In a split second, Arrenswitches from the relief of finding the Commandant alive to the searing pain of the bear's bite tearing into his side. He screams in pain, unable to stop himself from curling toward the wound as blood begins to pour freely. But he knows he can't let the pain distract him; if he does, the three of them will surely fall.
With a deep breath, Arren taps into a hidden well of strength, his muscles surging with renewed vigor. His posture straightens, and a fierce determination gleams in his eyes as he readies his longsword and shield. Circling the beast, he makes sure to position himself so that the Commandant remains covered.
The Half-Elf's gaze locks onto the bear, calculating its next move. When the opportunity presents itself, Arren strikes—sweeping his weapon low to target the creature's front legs, attempting to unbalance it. If he succeeds, it will leave the beast wide open for a better counterattack from both him and the Lieutenant.
The Commandant lies unconscious, and the urgency of the situation drives Arren to strike again, eager to end it quickly. But in his haste, his calculations slip. The second attack feels off, and he watches in tense uncertainty, unsure if this blow will find its mark.
Bonus Action: Second Wind (regaining 7 HPs)
Action: Longsword Attack: 23to hit (rolled twice by mistake!) / Damage: 11 (rolled twice because of the Savage Attacker feature, but the second result was lower). Sap mastery: the bear's next attack is at disadvantage. Superiority Die (Trip Attack): the bear needs to make a STR ST DC 14 or be Prone, and he takes an extra 3 damage. Action Surge: I've used it, but got a nat1. Now, if the bear failed its ST, I would have advantage, right? I will leave a second roll just in case Sand is lucky! 24to hit / 11 damage.
Reaction: if the bear attacks anyone else, Arren will use his Fighting Style(Protection) to impose Disadvantage.
((Yes, the 'plug' looks like it was 'inserted' from below. Essentially, placing a large 'block' of dense ground to block a hole in the ceiling. Even as I write that I realize this isn't too clear, but yes, Bryn's intuition is correct. Well, not that he has anyone to tell him that.))
Bryn sprints inside the cave, but sprinting isn't easy when the walls turn and the ground inclines on the way. Nonetheless, he can hear the cry of pain of a wounded animal, echoing through the cave, followed by a loud sound that might as well be thunder - but there was no storm outside earlier? It does not sound too far from him, but he cannot see it just yet.
Bryn is currently ~70 feet away from the fight, though he'll need 80 feet of movement to climb up the last incline as it is difficult terrain too. If he has any ranged attacks, he could just bearly see the top of the bear, and may attempt an attack after just 60 feet of movement, but the bear will have Three-Quarters Cover (3/4 cover, if the tooltip fails), standing high above the rest on its hind legs. If he wants to attack one of the others for any reason, the Lieutenant has 1/2 cover, and Arren and the Commandant cannot be seen.
Arren's first slash hits the bear's left thigh, and the animal cries in pain - an almost deafening sound from this close - though it does not become unbalanced. Arren attempts to make another swift strike but as the bear rises again on its hind legs - faster than Arren expects from such a large creature - Arren hits the bear at an awkward angle and, although he makes a deep cut into the bear's flesh, he loses his grip and the sword flies off his hand, landing safely on the ground a few feet away - but out of reach.
In response to that, Lieutenant Tireur attempts to buy Arren a moment and fires his snaplock at the beast. Arren just barely hears the sound of the gun cocking, and can only mentally prepare for the loud sound so close to his ears. BANG! Even when anticipated, the roaring sound always makes one jump. The bear cries in pain yet again. It slams down on Arren, but with all the pain, its paw isn't as strong as before and Arren blocks it with his shield. The bear then turns away to the source of the shot. It tries to bite down Walnuts, but Arren interposes himself between them and pushes the animal away, protecting the Drow from the beast's bite.
Awakened by the sound, Commandant Nattensbarn crawls away to safety behind Arren - then stands up and takes a few steps back while sticking to the nearest wall, to allow Arren to fight without worry. "It's an animal, if you hurt it enough, it will run away!" She calls.
The bear rolled 21 for its save, so it remains standing. Thanks to Arren's protective manoeuvres, however, it misses both its attacks. Arren's sword lies 10 feet away, next to the Commandant. She cannot see it in the dark, however, and is unaware of it. Arren knows the Lieutenant won't be able to fire his gun again before he reloads it, which might take longer than usual with one arm broken.
I'm not updating the map since I don't see a need for it, but refer to the previous one if needed, and adjust Bryn and Nattensbarn's locations as needed.
Bryn involuntarily winces as the thunderous sound echoes down the tunnel, but that sound beforehand sounded like an animal, What is going on down there? A magic user perhaps? Certainly an animal attack.
He carries on running, drawing the bat as he goes, I am not going to be very effective with this, but I need to stay in character. I need to be the guard, and it's the only weapon he had.
He will go as far as he can, but not enter the fray, slowing as he reaches a point where he can start to see what is going on.
A bear! And one of the soldiers guarding that female officer. Damn, they might have noticed me! No turning back now I guess.
Free Interact: Draw bat Movement: 30ft towards the combat Bonus Action: Cunning Action Dash yet another 30ft towards the combat Action: Dash slowing to half speed and moving 15ft towards the combat - total of 75 ft, does that leave him right behind Walnuts? What can he see and who can see him now?
(OOC: Would it be reasonable to assume Bryn realises the thunder sound was from the gun, once he comes across the scene?)
Arren, his longsword knocked away, considers lunging for it—until he remembers that Tireur has a scimitar of his own. Without hesitation, he reaches for Walnut's belt. The weapon doesn't feel as natural in his grip as his own, but he can't risk moving away from the bear to retrieve it.
With that, he strikes at the beast once more, hoping the beast runs away as the Commandant has said. The Half-Elf keeps alert and ready to react if the bear turns its fury on anyone else than him.
Bonus action: Grab Walnuts' scimitar.
Action. Scimitar attack. To hit: 12 / Damage: 6
Reaction: if the bear attacks anyone else, Arren will use his shield to impose Disadvantage.
Arren slashes the bear again. While not used to the curved, short blade, it is not a problem Arren's skill and experience can't bridge over, and he makes a nasty-looking cut into the bear's abdomen. Enraged, the bear turns around again, in a rampant attempt to push away the danger. It rises on its hind legs again and crushes with its full weight on Arren again. It then tries to bite Arren, who might be able to protect himself with his shield - if he remains standing.
Meanwhile, Walnuts attempts to reload his snaplock, but it's no easy task with one hand. "I may have underestimated just how grave a loss it was for Tyr to lose an arm." He mumbles to himself, referencing a folk tale about the god of war who sacrificed his arm to save the rest of the gods from a monstrous wolf.
Commandant Nattensbarn, blinded in the dark but with a keen ear, shouts a command: "It's in distress! Open a path for it and give it a good smack from the other side, it will run away if you let it! Don't get trampled by this hunk of muscles!"
When Bryn suddenly arrives, standing behind the Lieutenant, the Drow notices and exclaims, surprised: "Corporal! It's good to see you're healthy but stay back! Your baton won't hurt this beast, but it sure can hurt you!" He then heeds the Commandant's order and sticks to the wall on one side, signalling to Bryn to do the same. "Scare it this way! It won't help us if it goes outside where we want to be!"
The bear hits Arren with his claw, rolling 21 to hit and dealing 11 slashing damage. Arren must also make a DC13 strength save or fall prone. If he succeeds, he manages to repel the beast's bite. Otherwise, the bear's attack is made with an advantage and it hits with exactly 18, dealing an additional 6 piercing damage.
It's the party's turn, you may act in any order.
Bryn can determine the firearm is what made the sound with a successful History check with DC14. While he may have heard stories about them, he's never seen one in person and probably never met anyone who did. Even in the Katton military, they are rare in this time of 'peace' and monitored closely - so that Levickans will not learn of their workings.
Bryn History Check: 1+3=4 (Failure to discern it was the firearm)
Bryn takes in the scene, his eyes scanning for the magic user who was the most likely source of the thunderous sound earlier, but finding no likely culprit. He does however see the three visitors engaged in mortal combat with the large and angry bear.
He doesn't have to be told twice not to engage the beast with his baton, and does as he is told and presses his back against the opposite wall of the tunnel to the one who spoke. He tries his best to blend in and disappear from view.
Ok, this is bad. If the bear runs past me, I will have no way to retreat. But the Drow said the other way was outside, which at least corroborates my theory.
Looking across the tunnel, he stays silent and nods to the Drow. I can't stay silent forever. What the heck did this mask wearer sound like?
Unless I can distract these folk enough not to ask questions whilst encouraging the bear to leave. The thought runs through his mind like a flash, and he reaches for the fleece he cut off earlier. A subtle gesture of his free hand, and a loud groaning rumble can be heard from the ceiling above the bear. Much like the sound from earlier when the floor collapsed.
Perhaps that was the thunderous sound from earlier, another cave in.
Movement: Backing against the tunnel wall Bonus Action: Cunning Action attempt to hide - Stealth: 17+6=23 (even if just from the bear) Action: Cast minor illusion - round 1 of 10
Arren doesn't have time to celebrate that he has hit the bear again. Almost instantly, the beast's claw tears at his abdomen, and he grunts in pain. He barely manages to hear the Commandant shouting something over the animal's roaring and the pounding of his heart.
"...distress ... open a path ... don't get trampled...."
"Don't get trampled".She's right. If he lets the bear overwhelm him, he's not going to see the light of day again. And he sure as hell isn't dying like this.
Gritting his teeth, the Half-Elf plants his feet and raises his shield just as the massive beast rears up. It jumps and, for a split second, all Arren sees is its hulking form looming over him.
With every ounce of strength he can muster, Sargent al-Nasrid braces his shield at an angle, not to block, but to redirect. The bear’s bulk slams into the metal, and the creature's trajectory changes midair. Instead of coming down squarely atop him, it crashes to the ground next to him.
Arren staggers back a step, breath ragged, but still standing. That’s when it clicks. "Open a path". If they want to let the bear escape, it needs a way through. He circles the beast, just as the Commandant, Walnuts, and — is that the guard from before? No time for that now — press against the wall. Then, he stikes, aiming towards the bear's side in an attempt to drive it inward, along the path they've just cleared.
((Does the sound from Bryn's spell continue for the whole minute, or is it a short sound just for a few seconds/recurring but not continuous?))
With joint effort, but mostly Arren's superb fighting, you manage to scare the bear away. It gallops away as fast as it can, between Bryn and Lieutenant Tireur. It turns away at the first intersection and continues fleeing into one of the tunnels, out of sight.
Bears aren't common in Levicka or on Kalhoty Island in general but aren't very rare on Kuori. Bryn may have heard about them in stories, seen drawings, furs, or taxidermy of them, or seen one in a zoo if he snuck into one. Always depicted as a powerful beast capable of killing a man with ease, and he saw the soldier in front of him drive the bear away. Or, maybe it was his magic, but the Half-Elf soldier definitely stood his ground against the bear in front of Bryn, at least for a few seconds. Arren, meanwhile, may have seen a few bears in the past but never fought one himself. He knows it is no simple matter, and that most other soldiers he'd served with would not have lived to tell the tale.
As the animal disappears from both view and hearing, you can calm down a little. "Let's get out of here before it's back," says Walnuts. "Or before we get buried alive." He walks over to pick up Arren's sword, handing it over to the Half-Elf as he requests his scimitar back. "Good thinking, Sand, but you should have a backup weapon. Get yourself an emergency dagger or something when you get the time. I won't always be there within reach."
As you continue walking towards the faint light, you gradually see more area of the wall it shines on, and the light gets brighter and stronger the farther down that path you look. On the opposite side, where the path grows narrow for a bit (see my last map), you see the path is blocked by a cave-in not different from the one you woke up next to, but there doesn't seem to be anyone there. Lieutenant Tireur helps Commandant Nattensbarn walk in the dark, and although she takes his hand in silence, she also lets go of it the second there is enough light for her to see.
The cave finally opens to the outside world, and you find yourself emerging out of the mountain not too far from the prison wall, but on the outer side of it and hidden by vegetation from all guard towers. You can imagine how someone comes here and begins to dig - however it was done - without being seen. The bear, most likely, came only once the tunnel was already dug.
Commandant Nattensbarn exits first and studies the entrance and the area while the rest of you walk out, but also briefly looking at the state each of you is in as you do. "That must have been one strong bear if it hurt you all this badly." She remarks. "We're done here. Lieutenant Tireur and Sergeant al-Nasrid, you two go to the infirmary ward, have them patch you up before we go. Corporal Peite," she faces Bryn and pauses for a long moment, but then continues: "Show them the way there and then go gather your stuff and wait by the gate when you're done. We're leaving at midday. Welcome to the crew."
The Commandant will then circle the prison, eventually entering through the main gate. The guards will let her in without a question, and the same for the three of you. You hear her mumble to herself about how bad the security here is even after everything that happened, that they let the same person in twice without seeing them leave. Additionally, inside the prison, you'll see a few of the inner walls have collapsed - partially or otherwise - and a few of the prisoners already working under surveillance to clear the rubble.
Bryn knows the way to the infirmary ward inside the prison - he may have been there once either as a patient or on cleaning duty. He also knows where the guards' rooms should be, but he's never been inside, and he doesn't know which would belong to the guard he's impersonating, nor where he might keep his belongings. He also doesn't know where his personal belongings are being kept, but he knows they were taken to this prison with him.
According to the Commandant's decision to leave at midday, if you decide to follow it, you think you should have a little over an hour before then.
Arrenraised a hand to his chest, as if to steady the furious beating of his heart, and took a deep breath to calm himself. He had never fought a bear before and now he hoped he would never have to again. Deep down, he was relieved they hadn’t needed to kill it; the poor creature had probably only been defending what it considered its rightful home. He could only hope it would survive its wounds. Still, it would have to find a new home soon enough, as they would definitely warn the prison managers that a cave bear was living right beneath them.
He handed Lieutenant Tireur his scimitar back and nodded at the suggestion that he find a replacement weapon. "I'll look for one when we get back to the prison," he said. "Surely they have something to spare up there."
When the Commandant mentioned the lieutenant's and his state, Arren said, "I’m mostly fine, Commandant. It didn’t hurt me that badl—" He didn’t finish the sentence. A sharp stab of pain lanced through him, forcing him to bend forward slightly. It wasn’t that he had lied; he had genuinely thought it wasn’t that bad. But now that the adrenaline was fading and his muscles were cooling down, the pain was flaring up. Sharper, deeper, and harder to ignore. He cursed under his breath, then gave a stiff nod, acknowledging the Commandant’s order. And what about her? His eyes flicked to her, scanning for any sign of visible wounds. She seemed mostly fine. Why had she fainted, then? Exhaustion?
As "Corporal Peite" was introduced, the Half-Elf extended a hand to shake his. But when he noticed it was covered in blood, he quickly pulled it back and wiped it against his clothes before offering it again. "Welcome," he said simply. Then he studied the soldier's face. The fact that he kept his helmet on was starting to get on his nerves. He would have to remove it at some point, wouldn’t he? But another wave of pain distracted him, making him grimace and push the thought aside. He really needed to get to the infirmary. There would be time for questions later.
Once they finally had a quiet moment in the infirmary, as the medics patched them up, Arren glanced at the Lieutenant. "I hope you won't demote me for asking this, sir,"he said with a faint, tired smile, "but... why do they call you Walnuts?"
(OOC: Along with spending the needed time in the infirmary, Arren will also use the next hour to try and find a shortsword or something similar in the prison, and informing on what has happened so they take care of the bear. Hopefully, without killing it. Also, do we have to use hit die to patch up, or not since we are going to the infirmary?)
Bryn breathes a sigh of relief as the bear rushes past him without a glance. The sheer size of it when it gets close is terrifying. Even running on all fours, not at its full height the way it was when fighting the soldier. Nothing he had read prepared him for the sheer mass as it passed within inches of him. How that soldier could go toe to toe with such a monstrous beast is beyond me. He is either truly brave, or truly stupid, and exceptionally skilled to boot. Or lucky, I guess. I must avoid a physical conflict at all costs. Sand, the Drow called him.
The disconcerting sounds continues intermittently until he and the soldiers have made their way towards the exit of the cave, thankfully rather quickly with minimal time for conversation. The sounds also provide the perfect cover for him to create a better magical disguise. One that isn't wearing the prison uniform shirt, and that has the proper skin tone and eye colour. He also makes sure to bring up the rear of the party, and cast his spell after the others have gone around the bend towards the exit.
He exits the cave last, striding out nonchalantly as if nothing is wrong, but remaining quiet. Fake it, till you make it. This guy was always quiet, so that should help.
He notes the names she gives the pair. Lieutenant Tireur and Sergeant al-Nasrid.The way the Drow speaks to the Half-Elf he must be the more senior.
He waits to see how they respond, and notes how they address the female human officer, so he can copy it.
When the female officer speaks to him, he nods. So, I am Corporal Peite now. Hold on, the Corporal is to go with them! I am to go with them! Damn, that complicates things.
"Yes", he says simply in a quiet voice like he remembers the guard using, followed by the form of address he noted before from the other two. Or if they didn't use one, or it seems too familiar, he just adds "Sir". He also copies the salute the Gnome who was questioning him earlier gave to her.
He watches her reaction closely, trying to read from her expression and tone whether she is suspicious.
After that, he follows behind the others, marching around the prison trying not to engage in conversation and hoping the presence of the senior officer would keep the others quiet as well. Once inside he motions the way to the infirmary and moves along quickly. Time to ditch Lieutenant Tireur and Sergeant al-Nasrid, and figure out what the hell I am going to do.
Insight: 4+5=9 (Passive: 15) Special: Disguise Self - An hour minus however long it has been since they exited the cave remaining
(OOC: I will stop here for now, simply because there are a fair few assumptions made. He will effectively be acting as if it is not appropriate to speak candidly in the presence of the female officer, so he will react with nods and shakes of the head, or the like. After they separate from the Commandant, we will see. I also assume he knows that Corporal is the lowest rank of all of them. His goal is separate from Walnuts and Sand asap)
Commandant Nattensbarn is, as Arren noticed, mostly unharmed. She has fewer bruises than any of you from the fall and doesn't seem to have suffered any injuries since. She doesn't seem pleased with the new crew member, but Bryn doesn't think she's suspicious of him. "Answer loud and clear when given orders, Corporal." She reprimands when Bryn responds hesitantly and quietly. "They should have drilled that into you back at recruit training, and I expect anyone who's reached the Corporal rank to behave according to military standards. If your mask is damping your speech you'll have to find one that doesn't. Am I clear?"
Once she's satisfied, still on the way to the prison's gate, she also addresses the matter with Arren and Walnuts: "The Corporal there has a special permit to wear a helmet on most occasions. He should know when he must take it off, but for the rest of the time, neither of you may order him to take it off. You may ask him to, but he needn't obey. I don't like having a person I cannot identify around us, though. Make sure to watch him carefully over the next few days, I want you to be able to tell Corporal Peite apart from any other masked soldier by the way he walks talks, breathes or sleeps."
In the infirmary ward - a room with a heavy door that can be locked at night and a few beds for ill prisoners - Arren and Walnuts get patched up by a nurse. There are two prisoners in the room: One, who has his leg in a splint, stares at the ceiling in silence. The second, who seems to be ill, groans in pain on one of the beds while holding his stomach and rolling from side to side. It's quite a nerve-wracking sound and the nurse seems to be fed up with it. She puts Lieutenant Tireur's arm in a simple splint while Arren takes off his armour - enough that she can clean his wounds and apply some bandages on them.
Meanwhile, when Arren brings up the nickname issue, Walnuts stares at him in surprise for a second before bursting into laughter. "Not to inspire Aleshi, but if fighting a bear was what needed to get you to open up, perhaps you should do it more often, ah Sand? Took you only - what, five years?" He teases, and calms down a little before responding. "T'was a friend of mine who came up with it. Met him when I was just enlisted, as was he. He was the son of a carpenter and knew all about wood. Came up with nicknames for everyone on the squad - all names of Woods. Nobody else knew why he chose which name, but it stuck with us. The Walnut wood is dark, and since I was the only Drow on the squad, he thought it was fitting, or so he told me a few years later."
The nurse finishes patching up Arren within a few minutes and leaves the room as soon as she can. She said you should rest, but sitting for an entire hour in a room with a prisoner who has an ulcer isn't what one would consider resting. Walnuts leaves soon after your conversation ends, looking for the Commandant to see if she needs help. If Arren asks the guards for a blade, they don't have any to spare, as there are only a few weapons like that here, kept for emergencies. He also notices that none of the guards carry anything more than a baton on them, except those on the watch towers who have light crossbows up there.
((Arren can heal via hit dice if he wants, and we can treat this hour as short rest as long as he keeps to light activity. Regardless, thanks to the nurse's treatment, Arren can immediately roll one hit die for free, without expending it, and heal for the amount rolled +2 (instead of his Con modifier).))
Bryn - disguised as Corporal Peite - isn't bothered by anyone since he left the two soldiers at the infirmary. He notices the prison has gone back to its routine for the most part, except the prisoners are watched a little more closely and some areas are blocked off by simple furniture or a stationed guard - it seems these areas are where walls or floors have collapsed.
Bryn can tell from the insignia on the military uniform worn by the soldiers or imprinted on their armour that Sergeant al-Nasrid, Lieutenant Tireur and the female officer all rank higher than the guard he is impersonating. You can roll a History check to see how well he knows about military ranks in Katto, but as long as he can see an insignia he'll be able to tell regardless, as they're pretty intuitive.
Also, please roll a Performance check to see how well Bryn manages to play the part of a military soldier and a guard.
Sand flushes slightly after Walnut’s remark about his opening up. He runs a hand through his raven hair, thinking how to answer, and finally says, "I guess I’m not as good at opening up as I am at fighting bears." He smiles, less faintly this time. “It’s a good nickname,"he says, and adds, “Similar to Sand.”Arren looks at his hand, as if to ascertain how its color matches the dunes of his original desert homeland.
Feeling much better, the Half-Elf stays in the infirmary after both the Lieutenant and the nurse leave... for a while. That poor soldier must be in a lot of pain to be groaning so loudly. After a few minutes, he decides to heed the nurse’s advice and rest in a slightly more active way — like stretching his legs. Perhaps he could look for the new recruit. The fact that the Commandant’s first reaction to him had been a reprimand must not have sat all that well with... well, any of them. Still, he feels a little bad for the Corporal. Maybe he could talk to him — try to offer a bit of counsel or simply introduce himself properly. He might as well try to improve a little at opening up, too. And he won't forget to study him closely, as the Commandant instructed them.
Arren asks the same guard he'd spoken to about the blade for directions to the guards' quarters, assuming he might find Corporal Peite there. If not, he intends to inquire with the prison staff or patrol the area himself. After all, there can't be too many elves with their helmets on stationed here. (Perception: an awful 6)
(OOC: took a short rest and patched up with the nurse die and one of mine for 4 + 9 HPs)
'Corporal Peite' takes the dressing down in silence, Well, at least she is acting as though I am just a sloppy soldier, not an imposter. That's good.
"Yes, Sir!", he replies loudly and confidently at the end, trying to retain a bit of gravel in his voice to counterpoint the falsetto of his scribe persona, Otis. He has never impersonated a particular person before, so this was going to be a challenge. If she knew Corporal Peite well, this would be over already, so perhaps it doesn't matter so much.
He listens closely to her explanation of the helmet, a fortunate circumstance to be sure, and at least he knows the reason for the permit. That scar on the Corporal's face, on the face of his disguise, was nasty. I'll need to find a way to replicate that without magic.
Once he has delivered the soldiers to the infirmary, he hurries off to spend the time before he is due to leave gathering his things. Both his, and Corporal Peite's. Ok, now let's see what a military rank can do.
As he wanders around, he keeps an eye on the insignia on the shoulders of the guards, looking for one that denotes someone of lower status. I believe they call them Private.
Once he has found his target, a Private who is stationed alone, he approaches. Here we go!
"You! The visiting Commandant has requested the belongings of the Levickan scribe that was lost during the quake. Go and fetch them, and bring them to my quarters. I need to pack in a hurry, and this cannot be delayed. You know where my quarters are? In fact, tell me where my quarters are. I can't have you getting lost and getting me in trouble with her", he says, trying to be as authoritative as the Commandant was when she gave him the dressing down.
Performance: 8+2=10 History: 18+3=21 Special: Disguise Self - An hour minus however long it has been since they exited the cave remaining
(OOC: At least he knows about this stuff, even if he hasn't had the greatest start acting like it :-) Hopefully it is enough! Also, I have used the Commandant's rank instead of the generic Officer title above after getting the 21 history check in relation to ranks, as I assume he would recognise it. Shout if not and assume he just says officer)
((Bryn knows the Katton military's ranking system well enough with that roll. For simplicity, unless otherwise stated, assume it is roughly equivalent to real-life standard ranks, but I liked the name Commandant more than Major because it felt a little less modern.))
"Ah, yes sir!" Answers the Human soldier Bryn finds. He's pretty young, and he's tall, even for a Human. He looks to be the kind of person who remains lean regardless of how much they eat. He doesn't know which prisoner was lost in the quake, but given the name, he can go search for their possessions. "Your quarters are in..." he details the location as best he remembers. He doesn't know which bed, but Bryn at least knows which exact room now. Once 'Corporal Peite' releases him, the soldier hurries away to execute the command given to him. He doesn't at all look pleased with this kind of errand work, but he follows orders when given. Bryn doesn't think he's done a convincing job at impersonating a soldier, but in the military, one's rank outweighs most of everything else.
When Bryn goes to the stated location, he finds a small room with three beds - metal frames with a tightly laid lattice of ropes to support the body sleeping on them. A thin cloth blanket lies folded at the foot of each bed. The room and the beds all look tidy and clean as if cleaned just this morning. Under each of the beds are placed all personal belongings, and since the beds aren't particularly large, this storage space is quite limited. Especially since, as it seems, it also contains unused gear like helmets or armour for those who don't wear them all the time.
It's not hard to determine which bed belongs to Corporal Peite, as it is the only one without any piece of armour underneath. Despite that, the guard doesn't seem to have held onto many personal belongings. One bag with: one spare set of uniforms, one set of better-looking uniforms that Bryn has seen the soldiers wear on special occasions - for ceremonies it seems - and a few sets of underwear, socks and the like. A set of playing cards - extensively used with visible wear and tear. A hand-drawn sketch that seems to resemble a portrait of some female Elf, but not very well. A waterskin and a small bag of dried fruit. Additionally, one tightly rolled bedroll is kept in its shape by a piece of rope. The life of a prison guard isn't one of great luxury and possessions.
Arren catches a soldier carrying a sack with an assortment of objects. Someone's belongings, surely. He seems to be in a hurry but stops when Arren calls to him and answers about the sword as he did. "Yes sir!" He answers when asked about the guards' quarters. Not enthusiastically, but properly. "I'm headed there now myself, sir. I can show you the way."
The guard leads the way to the guards' quarters. They're not too far from the infirmary, but just far enough that the prisoner's cries aren't heard anymore. "Here they are, sir. Here on the right are the quarters of us guards, and on the left are the quarters of the officers." He salutes and, once released, headed into the door on the right, and Arren sees a hallway with multiple doors. He enters through one of them and disappears from Arren's view.
"Sir! As requested, Otis' belongings." Bryn hasn't even finished going over Peite's belongings yet. The guard was quick - seems to have been determined to finish the errand as quickly as he could. He hands over a jute sack containing Bryn's belongings. Once released, he'll immediately leave the room.
Arren is about to ask the soldier who led him to the guards' quarters if he knows which room belongs to Corporal Peite, but the man rushes off before he has the chance to open his mouth.
Faced with far too many doors to check, the Half-Elf hesitates only a moment before deciding to follow him — either to ask the question directly or to find someone else inside the room he's just entered who can point him in the right direction — only to find, to his surprise, a helmeted elven guard who he can only assume is Peite himself.
Arren steps up to the doorway, straightens his posture, and clears his throat before speaking. "Corporal Peite? I assumed I would find you here. The Commander and the Lieutenant are preparing to depart. I thought it best to check in on you before joining them."
(OOC: Stopping here so @Volcano describes what Arren sees upon entering. Does Arren see that he is inspecting not one, but two sets of equipment belonging to two different people? Does he try to hide Otis's belongings? I'll assume he hasn't heard that one of the sets belongs to Otis. Leaving a perception roll to see what Arren sees. Lol ... it's a 5 /facepalm )
Bryn's first thought when he looks through Corporal Peite's belongings is to find any letters or perhaps a diary, to fill in the missing details he will need to play his role properly. Things as fundamental as the man's first name and where he is from. He makes note of the sketch of the female elf, making sure he has a little story ready. A family member or sweetheart perhaps.
After taking stock of everything, he takes the opportunity to change into the spare uniform, so he is no longer wearing the shirt of a prisoner. The old dirty uniform he rolls up as best he can and puts in the bag, along with the prison shirt. At least now I am properly dressed for the part when my magical disguise drops.
With that done, he decides to take a look in the bedroll, it seemed like the only place to keep something important or special out of sight.
By the time the Private arrives with Otis' belongings, he is just rolling the bedroll back up and about to slide it back into the bag.
"Very good. Put it down here", he replies pointing to the floor next to him. "Dismissed!". Best not dive straight in, I said it was for the Commandant after all.
It is then that the Sergeant moves into the doorway and clears his throat, likely just as the Private leaves. Arren would see Corporal Peite is standing behind one of the metal framed beds, pushing a bedroll into a bag. The Private had placed the sack with Otis' belongings next to him on the floor. He hasn't had a chance to look at it yet as Arren followed closely after the Private.
He stands up straight, and replies as he is asked if he is Corporal Peite, giving a salute. "Yes, Sergeant al-Nasrid".
"Very good, sir. I am almost done packing and will be at the gate before the appointed time", he replies, hoping that the Sergeant will simply leave. If he doesn't leave he will ask, "Is the Lieutenant patched up now, sir?".
He remains standing to attention for the time being, unless Arren leaves.
Investigation (in case it helps his search): 17+5=22 Special: Disguise Self- (Has this run out now? After the walk from the cave, finding the Corporal's quarters and spending time going through his things)
(OOC: With that perception roll, I would think that Arren didn't hear the Private stating what was in the sack, and possibly doesn't even spot the sack as it is on the floor next to Bryn, possibly obscured by the bed. Bryn had mostly gone through the Corporal's belongings by the time Arren arrives, DM confirmed that he has had 15 minutes or so. @DM - Does Bryn also get the chance to short rest at this point?)
Seeing that the new recruit is almost ready, Arren nods approvingly. He eyes the backpack and the sack the other guard has just left behind, but doesn't pay them much attention. Corporal Peite's belongings are his own, and Arren respects that.
"Yes, we’ve been patched up. We were fortunate our wounds were easy to treat," Arren replies. He pauses briefly, then adds, "Corporal, we’ll get to know each other better as days go by, but I do have a few questions to help me know you a bit more. First, regarding your helmet: we’ve been told there are times we can request you to take it off. What situations are those? And second, I see most guards here carry only batons. You’re going to need other weapons. Which do you favor? I have a longbow I rarely use, or a javelin I could spare. Would either suit you?"
He gives the corporal time to answer before continuing, his tone steady. "And one last thing about the Commandant. She's stern, and she can come off harsh sometimes. But she's also the most hardworking person I’ve ever known. If you take your duties seriously, she will notice. Listen to her, and to Lieutenant Tireur, and in time, you’ll be part of the team — as I was before you. We look out for each other when things get complicated, as you saw down there in the caves. You'll be part of that too."
Arren meets the corporal's eyes, making sure his words are understood. Then he nods once. "Finish your preparations. I'll wait outside. Then we'll go meet with Commandant Nattensbarn and Lieutenant Tireur."There’s no doubt — the sergeant has no intention of leaving his new companion on his own anytime soon.
'Corporal Peite' remains at attention, having not been told to be at ease, and being certain that is a thing.
When asked about his helmet, he doesn't flinch. "With respect, sir, you were told that you cannot order me to take it off. You can request I remove it at any time, but I am permitted to refuse that request. There are circumstances when I am not permitted to wear it, and will not do so", he corrects, trying his best to be respectful. Wow, it's not even been an hour and already this one is digging. If he wasn't dead, I would pity the Corporal.
He looks at the weapons offered, "Again sir, with respect, I must decline. I am suited better to weapons that favour dexterity more than strength. Short swords, scimitars, a rapier even. I never got on with this baton in truth. With regards bows, I can use a short bow, or light crossbow. I have always wanted a hand crossbow, but....", he stops realising he is speaking too much, "Sorry sir, no thank you". Ok, he is trying to be helpful, maybe he isn't so bad.
"That is good to know, thank you, sir", he replies regarding the Commandant.
"Yes, sir. At the double", he finally replies. Nattensbarn! Commandant Nattensbarn. That could have been awkward not knowing her name.
As soon as the Sergeant steps outside and is not watching, he relaxes. He quickly shifts the items from the sack into his military bag, checking everything is present as he does so. He doesn't need two bedrolls, so leaves one behind. He briefly clutches a woven bracelet tightly in his fist before that too goes into the bag. I will hopefully see you soon.
Once he is sorted, he drops the magical disguise so that it doesn't fade at an inopportune moment. Thankfully he has the full uniform on now. If that isn't enough I will just end up back here anyway.
He finally exits the room, "I am ready, sir"
He thinks for a moment, "Will there be the chance to requisition or purchase appropriate equipment on our journey, sir?".It would be good to be able to defend myself, and to know where they intend to take me.
Arrenarches a brow at Peite’s first response, wondering if he had phrased the question poorly, but decides not to press the matter. On the subject of weapons, he nods. In the end, it was just as well that the new recruit favored different ones — it meant they could cover a broader range between them.
"I certainly hope we'll have a chance to find equipment," the Half-Elf says once the elf leaves the room. "It took a cave bear to remove my longsword from my hands to make me realize I should carry a backup." He lets out a quiet breath. "Unfortunately, the Commandant hasn't informed me yet of our next steps. But we'll find out soon enough."
As they walk off in search of the Commandant and Walnuts, Arren keeps silent for a time. He's never been the most talkative, but the Lieutenant’s words in the infirmary echo in his mind: Five years to open up. Maybe he should try. He glances toward his new companion. "So," he begins, a little awkwardly, "have you been stationed here long? Did you request a transfer?" He pauses, eyeing the state of the crumbling prison around them. "I can't say I blame you."
"The way you faced the bear, head on like that. It was impressive",'Corporal Peite'replies sincerely as he locks step with the Sergeant. The Sergeant has become more informal, and he follows suit. He does not speak further until the Sergeant speaks again though.
"In a place like this, you lose track of time. It feels like I've been here forever", he answers. Ain't that the truth. But now what do I say...
"It was good in a way though. After the accident, an out of the way place like this means fewer questions", he continues. That was good, might buy me a little leeway with the mask.
"But you can only lock yourself away for so long". Tell even a half truth and it will be more believable, and whether that is true for the Corporal or not, it is true for me.
He also stops when the Sergeant stops, nodding at the unspoken sentiment about the state of the prison. Now, let's move the focus to him.
"If I may ask, how long did it take you to feel part of the team?", he asks, even before waiting for the ok.
In a split second, Arren switches from the relief of finding the Commandant alive to the searing pain of the bear's bite tearing into his side. He screams in pain, unable to stop himself from curling toward the wound as blood begins to pour freely. But he knows he can't let the pain distract him; if he does, the three of them will surely fall.
With a deep breath, Arren taps into a hidden well of strength, his muscles surging with renewed vigor. His posture straightens, and a fierce determination gleams in his eyes as he readies his longsword and shield. Circling the beast, he makes sure to position himself so that the Commandant remains covered.
The Half-Elf's gaze locks onto the bear, calculating its next move. When the opportunity presents itself, Arren strikes—sweeping his weapon low to target the creature's front legs, attempting to unbalance it. If he succeeds, it will leave the beast wide open for a better counterattack from both him and the Lieutenant.
The Commandant lies unconscious, and the urgency of the situation drives Arren to strike again, eager to end it quickly. But in his haste, his calculations slip. The second attack feels off, and he watches in tense uncertainty, unsure if this blow will find its mark.
Bonus Action: Second Wind (regaining 7 HPs)
Action: Longsword Attack: 23 to hit (rolled twice by mistake!) / Damage: 11 (rolled twice because of the Savage Attacker feature, but the second result was lower). Sap mastery: the bear's next attack is at disadvantage. Superiority Die (Trip Attack): the bear needs to make a STR ST DC 14 or be Prone, and he takes an extra 3 damage. Action Surge: I've used it, but got a nat1. Now, if the bear failed its ST, I would have advantage, right? I will leave a second roll just in case Sand is lucky! 24 to hit / 11 damage.
Reaction: if the bear attacks anyone else, Arren will use his Fighting Style(Protection) to impose Disadvantage.
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Nessa | Saxa | Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
((Yes, the 'plug' looks like it was 'inserted' from below. Essentially, placing a large 'block' of dense ground to block a hole in the ceiling. Even as I write that I realize this isn't too clear, but yes, Bryn's intuition is correct. Well, not that he has anyone to tell him that.))
Bryn sprints inside the cave, but sprinting isn't easy when the walls turn and the ground inclines on the way. Nonetheless, he can hear the cry of pain of a wounded animal, echoing through the cave, followed by a loud sound that might as well be thunder - but there was no storm outside earlier? It does not sound too far from him, but he cannot see it just yet.
Bryn is currently ~70 feet away from the fight, though he'll need 80 feet of movement to climb up the last incline as it is difficult terrain too. If he has any ranged attacks, he could just bearly see the top of the bear, and may attempt an attack after just 60 feet of movement, but the bear will have Three-Quarters Cover (3/4 cover, if the tooltip fails), standing high above the rest on its hind legs. If he wants to attack one of the others for any reason, the Lieutenant has 1/2 cover, and Arren and the Commandant cannot be seen.
Arren's first slash hits the bear's left thigh, and the animal cries in pain - an almost deafening sound from this close - though it does not become unbalanced. Arren attempts to make another swift strike but as the bear rises again on its hind legs - faster than Arren expects from such a large creature - Arren hits the bear at an awkward angle and, although he makes a deep cut into the bear's flesh, he loses his grip and the sword flies off his hand, landing safely on the ground a few feet away - but out of reach.
In response to that, Lieutenant Tireur attempts to buy Arren a moment and fires his snaplock at the beast. Arren just barely hears the sound of the gun cocking, and can only mentally prepare for the loud sound so close to his ears. BANG! Even when anticipated, the roaring sound always makes one jump. The bear cries in pain yet again. It slams down on Arren, but with all the pain, its paw isn't as strong as before and Arren blocks it with his shield. The bear then turns away to the source of the shot. It tries to bite down Walnuts, but Arren interposes himself between them and pushes the animal away, protecting the Drow from the beast's bite.
Awakened by the sound, Commandant Nattensbarn crawls away to safety behind Arren - then stands up and takes a few steps back while sticking to the nearest wall, to allow Arren to fight without worry. "It's an animal, if you hurt it enough, it will run away!" She calls.
The bear rolled 21 for its save, so it remains standing. Thanks to Arren's protective manoeuvres, however, it misses both its attacks. Arren's sword lies 10 feet away, next to the Commandant. She cannot see it in the dark, however, and is unaware of it. Arren knows the Lieutenant won't be able to fire his gun again before he reloads it, which might take longer than usual with one arm broken.
I'm not updating the map since I don't see a need for it, but refer to the previous one if needed, and adjust Bryn and Nattensbarn's locations as needed.
Varielky
Bryn involuntarily winces as the thunderous sound echoes down the tunnel, but that sound beforehand sounded like an animal, What is going on down there? A magic user perhaps? Certainly an animal attack.
He carries on running, drawing the bat as he goes, I am not going to be very effective with this, but I need to stay in character. I need to be the guard, and it's the only weapon he had.
He will go as far as he can, but not enter the fray, slowing as he reaches a point where he can start to see what is going on.
A bear! And one of the soldiers guarding that female officer. Damn, they might have noticed me! No turning back now I guess.
Free Interact: Draw bat
Movement: 30ft towards the combat
Bonus Action: Cunning Action Dash yet another 30ft towards the combat
Action: Dash slowing to half speed and moving 15ft towards the combat - total of 75 ft, does that leave him right behind Walnuts? What can he see and who can see him now?
(OOC: Would it be reasonable to assume Bryn realises the thunder sound was from the gun, once he comes across the scene?)
Arren, his longsword knocked away, considers lunging for it—until he remembers that Tireur has a scimitar of his own. Without hesitation, he reaches for Walnut's belt. The weapon doesn't feel as natural in his grip as his own, but he can't risk moving away from the bear to retrieve it.
With that, he strikes at the beast once more, hoping the beast runs away as the Commandant has said. The Half-Elf keeps alert and ready to react if the bear turns its fury on anyone else than him.
Bonus action: Grab Walnuts' scimitar.
Action. Scimitar attack. To hit: 12 / Damage: 6
Reaction: if the bear attacks anyone else, Arren will use his shield to impose Disadvantage.
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Nessa | Saxa | Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Arren slashes the bear again. While not used to the curved, short blade, it is not a problem Arren's skill and experience can't bridge over, and he makes a nasty-looking cut into the bear's abdomen. Enraged, the bear turns around again, in a rampant attempt to push away the danger. It rises on its hind legs again and crushes with its full weight on Arren again. It then tries to bite Arren, who might be able to protect himself with his shield - if he remains standing.
Meanwhile, Walnuts attempts to reload his snaplock, but it's no easy task with one hand. "I may have underestimated just how grave a loss it was for Tyr to lose an arm." He mumbles to himself, referencing a folk tale about the god of war who sacrificed his arm to save the rest of the gods from a monstrous wolf.
Commandant Nattensbarn, blinded in the dark but with a keen ear, shouts a command: "It's in distress! Open a path for it and give it a good smack from the other side, it will run away if you let it! Don't get trampled by this hunk of muscles!"
When Bryn suddenly arrives, standing behind the Lieutenant, the Drow notices and exclaims, surprised: "Corporal! It's good to see you're healthy but stay back! Your baton won't hurt this beast, but it sure can hurt you!" He then heeds the Commandant's order and sticks to the wall on one side, signalling to Bryn to do the same. "Scare it this way! It won't help us if it goes outside where we want to be!"
The bear hits Arren with his claw, rolling 21 to hit and dealing 11 slashing damage. Arren must also make a DC13 strength save or fall prone. If he succeeds, he manages to repel the beast's bite. Otherwise, the bear's attack is made with an advantage and it hits with exactly 18, dealing an additional 6 piercing damage.
It's the party's turn, you may act in any order.
Bryn can determine the firearm is what made the sound with a successful History check with DC14. While he may have heard stories about them, he's never seen one in person and probably never met anyone who did. Even in the Katton military, they are rare in this time of 'peace' and monitored closely - so that Levickans will not learn of their workings.
Varielky
Bryn History Check: 1+3=4 (Failure to discern it was the firearm)
Bryn takes in the scene, his eyes scanning for the magic user who was the most likely source of the thunderous sound earlier, but finding no likely culprit. He does however see the three visitors engaged in mortal combat with the large and angry bear.
He doesn't have to be told twice not to engage the beast with his baton, and does as he is told and presses his back against the opposite wall of the tunnel to the one who spoke. He tries his best to blend in and disappear from view.
Ok, this is bad. If the bear runs past me, I will have no way to retreat. But the Drow said the other way was outside, which at least corroborates my theory.
Looking across the tunnel, he stays silent and nods to the Drow. I can't stay silent forever. What the heck did this mask wearer sound like?
Unless I can distract these folk enough not to ask questions whilst encouraging the bear to leave. The thought runs through his mind like a flash, and he reaches for the fleece he cut off earlier. A subtle gesture of his free hand, and a loud groaning rumble can be heard from the ceiling above the bear. Much like the sound from earlier when the floor collapsed.
Perhaps that was the thunderous sound from earlier, another cave in.
Movement: Backing against the tunnel wall
Bonus Action: Cunning Action attempt to hide - Stealth: 17+6=23 (even if just from the bear)
Action: Cast minor illusion - round 1 of 10
Arren doesn't have time to celebrate that he has hit the bear again. Almost instantly, the beast's claw tears at his abdomen, and he grunts in pain. He barely manages to hear the Commandant shouting something over the animal's roaring and the pounding of his heart.
"...distress ... open a path ... don't get trampled...."
"Don't get trampled". She's right. If he lets the bear overwhelm him, he's not going to see the light of day again. And he sure as hell isn't dying like this.
Gritting his teeth, the Half-Elf plants his feet and raises his shield just as the massive beast rears up. It jumps and, for a split second, all Arren sees is its hulking form looming over him.
With every ounce of strength he can muster, Sargent al-Nasrid braces his shield at an angle, not to block, but to redirect. The bear’s bulk slams into the metal, and the creature's trajectory changes midair. Instead of coming down squarely atop him, it crashes to the ground next to him.
Arren staggers back a step, breath ragged, but still standing. That’s when it clicks. "Open a path". If they want to let the bear escape, it needs a way through. He circles the beast, just as the Commandant, Walnuts, and — is that the guard from before? No time for that now — press against the wall. Then, he stikes, aiming towards the bear's side in an attempt to drive it inward, along the path they've just cleared.
Scimitar to hit: 13 / Damage: 10 (non lethal)
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Nessa | Saxa | Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
((Does the sound from Bryn's spell continue for the whole minute, or is it a short sound just for a few seconds/recurring but not continuous?))
With joint effort, but mostly Arren's superb fighting, you manage to scare the bear away. It gallops away as fast as it can, between Bryn and Lieutenant Tireur. It turns away at the first intersection and continues fleeing into one of the tunnels, out of sight.
Bears aren't common in Levicka or on Kalhoty Island in general but aren't very rare on Kuori. Bryn may have heard about them in stories, seen drawings, furs, or taxidermy of them, or seen one in a zoo if he snuck into one. Always depicted as a powerful beast capable of killing a man with ease, and he saw the soldier in front of him drive the bear away. Or, maybe it was his magic, but the Half-Elf soldier definitely stood his ground against the bear in front of Bryn, at least for a few seconds.
Arren, meanwhile, may have seen a few bears in the past but never fought one himself. He knows it is no simple matter, and that most other soldiers he'd served with would not have lived to tell the tale.
As the animal disappears from both view and hearing, you can calm down a little. "Let's get out of here before it's back," says Walnuts. "Or before we get buried alive." He walks over to pick up Arren's sword, handing it over to the Half-Elf as he requests his scimitar back. "Good thinking, Sand, but you should have a backup weapon. Get yourself an emergency dagger or something when you get the time. I won't always be there within reach."
As you continue walking towards the faint light, you gradually see more area of the wall it shines on, and the light gets brighter and stronger the farther down that path you look. On the opposite side, where the path grows narrow for a bit (see my last map), you see the path is blocked by a cave-in not different from the one you woke up next to, but there doesn't seem to be anyone there. Lieutenant Tireur helps Commandant Nattensbarn walk in the dark, and although she takes his hand in silence, she also lets go of it the second there is enough light for her to see.
The cave finally opens to the outside world, and you find yourself emerging out of the mountain not too far from the prison wall, but on the outer side of it and hidden by vegetation from all guard towers. You can imagine how someone comes here and begins to dig - however it was done - without being seen. The bear, most likely, came only once the tunnel was already dug.
Commandant Nattensbarn exits first and studies the entrance and the area while the rest of you walk out, but also briefly looking at the state each of you is in as you do. "That must have been one strong bear if it hurt you all this badly." She remarks. "We're done here. Lieutenant Tireur and Sergeant al-Nasrid, you two go to the infirmary ward, have them patch you up before we go. Corporal Peite," she faces Bryn and pauses for a long moment, but then continues: "Show them the way there and then go gather your stuff and wait by the gate when you're done. We're leaving at midday. Welcome to the crew."
The Commandant will then circle the prison, eventually entering through the main gate. The guards will let her in without a question, and the same for the three of you. You hear her mumble to herself about how bad the security here is even after everything that happened, that they let the same person in twice without seeing them leave. Additionally, inside the prison, you'll see a few of the inner walls have collapsed - partially or otherwise - and a few of the prisoners already working under surveillance to clear the rubble.
Bryn knows the way to the infirmary ward inside the prison - he may have been there once either as a patient or on cleaning duty. He also knows where the guards' rooms should be, but he's never been inside, and he doesn't know which would belong to the guard he's impersonating, nor where he might keep his belongings. He also doesn't know where his personal belongings are being kept, but he knows they were taken to this prison with him.
According to the Commandant's decision to leave at midday, if you decide to follow it, you think you should have a little over an hour before then.
Varielky
Arren raised a hand to his chest, as if to steady the furious beating of his heart, and took a deep breath to calm himself. He had never fought a bear before and now he hoped he would never have to again. Deep down, he was relieved they hadn’t needed to kill it; the poor creature had probably only been defending what it considered its rightful home. He could only hope it would survive its wounds. Still, it would have to find a new home soon enough, as they would definitely warn the prison managers that a cave bear was living right beneath them.
He handed Lieutenant Tireur his scimitar back and nodded at the suggestion that he find a replacement weapon. "I'll look for one when we get back to the prison," he said. "Surely they have something to spare up there."
When the Commandant mentioned the lieutenant's and his state, Arren said, "I’m mostly fine, Commandant. It didn’t hurt me that badl—" He didn’t finish the sentence. A sharp stab of pain lanced through him, forcing him to bend forward slightly. It wasn’t that he had lied; he had genuinely thought it wasn’t that bad. But now that the adrenaline was fading and his muscles were cooling down, the pain was flaring up. Sharper, deeper, and harder to ignore. He cursed under his breath, then gave a stiff nod, acknowledging the Commandant’s order. And what about her? His eyes flicked to her, scanning for any sign of visible wounds. She seemed mostly fine. Why had she fainted, then? Exhaustion?
As "Corporal Peite" was introduced, the Half-Elf extended a hand to shake his. But when he noticed it was covered in blood, he quickly pulled it back and wiped it against his clothes before offering it again. "Welcome," he said simply. Then he studied the soldier's face. The fact that he kept his helmet on was starting to get on his nerves. He would have to remove it at some point, wouldn’t he? But another wave of pain distracted him, making him grimace and push the thought aside. He really needed to get to the infirmary. There would be time for questions later.
Once they finally had a quiet moment in the infirmary, as the medics patched them up, Arren glanced at the Lieutenant. "I hope you won't demote me for asking this, sir," he said with a faint, tired smile, "but... why do they call you Walnuts?"
(OOC: Along with spending the needed time in the infirmary, Arren will also use the next hour to try and find a shortsword or something similar in the prison, and informing on what has happened so they take care of the bear. Hopefully, without killing it. Also, do we have to use hit die to patch up, or not since we are going to the infirmary?)
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Nessa | Saxa | Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Bryn breathes a sigh of relief as the bear rushes past him without a glance. The sheer size of it when it gets close is terrifying. Even running on all fours, not at its full height the way it was when fighting the soldier. Nothing he had read prepared him for the sheer mass as it passed within inches of him. How that soldier could go toe to toe with such a monstrous beast is beyond me. He is either truly brave, or truly stupid, and exceptionally skilled to boot. Or lucky, I guess. I must avoid a physical conflict at all costs. Sand, the Drow called him.
The disconcerting sounds continues intermittently until he and the soldiers have made their way towards the exit of the cave, thankfully rather quickly with minimal time for conversation. The sounds also provide the perfect cover for him to create a better magical disguise. One that isn't wearing the prison uniform shirt, and that has the proper skin tone and eye colour. He also makes sure to bring up the rear of the party, and cast his spell after the others have gone around the bend towards the exit.
He exits the cave last, striding out nonchalantly as if nothing is wrong, but remaining quiet. Fake it, till you make it. This guy was always quiet, so that should help.
He notes the names she gives the pair. Lieutenant Tireur and Sergeant al-Nasrid. The way the Drow speaks to the Half-Elf he must be the more senior.
He waits to see how they respond, and notes how they address the female human officer, so he can copy it.
When the female officer speaks to him, he nods. So, I am Corporal Peite now. Hold on, the Corporal is to go with them! I am to go with them! Damn, that complicates things.
"Yes", he says simply in a quiet voice like he remembers the guard using, followed by the form of address he noted before from the other two. Or if they didn't use one, or it seems too familiar, he just adds "Sir". He also copies the salute the Gnome who was questioning him earlier gave to her.
He watches her reaction closely, trying to read from her expression and tone whether she is suspicious.
After that, he follows behind the others, marching around the prison trying not to engage in conversation and hoping the presence of the senior officer would keep the others quiet as well. Once inside he motions the way to the infirmary and moves along quickly. Time to ditch Lieutenant Tireur and Sergeant al-Nasrid, and figure out what the hell I am going to do.
Insight: 4+5=9 (Passive: 15)
Special: Disguise Self - An hour minus however long it has been since they exited the cave remaining
(OOC: I will stop here for now, simply because there are a fair few assumptions made. He will effectively be acting as if it is not appropriate to speak candidly in the presence of the female officer, so he will react with nods and shakes of the head, or the like. After they separate from the Commandant, we will see. I also assume he knows that Corporal is the lowest rank of all of them. His goal is separate from Walnuts and Sand asap)
Commandant Nattensbarn is, as Arren noticed, mostly unharmed. She has fewer bruises than any of you from the fall and doesn't seem to have suffered any injuries since. She doesn't seem pleased with the new crew member, but Bryn doesn't think she's suspicious of him. "Answer loud and clear when given orders, Corporal." She reprimands when Bryn responds hesitantly and quietly. "They should have drilled that into you back at recruit training, and I expect anyone who's reached the Corporal rank to behave according to military standards. If your mask is damping your speech you'll have to find one that doesn't. Am I clear?"
Once she's satisfied, still on the way to the prison's gate, she also addresses the matter with Arren and Walnuts: "The Corporal there has a special permit to wear a helmet on most occasions. He should know when he must take it off, but for the rest of the time, neither of you may order him to take it off. You may ask him to, but he needn't obey. I don't like having a person I cannot identify around us, though. Make sure to watch him carefully over the next few days, I want you to be able to tell Corporal Peite apart from any other masked soldier by the way he walks talks, breathes or sleeps."
In the infirmary ward - a room with a heavy door that can be locked at night and a few beds for ill prisoners - Arren and Walnuts get patched up by a nurse. There are two prisoners in the room: One, who has his leg in a splint, stares at the ceiling in silence. The second, who seems to be ill, groans in pain on one of the beds while holding his stomach and rolling from side to side. It's quite a nerve-wracking sound and the nurse seems to be fed up with it. She puts Lieutenant Tireur's arm in a simple splint while Arren takes off his armour - enough that she can clean his wounds and apply some bandages on them.
Meanwhile, when Arren brings up the nickname issue, Walnuts stares at him in surprise for a second before bursting into laughter. "Not to inspire Aleshi, but if fighting a bear was what needed to get you to open up, perhaps you should do it more often, ah Sand? Took you only - what, five years?" He teases, and calms down a little before responding. "T'was a friend of mine who came up with it. Met him when I was just enlisted, as was he. He was the son of a carpenter and knew all about wood. Came up with nicknames for everyone on the squad - all names of Woods. Nobody else knew why he chose which name, but it stuck with us. The Walnut wood is dark, and since I was the only Drow on the squad, he thought it was fitting, or so he told me a few years later."
The nurse finishes patching up Arren within a few minutes and leaves the room as soon as she can. She said you should rest, but sitting for an entire hour in a room with a prisoner who has an ulcer isn't what one would consider resting. Walnuts leaves soon after your conversation ends, looking for the Commandant to see if she needs help. If Arren asks the guards for a blade, they don't have any to spare, as there are only a few weapons like that here, kept for emergencies. He also notices that none of the guards carry anything more than a baton on them, except those on the watch towers who have light crossbows up there.
((Arren can heal via hit dice if he wants, and we can treat this hour as short rest as long as he keeps to light activity. Regardless, thanks to the nurse's treatment, Arren can immediately roll one hit die for free, without expending it, and heal for the amount rolled +2 (instead of his Con modifier).))
Bryn - disguised as Corporal Peite - isn't bothered by anyone since he left the two soldiers at the infirmary. He notices the prison has gone back to its routine for the most part, except the prisoners are watched a little more closely and some areas are blocked off by simple furniture or a stationed guard - it seems these areas are where walls or floors have collapsed.
Bryn can tell from the insignia on the military uniform worn by the soldiers or imprinted on their armour that Sergeant al-Nasrid, Lieutenant Tireur and the female officer all rank higher than the guard he is impersonating. You can roll a History check to see how well he knows about military ranks in Katto, but as long as he can see an insignia he'll be able to tell regardless, as they're pretty intuitive.
Also, please roll a Performance check to see how well Bryn manages to play the part of a military soldier and a guard.
Varielky
Sand flushes slightly after Walnut’s remark about his opening up. He runs a hand through his raven hair, thinking how to answer, and finally says, "I guess I’m not as good at opening up as I am at fighting bears." He smiles, less faintly this time. “It’s a good nickname," he says, and adds, “Similar to Sand.” Arren looks at his hand, as if to ascertain how its color matches the dunes of his original desert homeland.
Feeling much better, the Half-Elf stays in the infirmary after both the Lieutenant and the nurse leave... for a while. That poor soldier must be in a lot of pain to be groaning so loudly. After a few minutes, he decides to heed the nurse’s advice and rest in a slightly more active way — like stretching his legs. Perhaps he could look for the new recruit. The fact that the Commandant’s first reaction to him had been a reprimand must not have sat all that well with... well, any of them. Still, he feels a little bad for the Corporal. Maybe he could talk to him — try to offer a bit of counsel or simply introduce himself properly. He might as well try to improve a little at opening up, too. And he won't forget to study him closely, as the Commandant instructed them.
Arren asks the same guard he'd spoken to about the blade for directions to the guards' quarters, assuming he might find Corporal Peite there. If not, he intends to inquire with the prison staff or patrol the area himself. After all, there can't be too many elves with their helmets on stationed here. (Perception: an awful 6)
(OOC: took a short rest and patched up with the nurse die and one of mine for 4 + 9 HPs)
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Nessa | Saxa | Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
'Corporal Peite' takes the dressing down in silence, Well, at least she is acting as though I am just a sloppy soldier, not an imposter. That's good.
"Yes, Sir!", he replies loudly and confidently at the end, trying to retain a bit of gravel in his voice to counterpoint the falsetto of his scribe persona, Otis. He has never impersonated a particular person before, so this was going to be a challenge. If she knew Corporal Peite well, this would be over already, so perhaps it doesn't matter so much.
He listens closely to her explanation of the helmet, a fortunate circumstance to be sure, and at least he knows the reason for the permit. That scar on the Corporal's face, on the face of his disguise, was nasty. I'll need to find a way to replicate that without magic.
Once he has delivered the soldiers to the infirmary, he hurries off to spend the time before he is due to leave gathering his things. Both his, and Corporal Peite's. Ok, now let's see what a military rank can do.
As he wanders around, he keeps an eye on the insignia on the shoulders of the guards, looking for one that denotes someone of lower status. I believe they call them Private.
Once he has found his target, a Private who is stationed alone, he approaches. Here we go!
"You! The visiting Commandant has requested the belongings of the Levickan scribe that was lost during the quake. Go and fetch them, and bring them to my quarters. I need to pack in a hurry, and this cannot be delayed. You know where my quarters are? In fact, tell me where my quarters are. I can't have you getting lost and getting me in trouble with her", he says, trying to be as authoritative as the Commandant was when she gave him the dressing down.
Performance: 8+2=10
History: 18+3=21
Special: Disguise Self - An hour minus however long it has been since they exited the cave remaining
(OOC: At least he knows about this stuff, even if he hasn't had the greatest start acting like it :-) Hopefully it is enough! Also, I have used the Commandant's rank instead of the generic Officer title above after getting the 21 history check in relation to ranks, as I assume he would recognise it. Shout if not and assume he just says officer)
((Bryn knows the Katton military's ranking system well enough with that roll. For simplicity, unless otherwise stated, assume it is roughly equivalent to real-life standard ranks, but I liked the name Commandant more than Major because it felt a little less modern.))
"Ah, yes sir!" Answers the Human soldier Bryn finds. He's pretty young, and he's tall, even for a Human. He looks to be the kind of person who remains lean regardless of how much they eat. He doesn't know which prisoner was lost in the quake, but given the name, he can go search for their possessions. "Your quarters are in..." he details the location as best he remembers. He doesn't know which bed, but Bryn at least knows which exact room now. Once 'Corporal Peite' releases him, the soldier hurries away to execute the command given to him. He doesn't at all look pleased with this kind of errand work, but he follows orders when given. Bryn doesn't think he's done a convincing job at impersonating a soldier, but in the military, one's rank outweighs most of everything else.
When Bryn goes to the stated location, he finds a small room with three beds - metal frames with a tightly laid lattice of ropes to support the body sleeping on them. A thin cloth blanket lies folded at the foot of each bed. The room and the beds all look tidy and clean as if cleaned just this morning. Under each of the beds are placed all personal belongings, and since the beds aren't particularly large, this storage space is quite limited. Especially since, as it seems, it also contains unused gear like helmets or armour for those who don't wear them all the time.
It's not hard to determine which bed belongs to Corporal Peite, as it is the only one without any piece of armour underneath. Despite that, the guard doesn't seem to have held onto many personal belongings. One bag with: one spare set of uniforms, one set of better-looking uniforms that Bryn has seen the soldiers wear on special occasions - for ceremonies it seems - and a few sets of underwear, socks and the like. A set of playing cards - extensively used with visible wear and tear. A hand-drawn sketch that seems to resemble a portrait of some female Elf, but not very well. A waterskin and a small bag of dried fruit. Additionally, one tightly rolled bedroll is kept in its shape by a piece of rope. The life of a prison guard isn't one of great luxury and possessions.
Arren catches a soldier carrying a sack with an assortment of objects. Someone's belongings, surely. He seems to be in a hurry but stops when Arren calls to him and answers about the sword as he did. "Yes sir!" He answers when asked about the guards' quarters. Not enthusiastically, but properly. "I'm headed there now myself, sir. I can show you the way."
The guard leads the way to the guards' quarters. They're not too far from the infirmary, but just far enough that the prisoner's cries aren't heard anymore. "Here they are, sir. Here on the right are the quarters of us guards, and on the left are the quarters of the officers." He salutes and, once released, headed into the door on the right, and Arren sees a hallway with multiple doors. He enters through one of them and disappears from Arren's view.
"Sir! As requested, Otis' belongings." Bryn hasn't even finished going over Peite's belongings yet. The guard was quick - seems to have been determined to finish the errand as quickly as he could. He hands over a jute sack containing Bryn's belongings. Once released, he'll immediately leave the room.
Varielky
Arren is about to ask the soldier who led him to the guards' quarters if he knows which room belongs to Corporal Peite, but the man rushes off before he has the chance to open his mouth.
Faced with far too many doors to check, the Half-Elf hesitates only a moment before deciding to follow him — either to ask the question directly or to find someone else inside the room he's just entered who can point him in the right direction — only to find, to his surprise, a helmeted elven guard who he can only assume is Peite himself.
Arren steps up to the doorway, straightens his posture, and clears his throat before speaking. "Corporal Peite? I assumed I would find you here. The Commander and the Lieutenant are preparing to depart. I thought it best to check in on you before joining them."
(OOC: Stopping here so @Volcano describes what Arren sees upon entering. Does Arren see that he is inspecting not one, but two sets of equipment belonging to two different people? Does he try to hide Otis's belongings? I'll assume he hasn't heard that one of the sets belongs to Otis. Leaving a perception roll to see what Arren sees. Lol ... it's a 5 /facepalm )
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Nessa | Saxa | Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Bryn's first thought when he looks through Corporal Peite's belongings is to find any letters or perhaps a diary, to fill in the missing details he will need to play his role properly. Things as fundamental as the man's first name and where he is from. He makes note of the sketch of the female elf, making sure he has a little story ready. A family member or sweetheart perhaps.
After taking stock of everything, he takes the opportunity to change into the spare uniform, so he is no longer wearing the shirt of a prisoner. The old dirty uniform he rolls up as best he can and puts in the bag, along with the prison shirt. At least now I am properly dressed for the part when my magical disguise drops.
With that done, he decides to take a look in the bedroll, it seemed like the only place to keep something important or special out of sight.
By the time the Private arrives with Otis' belongings, he is just rolling the bedroll back up and about to slide it back into the bag.
"Very good. Put it down here", he replies pointing to the floor next to him. "Dismissed!". Best not dive straight in, I said it was for the Commandant after all.
It is then that the Sergeant moves into the doorway and clears his throat, likely just as the Private leaves. Arren would see Corporal Peite is standing behind one of the metal framed beds, pushing a bedroll into a bag. The Private had placed the sack with Otis' belongings next to him on the floor. He hasn't had a chance to look at it yet as Arren followed closely after the Private.
He stands up straight, and replies as he is asked if he is Corporal Peite, giving a salute. "Yes, Sergeant al-Nasrid".
"Very good, sir. I am almost done packing and will be at the gate before the appointed time", he replies, hoping that the Sergeant will simply leave. If he doesn't leave he will ask, "Is the Lieutenant patched up now, sir?".
He remains standing to attention for the time being, unless Arren leaves.
Investigation (in case it helps his search): 17+5=22
Special: Disguise Self - (Has this run out now? After the walk from the cave, finding the Corporal's quarters and spending time going through his things)
(OOC: With that perception roll, I would think that Arren didn't hear the Private stating what was in the sack, and possibly doesn't even spot the sack as it is on the floor next to Bryn, possibly obscured by the bed. Bryn had mostly gone through the Corporal's belongings by the time Arren arrives, DM confirmed that he has had 15 minutes or so. @DM - Does Bryn also get the chance to short rest at this point?)
Seeing that the new recruit is almost ready, Arren nods approvingly. He eyes the backpack and the sack the other guard has just left behind, but doesn't pay them much attention. Corporal Peite's belongings are his own, and Arren respects that.
"Yes, we’ve been patched up. We were fortunate our wounds were easy to treat," Arren replies. He pauses briefly, then adds, "Corporal, we’ll get to know each other better as days go by, but I do have a few questions to help me know you a bit more. First, regarding your helmet: we’ve been told there are times we can request you to take it off. What situations are those? And second, I see most guards here carry only batons. You’re going to need other weapons. Which do you favor? I have a longbow I rarely use, or a javelin I could spare. Would either suit you?"
He gives the corporal time to answer before continuing, his tone steady. "And one last thing about the Commandant. She's stern, and she can come off harsh sometimes. But she's also the most hardworking person I’ve ever known. If you take your duties seriously, she will notice. Listen to her, and to Lieutenant Tireur, and in time, you’ll be part of the team — as I was before you. We look out for each other when things get complicated, as you saw down there in the caves. You'll be part of that too."
Arren meets the corporal's eyes, making sure his words are understood. Then he nods once. "Finish your preparations. I'll wait outside. Then we'll go meet with Commandant Nattensbarn and Lieutenant Tireur." There’s no doubt — the sergeant has no intention of leaving his new companion on his own anytime soon.
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Nessa | Saxa | Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
'Corporal Peite' remains at attention, having not been told to be at ease, and being certain that is a thing.
When asked about his helmet, he doesn't flinch. "With respect, sir, you were told that you cannot order me to take it off. You can request I remove it at any time, but I am permitted to refuse that request. There are circumstances when I am not permitted to wear it, and will not do so", he corrects, trying his best to be respectful. Wow, it's not even been an hour and already this one is digging. If he wasn't dead, I would pity the Corporal.
He looks at the weapons offered, "Again sir, with respect, I must decline. I am suited better to weapons that favour dexterity more than strength. Short swords, scimitars, a rapier even. I never got on with this baton in truth. With regards bows, I can use a short bow, or light crossbow. I have always wanted a hand crossbow, but....", he stops realising he is speaking too much, "Sorry sir, no thank you". Ok, he is trying to be helpful, maybe he isn't so bad.
"That is good to know, thank you, sir", he replies regarding the Commandant.
"Yes, sir. At the double", he finally replies. Nattensbarn! Commandant Nattensbarn. That could have been awkward not knowing her name.
As soon as the Sergeant steps outside and is not watching, he relaxes. He quickly shifts the items from the sack into his military bag, checking everything is present as he does so. He doesn't need two bedrolls, so leaves one behind. He briefly clutches a woven bracelet tightly in his fist before that too goes into the bag. I will hopefully see you soon.
Once he is sorted, he drops the magical disguise so that it doesn't fade at an inopportune moment. Thankfully he has the full uniform on now. If that isn't enough I will just end up back here anyway.
He finally exits the room, "I am ready, sir"
He thinks for a moment, "Will there be the chance to requisition or purchase appropriate equipment on our journey, sir?". It would be good to be able to defend myself, and to know where they intend to take me.
Arren arches a brow at Peite’s first response, wondering if he had phrased the question poorly, but decides not to press the matter. On the subject of weapons, he nods. In the end, it was just as well that the new recruit favored different ones — it meant they could cover a broader range between them.
"I certainly hope we'll have a chance to find equipment," the Half-Elf says once the elf leaves the room. "It took a cave bear to remove my longsword from my hands to make me realize I should carry a backup." He lets out a quiet breath. "Unfortunately, the Commandant hasn't informed me yet of our next steps. But we'll find out soon enough."
As they walk off in search of the Commandant and Walnuts, Arren keeps silent for a time. He's never been the most talkative, but the Lieutenant’s words in the infirmary echo in his mind: Five years to open up. Maybe he should try. He glances toward his new companion. "So," he begins, a little awkwardly, "have you been stationed here long? Did you request a transfer?" He pauses, eyeing the state of the crumbling prison around them. "I can't say I blame you."
Diving deep to the surface ♫ Nessa | Saxa | Auriel | Chase | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
"The way you faced the bear, head on like that. It was impressive", 'Corporal Peite' replies sincerely as he locks step with the Sergeant. The Sergeant has become more informal, and he follows suit. He does not speak further until the Sergeant speaks again though.
"In a place like this, you lose track of time. It feels like I've been here forever", he answers. Ain't that the truth. But now what do I say...
"It was good in a way though. After the accident, an out of the way place like this means fewer questions", he continues. That was good, might buy me a little leeway with the mask.
"But you can only lock yourself away for so long". Tell even a half truth and it will be more believable, and whether that is true for the Corporal or not, it is true for me.
He also stops when the Sergeant stops, nodding at the unspoken sentiment about the state of the prison. Now, let's move the focus to him.
"If I may ask, how long did it take you to feel part of the team?", he asks, even before waiting for the ok.