Heavy is the Head - Campaign thread

Billy nods quickly, to say that yes, Jonah is also magically required to tell the truth. Insight DC14: 

"I do not know Frederico. I assume he is another of these local teens, primed to violence, sneaking around my camp? I also had thoughts of glorious heroism in my youth, and I know indeed how dangerous they can be." He turns to shout a command. "Find an Elf teenager lurking in the shadows. When you have him, escort him and the fairy to the road out of here, and let them free. But do not release the fairy until you have him.

"Sigrid tells me you were also in the Kobold colony, and treated her honorably. This is also part of why agreed to parley. What business did you have there? The kobolds would not speak of it."

“Apologies Captain Jonah, but I asked you a question about your being responsible for the heinous actions of your guards. I am not inclined to answer more questions without your answer to that”, Hemlock replies. 

So, Federico had not been caught. If Saoirse hadn't said anything he would surely be able to remain hidden, but the genasi thinks it is better this way. She hopes the young elf is hearing what it is being said and that we won't resist the HCM guards.

When Jonah asks about their business witht he Kobold, the blood hunter eyes Hemlock. She feels it's necessary to say the truth, but perhaps without revealing the Crown itself. At least not for now. They may be able to share more with Jonah when they are in a more trusting position, but this is not the moment. In any case, she says nothing, fully trusting the druid to lead the conversation.

Also, she hopes they won't need to bring Sebastian into this...

"Yes, beastwalker. I am a captain, and I do take responsibility. The surviving guard who stayed in the yard is on a transport already to an HMC operation that is less violent, where he can hopefully regain some honour and some of the confidence that left him that day. But I never should have left new arrivals to be introduced to the Keep without being there personally. I can go so far as to understand that you believed your actions noble, in the moment. Perhaps i can even forgive them. Yet you still owe time served for the crimes that brought you to me. Those, it is not my jurisdiction to forgive. The HMC can not flaunt the law of the land, even when it unjust. We can only try to make the legal system into a more just one.

"My people were instructed to be wary of new arrivals - and we have seen many who are violent and angry when they join us. All of us with combat experience were away, down here. But we had no reason to expect a break-in!

"You have to take responsibility as well, for your rash and violent resistance. This land is owned by Lord Strixwell and the Springdawn duchy. The locals who refuse to accept the fact are setting themselves up for violence, war, and loss. But I begin to fear that they want more than just expansion, here. They are pushing me too fast, and too focused. Do you know what they seek in the valley?"

Hemlock has the good graces to look a little abashed as Captain Jonah mentions that they too need to take responsibility for their actions.

"You are right, Captain. And we must all live with our decisions every day. As for the original crimes, I can only speak for myself, in that I feel the punishment did not match the crime. But we are not here to debate that, and it seems we both view the current system as less than just", he says firstly.

"And now you have asked many questions that I will try and answer to your satisfaction. The locals know you are looking for something in the valley, but they do not know what. We went to the mines because we knew it was somewhere you were looking, having seen your map room, so we could gather more information. We thought if we could find what it is, you could be persuaded to leave the valley and the locals in peace. When we got to the mines, you were already there with the sorceress and her guard. We saw you cut down those kobolds in cold blood whilst you were parlaying with them", he holds up a hand at this point expecting Jonah to interrupt. "But I was closer to you than you would think, and I saw and heard exactly what happened. I know what the sorceress did, and I know she did it in the name of Lord Strixwell. We then stayed with the kobolds to learn more of what she knew, and what we found was frightening, and not for everyone's ears". 

Having said the last, he looks around at all the guards and workers.

"What Lord Strixwell wants, they cannot be allowed to have, else it will not just be the locals of the valley who are in danger".

Finally, his gaze lands on Captain Jonah, whom he looks at closely, "You are right to fear, Captain. But if you were to let us go, as free people we would be open to an alliance where more information can be shared. Billy here has always insisted you were honourable. What I saw at the mines showed that you have no love for Lord Strixwell and their lackeys. I want to believe that you are just, that you do stand for what is right, and that you will oppose those bent on evil. Am I right to believe that Captain?".

Ignoring that Jonah is implying that they should serve more time in prison, Saoirse focuses on the more important part of what he's said: Strixwell's intentions. So she adds after Hemlock:

- We are not sure yet of the abilities of that which Strixwell wants to have. But we believe that what Samantha did to you that day in the mines pales in comparison to what Strixwell will be able to do if she gets her hands on it. We mustn't let that happen. And we've recently learned that her own nephew, Tux, was against her aunt gaining this power. The fact that he is dead now might be related to this...

Hemlock stops Jonah before he interrupts, and he nods graciously when he is immediately forgiven for the murder of a Kobold guard. A momentary, pained frown shows his remorse. Billy blushes when you relay his compliments of his Captain, though he keeps his expression focused and serious.

Jonah pauses to think about all you've said. His voice quiets, enough that the other guards shouldnt be able to hear. "What you say is truly terrifying, and i would do much to ensure that such power does not get into the wrong hands. To let you walk free, however, would certainly provoke Stixwell's ire. Already she has sent another of her confidants, who watches me like a hawk. Is it not safer, for all of us and for the world, if you come back into my custody, and work under their noses? And as for Tux, the official record lists Saffron Gale as Tux's killer. How can you possibly ask me to trust her?"

Lam had been staying silent and deferring to his more articulate friends, but he interrupts at this part just to say in a low voice: “Saffron did not kill Tux.”

- As we've claimed several times, we weren't fairly convicted. No one here is to blame for that murder. But - and the blood hunter looks at Saffron - you can hear this out of Saffron's own lips and you will see that she's not lying. 

 She pauses for a moment and says:

- I think working under their noses, as you put it, wouldn't give us the freedom we will need to keep gathering more information on Strixwell's plan. Allow us to go free and let us keep working on this as we have been since we left Coldwater, and we will share with you what we can. We will only triumph against Strixwell by working together, Captain.

As Hemlock listens to the others respond to the Captain, he looks to Saffron.

”I do not believe Saffron killed Tux, but I do not trust her either. She would have to convince me of her intentions as well if she is to join us in what we are doing”, he says flatly, hoping Jonah finds this reassuring. Of course it is completely true.

Saffi interrupts, catching the looks and the tone from Saoirse, but with no further indication of annoyance at the genasi:  "I didn't kill the guy, alright? I certainly did not kill Tux."

The changeling holds her hands up, before instinctively pulling, again, at the metal chains binding her neck. The cumbersome shackle rattles as she waves her hands again.

"Listen, I may have done a thing or two in the past. Took things that may technically not have been mine. Maybe, a few times, I left people a little lighter than when I met them--never if they absolutely needed it! And, yes, I may have ended a few lives prematurely--purely in self defense!" She states and glances unexpressively at Jonah. "But I've never just murdered somebody in cold blood. I'm not some sort of seasoned assassin or anything."

Saffi pauses for a moment, as if thinking, then, avoiding eye contact with anyone in particular, she continues. "I wouldn't do such a thing. I mean, I like to, you know, shade in the gray areas. I'm not a monster."

With the outright denial of her crime, Jonah's eyes widen, and he glances at Billy, who nods to confirm that Saffron is forced to speak the truth. He frowns disapprovingly at most of the rest, but the surprise doesn't leave his eyes, and they widen again when she claims to have only killed in self-defense.

As she embarks on the sentence "I mean, I'm not a monster," Saffi's cheeks and the back of her head feel oddly warm, distracting. She almost isn't able to say the last word, but after it sits at the back of her throat for a noticeable half-second, it slips through her lips anyway: "mm mmonster." Billy and Jonah both look a little confusedly at her. They have seen people try to lie in a Zone of Truth before, but haven't seen them finish the sentence. Saffi is left a little uncertain of what just happened - did she force a lie through the magic, or does she believe it somewhere inside of herself?

Jonah notices the awkward pause, and even seems to intuit what it means. His judgmental eyes soften, a little bit, at that. "Did they not even verify the crime before passing judgment? The Zone of Truth should be an essential first step! They have clerics enough in Springdawn (all of the others were zone of truthed before sentencing, the judge just didn't like your honest excuses). It does smell of subterfuge, that. Normally, I would be able to free you, with this new evidence. But now... if this is Strixwell's hand, and I let you go, she will mark me as an enemy..."

"Captain," Billy almost squeaks, "If she escaped, again, you may be able to avoid the blame."

Jonah seems to ponder on this, before the chaos erupts.

 A young elf with olive skin and a bow in his hand stumbles out from behind a wagon near you, and collapses to the ground. A shortsword is buried in his back up to the hilt - you can only assume the blade sticks out of his chest on the other side. A dwarf guard steps out behind him. "He was going to attack you, sir." There is a strange look in the dwarf's eyes, almost glazed over. Then several things happen all at once.

You hear Leonor - the grappled fairy - shouting and screaming. She breaks free of the dwarf's grip, and punches him several times in a swift flurry of blows. She begins to fly away, towards Frederico, but is stopped by a swipe of a blade from the dwarf she just hit, blocking her path.

Three bugbears roar in the woods, and the siblings follow João into the open, as he rushes to his sister's defense.

A fire bolt flies out of the woods towards the human who had been working next to Saffron. It barely misses, crashing into the lumber cart behind and setting it ablaze. Eliza is ready for a fight.

(Please roll initiative).

https://www.owlbear.rodeo/room/5nRs1L_uFdxM/HeavyistheHeadPBP

At the sight of Federico falling to the ground Saoirse screams in anguish:

- Noooo!! Federico!! He's just a boy, you monster!! - she yells at the dwarf as she starts to move towards the fallen teen. Then she looks around her, to everyone present - Someone please, help him!! Don't let him die!

Initiative: 12

Hemlock is also startled, but seeing the glazed look in the Dwarf's eyes turns to look at Jonah meaningfully and half whispers, half growls, "Where is Strixwell's new pawn?".

He is so incensed he is caught flat footed.

Initiative: 1+2=3

Sha-gravis watches as Frederico collapses to the ground, reflexively begins the casting of a healing word.

Initiative 8

Lam’s demeanor changes instantly. If they let the kid die right here…

Initiative: 15

Saffron's face displays a whole range of emotions over the few passing moments--from anger to relief to shock and sadness. Finally, her eyebrows furrow and she appears angry and determined. The changeling raises a hand, as if to grasp something hovering just within reach.

Initiative: 22

Sorry for the delay. Lots of moving pieces in this one.

Immediately, all of the armed HMC groups have their weapons out, ready to defend from what seems to be an armed assault on their group. Ready to defend their friends, their comrades on the path to redemption or in their chosen profession. They do not seem to notice the youth of the charging bugbears, or of the elf whose lifeblood is leaking onto the ground. "Stop this madness," Jonah yells, but not loud enough to drown out the cackling flames beside him (climbing along the wagons handle, getting closer to a barrel of smokepowder), and the battlecries erupting all around. He also gives Hemlock an answer, terror showing in his eyes. "She is back at the keep... but she was among the group during breakfast, including during a time when I was out of the room." The way he says that hints at a dawning worry. Arcana check for everyone:

Under 10: 

 DC10: 

 DC15:

Whoever first gets to Frederico, it would be a good idea to make a medicine check.

Billy and Jonah are quick to react, but the group of HMC trusted and armed employees to the northwest are even quicker. Only Saffron is faster at dropping into a fighting stance.  I rolled NPC initiative in groups, to make this more manageable.

Turn Order (current turn in larger font): Saffron; HMC group 2; Sha-Gravis; Lam; Billy; Fairy siblings; Jonah; Saoirse; Eliza; HMC Group 1; Bugbear Siblings; HMC Group 3; Frederico (death save, already rolled once); Hemlock

https://www.owlbear.rodeo/room/5nRs1L_uFdxM/HeavyistheHeadPBP

 No time for judgment calls, Saffi. Saffron, with a look of repulsion at the dwarf who attacked the elf youth, takes a snap moment to make a decision. Her eyes widen as the flame sears through the air from the woods. Suddenly, as if materializing from thin air, several black, incorporeal blades and projectiles appear to hover around the changeling's torso and shoulders. Though the weapons seem intangible, Saffi plucks a simple-looking dark, spike from midair and reactively hurls it at the glazy-eyed dwarf. Not waiting to see if the spike hits the dwarf, the changeling attempts to "blur" into the crowd.

The dwarf looms over the bleeding elf, and reaches for the hilt of the sword, readying to pull it out of his back and finish the job. Then, a black blade sinks into his arm, and disappears. His blood mingles with the elf's, and he shouts in pain. More blood than you would expect - must have hit an artery. The blade is nowhere to be seen, and when he looks up, he can not see the woman who threw it, either. She can't have gotten far though. (Move your token to somewhere plausible as a hiding spot. Under a wagon, beside a barrel or tree root, with a 24 I'll allow anything reasonable or slightly beyond).

A dwarven swordsman, followed by a human with a shield and spear, and another swinging a splitting maul as a hammer, rush to protect their comrades from the charging bugbears. They stop a little ways back, though the human throws a spear that knicks Karla's arm as she run. It is a flesh wound, but those can add up.

Turn Order (current turn in larger font): Saffron; HMC group 2; Sha-Gravis; Lam; Billy; Fairy siblings; Jonah; Saoirse; Eliza; HMC Group 1; Bugbear Siblings; HMC Group 3; Frederico (death save, already rolled once); Hemlock

https://www.owlbear.rodeo/room/5nRs1L_uFdxM/HeavyistheHeadPBP