Post by TheUdjat on Jul 14, 2009 15:36:09 GMT -5
Amalric, Jakob-
[Amalric can establish mental contact pretty much at will, provided he passes a check. And the target is willing—or fails in resisting it. I will assume Jakob allows it, for the moment, but you’re welcome to resist instead if you like.]
Amalric responds in a straight-forward manner to the nobleman, and urges Jakob to go ‘ask Isabeau’ about a marker or some such. The words are clearly a code—or clearly to Amalric, at least. Jakob, a mere woodsman, has known magi to be a little weird in the things they say and not to consider anything as too unreasonable, and so seems merely puzzled as he turns to do what the magus bids.
But the nobleman raises a hand for him to hold, anyway. “There’s no need for that,” the lord intones, his voice likewise brooking no argument. “We do not deal in markers.”
He clears his throat uncomfortably, shifting on the saddle, enjoying his high vantage point but obviously unsettled by Amalric—in the same way most are by magi. “We have enough reason to believe you brought one of the infamous Schwarz Brothers in. As is fair, I am here to reward you and your company the bounty.” He raises his hand again to forestall comment. “Do not bother declining. These are our ways, and it would be poor precedent to refuse payment of what is earned.”
With a signal to one of the guards, a small pouch is produced, rattling with the pleasant chatter of currency. The guard brings it forward to Amalric, frowning sternly in the way guards do when they’re trying to look imposing. It isn’t an outrageous sum, certainly, but it does cover most expenses made in the Covenant’s name—or should, if Joseph ever makes it back with his task completed.
This down, the nobleman nods slowly, still holding off a sneer just by being in Amalric’s presence. “There now. Debts are settled. Enjoy the rest of your visit in Freiburg, secure in knowing that here money due is paid, and criminals are swiftly brought to the axe of justice.” Apparently glad to be rid of this conversation, the nobleman wheels and heads away from the wagon.
It would seem Elric wasn’t his concern after all.
(Conditions)
Joseph, Tawno, Arnaud-
Shocked, angry, alarmed, afraid—all are understandable reactions to being instantly transported to a wild forest and told that one must uncover a riddle before their demise. Only Joseph’s reaction appears curiously at odds with the others, one of easy resignation and mild surprise at Old Grigori’s revelation. His easy nature is made no more palatable by the aura around him that all magi possess, causing those in their presence to unconscious distrust and dislike them—a problem dealt with over time, though Joseph’s reaction certainly cannot be helping the non-magi surrounding him. Even Thomas, sworn to protect his Covenant’s magi, scowls unhappily.
Still, nothing can come from standing around arguing, especially with the day already half-gone. Worse, a bird swoops down to peck at a bread crumb, adding further urgency to their situation
Resolving to follow the trail as they are bid to an uncover the sorcerer’s puzzle, the four follow the bread crumbs as swiftly as they can, all the while Thomas with his sword drawn, on the lookout for ravening bears or other trouble. Chasing off the occasional bird, the trail eventually leads to tall, stately oak that looms over its neighbors, creating another small clearing in this old wood. It looks weather, ancient, its branches gnarled and knotted with age, but thick and strong.
But it is still just a tree, and not a riddle as any might be accustomed to seeing.
It looms, rather like a tree is wont to do.
(Conditions)
Rupert-
Having evaded capture, Rupert allows himself a moment of satisfaction before the gravity of the situation starts to set in. He is wanted, and going back to the others could very likely lead to more trouble, both for himself and them. Who’s to say they’d defend him, anyway? He’s just a poor urchin, not worth the trouble, some might say.
As he lies low in a shadowy alcove off of the main roads, considering his options, he abruptly becomes away of a man standing near him—not uncomfortably near, but Rupert heard nothing of his approach. “Well done, lad,” the man says to him in a soft, resonant voice. He wears the simple robes of a scholar, and even holds a small book under one arm. Literate and lurking in shadows.
The man nods in the general direction of the market. “I saw your work, there. Most impressive. Seems you’re in a bit of a bind now, though, mm?” He smiles slightly, then shrugs. “Might be I could help with that. Keep you hidden, keep you from being caught. Would that be something you’re interested in, boy?”
(Condition)
Elric, Amalric (through Isabeau)-
[Initiative rolls!]
Init- Elric (25), Isabeau (23), Lisbet (22), Guards (7) [I can’t freaking believe it. 19, 20, 20 for the good guys, and the bad guys go at 7. Come on dice, you’re supposed to hate players.]
Elric reacts at once, springing to his feet and urging Lisbet to seek out the Covenant if she wants a way out of this burg. He heads for the window. The inn isn’t so rich that it can afford glass windows all over the place, so this is little more than a shuttered window—the shutters being open on account of the nice day. He takes a dive through it, and though it takes his broad shoulders a bit of wriggling, he manages to tumble out onto the ground outside soon enough. Already he can hear the boots pounding after him.
Before Elric can get up, a weight falls upon him—a weight he soon realizes is Lisbet, who tumbled out right after him. For a moment the two have their limbs a bit tied up, the not-unattractive girl pressed up against Elric’s body. At the look sure to be shot her way for following him, the young woman explains. “They’re sure to question me, and not a one of them has a spark of kindness in him.” Apparently she has had dealing with them before. “You’ll never escape them without my help, anyway.”
Meanwhile, overheard, Isabeau streaks into the vacated window as the guards come charging down after them. She screeches, circling once, getting them all distracted at the animal flying around their heads, and then she’s gone out the door they left open. It isn’t much, but Elric and Lisbet will need all the time they can get.
(Combat actions)
Taking quick stock of his situation, Elric can see that the pair have landed in a narrow lane by the inn. Not narrow enough to be an alley, but neither is it paved—indeed, Isabeau was just recently perched in a struggling tree. Another building is next door, a general store of some kind he thinks. Towards the front of the inn is the main street, certainly a place to be avoided, while the other direction leads to another lane, and more buildings, some of these precariously high for a building of common wood manufacturing.
Lisbet gets herself untangled and off of him, gesturing in that very direction. “Come on,” she says. “I know a butcher’s we can hide out at. He never locks his cellar.”
(Conditions)
Elric – Normal
Isabeau – Normal
Lisbet – Normal
[Amalric can establish mental contact pretty much at will, provided he passes a check. And the target is willing—or fails in resisting it. I will assume Jakob allows it, for the moment, but you’re welcome to resist instead if you like.]
Amalric responds in a straight-forward manner to the nobleman, and urges Jakob to go ‘ask Isabeau’ about a marker or some such. The words are clearly a code—or clearly to Amalric, at least. Jakob, a mere woodsman, has known magi to be a little weird in the things they say and not to consider anything as too unreasonable, and so seems merely puzzled as he turns to do what the magus bids.
But the nobleman raises a hand for him to hold, anyway. “There’s no need for that,” the lord intones, his voice likewise brooking no argument. “We do not deal in markers.”
He clears his throat uncomfortably, shifting on the saddle, enjoying his high vantage point but obviously unsettled by Amalric—in the same way most are by magi. “We have enough reason to believe you brought one of the infamous Schwarz Brothers in. As is fair, I am here to reward you and your company the bounty.” He raises his hand again to forestall comment. “Do not bother declining. These are our ways, and it would be poor precedent to refuse payment of what is earned.”
With a signal to one of the guards, a small pouch is produced, rattling with the pleasant chatter of currency. The guard brings it forward to Amalric, frowning sternly in the way guards do when they’re trying to look imposing. It isn’t an outrageous sum, certainly, but it does cover most expenses made in the Covenant’s name—or should, if Joseph ever makes it back with his task completed.
This down, the nobleman nods slowly, still holding off a sneer just by being in Amalric’s presence. “There now. Debts are settled. Enjoy the rest of your visit in Freiburg, secure in knowing that here money due is paid, and criminals are swiftly brought to the axe of justice.” Apparently glad to be rid of this conversation, the nobleman wheels and heads away from the wagon.
It would seem Elric wasn’t his concern after all.
(Conditions)
Amalric – Normal
Jakob – Normal
James – Normal
Helmut – Normal
Jakob – Normal
James – Normal
Helmut – Normal
Joseph, Tawno, Arnaud-
Shocked, angry, alarmed, afraid—all are understandable reactions to being instantly transported to a wild forest and told that one must uncover a riddle before their demise. Only Joseph’s reaction appears curiously at odds with the others, one of easy resignation and mild surprise at Old Grigori’s revelation. His easy nature is made no more palatable by the aura around him that all magi possess, causing those in their presence to unconscious distrust and dislike them—a problem dealt with over time, though Joseph’s reaction certainly cannot be helping the non-magi surrounding him. Even Thomas, sworn to protect his Covenant’s magi, scowls unhappily.
Still, nothing can come from standing around arguing, especially with the day already half-gone. Worse, a bird swoops down to peck at a bread crumb, adding further urgency to their situation
Resolving to follow the trail as they are bid to an uncover the sorcerer’s puzzle, the four follow the bread crumbs as swiftly as they can, all the while Thomas with his sword drawn, on the lookout for ravening bears or other trouble. Chasing off the occasional bird, the trail eventually leads to tall, stately oak that looms over its neighbors, creating another small clearing in this old wood. It looks weather, ancient, its branches gnarled and knotted with age, but thick and strong.
But it is still just a tree, and not a riddle as any might be accustomed to seeing.
It looms, rather like a tree is wont to do.
(Conditions)
Arnaud – Normal
Joseph – Normal
Tawno – Normal
Thomas – Normal
Joseph – Normal
Tawno – Normal
Thomas – Normal
Rupert-
Having evaded capture, Rupert allows himself a moment of satisfaction before the gravity of the situation starts to set in. He is wanted, and going back to the others could very likely lead to more trouble, both for himself and them. Who’s to say they’d defend him, anyway? He’s just a poor urchin, not worth the trouble, some might say.
As he lies low in a shadowy alcove off of the main roads, considering his options, he abruptly becomes away of a man standing near him—not uncomfortably near, but Rupert heard nothing of his approach. “Well done, lad,” the man says to him in a soft, resonant voice. He wears the simple robes of a scholar, and even holds a small book under one arm. Literate and lurking in shadows.
The man nods in the general direction of the market. “I saw your work, there. Most impressive. Seems you’re in a bit of a bind now, though, mm?” He smiles slightly, then shrugs. “Might be I could help with that. Keep you hidden, keep you from being caught. Would that be something you’re interested in, boy?”
(Condition)
Rupert – Normal
Elric, Amalric (through Isabeau)-
[Initiative rolls!]
Init- Elric (25), Isabeau (23), Lisbet (22), Guards (7) [I can’t freaking believe it. 19, 20, 20 for the good guys, and the bad guys go at 7. Come on dice, you’re supposed to hate players.]
Elric reacts at once, springing to his feet and urging Lisbet to seek out the Covenant if she wants a way out of this burg. He heads for the window. The inn isn’t so rich that it can afford glass windows all over the place, so this is little more than a shuttered window—the shutters being open on account of the nice day. He takes a dive through it, and though it takes his broad shoulders a bit of wriggling, he manages to tumble out onto the ground outside soon enough. Already he can hear the boots pounding after him.
Before Elric can get up, a weight falls upon him—a weight he soon realizes is Lisbet, who tumbled out right after him. For a moment the two have their limbs a bit tied up, the not-unattractive girl pressed up against Elric’s body. At the look sure to be shot her way for following him, the young woman explains. “They’re sure to question me, and not a one of them has a spark of kindness in him.” Apparently she has had dealing with them before. “You’ll never escape them without my help, anyway.”
Meanwhile, overheard, Isabeau streaks into the vacated window as the guards come charging down after them. She screeches, circling once, getting them all distracted at the animal flying around their heads, and then she’s gone out the door they left open. It isn’t much, but Elric and Lisbet will need all the time they can get.
(Combat actions)
- Elric leaps out the window.
- At 23, Isabeau delays.
- Lisbet follows Elric, landing on him.
- At 7, the guards go to act, but Isabeau chooses that moment to take her action. No real mechanics to support this, but I consider them to be flailing around at the Fearsome SparrowhawkTM overhead.
- Next round, new Initiative is: Elric (25), Lisbet (22), Isabeau (7), Guards (7)
Taking quick stock of his situation, Elric can see that the pair have landed in a narrow lane by the inn. Not narrow enough to be an alley, but neither is it paved—indeed, Isabeau was just recently perched in a struggling tree. Another building is next door, a general store of some kind he thinks. Towards the front of the inn is the main street, certainly a place to be avoided, while the other direction leads to another lane, and more buildings, some of these precariously high for a building of common wood manufacturing.
Lisbet gets herself untangled and off of him, gesturing in that very direction. “Come on,” she says. “I know a butcher’s we can hide out at. He never locks his cellar.”
(Conditions)
Elric – Normal
Isabeau – Normal
Lisbet – Normal
]