In an instant, Chatcho's mind crosses the connection and he finds himself standing at the head of the once-well Nevael brother. The man lies face-down next to the table that he, or rather Tik-Tik, is currently under. Beyond him is the half-orc, standing just in front of the cabin door. His thick fore-arm is wrapped steadfast around Branch's neck, unyielding as she kicks and flails, doing her utmost to break the hold but growing weaker by the second. At one point, her flailing unsteadies him and he drops to a knee. The grip slackens on her throat for but a moment, but a moment too short. The strength returns in a flash, and she finds herself quickly flagging, darkness edging its way into the corners of her vision.
At Archibald's challenge the man steps forward, resting his blade free as he walks past. He does so calmly, his weapon held loosely as he strides confidently closer, until he is within twenty feet. He then seems to hear Aluve's words, examining the party more closely, and seemingly surprised to find that he speaks the truth, there is not a weapon with them. "Ye 'ide them!" He accuses in a scathing tone, but his scowl quickly drops back to confusion, it would seem even he lacks confidence in that argument. "Why 'en? Why've ye come, and why so un'rmed? I tell ye, if this is a trick ye'll pay dearly, we'll nah 'ave your 'taxes' no more. Ye can leave and ne'er return."
Though she seems eager to speak, the woman remains silent, cowed by the man's earlier remarks.
"We left them behind to show we mean no harm. We don't want to take anything from you friend. We are here for guidance and help. I assure you. We are lost here, we have been fleeing from numerous threats and we are trying to find our way home. There are no tricks, you have my word. My name is Aluve, and my brave friend here is Archibald. We freed this woman from a crew of theives. We have come through the black gates of that rotting city. Please my friend."
Chatcho sharply inhales nearly a hundred feet away from the sight he is perceiving. A vague facet of the future he had seen has now played out: a friend, an assailant, and a cat. He had summoned Tik-TIk for this very purpose, his positioning imperative.
Chatcho will replace the Half-Orc’s contested roll with his earlier Portent roll of 4.
"We're not here to collect taxes or deal out any mischief. We're passing through. But if you call me or my friend a liar one more time, you'll have to do it with fewer teeth."
For a long moment the pair continue their struggle. Branch weakens, slowly giving in, blacking out. And then, by strange happenstance, the Half-Orc notices the cat. It's staring at him, and something in those eyes, some intelligence... A last, desperate kick, but this time he's distracted. The grip slackens, a breath! Energy, life, floods back into Branch as she squirrels free of his grasp, escaping that iron hold.
Standing before her, he sighs, the urgency leaving him. "I didn't want to hurt you." He mutters, half to himself, as he steps toward a great-axe leaning against the wall where he'd been when she walked in. "We were just going to be gone." He raises the axe as high as the low ceiling will allow, and plants it firmly into the support that Zue's tied to. Her restraints fall limp around her wrists. The gag is gone a moment later, and the single word--baal--slips past her lips. In her palm a spark ignites into flame, coalescing into a flowing, whirling sphere that lights the room and doesn't seem to burn her. She extends it toward Branch, but the searing pain does not come... yet. The threat is wordless, as she holds the flames back, leaving the choice up to the odd-coloured woman.
Myrkfithr Chetowa watches the discourse in a, continued, frustrated silence. Finally, when the man shoots back at Aluve with, "If what ye say's true, 'en move on! We're no 'ome've yours!" she involves herself in the only way she yet can. To Aluve mind, the invasion is less jarring, than it was when she used this same ability with Chatcho. For the fighter's deadened mental senses--compared to those of the learned insectoid--the message comes simply, with little fore-warning.
He knows we tell the truth, the runner that spotted us knows we came from theafegr/river-way/pathtoStayar'Dauthr/Place-Dead/City of the dead.
For a moment, he does seem to be considering Aluve's words, slowly being won over by the argument. He is resting his sword on the ground, leaning against it slightly, when Archibald steps forward and gives him the excuse he's been looking for. With a grin that grows wider at every syllable he speaks, the man steps forward, raising the weapon again. "Bah! If it were true ye weren't born banamathr, ye'd've been slaughtered by 'em already! Nay! Ye are born banamathr. I name you such! Murderers, Cowards!"Grinning from ear-to-ear now, he concludes by staring directly at Archibald and pronouncing the word in as exaggerated a fashion as he can muster, "Li---ars!"
Aluve rushes to step between two men. "No! This doesn't have to be like this! I dont know even know what Banamathr means. Stop trying to make trouble with us when you dont have to.......I cant keep stopping my friend. He is a proud man and does not appreciate his honour to be disrespected. Please. Dont make a foolish choice......this will only end badly and I can assure you it will not be us that fall if it does."
Aluve puts out his hand. "Please....you either shake this, or cut it off with your sword....once the choice is made though both sides will have to deal with the consequences."
All the time Aluve is wondering where Branch is....
"This is taking too long," Bramble groans, getting to his feet. "There must be trouble. Never should have split up the herd."
He hops over the side of the ship onto the dock and heads toward the smoke, keeping his eyes and ears out for any sort of commotion or suspicious activity.
The man stares at Aluve, then over his shoulder at Archibald, and the fleeing insectoid. For a long time, it seems as if he's going to shove the first aside and continue with the combat, but eventually a sly grin spreads across his face. "O-o-of course." He speaks, suddenly, "'e truth o' your purposes here will be made plain soon enough. Come, if ye've not lost your courage like the other, but I warn ye. Ye'd best keep your dog on a short leash." The man heel-turns on the spot and begins walking back into town, swinging his sword about leisurely, in a not-so-subtle display of power.
Branch's breath comes back to her in a rush and it takes a moment for her senses to catch back up. As she scrambles to her feet and watches in stunned silence as the axe man releases Zue, she studders, "Whhhy??" she reaches up, clutches her throat and swallows painfully, "How do the two of you even know each other? Please, I will not stop you from leaving if you will give me answers. We saved you sir, and now you're taking the prisoner who tried to kill us? Please, I need answers."
"Thankyou my friend" Aluve smiles and sighs with relief. "I definitely have not lost my nerve, we would be happy to accompany you."
He turns and notices Chatcho running back to the ship. At first he wasn't too concerned, Chatcho often off things at odd times....but he couldn't help worry a little knowing his companion could detect things most of them couldn't. He was confident if anything was happening, it would be handled. Theh had made too much progress now with the locals to turn back now.
Aluve puts his hand on Archibalds shoulder. "Come on, lets take this easy Archi. Try to keep your cool. I will need you on this, lets go."
At Chatcho's sudden appearance, Zue's hand swings wildly in his direction, the bolt of flame surges forward at a mental command, and splashes harmlessly against the steel head of the Half-Orc's axe. He shakes his head slowly at her, mouthing a word that is lost between them. Zue sinks into herself at his silent reprimand, remiss at the possibility of having disappointed her superior. He doesn't seem to notice, turning back toward Branch and Chatcho.
"...Is it not obvious?" He asks, after a moment's pondering, wondering if they mean to trick him somehow. "Of course, we are both under the service of the rightful lord of the lake, and of you. You are criminals, and would be rotting in your rightful place had that... Freak storm? Whatever-it-was not wrecked our ship. You all have broken countless laws, not least of which the imprisonment of an officer of the law--" He gestures towards Zue, who seems to be composing herself "--and I can only imagine the murder of her partner. But, seeing as we are now marooned in these lawless lands, and I have not the manpower to take this ship by force, the two of us will be leaving to seek our way home in the company of decent folk."
The nameless ne'er do well that had confronted them now leads them through the city streets. Passing the two houses between which he first appeared, two archers emerge from the buildings and flank the group. They continue down the main road, and turn left at the next intersection, following the road up the side of the long stone temple, the only building of it's kind in town. As they pass by the head of the temple, a small crowd can be seen gathered around the large, ornate doors. A man stands on top of the steps, orating at the group, though the winds do not carry his voice over the distance to the party.
The ne'er do well, having also taken notice of the priest, speeds up ever-so-slightly, but it is all for naught. "Hail!" The man's cry sounds over the distance, he waves, and now faces the group bodily. The swordsman cringes at the call, and stops dead in his tracks. "Keep'm movin'." He instructs his companions, who point their weapons at the party's backs. "Ye 'eard 'im! Keep it movin'!"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Chatcho crosses both pairs of arms. He attempts to bridge telepathically to the two officers and includes Branch in the communication.
The truth reveals itself at last: the dras/female-sleeper/girl and her maa'ak/companion were to ko/to break/cripple the Berronar while you intercepted via the Pintail.
The Thri-Kreen visually appraises the condition of the Navael brothers. Perception: 17
But I don't understand the role of the carpenter's apprentice.
"Decent folk?? Are you serious? Who saved your life in the first place? Yes, we imprisoned this woman as she was trying to set our ship on fire!" Branch looks down to the guard that is laying face down on the ground, "and what did you do to them??" She continues to look around the cabin frantically, trying to assess the situation and understand what is going on. Also knowing that Alvue and Archibald were now out on their own with the woman prisoner. And now Branch is wondering if they trusted them too easily as well. Trying to hold down a feeling of panic.
Aluve follows the instructions of the townsfolk. The further they went into town, the more concerned he became with what had taken Branch so long to get them.
"Are the weapons necessary? You out number us and we dont have any....we also came willingly and in peace. I appreciate you being cautious though if this is how we need to do things then I respect it."
Even Aluve with was starting to get slightly irritated now,he looks to Archibald who was not looking impressed in the slightest.
Bramble catches sight of Chatcho. "Hey, ah, Chatcho! What's going - oh,"He stops as Chatcho suddenly disappears from sight. "Welp... I wonder where he went... Hope he's okay..."
He then spots Aluve and rushes after him. "Aluve, hey, ah, wait up! What -"He begins, then stops as he sees it's only Aluve and Archibald. He leans over to the elf and whispers, "Wait, is Branch not with you? What the heck is going on??"
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In an instant, Chatcho's mind crosses the connection and he finds himself standing at the head of the once-well Nevael brother. The man lies face-down next to the table that he, or rather Tik-Tik, is currently under. Beyond him is the half-orc, standing just in front of the cabin door. His thick fore-arm is wrapped steadfast around Branch's neck, unyielding as she kicks and flails, doing her utmost to break the hold but growing weaker by the second. At one point, her flailing unsteadies him and he drops to a knee. The grip slackens on her throat for but a moment, but a moment too short. The strength returns in a flash, and she finds herself quickly flagging, darkness edging its way into the corners of her vision.
===================================================================================================================
At Archibald's challenge the man steps forward, resting his blade free as he walks past. He does so calmly, his weapon held loosely as he strides confidently closer, until he is within twenty feet. He then seems to hear Aluve's words, examining the party more closely, and seemingly surprised to find that he speaks the truth, there is not a weapon with them. "Ye 'ide them!" He accuses in a scathing tone, but his scowl quickly drops back to confusion, it would seem even he lacks confidence in that argument. "Why 'en? Why've ye come, and why so un'rmed? I tell ye, if this is a trick ye'll pay dearly, we'll nah 'ave your 'taxes' no more. Ye can leave and ne'er return."
Though she seems eager to speak, the woman remains silent, cowed by the man's earlier remarks.
Half-Orc: 17
Aluve Persuasion: 5 20
Falling on her knees as her air is running short, she tries another desperate attempt to get free...
Acrobatics check 17
"We left them behind to show we mean no harm. We don't want to take anything from you friend. We are here for guidance and help. I assure you. We are lost here, we have been fleeing from numerous threats and we are trying to find our way home. There are no tricks, you have my word. My name is Aluve, and my brave friend here is Archibald. We freed this woman from a crew of theives. We have come through the black gates of that rotting city. Please my friend."
Chatcho sharply inhales nearly a hundred feet away from the sight he is perceiving. A vague facet of the future he had seen has now played out: a friend, an assailant, and a cat. He had summoned Tik-TIk for this very purpose, his positioning imperative.
Chatcho will replace the Half-Orc’s contested roll with his earlier Portent roll of 4.
Archibald holds up his fists.
"We're not here to collect taxes or deal out any mischief. We're passing through. But if you call me or my friend a liar one more time, you'll have to do it with fewer teeth."
Paladin - warforged - orange
For a long moment the pair continue their struggle. Branch weakens, slowly giving in, blacking out. And then, by strange happenstance, the Half-Orc notices the cat. It's staring at him, and something in those eyes, some intelligence... A last, desperate kick, but this time he's distracted. The grip slackens, a breath! Energy, life, floods back into Branch as she squirrels free of his grasp, escaping that iron hold.
Standing before her, he sighs, the urgency leaving him. "I didn't want to hurt you." He mutters, half to himself, as he steps toward a great-axe leaning against the wall where he'd been when she walked in. "We were just going to be gone." He raises the axe as high as the low ceiling will allow, and plants it firmly into the support that Zue's tied to. Her restraints fall limp around her wrists. The gag is gone a moment later, and the single word--baal--slips past her lips. In her palm a spark ignites into flame, coalescing into a flowing, whirling sphere that lights the room and doesn't seem to burn her. She extends it toward Branch, but the searing pain does not come... yet. The threat is wordless, as she holds the flames back, leaving the choice up to the odd-coloured woman.
===================================================================================================================
Myrkfithr Chetowa watches the discourse in a, continued, frustrated silence. Finally, when the man shoots back at Aluve with, "If what ye say's true, 'en move on! We're no 'ome've yours!" she involves herself in the only way she yet can. To Aluve mind, the invasion is less jarring, than it was when she used this same ability with Chatcho. For the fighter's deadened mental senses--compared to those of the learned insectoid--the message comes simply, with little fore-warning.
He knows we tell the truth, the runner that spotted us knows we came from the afegr/river-way/path to Stayar'Dauthr/Place-Dead/City of the dead.
For a moment, he does seem to be considering Aluve's words, slowly being won over by the argument. He is resting his sword on the ground, leaning against it slightly, when Archibald steps forward and gives him the excuse he's been looking for. With a grin that grows wider at every syllable he speaks, the man steps forward, raising the weapon again. "Bah! If it were true ye weren't born banamathr, ye'd've been slaughtered by 'em already! Nay! Ye are born banamathr. I name you such! Murderers, Cowards!" Grinning from ear-to-ear now, he concludes by staring directly at Archibald and pronouncing the word in as exaggerated a fashion as he can muster, "Li---ars!"
Archibald moves in to punch some teeth out
Paladin - warforged - orange
Aluve rushes to step between two men. "No! This doesn't have to be like this! I dont know even know what Banamathr means. Stop trying to make trouble with us when you dont have to.......I cant keep stopping my friend. He is a proud man and does not appreciate his honour to be disrespected. Please. Dont make a foolish choice......this will only end badly and I can assure you it will not be us that fall if it does."
Aluve puts out his hand. "Please....you either shake this, or cut it off with your sword....once the choice is made though both sides will have to deal with the consequences."
All the time Aluve is wondering where Branch is....
"This is taking too long," Bramble groans, getting to his feet. "There must be trouble. Never should have split up the herd."
He hops over the side of the ship onto the dock and heads toward the smoke, keeping his eyes and ears out for any sort of commotion or suspicious activity.
(Passive Perception is 17)
Chatcho breaks his connection with Tik-Tik and sprints toward the ship.
Should he run into Bramble he will telepathically communicate Danger in the cabin! without stopping.
The man stares at Aluve, then over his shoulder at Archibald, and the fleeing insectoid. For a long time, it seems as if he's going to shove the first aside and continue with the combat, but eventually a sly grin spreads across his face. "O-o-of course." He speaks, suddenly, "'e truth o' your purposes here will be made plain soon enough. Come, if ye've not lost your courage like the other, but I warn ye. Ye'd best keep your dog on a short leash." The man heel-turns on the spot and begins walking back into town, swinging his sword about leisurely, in a not-so-subtle display of power.
Branch's breath comes back to her in a rush and it takes a moment for her senses to catch back up. As she scrambles to her feet and watches in stunned silence as the axe man releases Zue, she studders, "Whhhy??" she reaches up, clutches her throat and swallows painfully, "How do the two of you even know each other? Please, I will not stop you from leaving if you will give me answers. We saved you sir, and now you're taking the prisoner who tried to kill us? Please, I need answers."
As Chatcho nears the Berronar…
Displacement would save time but I run the risk of colliding with another material body. If only...ah.
Chatcho stops and surrenders his Sight and Hearing for those of Tik-Tik's. Branch is clutching her throat.
"-ill us? Please, I need an-"
Chatcho uses Misty Step. This next step is long, wide, high, and...something else.
"-swers."
Chatcho materializes directly next to Branch.
"Thankyou my friend" Aluve smiles and sighs with relief. "I definitely have not lost my nerve, we would be happy to accompany you."
He turns and notices Chatcho running back to the ship. At first he wasn't too concerned, Chatcho often off things at odd times....but he couldn't help worry a little knowing his companion could detect things most of them couldn't. He was confident if anything was happening, it would be handled. Theh had made too much progress now with the locals to turn back now.
Aluve puts his hand on Archibalds shoulder. "Come on, lets take this easy Archi. Try to keep your cool. I will need you on this, lets go."
Archibald grumbles under his breath and keeps clenching his fists, but follows Aluve's more measured response.
Paladin - warforged - orange
At Chatcho's sudden appearance, Zue's hand swings wildly in his direction, the bolt of flame surges forward at a mental command, and splashes harmlessly against the steel head of the Half-Orc's axe. He shakes his head slowly at her, mouthing a word that is lost between them. Zue sinks into herself at his silent reprimand, remiss at the possibility of having disappointed her superior. He doesn't seem to notice, turning back toward Branch and Chatcho.
"...Is it not obvious?" He asks, after a moment's pondering, wondering if they mean to trick him somehow. "Of course, we are both under the service of the rightful lord of the lake, and of you. You are criminals, and would be rotting in your rightful place had that... Freak storm? Whatever-it-was not wrecked our ship. You all have broken countless laws, not least of which the imprisonment of an officer of the law--" He gestures towards Zue, who seems to be composing herself "--and I can only imagine the murder of her partner. But, seeing as we are now marooned in these lawless lands, and I have not the manpower to take this ship by force, the two of us will be leaving to seek our way home in the company of decent folk."
===================================================================================================================
The nameless ne'er do well that had confronted them now leads them through the city streets. Passing the two houses between which he first appeared, two archers emerge from the buildings and flank the group. They continue down the main road, and turn left at the next intersection, following the road up the side of the long stone temple, the only building of it's kind in town. As they pass by the head of the temple, a small crowd can be seen gathered around the large, ornate doors. A man stands on top of the steps, orating at the group, though the winds do not carry his voice over the distance to the party.
The ne'er do well, having also taken notice of the priest, speeds up ever-so-slightly, but it is all for naught. "Hail!" The man's cry sounds over the distance, he waves, and now faces the group bodily. The swordsman cringes at the call, and stops dead in his tracks. "Keep'm movin'." He instructs his companions, who point their weapons at the party's backs. "Ye 'eard 'im! Keep it movin'!"
Chatcho crosses both pairs of arms. He attempts to bridge telepathically to the two officers and includes Branch in the communication.
The truth reveals itself at last: the dras/female-sleeper/girl and her maa'ak/companion were to ko/to break/cripple the Berronar while you intercepted via the Pintail.
The Thri-Kreen visually appraises the condition of the Navael brothers. Perception: 17
But I don't understand the role of the carpenter's apprentice.
"Decent folk?? Are you serious? Who saved your life in the first place? Yes, we imprisoned this woman as she was trying to set our ship on fire!" Branch looks down to the guard that is laying face down on the ground, "and what did you do to them??" She continues to look around the cabin frantically, trying to assess the situation and understand what is going on. Also knowing that Alvue and Archibald were now out on their own with the woman prisoner. And now Branch is wondering if they trusted them too easily as well. Trying to hold down a feeling of panic.
Aluve follows the instructions of the townsfolk. The further they went into town, the more concerned he became with what had taken Branch so long to get them.
"Are the weapons necessary? You out number us and we dont have any....we also came willingly and in peace. I appreciate you being cautious though if this is how we need to do things then I respect it."
Even Aluve with was starting to get slightly irritated now,he looks to Archibald who was not looking impressed in the slightest.
Bramble catches sight of Chatcho. "Hey, ah, Chatcho! What's going - oh," He stops as Chatcho suddenly disappears from sight. "Welp... I wonder where he went... Hope he's okay..."
He then spots Aluve and rushes after him. "Aluve, hey, ah, wait up! What -" He begins, then stops as he sees it's only Aluve and Archibald. He leans over to the elf and whispers, "Wait, is Branch not with you? What the heck is going on??"