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<blockquote data-quote="el-remmen" data-source="post: 4575153" data-attributes="member: 11"><p><strong>Session #28 – “Drie-Hoek Jaunt” (part 2 of 3)</strong> </p><p></p><p>Markos pushed his hands against the man’s chest and the next thing he knew he felt a pain and force that drove his chin to one side. “Take that you little shet!” the man said, still smirking. </p><p></p><p>Victoria dropped her spear and hurried over to grab at the man, but he easily pushed her away with a snarl. Markos ducked behind the female militant and pointed two fingers at the man’s face, “<em>Sagitta aquom!</em> Two magic missiles flew from the fingers, but while one slammed into the mouthy brigand, the other flew across the room to hit the large man watching the tussle and laughing from his position sitting on the table.</p><p></p><p>“Are any of these men MacHaven?” Bleys asked Wallaby as the halfling ducked noticing the fight beginning. “Just bloody kill these bastards!” The halfling hissed. Bleys cocked an eyebrow.</p><p></p><p>“You dare?” The big man face changed from one of amusement to one of deep anger. He stood up from his seat on the table, and they now noticed that he had a great sword, as he lifted it up from resting across his thighs. “You dare?” he growled again, his bloodshot eyes widening.</p><p></p><p>“Are any of these men MacHaven?” Bleys turned his question to Tickle as the man watched as the dispassionately fight erupt. </p><p></p><p>“No, he wouldn’t come here… That’s Furious Garry…” He cocked a thumb surreptitiously towards the man with the greatsword.</p><p></p><p>“Don’t worry, Boss! I got this!” One of the other men hurried around a table and sent a fist up into Timotheus’ neck. Stung, Timotheus shot him a look of annoyance before bashing him with his heavy shield of bulette hide. The man stumbled back, and swollen with cockiness, Tim leapt up onto one of the tables to survey the entire room. Unfortunately, the cheap furniture of the tavern could not hold his weight and it splintered beneath him, sending him to the floor with a jarring blow to his tailbone.</p><p></p><p>“If you cannot be taught respect with words, you must be taught respect with the might of Ra!” Laarus barked as he drew his heavy flail, and move to stand shoulder to shoulder with Victoria. She grabbed at Furious Garry, barely avoiding a heavy blow from his great sword, and then drawing off. She stumbled as she sidestepped to avoid another of the drunken men, closing in to punch at her with a cudgel. She was unable to avoid the punch of the first man. It was an uppercut to the chin and she fell backward, collapsing to the floor, and then panting as she scrambled back to her feet. </p><p></p><p>Taking advantage of the distraction, Furious Garry turned and brought a hard blow onto Timotheus’s shoulder as he was standing. He was nearly driven back down as the plates of his armor groaned in protest, and he grunted with deep pain, and could feel blood trickled underneath.</p><p></p><p>“Everyone let me know when they’re <em>ready</em>!” Markos called out to his companions, eying a lantern right in the bandits’ field of vision.</p><p></p><p>“Ready and hurry it up!” Timotheus closed his eyes as he sidestepped and stood, hopping to avoid a follow-up attack.</p><p></p><p>“Victoria! The time has come to draw your weapon!” Laarus said, as he stepped around her to block the kicks of one of the brawlers, and punched him in the chest, flail in hand.</p><p></p><p>Outside, Telémahkos had put his rapier to the smoking man’s neck as soon as the sound of combat reached them. “Move and I’ll fncking kill you,” he said, with a smirk. “Tymon, aim your crossbow at his chest!”</p><p></p><p>The manservant nervously nodded and then did just that.[sup]1[/sup] “If his hands come down, peg him between the eyes,” Telémahkos said as he ducked into the pub. He heard the twang of the crossbow when he had barely gone in ten feet, still too far to join the melee. “Master, look out!” Telémahkos spun around and noted a crossbow bolt on the floor as the man was suddenly upon him, sword in hand. Telie barely got his rapier up to parry the blow. “Let’s dance, scum…” He winked.</p><p></p><p>The cudgel-wielding man, tried to move around Laarus to get a blow in on Victoria as she was still getting up. The big mouth moved away from the two priests, sensing weakness in Timotheus. The blow made Tim open his eyes, but more from its weight and sound than from any actual damage it dealt him.</p><p></p><p>“You stupid fncking knuckle-draggers! Tell me when you’re ready!” Markos screeched.</p><p></p><p>Furious Garry began to huff and puff. His eyes grew wide and his licked his teeth with a brown tongue, drool pouring off his chin as his muscles began to swell with savage strength. Timotheus cursed when he felt the weight of the raging bandit’s great sword, tear into his shield.</p><p></p><p>“I guess that’s not happening, Markos!” Timotheus called back. He cut at his foe’s arm with his sabre. Garry was oblivious to pain. Laarus moved over to try to pen the furious man in, leaving Victoria to deal with the others. She took a cudgel blow to the ribs. She finally drew her morningstar, but groaned as the tip of Furious Garry’s sword thrust past Laarus and caught her in the ribs as she raised her arms. She spun and raised her morningstar against the pain, and called to Anhur to infuse her with his <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Militant+of+Anhur+Characters#righteousfury" target="_blank"><em>righteous fury</em></a>. Splinters flew from the spiked club as it met the edge of the great sword to block it.</p><p></p><p>“STOP! WE CANNOT KILL THESE MEN!” Bleys’ voice booming thanks to his <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Spell+-+Announce" target="_blank"><em>announce</em></a> spell. He pointed to the various men. “YOU! SURRENDER NOW!”</p><p></p><p>No one seemed to listen. Least of all, Markos, whose hand was crackling with blue electricity as he stepped over to flank the man fighting Telémahkos. “Looks like you could use some help, Tee-Kay,” Markos reached out and the man jerked for a moment, his clothing and armor smoking. He fell unconscious to the damp tavern floor.</p><p></p><p>The man that started the altercation, drew his longsword and swung weakly at Tim as he moved in the direction of the exit. “Maybe we <em>should</em> get out here…” He called to his friends. “They said the watch-mage was gone…”</p><p></p><p>“Tymon! Sword! Shield! Back me up!” Telémahkos practiced the footwork Mercado had shown him as he moved to cut off the retreating big mouth. “Have at you, scum!” The bandit barely deflect the worst of the rapier thrust, his armor absorbing the pointed edge, but the not the weight of the blow. Timotheus backed up to give himself some room to work, and took a swipe at the big mouth, who ducked. However, before he could get any further, Tymon was there to pen him and flank him with Tim.</p><p></p><p>The wenches, who had been slowly retreating from the fray, finally sprinted out the back door. The man with the cudgel, ignored by Victoria, moved to flank Laarus, and the young priest of Ra felt the blunt weapon’s heavy blow on his back as he spun to block a follow-up. The militant of Anhur swung her morningstar again and again at Furious Garry, to little effect. “Down, dog!”</p><p></p><p>“SURRENDER NOW!” Bleys repeated. “NO ONE SHOULD DIE HERE!” He moved past the fight to check on the man Markos had fried. </p><p></p><p>“Bleys! There are children in this town who have probably not eaten because of these men…” Markos complained. “<em>Sagitta caustus!</em> He sent an <em>acid arrow</em> flying at Furious Garry, but had to send it between the narrow gap between Victoria and Laarus to do so, and the caustic liquid splattered against his cousin.[sup]2[/sup]</p><p></p><p>Seeing enough, the loudmouth, tried to flee, but quick blows from Victoria and Telémahkos sent him bleeding to the floor. Furious Garry roared and shrugging off a cut to the forehead as he passed Timotheus, and instinctively dodging to avoid Laarus’ flail, he charged right into Markos punching down with all his might, and slamming the hilt of the sword into the little mage’s neck.[sup]3[/sup] Markos took a step back, but miraculously did not fall. His head, neck and shoulder ached.</p><p></p><p>“My sympathies are with the bandits’ victims,” Telémahkos shot towards Bleys as he moved to flank Furious Garry with the mewling Markos.</p><p></p><p>The raging bandit spun around, growling as he raised his greatsword, smiling as he saw an opening in Telémahkos’ defense, but he was reckless with his own. Timotheus shoved his saber under the man’s armpit and twisted the blade. Furious Garry’s eyes widened as blood exploded from him, and he collapsed. </p><p></p><p>Shocked at his leader’s sudden defeat, the remaining bandit was not ready for Telémahkos’ opportunistic blow, which sent him down to the floor to bleed out as well.</p><p></p><p>“Ra, save this man so we can interrogate him and bring him to justice,” Laarus prayed and cast <em>cure minor wounds</em> on Furious Garry in order to stabilize him. He did the same to the man Telémahkos dropped, while Victoria dealt with the bleeding loudmouth who had started the whole thing. </p><p></p><p>“Just kill ‘em! Just kill them all! They’re bastard bandits that have been making all our lives miserable since that knight and the watch-mage took all the soldiers into the bog!” Wallaby cried out, distraught.</p><p></p><p>“This one is dead…” Bleys said, ignoring the halfling. He gestured to the man Markos had electrocuted with a spell. The purple-robed watch-mage turned to Markos. “Was this really necessary? Murdering this man?”</p><p></p><p>“Murder? These are bandits who are terrorizing these people!” Markos spat. “You’re just mad than no one obeyed you… Well, despite what Timotheus says, you are not the boss!”</p><p></p><p>“We had no evidence that these men are bandits, and until you used your <em>magic missile</em> spell, it seemed possible that we might subdue them without resorting to lethal means,” Bleys argued, his voice getting a bit heated for once.</p><p></p><p>“Markos was rash, but we were in our rights,” Laarus defended their actions.</p><p></p><p>“The guy outside told me these guys were with MacHaven,” Telémahkos bluffed. “That was evidence enough for me…”</p><p></p><p>“They looked bad…” Markos said. “You could just tell…”</p><p></p><p>“So you judged them based on looks alone? How very <em>noble</em> of you…” Bleys replied.</p><p></p><p>“Bah! I don’t care…” Markos spat again.</p><p></p><p>Laarus cast a curing spell on Timotheus and then another on himself, as Markos shifted the argument to be about no one following the routine for his casting <em>pyrotechnics</em>. The priest of Ra winced as the acid-burns on his neck healed.</p><p></p><p>“Where can we find the rest of these bandits, and their leader MacHaven?” Victoria asked, but neither Wallaby or Tickle knew, or at least they wouldn’t say.</p><p></p><p>“If you hang around long enough more of them will come, especially once Garry and his men go missing…” Wallaby answered. “Ever since all the soldiers out of Gullmoor have been busy with the lizardfolk and the watch-mage died, they have been coming and going more than ever!”</p><p></p><p>“Oroleniel the Salmon?” Bleys asked. Wallaby nodded. “Word is the lizardfolk tricked him into stumbling into a bog…”</p><p></p><p>“I thought the Salmon was arrested in New Harbinger…” Telémahkos whispered in Bleys’ ear. He had just finished searching the bandits, and took an ivory-pommel dagger for himself.</p><p></p><p> The dead bandit was dragged outside, and the Signers discussed their next move, quickly deciding that they should ride to Gullmoor with Furious Garry and talk to the Viceroy and gather more information on the Brood, if possible. </p><p></p><p>“If we leave now, he can send someone to pick up the remaining prisoners by morning…” Telémahkos reasoned.</p><p></p><p>“What!” Wallaby grew flush. “You cannot leave these men here! What if more of MacHaven’s men come while you’re gone? They’ll hold me responsible! I’ll be dead meat!”</p><p></p><p>“You do not seem appreciative of our help,” Markos sneered.</p><p></p><p>“Maybe this’ll teach you the value of the local patrols…” Telémahkos added.</p><p></p><p>“Oh yeah! Thanks for all the Gods-damned help,” Wallaby swore, running his stubby fingers through his matted black hair nervously.</p><p></p><p>“Wallaby is right… We should stay here overnight and then take all the prisoners in the morning,” Bleys said. He turned to the halfling “We shall eat and drink, and if more of MacHaven’s men come in, give a signal… Say something like, ‘Another round on me!’”</p><p></p><p>“That’s not believable,” Wallaby smiled, slyly.</p><p></p><p>“Say it anyway…” Bleys replied.</p><p></p><p>“Let him pick the phrase,” Timotheus said.</p><p></p><p>“How about, ‘Are you going to pay for that?’” Wallaby’s smile widened. It was agreed. “But you know, the simplest thing would be to just dump these bastards in the bog…”</p><p></p><p>Over the next hour, some locals poked their heads in and then quickly went on their way again, but finally a lanky man in new clothes arrived. He wore tall wading boots, and a fine green and brown hunting cap hat atop his long shaggy hair and a smile from ear to ear. It was <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Tavius+of+Bog+End" target="_blank">Tavius</a>.[sup]4[/sup]</p><p></p><p>“Well if it isn’t my favorite noble band!” He smirked and strut, looking at each of the Signers. “Stirring up the hornet’s nest again?” </p><p></p><p>“Do you know anything about MacHaven and his men?” Bleys asked.</p><p></p><p>“Nothing nobody else doesn’t know or hasn’t told ya!” Tavius walked over to the bar. “But I sure am thirsty…” He took off his hat as he walked past them.</p><p></p><p>Telémahkos sneered at the party’s former guide, while Markos sulked about no one following the routine in order for him to cast <em>pyrotechnics</em>, and Victoria of Anhur was taking the time to try to explain why it was tactically unsound to it in this case.</p><p></p><p>Tavius looked around and rolled his eyes. “I do have a story or two to tell, but if you all are too stingy to part with a few coppers to quench a workingman’s throat… Well, in that case… I may have to keep it to myself.”</p><p></p><p>“Talk or leave,” Bleys said flatly, and Tavius put his hat back on and began to make a show of leaving.</p><p></p><p>“Oh hold on! Come back! I’ll buy you a gods-damned drink,” Timotheus swore, glaring at Bleys the Aubergine. Tavius spun around and smiled, and Wallaby poured him an ale. Tavius downed it quickly and then gestured to the cup again, after he looked to Tim hopefully and the warrior nodded. </p><p></p><p>“So out with it! What do you have for us?” Telémahkos snapped.</p><p></p><p>“Well, as you know I am the smartest person around here, and I have a knack for looking out for things that might be worth seeing and knowing…” He smiled wide again, but then saw Telémahkos fuming and rolled his eyes again. “I was around when that knight and the elven watch-mage arrived with some men-at-arms and headed out into the bog. This the kind of thing you are looking for?”</p><p></p><p>Bleys nodded. Tavius finished his ale and gestures for another.</p><p></p><p>“Next thing I hear…” He took a sip. “Next thing I hear they are back in town some days later man down… They threatened some locals to put them up and then they went back out… I saw them that morning…” He paused to gauge the interest of his listeners. Bleys and Laarus were placid as always, and Tim kind of hummed to himself as he drank large mugs of ale between small bowls of fish stew. Markos was deep in thought, and Victoria was stern. Telémahkos sharpened a dagger.</p><p></p><p>He sighed and continued. “Couple of days later they come back, now with only two men-at-arms, and after staying one night they make their way to Gullmoor the next day… It was not long after that that the soldiers went in there, including your old friend Sir Quintus… In fact, I saw him around before the rest of the soldiers and that other knight, Lizard-bane, came back from Gullmoor with the watch-mage in tow… Oh, and when they passed through town, the knight and the watch-mage weren’t speaking…”</p><p></p><p>“How do you know?” Bleys asked.</p><p></p><p>“I notice things… The knight was definitely mad at the elf, and then the next thing you know, word is watch-mage fell in the bog and was never seen again… Make you think, right?” Tavius tapped his temple.</p><p></p><p>Telémahkos looked to Bleys as if to remind him that this was the second time they had heard this news of Oroleniel’s fate.</p><p></p><p>“How long ago was this?” Bleys asked.</p><p></p><p>“Couple of months? They first got out here first week of Keent or so…” Tavius replied. He reached for a bowl of fish stew Wallaby had served for Timotheus. Tim shot him a look, but gestured to the halfling for another bowl. “Now Thricius Gosprey is involved in the fight…”</p><p></p><p>“Thricius Gosprey?” Telémahkos asked.</p><p></p><p>“Son of the Viceroy… Not the eldest… Second son, I think. <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Militants+of+Anhur" target="_blank">Militant of Anhur</a>, like Miss Priestess over here.” He jerked a thumb towards Victoria.</p><p></p><p>Furious Garry began to stir and pull absently as his bonds, so Bleys walked over and slammed a fist into the man’s face, knocking him out again.</p><p></p><p>Later, after Wallaby had shuttered the Wringneck Pub closed, and the Signers of the Charter of Schiereiland did their best to clear space on the filthy floor and lay out their bedrolls, they started to rethink their plans.</p><p></p><p>“I have a bad feeling about going to Gullmoor,” Telémahkos said. “If the Viceroy’s son is working with Lizardbane, we might end up being detained and never get to help Oroleniel the Salmon…”</p><p></p><p>“Detain us for what? We have not done anything,” Laarus said.</p><p></p><p>“Like a lord has never used his power to stall or misdirect people when it was in his interest…” Telémahkos rolled his eyes at the priest. “I think we should go on to New Harbinger and give the prisoners in there…”</p><p></p><p>“I, too, think we should go on to New Harbinger,” Bleys concurred. “We have heard conflicting reports as to Oroleniel’s fate and I would like to know for certain what has happened…”</p><p></p><p>“I would rather stay and deal with the bandits,” Markos said.</p><p></p><p>“Wouldn’t you rather clean up our mess? We left Oroleniel to deal with the lizardfolk and look what has happened…” Victoria said.</p><p></p><p>“Whatever Oroleniel is embroiled in has nothing to do with us,” Laarus said.</p><p></p><p>“Speak for yourself,” Bleys did not even turn to look at Laarus when he spoke.</p><p></p><p>“However…” Laarus continued, ignoring the blast of cold emanating from the watch-mage. “You were summoned by Lord Swann, so we should go to New Harbinger…” </p><p></p><p>“I can answer that at my leisure,” Bleys replied.</p><p></p><p>“That may be so, but it is still a sign of respect to not tarry when summoned by a Lord,” Laarus said. “It has already been at least a fortnight since you received word…”</p><p></p><p>It was put to a vote, and in the end only Markos was against going to New Harbinger, but for once, instead of putting up a fight he went to sleep.</p><p></p><p><em>…to be continued…</em></p><p></p><p>------------------------------------------------------------------</p><p><strong>Notes:</strong></p><p></p><p>(1) See Aquerra’s rules for covering an opponent, <a href="http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Covering" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p></p><p>(2) In Aquerra we play with the rules where there is a chance to hit cover when you miss your target. If the roll hits an AC within the range of the target’s normal AC and that gained by the cover and is still high enough to strike the cover’s AC (in this case Laarus or Victoria, I rolled a die) then it gets hit instead.</p><p></p><p>(3) Furious Garry did 20 points of damage to Markos with that one hit. At the time, I believe Markos had 24 hit points at max.</p><p></p><p>(4) Tavius first appeared in Session #2, and served as their guide on their first adventure.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="el-remmen, post: 4575153, member: 11"] [b]Session #28 – “Drie-Hoek Jaunt” (part 2 of 3)[/b] Markos pushed his hands against the man’s chest and the next thing he knew he felt a pain and force that drove his chin to one side. “Take that you little shet!” the man said, still smirking. Victoria dropped her spear and hurried over to grab at the man, but he easily pushed her away with a snarl. Markos ducked behind the female militant and pointed two fingers at the man’s face, “[I]Sagitta aquom![/I] Two magic missiles flew from the fingers, but while one slammed into the mouthy brigand, the other flew across the room to hit the large man watching the tussle and laughing from his position sitting on the table. “Are any of these men MacHaven?” Bleys asked Wallaby as the halfling ducked noticing the fight beginning. “Just bloody kill these bastards!” The halfling hissed. Bleys cocked an eyebrow. “You dare?” The big man face changed from one of amusement to one of deep anger. He stood up from his seat on the table, and they now noticed that he had a great sword, as he lifted it up from resting across his thighs. “You dare?” he growled again, his bloodshot eyes widening. “Are any of these men MacHaven?” Bleys turned his question to Tickle as the man watched as the dispassionately fight erupt. “No, he wouldn’t come here… That’s Furious Garry…” He cocked a thumb surreptitiously towards the man with the greatsword. “Don’t worry, Boss! I got this!” One of the other men hurried around a table and sent a fist up into Timotheus’ neck. Stung, Timotheus shot him a look of annoyance before bashing him with his heavy shield of bulette hide. The man stumbled back, and swollen with cockiness, Tim leapt up onto one of the tables to survey the entire room. Unfortunately, the cheap furniture of the tavern could not hold his weight and it splintered beneath him, sending him to the floor with a jarring blow to his tailbone. “If you cannot be taught respect with words, you must be taught respect with the might of Ra!” Laarus barked as he drew his heavy flail, and move to stand shoulder to shoulder with Victoria. She grabbed at Furious Garry, barely avoiding a heavy blow from his great sword, and then drawing off. She stumbled as she sidestepped to avoid another of the drunken men, closing in to punch at her with a cudgel. She was unable to avoid the punch of the first man. It was an uppercut to the chin and she fell backward, collapsing to the floor, and then panting as she scrambled back to her feet. Taking advantage of the distraction, Furious Garry turned and brought a hard blow onto Timotheus’s shoulder as he was standing. He was nearly driven back down as the plates of his armor groaned in protest, and he grunted with deep pain, and could feel blood trickled underneath. “Everyone let me know when they’re [I]ready[/I]!” Markos called out to his companions, eying a lantern right in the bandits’ field of vision. “Ready and hurry it up!” Timotheus closed his eyes as he sidestepped and stood, hopping to avoid a follow-up attack. “Victoria! The time has come to draw your weapon!” Laarus said, as he stepped around her to block the kicks of one of the brawlers, and punched him in the chest, flail in hand. Outside, Telémahkos had put his rapier to the smoking man’s neck as soon as the sound of combat reached them. “Move and I’ll fncking kill you,” he said, with a smirk. “Tymon, aim your crossbow at his chest!” The manservant nervously nodded and then did just that.[sup]1[/sup] “If his hands come down, peg him between the eyes,” Telémahkos said as he ducked into the pub. He heard the twang of the crossbow when he had barely gone in ten feet, still too far to join the melee. “Master, look out!” Telémahkos spun around and noted a crossbow bolt on the floor as the man was suddenly upon him, sword in hand. Telie barely got his rapier up to parry the blow. “Let’s dance, scum…” He winked. The cudgel-wielding man, tried to move around Laarus to get a blow in on Victoria as she was still getting up. The big mouth moved away from the two priests, sensing weakness in Timotheus. The blow made Tim open his eyes, but more from its weight and sound than from any actual damage it dealt him. “You stupid fncking knuckle-draggers! Tell me when you’re ready!” Markos screeched. Furious Garry began to huff and puff. His eyes grew wide and his licked his teeth with a brown tongue, drool pouring off his chin as his muscles began to swell with savage strength. Timotheus cursed when he felt the weight of the raging bandit’s great sword, tear into his shield. “I guess that’s not happening, Markos!” Timotheus called back. He cut at his foe’s arm with his sabre. Garry was oblivious to pain. Laarus moved over to try to pen the furious man in, leaving Victoria to deal with the others. She took a cudgel blow to the ribs. She finally drew her morningstar, but groaned as the tip of Furious Garry’s sword thrust past Laarus and caught her in the ribs as she raised her arms. She spun and raised her morningstar against the pain, and called to Anhur to infuse her with his [url=http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Militant+of+Anhur+Characters#righteousfury][I]righteous fury[/I][/url]. Splinters flew from the spiked club as it met the edge of the great sword to block it. “STOP! WE CANNOT KILL THESE MEN!” Bleys’ voice booming thanks to his [url=http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Spell+-+Announce][I]announce[/I][/url] spell. He pointed to the various men. “YOU! SURRENDER NOW!” No one seemed to listen. Least of all, Markos, whose hand was crackling with blue electricity as he stepped over to flank the man fighting Telémahkos. “Looks like you could use some help, Tee-Kay,” Markos reached out and the man jerked for a moment, his clothing and armor smoking. He fell unconscious to the damp tavern floor. The man that started the altercation, drew his longsword and swung weakly at Tim as he moved in the direction of the exit. “Maybe we [I]should[/I] get out here…” He called to his friends. “They said the watch-mage was gone…” “Tymon! Sword! Shield! Back me up!” Telémahkos practiced the footwork Mercado had shown him as he moved to cut off the retreating big mouth. “Have at you, scum!” The bandit barely deflect the worst of the rapier thrust, his armor absorbing the pointed edge, but the not the weight of the blow. Timotheus backed up to give himself some room to work, and took a swipe at the big mouth, who ducked. However, before he could get any further, Tymon was there to pen him and flank him with Tim. The wenches, who had been slowly retreating from the fray, finally sprinted out the back door. The man with the cudgel, ignored by Victoria, moved to flank Laarus, and the young priest of Ra felt the blunt weapon’s heavy blow on his back as he spun to block a follow-up. The militant of Anhur swung her morningstar again and again at Furious Garry, to little effect. “Down, dog!” “SURRENDER NOW!” Bleys repeated. “NO ONE SHOULD DIE HERE!” He moved past the fight to check on the man Markos had fried. “Bleys! There are children in this town who have probably not eaten because of these men…” Markos complained. “[I]Sagitta caustus![/I] He sent an [I]acid arrow[/I] flying at Furious Garry, but had to send it between the narrow gap between Victoria and Laarus to do so, and the caustic liquid splattered against his cousin.[sup]2[/sup] Seeing enough, the loudmouth, tried to flee, but quick blows from Victoria and Telémahkos sent him bleeding to the floor. Furious Garry roared and shrugging off a cut to the forehead as he passed Timotheus, and instinctively dodging to avoid Laarus’ flail, he charged right into Markos punching down with all his might, and slamming the hilt of the sword into the little mage’s neck.[sup]3[/sup] Markos took a step back, but miraculously did not fall. His head, neck and shoulder ached. “My sympathies are with the bandits’ victims,” Telémahkos shot towards Bleys as he moved to flank Furious Garry with the mewling Markos. The raging bandit spun around, growling as he raised his greatsword, smiling as he saw an opening in Telémahkos’ defense, but he was reckless with his own. Timotheus shoved his saber under the man’s armpit and twisted the blade. Furious Garry’s eyes widened as blood exploded from him, and he collapsed. Shocked at his leader’s sudden defeat, the remaining bandit was not ready for Telémahkos’ opportunistic blow, which sent him down to the floor to bleed out as well. “Ra, save this man so we can interrogate him and bring him to justice,” Laarus prayed and cast [I]cure minor wounds[/I] on Furious Garry in order to stabilize him. He did the same to the man Telémahkos dropped, while Victoria dealt with the bleeding loudmouth who had started the whole thing. “Just kill ‘em! Just kill them all! They’re bastard bandits that have been making all our lives miserable since that knight and the watch-mage took all the soldiers into the bog!” Wallaby cried out, distraught. “This one is dead…” Bleys said, ignoring the halfling. He gestured to the man Markos had electrocuted with a spell. The purple-robed watch-mage turned to Markos. “Was this really necessary? Murdering this man?” “Murder? These are bandits who are terrorizing these people!” Markos spat. “You’re just mad than no one obeyed you… Well, despite what Timotheus says, you are not the boss!” “We had no evidence that these men are bandits, and until you used your [I]magic missile[/I] spell, it seemed possible that we might subdue them without resorting to lethal means,” Bleys argued, his voice getting a bit heated for once. “Markos was rash, but we were in our rights,” Laarus defended their actions. “The guy outside told me these guys were with MacHaven,” Telémahkos bluffed. “That was evidence enough for me…” “They looked bad…” Markos said. “You could just tell…” “So you judged them based on looks alone? How very [I]noble[/I] of you…” Bleys replied. “Bah! I don’t care…” Markos spat again. Laarus cast a curing spell on Timotheus and then another on himself, as Markos shifted the argument to be about no one following the routine for his casting [I]pyrotechnics[/I]. The priest of Ra winced as the acid-burns on his neck healed. “Where can we find the rest of these bandits, and their leader MacHaven?” Victoria asked, but neither Wallaby or Tickle knew, or at least they wouldn’t say. “If you hang around long enough more of them will come, especially once Garry and his men go missing…” Wallaby answered. “Ever since all the soldiers out of Gullmoor have been busy with the lizardfolk and the watch-mage died, they have been coming and going more than ever!” “Oroleniel the Salmon?” Bleys asked. Wallaby nodded. “Word is the lizardfolk tricked him into stumbling into a bog…” “I thought the Salmon was arrested in New Harbinger…” Telémahkos whispered in Bleys’ ear. He had just finished searching the bandits, and took an ivory-pommel dagger for himself. The dead bandit was dragged outside, and the Signers discussed their next move, quickly deciding that they should ride to Gullmoor with Furious Garry and talk to the Viceroy and gather more information on the Brood, if possible. “If we leave now, he can send someone to pick up the remaining prisoners by morning…” Telémahkos reasoned. “What!” Wallaby grew flush. “You cannot leave these men here! What if more of MacHaven’s men come while you’re gone? They’ll hold me responsible! I’ll be dead meat!” “You do not seem appreciative of our help,” Markos sneered. “Maybe this’ll teach you the value of the local patrols…” Telémahkos added. “Oh yeah! Thanks for all the Gods-damned help,” Wallaby swore, running his stubby fingers through his matted black hair nervously. “Wallaby is right… We should stay here overnight and then take all the prisoners in the morning,” Bleys said. He turned to the halfling “We shall eat and drink, and if more of MacHaven’s men come in, give a signal… Say something like, ‘Another round on me!’” “That’s not believable,” Wallaby smiled, slyly. “Say it anyway…” Bleys replied. “Let him pick the phrase,” Timotheus said. “How about, ‘Are you going to pay for that?’” Wallaby’s smile widened. It was agreed. “But you know, the simplest thing would be to just dump these bastards in the bog…” Over the next hour, some locals poked their heads in and then quickly went on their way again, but finally a lanky man in new clothes arrived. He wore tall wading boots, and a fine green and brown hunting cap hat atop his long shaggy hair and a smile from ear to ear. It was [url=http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Tavius+of+Bog+End]Tavius[/url].[sup]4[/sup] “Well if it isn’t my favorite noble band!” He smirked and strut, looking at each of the Signers. “Stirring up the hornet’s nest again?” “Do you know anything about MacHaven and his men?” Bleys asked. “Nothing nobody else doesn’t know or hasn’t told ya!” Tavius walked over to the bar. “But I sure am thirsty…” He took off his hat as he walked past them. Telémahkos sneered at the party’s former guide, while Markos sulked about no one following the routine in order for him to cast [I]pyrotechnics[/I], and Victoria of Anhur was taking the time to try to explain why it was tactically unsound to it in this case. Tavius looked around and rolled his eyes. “I do have a story or two to tell, but if you all are too stingy to part with a few coppers to quench a workingman’s throat… Well, in that case… I may have to keep it to myself.” “Talk or leave,” Bleys said flatly, and Tavius put his hat back on and began to make a show of leaving. “Oh hold on! Come back! I’ll buy you a gods-damned drink,” Timotheus swore, glaring at Bleys the Aubergine. Tavius spun around and smiled, and Wallaby poured him an ale. Tavius downed it quickly and then gestured to the cup again, after he looked to Tim hopefully and the warrior nodded. “So out with it! What do you have for us?” Telémahkos snapped. “Well, as you know I am the smartest person around here, and I have a knack for looking out for things that might be worth seeing and knowing…” He smiled wide again, but then saw Telémahkos fuming and rolled his eyes again. “I was around when that knight and the elven watch-mage arrived with some men-at-arms and headed out into the bog. This the kind of thing you are looking for?” Bleys nodded. Tavius finished his ale and gestures for another. “Next thing I hear…” He took a sip. “Next thing I hear they are back in town some days later man down… They threatened some locals to put them up and then they went back out… I saw them that morning…” He paused to gauge the interest of his listeners. Bleys and Laarus were placid as always, and Tim kind of hummed to himself as he drank large mugs of ale between small bowls of fish stew. Markos was deep in thought, and Victoria was stern. Telémahkos sharpened a dagger. He sighed and continued. “Couple of days later they come back, now with only two men-at-arms, and after staying one night they make their way to Gullmoor the next day… It was not long after that that the soldiers went in there, including your old friend Sir Quintus… In fact, I saw him around before the rest of the soldiers and that other knight, Lizard-bane, came back from Gullmoor with the watch-mage in tow… Oh, and when they passed through town, the knight and the watch-mage weren’t speaking…” “How do you know?” Bleys asked. “I notice things… The knight was definitely mad at the elf, and then the next thing you know, word is watch-mage fell in the bog and was never seen again… Make you think, right?” Tavius tapped his temple. Telémahkos looked to Bleys as if to remind him that this was the second time they had heard this news of Oroleniel’s fate. “How long ago was this?” Bleys asked. “Couple of months? They first got out here first week of Keent or so…” Tavius replied. He reached for a bowl of fish stew Wallaby had served for Timotheus. Tim shot him a look, but gestured to the halfling for another bowl. “Now Thricius Gosprey is involved in the fight…” “Thricius Gosprey?” Telémahkos asked. “Son of the Viceroy… Not the eldest… Second son, I think. [url=http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Militants+of+Anhur]Militant of Anhur[/url], like Miss Priestess over here.” He jerked a thumb towards Victoria. Furious Garry began to stir and pull absently as his bonds, so Bleys walked over and slammed a fist into the man’s face, knocking him out again. Later, after Wallaby had shuttered the Wringneck Pub closed, and the Signers of the Charter of Schiereiland did their best to clear space on the filthy floor and lay out their bedrolls, they started to rethink their plans. “I have a bad feeling about going to Gullmoor,” Telémahkos said. “If the Viceroy’s son is working with Lizardbane, we might end up being detained and never get to help Oroleniel the Salmon…” “Detain us for what? We have not done anything,” Laarus said. “Like a lord has never used his power to stall or misdirect people when it was in his interest…” Telémahkos rolled his eyes at the priest. “I think we should go on to New Harbinger and give the prisoners in there…” “I, too, think we should go on to New Harbinger,” Bleys concurred. “We have heard conflicting reports as to Oroleniel’s fate and I would like to know for certain what has happened…” “I would rather stay and deal with the bandits,” Markos said. “Wouldn’t you rather clean up our mess? We left Oroleniel to deal with the lizardfolk and look what has happened…” Victoria said. “Whatever Oroleniel is embroiled in has nothing to do with us,” Laarus said. “Speak for yourself,” Bleys did not even turn to look at Laarus when he spoke. “However…” Laarus continued, ignoring the blast of cold emanating from the watch-mage. “You were summoned by Lord Swann, so we should go to New Harbinger…” “I can answer that at my leisure,” Bleys replied. “That may be so, but it is still a sign of respect to not tarry when summoned by a Lord,” Laarus said. “It has already been at least a fortnight since you received word…” It was put to a vote, and in the end only Markos was against going to New Harbinger, but for once, instead of putting up a fight he went to sleep. [I]…to be continued…[/I] ------------------------------------------------------------------ [b]Notes:[/b] (1) See Aquerra’s rules for covering an opponent, [url=http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Covering]here[/url]. (2) In Aquerra we play with the rules where there is a chance to hit cover when you miss your target. If the roll hits an AC within the range of the target’s normal AC and that gained by the cover and is still high enough to strike the cover’s AC (in this case Laarus or Victoria, I rolled a die) then it gets hit instead. (3) Furious Garry did 20 points of damage to Markos with that one hit. At the time, I believe Markos had 24 hit points at max. (4) Tavius first appeared in Session #2, and served as their guide on their first adventure. [/QUOTE]
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"Second Son of a Second Son" - An Aquerra Story Hour (*finally* Updated 04/19)
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