Klaus begins to cower in fear. "My lord, this body is heavy.." he whines, quietly, then Katharina speaks, still on guard.
"I am next in line to rule over a band of mutants my FATHER sold us OUT to - to save HIS village." she says with great disgust. "But I am no princess. I am the incarnation of vengeance. This talisman I wear was given to me by my mother, and to my brother Waldmann." she tilts to look over at what Klaus is carrying. "I see by the arrow in his face that he is dead. Good. Then he got what he deserved. If you are, too, in league with Maximilian, then you shall DIE!"
At this particular moment, you have a number of options to consider.
FIGHT If you wish to fight, then you roll for initiative. (1d10 + Initiative score.) Since Werston was preparing a knife, Jabthar you can roll an additional 1d10 and pick the higher number to use. (Like, rolling for advantage in D&D) So, if your initiative score is 6, and you roll a 5 and a 9 on the two 1d10s, you take the 9 making your Initiative for the battle 15.
TALK You are free to continue the role-playing to see if you can get Katharina to back down in a more civil manner.
TACTFULLY MOVE BACKWARDS RAPIDLY IN A COURAGEOUS MANNER There is a small chance that fighting along the mountainside might alert the rest of the camp, especially if Katharina is losing and she decides to scream or run. If you wish to turn and run away, there is a very good chance you'll escape and be able to intercept the warband on it's way to Vorberg, but Katharina would most likely alert the camp and send a search party for you.
Wren was fine with whatever manner they decided to take, but leaves that decision up to Wrinm, seeing as he was the one doing most of the talking. The ranger had hopes that he would be able to deescalate the situation, but had it not come down to it, he was ready to fight or flee.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Aeydof the Dragons || Wood Elf / Way of the Ascendant Dragon Monk Demetrios Zalaoras || Protector Aasimar / Paladin of Torm Hawke || Kalashtar / Circle of the Moon Druid Morticia || Half-Aasimar Rogue Yvan || Goliath / Path of the Wild Soul Barbarian | Paladin of Helm /ᐠ。ꞈ。ᐟ\
Werston sighs heavily. He totters over to a nearby tree and leans heavily against it (thereby giving up his advantage on an initiative roll, though still keeping the knife concealed behind the hat). "Well, that sounds... awful. Incarnation of vengeance - seems like a lot of responsibility. Imagine my surprise, to face death at the hand of a first cousin (once removed) that I didn't even know I had! While I grieve over the death of Waldmann, I believe to see now that there are more and greater injustices in play. I would hear them, if you have the patience. Certainly, you could kill an old fart like me at any point, and about time it would be! Still, I could not have imagined on this day that I would lose one nephew to gain a niece, but if you would let me live just a little longer, I would love to hear one last story: yours. You seem to be carrying a great burden, Katharina."
Werston's voice grows a little choked up as he finishes speaking, letting both his grief over Walkmann's murder and his compassion for this lost cousin show. He punctuates the words "about time it would be" by gesturing to his numerous scrapes, scars, and slight breakages, accrued from a short lifetime of hard living and heavy hitting. His entire demeanor shifts towards a serene sense of peace in the face of unstoppable death, yet with heart, reaching out one last time towards the good in another being, however small that spark might be.
"You want answers? Go ask that FILTH of a man I once called FATHER." while still keeping her guard, she lets down emotionally - just enough. "Get out of here. ALL of you. A warband approaches Vorberg. Soon, we will have our revenge for what he did and nothing will be left of your village. If I find you again on this mountain we will kill you - I promise."
She laughs loud, and dives back into the bushes of the hill, heading back for the camp at the mouth of the cave.
The God-Emperor decided to grant you mercy today - or perhaps fortune DOES favor the foolish?
Werston chews on his lip for a breath. "Not that we should take the advice of savages on principle, but I think in this case we ought to expeditiously warn the town of their impending doom."
"Their doom has been impending since their births, but by all means, let us warn them of this particular flavor," Dara says with a shrug before the old woman starts to stump back towards town.
Evening has arrived. As you make haste down the side of the mountain, you return to the road that leads back to Vorberg. You can see off in the distance that the warband has made a quick pit stop to make sure Old Tom's Cottage burns to the ground. Werston, this is a very old family member of yours and Maximilian's as well. You can only pray that their deaths are swift.
Wrinm's mood worsens on sight of the ashes of the cabin and he quickens his pace, his breath coming in furtive gasps as he forces the march further, faster. A brief deception before the corrupted Katarina had been enough to avoid a dangerous fight, but whatever else might be said, the brutes were still savages, and the heinous slaughter of civilized folk justified Maximilian's actions, at least to Wrinm's conscious. If only the town could be rallied in time!
As the team returns back to town, the townsfolk cheer and prostrate themselves when Pauladean walks in. They love her. So much so, that they elect her Queen Empress of the Kingdom, and shower her with adoration and riches beyond anyone's wildest dreams. And she lived happily ever after. The End.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?
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At the back of the group, Dara listens the conversation with an exceedingly bored expression.
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
Klaus begins to cower in fear. "My lord, this body is heavy.." he whines, quietly, then Katharina speaks, still on guard.
"I am next in line to rule over a band of mutants my FATHER sold us OUT to - to save HIS village." she says with great disgust. "But I am no princess. I am the incarnation of vengeance. This talisman I wear was given to me by my mother, and to my brother Waldmann." she tilts to look over at what Klaus is carrying. "I see by the arrow in his face that he is dead. Good. Then he got what he deserved. If you are, too, in league with Maximilian, then you shall DIE!"
At this particular moment, you have a number of options to consider.
FIGHT
If you wish to fight, then you roll for initiative. (1d10 + Initiative score.) Since Werston was preparing a knife, Jabthar you can roll an additional 1d10 and pick the higher number to use. (Like, rolling for advantage in D&D) So, if your initiative score is 6, and you roll a 5 and a 9 on the two 1d10s, you take the 9 making your Initiative for the battle 15.
TALK
You are free to continue the role-playing to see if you can get Katharina to back down in a more civil manner.
TACTFULLY MOVE BACKWARDS RAPIDLY IN A COURAGEOUS MANNER
There is a small chance that fighting along the mountainside might alert the rest of the camp, especially if Katharina is losing and she decides to scream or run. If you wish to turn and run away, there is a very good chance you'll escape and be able to intercept the warband on it's way to Vorberg, but Katharina would most likely alert the camp and send a search party for you.
Wren was fine with whatever manner they decided to take, but leaves that decision up to Wrinm, seeing as he was the one doing most of the talking. The ranger had hopes that he would be able to deescalate the situation, but had it not come down to it, he was ready to fight or flee.
Aeyd of the Dragons || Wood Elf / Way of the Ascendant Dragon Monk
Demetrios Zalaoras || Protector Aasimar / Paladin of Torm
Hawke || Kalashtar / Circle of the Moon Druid
Morticia || Half-Aasimar Rogue
Yvan || Goliath / Path of the Wild Soul Barbarian | Paladin of Helm
/ᐠ。ꞈ。ᐟ\
Pauladean silently flexes her fingers, one-by-one, readying herself for the inevitable fight to come.
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?
WERSTON CHOOSES TO TALK!
Werston sighs heavily. He totters over to a nearby tree and leans heavily against it (thereby giving up his advantage on an initiative roll, though still keeping the knife concealed behind the hat). "Well, that sounds... awful. Incarnation of vengeance - seems like a lot of responsibility. Imagine my surprise, to face death at the hand of a first cousin (once removed) that I didn't even know I had! While I grieve over the death of Waldmann, I believe to see now that there are more and greater injustices in play. I would hear them, if you have the patience. Certainly, you could kill an old fart like me at any point, and about time it would be! Still, I could not have imagined on this day that I would lose one nephew to gain a niece, but if you would let me live just a little longer, I would love to hear one last story: yours. You seem to be carrying a great burden, Katharina."
Werston's voice grows a little choked up as he finishes speaking, letting both his grief over Walkmann's murder and his compassion for this lost cousin show. He punctuates the words "about time it would be" by gesturing to his numerous scrapes, scars, and slight breakages, accrued from a short lifetime of hard living and heavy hitting. His entire demeanor shifts towards a serene sense of peace in the face of unstoppable death, yet with heart, reaching out one last time towards the good in another being, however small that spark might be.
Charm (42 + 10 routine): 35
KATHARINA RESISTS: 3 vs Scrutinize (40% - 10% = 30%) FAIL
"You want answers? Go ask that FILTH of a man I once called FATHER." while still keeping her guard, she lets down emotionally - just enough. "Get out of here. ALL of you. A warband approaches Vorberg. Soon, we will have our revenge for what he did and nothing will be left of your village. If I find you again on this mountain we will kill you - I promise."
She laughs loud, and dives back into the bushes of the hill, heading back for the camp at the mouth of the cave.
The God-Emperor decided to grant you mercy today - or perhaps fortune DOES favor the foolish?
Werston chews on his lip for a breath. "Not that we should take the advice of savages on principle, but I think in this case we ought to expeditiously warn the town of their impending doom."
"Yeah, and collect our payment for services rendered..." Pauladean sheepishly mumbles (as she's already silently counting out the coins in her head).
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?
"Their doom has been impending since their births, but by all means, let us warn them of this particular flavor," Dara says with a shrug before the old woman starts to stump back towards town.
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
OLD TOM'S COTTAGE
Evening has arrived. As you make haste down the side of the mountain, you return to the road that leads back to Vorberg. You can see off in the distance that the warband has made a quick pit stop to make sure Old Tom's Cottage burns to the ground. Werston, this is a very old family member of yours and Maximilian's as well. You can only pray that their deaths are swift.
Wrinm's mood worsens on sight of the ashes of the cabin and he quickens his pace, his breath coming in furtive gasps as he forces the march further, faster. A brief deception before the corrupted Katarina had been enough to avoid a dangerous fight, but whatever else might be said, the brutes were still savages, and the heinous slaughter of civilized folk justified Maximilian's actions, at least to Wrinm's conscious. If only the town could be rallied in time!
Dara makes her way along at the back, mostly musing on the futility of this particular act, but having long learned to keep such opinions to herself.
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
Pauladean continues to easily keep up with Wrinm, lost in thought as she continues to count her newfound wealth in her head...
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?
As the team returns back to town, the townsfolk cheer and prostrate themselves when Pauladean walks in. They love her. So much so, that they elect her Queen Empress of the Kingdom, and shower her with adoration and riches beyond anyone's wildest dreams. And she lived happily ever after. The End.
Last to know and first to be blamed...
As a free action, can I regret my life choices?