man can draw breath- something he'll never do again.
[15:59] * Kethean goes after the other bandit to exit while Seraphin quickly takes care of his comrade, spinning on his heel to throw a hard kick at the bandit in question.
[15:59] <Kethean> roll 1d20+5
[15:59] <Rei-chan> 12,0Kethean rolled :12,0 1d20+5 --> 12,0 14
[16:00] <Kethean> roll 1d6+2
[16:00] <Rei-chan> 12,0Kethean rolled :12,0 1d6+2 --> 12,0 4
[16:02] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> The kick almost takes out the bandits legs, but he keeps on charging, right at Thaeos! He screams as he runs- death and fear mingle in his eyes, and his face is that of a madman.
[16:03] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> : 1d20+5, 10 , Total: 15
[16:03] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> Thaeos ducks out the way just in time, the spear rifling through the air his head once was.
[16:06] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> Meanwhile, Maz is still looking in through the window, and sees a horrible sight. A huge.. creature stumbles out of the hole! He's.. an enormously fat man, or is he? Huge rolls of red-tinged fat spill from his gut and create
[16:06] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> the image of an ambulatory blob. Completely naked, his tounge lolls out, and sickly green drool
[16:06] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> escapes his mouth. In one hand he wields a huge, spiked club. Black horns jut out his forehead
[16:06] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> and an unmistakable aura of menace emnates from him.
[16:07] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> With a casual swing of his giant club, he bats the crossbow-guard into the wall, leaving a bloody smear across the wooden panels. Moving with surprising speed, he dashes towards the wall!
[16:08] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> Everyone outside can only hear his loud footsteps and the carnage his club leaves- except Thaeos, who can see him charging quite clearly.
[16:09] * Maz curses, drops the crossbow and jumps away from the window. She draws a pentagram in the air in front of her face as soon as she lands and grasping it. Maz slams it against her chest, calling out, "Mage Armor!"
[16:13] * Thaeos fires a shot off at the bandit that charged him.
[16:13] <Thaeos> roll 1d20+9
[16:13] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thaeos rolled :12,0 1d20+9 --> 12,0 16
[16:13] <Thaeos> roll 1d6+3
[16:13] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thaeos rolled :12,0 1d6+3 --> 12,0 6
[16:14] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> : 1d20+5, 4 , Total: 9
[16:14] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> The bandit tries to stab Thaeos again, fails, and gets an arrow in the guy for his efforts. Wounded, he starts trying to stagger off.
[16:20] * Kethean tries to finish off his current bandit opponent, throwing a punch that should take put him down for good.
[16:20] <Kethean> roll 1d20+5
[16:20] <Rei-chan> 12,0Kethean rolled :12,0 1d20+5 --> 12,0 10
[16:20] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> Hours of practice. Years of training. Days of real combat. All amounted to the punch Kethean just threw- nothing, in this case.
[16:23] * Seraphin smiles in a sweet and sickly way, ruby red eyes clouding over with blood. "Hi!" she purrs at the man she threw a knife into before, another knife drawn and thrown.
[16:23] <Seraphin> roll 1d20+6
[16:23] <Rei-chan> 12,0Seraphin rolled :12,0 1d20+6 --> 12,0 9
[16:23] <THEDUNGEONMASTER> Despite the man being.. well, stationary, Seraphin still manages to hit the barn instead of him, which is really quite the feat.
[16:25] * THEDUNGEONMASTER (WinNT@c211-28-176-37.eburwd7.vic.optusnet.com.au) Quit (Killed (services.dejatoons.net (Too many invalid passwords)))
[16:25] * THEDUNGEONMASTER (WinNT@c211-28-176-37.eburwd7.vic.optusnet.com.au) has joined #dunes
[16:25] * THEDUNGEONMASTER is now known as Carthrat
[16:25] * ChanServ sets mode: +o Carthrat
[16:25] * Carthrat is now known as Humbled-DM
[16:26] <Thrall> Deciding to finish cleaning up outside, Thrall pulls away from the creepy acting Seraphin, charging at the sad bandit who's currently draggins his spear away and nursing an arrow wound.
[16:26] <Thrall> roll 1d20+9
[16:26] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thrall rolled :12,0 1d20+9 --> 12,0 16
[16:26] <Thrall> roll 1d12+3
[16:26] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thrall rolled :12,0 1d12+3 --> 12,0 7
[16:27] <Humbled-DM> The bandit goes down pretty fast- these guys aren't even a challenge. Poorly equipped, barely any training.. some bandits.
[16:28] <Humbled-DM> The bandit fighting Kethean drops his sword and flees, screaming in terror.
[16:30] * Kethean decides to take down the bandit attempting to flee the scene. There's no need to let him get a second chance to pillage and plunder.
[16:30] <Kethean> roll 1d20+5
[16:30] <Rei-chan> 12,0Kethean rolled :12,0 1d20+5 --> 12,0 23
[16:30] <Kethean> roll 1d6+2
[16:30] <Rei-chan> 12,0Kethean rolled :12,0 1d6+2 --> 12,0 5
[16:31] <Humbled-DM> Wow, the bandit turned, started to run, then fell on his face after Kethean hit him. The other bandit screams himself, and turns away to run far away.
[16:31] <Humbled-DM> If you were covered in blood before, now you're all positively dripping it.
[16:33] * Maz gets close to the window again to peek inside the room, and enter it if it's empty
[16:33] <Humbled-DM> The room is not empty. It has a big charging fat demon-man in it, and he promptly breaks through the wall with his shoulder and swings his club at the first unfortunate he sees.. in this case, Thrall.
[16:33] <Humbled-DM> : 1d20+9, 3 , Total: 12
[16:34] <Humbled-DM> ..who did managed to stumble out the way when he heard the wall crash.
[16:35] * Maz is satisfied that the demon guy is occupied, and steals into the room through the window
[16:36] <Humbled-DM> The room looks even worse inside than it does from the outside. For starters, there's the stench- unwashed bodies, waste, and now a sick feeling of blood throughout the room. You can see through the hole, and you can make out some stuff in the basement.. a sack, and a body..
[16:38] * Kethean attends to force his will upon the demonic man attacking Thrall, shouting a command of "Fall!"
[16:38] <Kethean> ooc - attempts*
[16:39] <Humbled-DM> OOC: He gets an AoO on you if you cast lolz
[16:39] <Humbled-DM> OOC: But since you have yeah!
[16:39] <Humbled-DM> : 1d20+9, 2 , Total: 11
[16:39] <Humbled-DM> OOC: Oh yeah. Time for will save.
[16:39] <Humbled-DM> : 1d20-1, 13 , Total: 12
[16:39] <Humbled-DM> OOC: What's the save DC? More than 12? >_>
[16:41] <Humbled-DM> The big man trips over as he tries to strike Kethean.. stumbles.. and falls.
[16:42] * Thaeos fires an arrow at the fat man.
[16:42] <Thaeos> roll 1d20+9
[16:42] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thaeos rolled :12,0 1d20+9 --> 12,0 13
[16:42] <Thaeos> roll 1d6+3
[16:42] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thaeos rolled :12,0 1d6+3 --> 12,0 5
[16:43] <Humbled-DM> The arrow hits the man square, and gets slightly lodged in his skin.. before breaking off.
[16:46] <Seraphin> "...Wasn't kidding, huh?" Seraphin mutters to herself, quickly takign a vial out and pouring the oil over her blade, one step forward, and a stab with her newly magicked weapon.
[16:46] <Seraphin> roll 1d20+7
[16:46] <Rei-chan> 12,0Seraphin rolled :12,0 1d20+7 --> 12,0 15
[16:47] <Seraphin> roll 2d6
[16:47] <Rei-chan> 12,0Seraphin rolled :12,0 2d6 --> 12,0 7
[16:47] <Humbled-DM> You cut a scratch into the man! He's bleeding, slightly! He moans as you scratch him- "Rend! Tear!"
[16:48] <Thrall> "I'll rend you, alright," Thrall growls, raising his axe high overhead before it comes crashing down into the corpulent and unfortunately naked bandit demon type thing.
[16:48] <Thrall> roll 1d20+9
[16:48] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thrall rolled :12,0 1d20+9 --> 12,0 29
[16:49] <Humbled-DM> OOC: OMGZ NICE check threat.
[16:49] <Thrall> roll 1d20+9
[16:49] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thrall rolled :12,0 1d20+9 --> 12,0 25
[16:49] <Humbled-DM> OOC: !!! triple damage. You almost OHKO'd my boss! Bloody axe-wielder!
[16:49] <Thrall> roll 3d12+3
[16:49] <Rei-chan> 12,0Thrall rolled :12,0 3d12+3 --> 12,0 29
[16:50] <Humbled-DM> With a heavy slugging sound, Thrall cuts straight through the creatures head, squashing it. When he pulls out his axe, it's covered in bits of malformed brain, and leaky blood and puss seeps from the wound.
[16:51] <Seraphin> "Wow, last time I saw someone's head do that, I was pushing him off a building," Seraphin notes in vague curiousity, prodding the corpse.
[16:51] * Thaeos casts a quick glance around and darts into the building, looking for Maz.
[16:51] * Thrall places a boot on the corpse's shoulder and wrenches his axe free, shaking some of the ichor off it. "So much for that..."
[16:52] * Maz jumps down through the hole, approaching the body first
[16:52] <Kethean> "No kidding. You weren't kidding about rending him," Kethean comments as he looks towards the door. "Well, let's finish this, I guess."
[16:52] <Humbled-DM> It's the body of a young girl. Dressed in the tattered remains of a dress, she's bruised and battered, barely able to cover herself. She's still breathing.. but she's unconcious.
[16:53] * Maz checks to see if she's the girl from the drawing
[16:53] <Humbled-DM> She is- well, she probably *was*. Right now she doesn't look anywhere near as pretty.
[16:53] * Maz frowns, and takes off her cloak, placing it around the girl
[16:53] * Thrall goes over to one of the dead bandits, ripping his tunic off and using the rag to clean his axe. "Time to start scalping and see if our hostage is alive," he comments. Just another day at the office.
[16:53] <Seraphin> "...And that bastard still has my knife, DAMMIT," Seraphin growls, opaque bloody eyes settling down to normal bright red irises. Instead of musing on that though, Seraphin heads inside through the convenient entrance this Bozi-whatever made.
[16:54] * Thaeos hops down next to Maz.
[16:54] <Thaeos> "How bad is she? Think we need to use a potion on her?"
[16:55] * Maz glances at Thaeos as he lands, and shrugs. "Pretty bad, but I think she'll live."
[16:55] <Seraphin> "Everything here clear?" Seraphin calls in the house, wrinkling her nose at the stench.
[16:57] <Thrall> Replacing his axe in its harness, Thrall takes the sword off one of the dead bandits and uses that to quickly and methodically scalp them. Coming to the leader, he simply wrenches the horns off his head. That'll do as evidence of the deed for him.
[16:57] * Thaeos slings his bow over his back, picks the girl up with a slight grunt.
[16:57] <Kethean> "Is the girl alive and well?" Kethean calls out as well next to Seraphin, as he starts to head into the building.
[16:57] <Thaeos> "Lets get her upstairs and start looking over the place."
[16:57] * Maz calls out, "Wait a moment," to Thaeos
[16:57] * Maz takes out her everhelpful wand, and activates it around her, first checking the girl and then their surroundings.
[16:57] <Humbled-DM> The girl reacts slightly, an eye creeping open. "..ugh.." she mumbles.
[16:58] <Humbled-DM> Maz doesn't detect any magic down in the cave.
[16:58] <Maz> "It's alright," she tells Thaeos. "Let's get back."
[16:58] * Seraphin shakes her head after looking down the hole. "Looks good, I'll start checking bodies and the house," she notes. "If you need a hand, just yell," she offers, a bit too cheerily as she goes about searching the place moethodically.
[16:58] <Thaeos> "You go up first, in case I need to hand her off."
[16:58] * Maz looks for a way up
[17:01] <Humbled-DM> There's a ladder.
[17:02] * Maz goes up the ladder, and waits by it for Thaeos and the girl
[17:02] <Kethean> "How is the girl?" Kethean asks as he moves next to Maz once she comes up. "Is she in need of healing?"
[17:02] * Thaeos works his way up with the girl.
[17:02] <Humbled-DM> The girl moans slightly as you take her up the ladder. She's not at all well- perhaps a fever?
[17:02] * Maz grimaces. "She wouldn't say no to it."
[17:03] <Thaeos> "She's not lookin' too good. See what you can do."
[17:03] * Thaeos lays her down on a clean area of the ground.
[17:03] <Thrall> Finished his grisly but profitable task, Thrall enters the house proper, scalps bundled up in the ripped tunic of one of the bandits. "Got the girl?" he asks, noting Thaeos' burden.
[17:04] <Thaeos> "Yeah, she's not doing too good, though."
[17:04] * Kethean nods as he converts his remaining spells into cure minor wounds for the girl and then checks what needs she still has to be returned to health.
[17:05] * Thaeos goes back into the house, leaving the girl to the others, and checks over the room, searching for anything of use or interest.
[17:05] <Humbled-DM> The girls bruises heal, and her eyes open slightly wider. "You.. are you knights?" she asks, in a daze. "Come to.. save me?"
[17:06] <Maz> "Sure," Maz says. "We're here to take you back home."
[17:06] <Humbled-DM> The big guys corpse could arguably be 'of interest', but apart from the sack of gold in the cave and the weapons you've piled up, not much.
[17:06] <Kethean> "Not knights, but we did come to save you," Kethean says with a smile. "You're safe now, Isia."
[17:06] * Thaeos returns from the house..
[17:07] <Thrall> "Your father hired us," Thrall supplies, before focusing on more important matters. "Find the bandit's stash?" he asks the others.
[17:07] <Humbled-DM> "Home.." she mumbles. "Ah.. it was awful, here, so awful.." She shudders slightly. "where are the bandits?"
[17:07] <Thaeos> "I think we found most everything we could.. Unless someone else wants to look the place over, we should probably gather what we need and head out."
[17:07] <Thaeos> "Yeah, Thrall. It's in a sack down below."
[17:07] <Kethean> "Don't worry, the bandits won't hurt you anymore. They won't hurt anyone again," Kethean says as soothingly as he can.
[17:07] * Thaeos points over his shoulder with a thumb.
[17:07] * Seraphin steps back in from cataloguing the weapons, smiling a little at the girl. At least someone's child is safe. "I pretty much did give it a look over, I think we're good," Seraphin nods in agreement.
[17:08] <Thrall> "Grab it and lets go, then." Thrall holds up his bundle of rags, "I got their scalps."
[17:08] <Humbled-DM> The girl doesn't return Seraphin's smile, recoiling a little. Maybe it's the blood.
[17:09] * Thaeos rifles through his pack and hands the girl a blanket.
[17:09] * Seraphin heads into the hole, a bounce in her step for some odd reason, or maybe it's just the profits, and hauling the sack of gold out.
[17:09] <Thaeos> "That should help a little more."
[17:09] <Kethean> "Why don't you rest, Isia? When you wake up, you'll be back home," Kethean offers.
[17:10] <Humbled-DM> "Rest? But.. won't I need to walk back?" she asks, pulling Maz's cloak around her. She's awfully thin..
[17:10] * Thaeos notes her apparent lack of mass and sighs as he digs into his pack again, handing the girl a pack of his trail rations along with his blanket.
[17:11] <Maz> "One of us can carry you to your home," Maz offers. "It won't be a trouble."
[17:11] <Kethean> "If you're up to it. But I can carry you if you wish," he says kindly. Poor girl. Not nearly as bad as the poor bastard in Shar's cult, but still...

[Carthrat]

<@Carthrat> It's light by the time you reach Saradush, fistful of scalps and rescued prisioner in tow. The girl seems to have suffered badly from her ordeal; she's trembling slightly for most of the journey, though it is not cold, and doesn't speak, though that could be attributed to the general demeanour of the group.
[00:25] <@Carthrat> Saradush is as bustling as ever when you enter it, construction still going strong. When you reach the gate, the guard waves at you. "Go right on through- the mayor said to let yourselves in anytime."
[00:26] * @Thrall nods to the guard as he passes, paying little attention to their tag-along. Given the naked state of that demon half-breed, it's not that hard to guess, but it's certainly not his place to question the girl as to what happened to her.
[00:27] <@Seraphin> "Now that's a welcome I never thought I'd hear anywhere..." Seraphin muses quietly to herself, but going on through with the rest of the group like everyone.
[00:28] * Thrall sets mode: +v Maz
[00:28] * Seraphin sets mode: +v Thaeos
[00:28] * +Maz keeps near the rescued girl, but otherwise stays silent.
[00:29] <@Carthrat> After a short trip through Saradush (and catching a couple of stares from the townsfolk around you), you quickly reach the town hall, and find yourself in the mayor's office once again. When you are all shown in, you see the mayor himself behind his desk, and he looks.. tired. There's another man there, too- a nobleman, by the look of him.
[00:29] * +Thaeos throws a quick salute to the guards and grins at them, but continues on.
[00:30] <@Kethean> "You're almost home now, Isia," Kethean says to the girl, hoping she'll relax, especially with the sight of who's likely her father.
[00:30] <@Carthrat> Dressed up in the latest fashions, with a high-collared shirt and ridiculously embroidered jacket. A short moustache graces his face, which lights up considerably when he spies Isia. "Thank Tymora! You're safe!" he bursts out, rushing forward to give her a hug. It's a rather one-sided hug, though...
[00:30] * +Thaeos yawns slightly, resting his arms on the hilt of his sword and the quiver slung at his hip.
[00:31] <@Thrall> Tired? He's not the one who just marched several miles, killed a dozen bandits, then marched back! "The job is done," Thrall intones gravely, holding up his bundled rag filled with scalps and a pair of horns to present to the mayor.
[00:31] <@Carthrat> "I see. Good that she's back safe," replies the mayor, sounding as tired as he looks. "Where were those from?" he adds, glancing at the horns.
[00:32] <+Thaeos> "He was the extra surprise when we found her."
[00:32] <@Seraphin> "Your best guess to find his relatives would be somewhere in the lower planes," Seraphin agrees.
[00:33] <@Kethean> "He was certainly no match for our friend Thrall here though. Isn't that right?" Kethean replies with a wry grin.
[00:34] <@Thrall> "His head caved in with satisfying ease," the half-orc agrees, smiling grimly.
[00:36] <@Carthrat> "I'm glad to hear it!" interrupts the Count, extending his hand to Kethean. "And I see you got your fair share of that bandit scum, too," he adds. "Yes. Your services are worth every bit I pay for them, I tell you."
[00:37] * +Thaeos keeps an eye on the silent girl, raising an eyebrow at her reaction.
[00:39] <@Carthrat> "How many scalps?" he asks, sounding eager.
[00:40] <@Thrall> "Ten scalps," Thrall tells him. "Plus the horns from their fiendling leader."
[00:40] * @Kethean takes the offered hand and shakes it to not be rude. "Your daughter should probably be allowed to go rest after this ordeal, sir."
[00:42] <@Carthrat> "Yes. Quite. I just want to settle things with you all," he says, nodding. "Do pay them, Castor. I'll reimburse you later today. Good job, sirs, madams. I know who I shall go to for help when next I am in trouble." Taking Isia by the hand, he speaks softly. "Come, Isia."
[00:42] <@Carthrat> And at that, the two walk out. As she moves, though, Isia glances back at the group, a blank look on her face. She keeps looking until she's left the office for good.
[00:43] * +Maz gives a brief wave at Isia as she leaves.
[00:43] * +Thaeos glances at the rest of the group, slightly troubled by Isia's behavior..
[00:43] * @Seraphin tries to smile, without showing her teeth. Not that it usually reassures anyone, but maybe it will for the girl?
[00:44] * @Kethean looks at the departing duo, though he does not wave, merely look back until they're gone. Then, turning back to the mayor, waits for his reaction.
[00:44] * +Maz is even more certain now that she made the right decision to leave home after seeing that girl.
[00:46] <@Carthrat> The mayor nods. "Yes. Good work. 10 scalps.. that would be 200 gold. I'll give you another 50 for those horns, I suppose. And three-hundred for the girl. To be divided evenly among you?"
[00:47] <@Seraphin> "Which would be one-hundred and ten each," Seraphin supplies, doing the mental arithmetic.
[00:48] <@Thrall> "Not bad for an evening's work," Thrall muses.
[00:50] <@Carthrat> "Mmm. I see," he says. "I'll put that together for you shortly. And.. well. Interested in more work?"
[00:50] * +Thaeos shrugs.
[00:50] <+Thaeos> "I can always find a use for more money."
[00:51] <+Maz> "More kidnapped nobles?" Maz asks him with a raised eyebrow.
[00:51] * @Kethean nods. "Same here," Kethean replies. "I am interested though, have you decided what to do about that cult I had warned you of yet, mayor?"
[00:52] * @Thrall nods to signify his interest, letting the others handle the questioning for now.
[00:52] * @Seraphin nods, rubbing at her eyes with some feeling of fatigue.
[00:56] <@Carthrat> "The cult. Ah, yes. No, I have not, and to be honest there are more pressing things on my mind," he replies. "Still. They may be related...perhaps you could check it out at some point, for me. But at the moment, well." He gestures at some of the papers on his desk. "Scouts have reported.. skirmishes in the lands around Saradush."
[00:58] <@Thrall> "Between whom?" Thrall asks curiously, guessing it's more than just random banditry.
[00:58] <@Carthrat> "Combat between small groups. We expect that of bandits, I suppose, and of the more monstrous types, but these aren't fights between mobs and thugs. By all reports, these are fights between well-trained warriors, often with magical support."
[00:58] * +Maz perks up at the mention
[00:59] <@Carthrat> "We don't know who they are, and it worries me. My.. military staff seem to think it's not worth the bother." He growls at the end of this, putting a hand on his forehead. "'Let them kill each other off', they say."
[01:00] <+Maz> "And why don't you?" Maz asks curiously.
[01:01] <@Thrall> "Might be worth discovering what they're fighting over," Thrall muses, scratching his chin.
[01:01] * @Kethean nods in agreement, also curious.
[01:02] <@Carthrat> "They represent a potential threat to the surrounding region," notes the mayor. "What are they fighting over? Why are they doing so here? Where are they getting their resources from? It's bad enough that brigands roam the land, but at least they're not really capable of robbing more than the smaller caravans and the like."
[01:03] <@Carthrat> "But.. a temple of Shar? A group that has the withwheral to capture the daughter of one of the towns highest nobility? And now organized groups of fighters out to slaughter each other? The region was nothing like this before the war."
[01:04] <@Carthrat> "It's not something that can be tolerated. No matter if it is their purpose or not, they can bring harm to Saradush, and they have to be controlled and stopped."
[01:06] * @Kethean nods. "A fair assesment. A show of force would likely quell some of the groups who might be showing up smelling opportunity."
[01:08] <@Carthrat> "Force, hmm..." muses the mayor. "Perhaps. Before commiting myself, I would like to know information about the groups. It would be much easier to force the knight captain to mobilize if I had a solid threat to present to him. If you could find that threat for me..."
[01:10] * @Kethean nods again.
[01:10] <@Thrall> "Any more information on numbers and where they're frequently sighted?" Thrall asks, considering. This'll probably be a job for the Scout, at least the first part.
[01:12] <@Carthrat> "We're not even sure if there are only two groups," says the mayor, shaking his head. "Several skirmishes have been spotted, or at least the sites at which they took place. But we havn't located any staging point or hideout, and they seem to be good at covering their tracks."
[01:13] <@Carthrat> "I'll get one of the scouts to help you, though.. but.. bah. I'm sorry. You must all be tired. Here, let me arrange your gold for you."
[01:14] <@Carthrat> A short while later, he's quickly able to distribute bags of gold to all of you. "Yes. If you come and talk to me again tomorrow, I will have more information for you to follow on."
[01:15] <@Thrall> "My thanks," Thrall bares his tusks in a grin as he hefts his gold, turning to depart.
[01:15] * +Thaeos takes ten gold from his bag and sets the remaining hundred gold back on his desk.
[01:16] <+Thaeos> "I need you to send this to Ahlana Longstrider in Silverymoon. She can be found through the Golden Stag Inn."
[01:16] * @Seraphin raises her eyebrows at Thaeos, but doesn't otherwise comment. "Thank you," she adds politely, heading out herself.
[01:17] <@Carthrat> "..to Silverymoon? Well.. I'll leave it with one of the more reputable merchants," he replies, shrugging.
[01:17] * +Maz pockets her gold, nodding in thanks, and follows the others out.
[01:18] * @Kethean also takes his bag of gold, planning on heading to the temple. "Thank you," he also offers the mayor. He would like to talk to that cleric again and thank him.
[01:18] <+Thaeos> "Leave it with someone you trust. I'll know if it makes it there or not, and as my employer, it's part of your duty to make sure it makes it where it's supposed to be. It'd look bad if it started seeming like the Mayor was swindling those who were to be rewarded by nobles."
[01:19] * +Thaeos grins at the Mayor and turns to leave.
[01:20] <@Carthrat> You all soon find yourselves gathered outside the town hall, all of Saradush open to you.
[01:23] <@Thrall> "A pleasure working with you all," Thrall rumbles at his fellow bandit-slayers. "Now, I need to rest after that. No doubt I'll see you all here, tomorrow." Giving them a curt nod, he turns and starts back towards the inn.
[01:24] <@Kethean> "It was nice meeting you all as well, I suppose," Kethean says on his part. "You'll see me at least tomorrow, though for now I have plans at Waukeen's temple before I grab some rest myself."
[01:25] <+Thaeos> "Aye, I think I'll follow Thrall's example.. Though, I plan to eat first.. Anyone want to join me?"
[01:25] <+Maz> "Until tomorrow, then," Maz agrees, and then turns towards Kethean. "I have plans to visit the temple as well."
[01:27] * @Seraphin yawns. "See you all later then, it was nice meeting some...memorable people for once." Seraphin heads off to her own inn to catch some shuteye.
[01:27] * +Thaeos shrugs and leaves off with a wave, heading towards the inn.
[01:33] <@Carthrat> Three head back to the Inn With No Name (most boring inn this side of the dragon coast!), while a monk and a mage head towards the Temple of Waukeen. It's as grandiose as you'd expect from the merchant goddess, and a bustling trade is going on inside.
[01:38] <+Maz> "Around what time should I come to the inn the rest of you are staying at tomorrow?" she asks Kethean when they arrive, turning towards him as she speaks.
[01:43] * @Kethean shrugs. "I'm afraid I didn't have any particular time set myself. While I'll be up early, I don't know if I'll head straight out then. I'd dislike to have to wait at the mayor's office for too long," Kethean replies. "I was probably going to lounge around the inn until I saw the others leave."
[01:45] <+Maz> "I'll be there in the morning, then," she says, thinking for a moment. "Around eight or so. Would that be alright?"
[01:49] * @Kethean nods. "I'll be there."
[01:50] * +Maz returns the nod, and then glances around the market. "I suppose I should be off to buy a few things, then," she announces, and with another nod at Kethean heads inside to look for a new outfit for herself.
[01:51] <@Kethean> "Later," Kethean says as he continues onward to the temple.
[01:52] <@Carthrat> It's much like Kethean left it, really. The same smiling cleric is at the door, charging the fair fee of one silver to enter the market.
[01:53] <@Kethean> "Hello," Kethean greets the man.
[01:53] <@Carthrat> "Ah, you have returned," replies the cleric, nodding. "How are you this fine day?"
[01:56] * Athene (greek@deja-FF8CCE70.pantheon.org) has joined #dunes
[01:56] <@Kethean> "Quite well, if not somewhat tired. I wanted to thank you for your kindness yesterday and maybe see your temple's fine market now that I have the money," Kethean answers with a smile.
[01:57] <@Carthrat> "It's not a problem," replies the cleric, smiling. "Please, enter, and I hope that you find your time spent here worthwhile."
[02:01] * @Kethean nods as he hands the silver coin, as well as the pouch of money he'd received the day before from this same man, with double the amount originally inside.
[02:02] <@Carthrat> "Repayment, hmm? Certainly welcome," notes the cleric, taking your money. "You could do well, here. Please, if you have any questions about Waukeen or this market, feel free to ask."
[02:02] * @Kethean nods. "Once again, thanks for the help," he says before he enters, and starts looking around the marketplace.