The elf see's Vex pull out a crowbar as if this was some simple house robbery. Letting out a dry laugh. Though her laughter stops upon seeing Drezmir helping her allies.
"Why.. Why help us? This awakening has to do with you.. Because you plan to stop Simon. He never received his gift of the Dawn Blade family. He needed power.. Power to stop the Jet Brothers the Hill Giants.. And of course he needed power to stop other various threats my client left. Leaving behind a ritual for him.. A ritual to enhance his latent magical ability at the cost of others lives. Many thugs and bandits sufficed but as the ritual corrupts him.. He won't see a difference between Thug or civilian, he kept the Giants and Jet brothers under control. Using them to make money off outsiders that's the truth of Glazing Wind. The truth of how he saved them, why you have food a blacksmith and armorer again. His awakening he must let go of his attachments.. To Glazing Wind.. To Gwen. He can greater power and than he!"
Before she could speak anymore arrows came spiraling from the forest nearby. Planting themselves into the defenseless bodies of the these robed assassins. Coughing and gagging the woman couldn't help but smirk.
"Heh... I suppose I said too much..."
With one final exhale the woman had departed from this world to the next. Whatever shot those arrows? Was gone and had no intention of trifling with the party it seemed.
(OOC: oof, I think I know where this is going lol.)
Drezmir takes a step back from the fallen spy as the arrow strikes home. He watches numbly as the elf dies, unable to do anything, unsure if he even wants to anymore. “We’ll, this…just got a whole lot worse. I don’t know what kind of ritual this is, but it definitely isn’t good.”
He looks to Gwen, searching for a reaction to the elf’s explanation of the awakening, “Do you have any idea as to who this client might be? Is he still alive? Do you think this is how Simon got ahold of that ice spell?”
He lets out a breath, “This settles it, as much as I hoped we could reason with Simon, I don’t think that’s going to happen. Once we get into the manor, I think we should try and ambush him, knock him out and restrain him. He’s not all that strong physically is he? So if we can get past his magical defenses, we should have a better chance at defeating him. If we can restrain him, perhaps we can talk to him after the fact. This awakening…there is someone else behind it. He is still a victim in a way, a willing one perhaps, but still. We should try to make him see reason before doing anything drastic.”
Gilded lifts his shield as well, useless as it seems to be. Looking at Vex. "Anything we can use?" He asks.
"We may need to get moving. We are obviously to easy to find and to watch. Gwen, show us the entrance and go now, we will wait an appropriate time and go inside."
Gwen looks at Gilded and shakes her head a moment.
"Maybe we could cover our tracks better being such a large group but.. They weren't Glazing Wind tracking us. But.. They were to blame for Simon's change.. He never even got the Dawnblade gift.. Instead it was.. This "Ritual" I.. I can't believe it...."
Vex was stumbling upon the corpses, he could find 4 short swords, 4 sets of leather armor and one of them was jingling. Yet he couldn't find the source of the jingling it was almost maddening!
Vex couldn't see the archer but.. He knew from the sounds the movement it was a single archer. Robin was talented but whoever that was? They made Robin look like a novice. They were long gone too but Vex didn't sense a murderous intent toward the party. Gwen composes herself as best she could. Shaking for a moment as she looks to Drezmir.
"I've no idea who the client could be... But it appears that has what has made Simon so strong... And mostly likely the cause of that Blizzard spell. I... I understand Drezmir. We'll have to defeat him before worrying about talking to him. Even if they are criminals.. I can't believe he used them for-- Robin's Men! Gods! Are they apart of that? Using lives like that... Brother how could you.."
OOC: Is Gilded/Jess trying to shield those who were shot? If so I'd say a dex save ^^ to maybe save one of them.
Or is it just for themselves? They are fine if just for themselves no shots were fired upon them specifically.
Corvus approaches the elf and stands next to Drezmir as he talks to her, “I suggest you answer his questions worm. What is this so called Awakening?” He clenched and unclenches his cyber claw as he says this.
Drez walks over to Gwen and puts a hand on her shoulder in a clumsy attempt at comforting her, "We will do our best to undo whatever has been done. It sounds like this ritual has changed him in ways he did not expect. He might have made a wrong decision, but it isn't all his fault. Whoever it was who offered him this ritual...they are the one's we need to go after."
Drezmir looks to Gilded, "Perhaps we should also reconsider freeing Robin's men. I don't like the sound of whatever has been going on inside that manor. If this ritual is intended to cloud Simon's judgement of right and wrong, leaving those men in there could be as good as a death sentence. I say, if they agree to help us capture, but not kill, Simon, we should let them go. Unless going to the dungeon first would compromise our mission, that should be our first stop"
He looks to Vex, "No offense, but you are the only one of us here who has a criminal history. You wouldn't happen to be skilled in break ins? Got any advice going forward?"
(OOC: I wasn't really trying to shield her... but I like that idea better, so if you will let me try...)
Dex save: 12 I85
Gilded hears Drez again talk of freeing Robin and his men. "My thoughts on Robin have not changed. We do not need them, and enlisting their help will have long term circumstances. He is not to be trusted."
While I do not wish him to be harmed, he should stay locked up until Simon is dealt with. Then Gwen, or whomever is left In charge can do what is right."
"You need to have faith in our abilities. Perhaps if you were to find a God worthy of your faith...."
Gilded attempts to shield the dying elf, though it brings a smile to the assassin's face the arrow was sadly too fast for sir Gilded. Gwen had looked to Gilded rather proud to have an ally who'd defend the lives of others. Gwen isn't sure what to say on his thoughts on Robin's men.
"Well I understand you're fears I agree with Drez I don't want them to be used or sacrificed in a ritual either criminal or no."
Drez could feel a rumble inside of him as Gilded talked of a god worthy of his faith. The image of thundering storms and a lone horse racing through the sky fighting a massive Kitsune entered his mind if but for a moment. Gwen wasn't sure what to say to Gilded and his thoughts. He was a pretty stern man that was for sure.
"I like Drez's plans but in the end it we should probably agree as a group yes?"
OOC: They only caught some of Robin's men just as a friendly reminder ^^
Drez sighs, “This isn’t about needing help with Simon, it’s about getting those men out of his hands. If they can help us, that’s a plus. I suppose we could let them out and kindly ask them to leave the fight to us if you don’t want them involved. The other option could be to leave them where they are until after we take care of Simon, and Gwen can decide what to do with them from there.”
He looks to Gwen, “You say you aren’t fit to lead, but who else would rise to the occasion? If not you, the only other person I could see making a bid for that position would be Robin. Perhaps not for the noble title, but for control of the town. He seems a competent leader, but I must agree with Gilded that Robin is a criminal—no matter his intentions. I doubt he would lead the town effectively.”
He turns back to Gilded, “As for a god worthy of my faith…I understand your fervor, clearly you are a faithful follower of Iroas. But as I said before, I am tied to Fulgur.”
He looks to the rest of the group, “What say the rest of you? I still say we should free Robins men first, but as Gwen said, we should decide together. We do not want to split our team, if Simon is half as powerful as he’s made out to be, we will want our full force to take him down.”
Corvus had investigated, rather than using his senses to perceive he used his intellect to deduct facts rather than his sight or hearing. From that Investigation he knew for sure the jingling was coins.. Several coins and as Vex shook each of them he was sure only the Elven woman who talked to Drez was jingling. The leather armor and shortswords weren't very advanced weapons for assassin's he knew this much. Though with a lack of clues he couldn't investigate much more before perceiving the situation first.
Gwen looked to Drez and than Gilded with an energetic nod.
"Yes yes! Even if they don't fight alongside us they can at least avoid being sacrificed and have a chance to escape this way. Also-"
Before she can say anything else Drez surprises her for a moment.
"I.. I... I'm not a leader though.. I'm not smart like my brother. I'm just a Knight.. What do I know about running a town? I only know how to swing this lug of metal around. Robin seems more confident than I.. But I couldn't let him lead for that reason. I'll.. Think about it."
She looks to Drezmir and to the group, after getting a feel for everyone's feelings she figured maybe.. She could talk to Drezmir alone. She had something she wanted to discuss after all. Her cheeks began to flush a crimson hue as she took a deep breath. "It's just a talk Gwen.. I know it's alone but.. Well it's serious!" Gwen never talked alone with someone of the opposite sex before. She'd die before she'd admit a knight was scared of such a silly trifle and yet she was nervous all the same. "Gwen.. People died here stop acting like you're some Radiant city academy girl!" she slapped herself on her own cheeks to renew her determination. She could do this and she would remain focused!
OOC: Sadly I have to head to bed and tomorrow I have work Dx
“We can talk about the future of the town later.” Kocino rubs his temples. “We aren’t just dealing with a corrupt noble anymore. Now we are being hunted and we have people in danger by whatever is trying to control the town. We need to handle this as soon as we can.”
Turning to Drezmir, “I say we set Robin’s men free. They can choose to help or leave, then even if we fail, they can have a chance to survive.”
Gilded hears Gwen and Kocino suggest they should release Robins men.
"So you do not believe these men should face any justice at all?" They are allowed to rob the people of the town, Rob me at the armorer, and assault and try to rob Gwen on the highway with no penalty? I just can not understand this logic. If we defeat Simon, then their lives should not be in (as much) danger, so lets defeat him and let whomever takes over deal with Robin and his band of thieves."
Kocino turns to Gilded. “And if we don’t, their lives are forfeit. They live in a dying town, they are desperate. We take out Simon and we can figure out a way for them to pay their debt that doesn’t involve leaving them chained up and subject to whomever wins the fight.”
The elf see's Vex pull out a crowbar as if this was some simple house robbery. Letting out a dry laugh. Though her laughter stops upon seeing Drezmir helping her allies.
"Why.. Why help us? This awakening has to do with you.. Because you plan to stop Simon. He never received his gift of the Dawn Blade family. He needed power.. Power to stop the Jet Brothers the Hill Giants.. And of course he needed power to stop other various threats my client left. Leaving behind a ritual for him.. A ritual to enhance his latent magical ability at the cost of others lives. Many thugs and bandits sufficed but as the ritual corrupts him.. He won't see a difference between Thug or civilian, he kept the Giants and Jet brothers under control. Using them to make money off outsiders that's the truth of Glazing Wind. The truth of how he saved them, why you have food a blacksmith and armorer again. His awakening he must let go of his attachments.. To Glazing Wind.. To Gwen. He can greater power and than he!"
Before she could speak anymore arrows came spiraling from the forest nearby. Planting themselves into the defenseless bodies of the these robed assassins. Coughing and gagging the woman couldn't help but smirk.
"Heh... I suppose I said too much..."
With one final exhale the woman had departed from this world to the next. Whatever shot those arrows? Was gone and had no intention of trifling with the party it seemed.
Jess holds up her shield at the sudden arrows, though too late. No more arrows?
The plot is thickening. What is this awakening Aloud, she says,
“Sounds like our plan to stop Simon is more important than ever, and the sooner the better.”
Vex will inspect the dead bodies of the assassins. Perception for that: 14 Perception to see who shot those arrows: 9
(OOC: oof, I think I know where this is going lol.)
Drezmir takes a step back from the fallen spy as the arrow strikes home. He watches numbly as the elf dies, unable to do anything, unsure if he even wants to anymore.
“We’ll, this…just got a whole lot worse. I don’t know what kind of ritual this is, but it definitely isn’t good.”
He looks to Gwen, searching for a reaction to the elf’s explanation of the awakening, “Do you have any idea as to who this client might be? Is he still alive? Do you think this is how Simon got ahold of that ice spell?”
He lets out a breath, “This settles it, as much as I hoped we could reason with Simon, I don’t think that’s going to happen. Once we get into the manor, I think we should try and ambush him, knock him out and restrain him. He’s not all that strong physically is he? So if we can get past his magical defenses, we should have a better chance at defeating him. If we can restrain him, perhaps we can talk to him after the fact. This awakening…there is someone else behind it. He is still a victim in a way, a willing one perhaps, but still. We should try to make him see reason before doing anything drastic.”
Gilded lifts his shield as well, useless as it seems to be. Looking at Vex. "Anything we can use?" He asks.
"We may need to get moving. We are obviously to easy to find and to watch. Gwen, show us the entrance and go now, we will wait an appropriate time and go inside."
“It’s a crowbar. It’s good at breaking into houses and opening locked doors and windows.”
Vex rolls up his bedroll and attaches it to his backpack.
Gwen looks at Gilded and shakes her head a moment.
"Maybe we could cover our tracks better being such a large group but.. They weren't Glazing Wind tracking us. But.. They were to blame for Simon's change.. He never even got the Dawnblade gift.. Instead it was.. This "Ritual" I.. I can't believe it...."
Vex was stumbling upon the corpses, he could find 4 short swords, 4 sets of leather armor and one of them was jingling. Yet he couldn't find the source of the jingling it was almost maddening!
Vex couldn't see the archer but.. He knew from the sounds the movement it was a single archer. Robin was talented but whoever that was? They made Robin look like a novice. They were long gone too but Vex didn't sense a murderous intent toward the party. Gwen composes herself as best she could. Shaking for a moment as she looks to Drezmir.
"I've no idea who the client could be... But it appears that has what has made Simon so strong... And mostly likely the cause of that Blizzard spell. I... I understand Drezmir. We'll have to defeat him before worrying about talking to him. Even if they are criminals.. I can't believe he used them for-- Robin's Men! Gods! Are they apart of that? Using lives like that... Brother how could you.."
OOC:
Is Gilded/Jess trying to shield those who were shot? If so I'd say a dex save ^^ to maybe save one of them.
Or is it just for themselves? They are fine if just for themselves no shots were fired upon them specifically.
Corvus approaches the elf and stands next to Drezmir as he talks to her, “I suggest you answer his questions worm. What is this so called Awakening?” He clenched and unclenches his cyber claw as he says this.
OOC
Oh she is very dead from the mysterious arrow barrage xD
Unless Gilded and Jess were trying to defend them and pass the DC check for the DEX save.
Drez walks over to Gwen and puts a hand on her shoulder in a clumsy attempt at comforting her, "We will do our best to undo whatever has been done. It sounds like this ritual has changed him in ways he did not expect. He might have made a wrong decision, but it isn't all his fault. Whoever it was who offered him this ritual...they are the one's we need to go after."
Drezmir looks to Gilded, "Perhaps we should also reconsider freeing Robin's men. I don't like the sound of whatever has been going on inside that manor. If this ritual is intended to cloud Simon's judgement of right and wrong, leaving those men in there could be as good as a death sentence. I say, if they agree to help us capture, but not kill, Simon, we should let them go. Unless going to the dungeon first would compromise our mission, that should be our first stop"
He looks to Vex, "No offense, but you are the only one of us here who has a criminal history. You wouldn't happen to be skilled in break ins? Got any advice going forward?"
(OOC: I wasn't really trying to shield her... but I like that idea better, so if you will let me try...)
Dex save: 12 I85
Gilded hears Drez again talk of freeing Robin and his men. "My thoughts on Robin have not changed. We do not need them, and enlisting their help will have long term circumstances. He is not to be trusted."
While I do not wish him to be harmed, he should stay locked up until Simon is dealt with. Then Gwen, or whomever is left In charge can do what is right."
"You need to have faith in our abilities. Perhaps if you were to find a God worthy of your faith...."
Gilded attempts to shield the dying elf, though it brings a smile to the assassin's face the arrow was sadly too fast for sir Gilded. Gwen had looked to Gilded rather proud to have an ally who'd defend the lives of others. Gwen isn't sure what to say on his thoughts on Robin's men.
"Well I understand you're fears I agree with Drez I don't want them to be used or sacrificed in a ritual either criminal or no."
Drez could feel a rumble inside of him as Gilded talked of a god worthy of his faith. The image of thundering storms and a lone horse racing through the sky fighting a massive Kitsune entered his mind if but for a moment. Gwen wasn't sure what to say to Gilded and his thoughts. He was a pretty stern man that was for sure.
"I like Drez's plans but in the end it we should probably agree as a group yes?"
OOC:
They only caught some of Robin's men just as a friendly reminder ^^
(Ooc: I missed the arrow thing. I guess that’s what I get when I try to speed read during my break. Lol)
Corvus will proceed to search the elf’s body for anything interesting.
Investigation:14
Drez sighs, “This isn’t about needing help with Simon, it’s about getting those men out of his hands. If they can help us, that’s a plus. I suppose we could let them out and kindly ask them to leave the fight to us if you don’t want them involved. The other option could be to leave them where they are until after we take care of Simon, and Gwen can decide what to do with them from there.”
He looks to Gwen, “You say you aren’t fit to lead, but who else would rise to the occasion? If not you, the only other person I could see making a bid for that position would be Robin. Perhaps not for the noble title, but for control of the town. He seems a competent leader, but I must agree with Gilded that Robin is a criminal—no matter his intentions. I doubt he would lead the town effectively.”
He turns back to Gilded, “As for a god worthy of my faith…I understand your fervor, clearly you are a faithful follower of Iroas. But as I said before, I am tied to Fulgur.”
He looks to the rest of the group, “What say the rest of you? I still say we should free Robins men first, but as Gwen said, we should decide together. We do not want to split our team, if Simon is half as powerful as he’s made out to be, we will want our full force to take him down.”
Corvus had investigated, rather than using his senses to perceive he used his intellect to deduct facts rather than his sight or hearing. From that Investigation he knew for sure the jingling was coins.. Several coins and as Vex shook each of them he was sure only the Elven woman who talked to Drez was jingling. The leather armor and shortswords weren't very advanced weapons for assassin's he knew this much. Though with a lack of clues he couldn't investigate much more before perceiving the situation first.
Gwen looked to Drez and than Gilded with an energetic nod.
"Yes yes! Even if they don't fight alongside us they can at least avoid being sacrificed and have a chance to escape this way. Also-"
Before she can say anything else Drez surprises her for a moment.
"I.. I... I'm not a leader though.. I'm not smart like my brother. I'm just a Knight.. What do I know about running a town? I only know how to swing this lug of metal around. Robin seems more confident than I.. But I couldn't let him lead for that reason. I'll.. Think about it."
She looks to Drezmir and to the group, after getting a feel for everyone's feelings she figured maybe.. She could talk to Drezmir alone. She had something she wanted to discuss after all. Her cheeks began to flush a crimson hue as she took a deep breath. "It's just a talk Gwen.. I know it's alone but.. Well it's serious!" Gwen never talked alone with someone of the opposite sex before. She'd die before she'd admit a knight was scared of such a silly trifle and yet she was nervous all the same. "Gwen.. People died here stop acting like you're some Radiant city academy girl!" she slapped herself on her own cheeks to renew her determination. She could do this and she would remain focused!
OOC:
Sadly I have to head to bed and tomorrow I have work Dx
It's okay Rynn I relate xD
”From what I know break-Ins on abandoned manors would require you knowing I about traps, where they can be and how to avoid them.“
“We can talk about the future of the town later.” Kocino rubs his temples. “We aren’t just dealing with a corrupt noble anymore. Now we are being hunted and we have people in danger by whatever is trying to control the town. We need to handle this as soon as we can.”
Turning to Drezmir, “I say we set Robin’s men free. They can choose to help or leave, then even if we fail, they can have a chance to survive.”
Gilded hears Gwen and Kocino suggest they should release Robins men.
"So you do not believe these men should face any justice at all?" They are allowed to rob the people of the town, Rob me at the armorer, and assault and try to rob Gwen on the highway with no penalty? I just can not understand this logic. If we defeat Simon, then their lives should not be in (as much) danger, so lets defeat him and let whomever takes over deal with Robin and his band of thieves."
Kocino turns to Gilded. “And if we don’t, their lives are forfeit. They live in a dying town, they are desperate. We take out Simon and we can figure out a way for them to pay their debt that doesn’t involve leaving them chained up and subject to whomever wins the fight.”