Xari shakes his head morosely as the drunks he and Caragh had been addressing make unwise choices and chaos overtakes the tavern. He gives a start as Selyne cries out a warning and a tankard flies by his face and knocks the portly man out cold. Out of the corner of his eye, he catches the elven lady then ducking back to cower behind Arthur and shakes his head again in both fondness and exasperation.
I wonder if rich folks ever face consequences for their actions, he muses. Maybe they never do, so their choices are understandable. He has a sudden vivid memory of lying face down, body smashed and bruised and being kicked and spit on, in the mud of the sparring yard by the Amphail guard tower. It had been days before he could walk again. Consequences... not that I won't do my very best to protect my friends from consequences anyway!
He looks apologetically at the drunk merchant (M1) who still stands. "Well, I guess there's only the hard way. I'm sorry about tomorrow's headache."
The Clockwork Amulet hanging from the big man's throat below his armor, the one Orlan had left for him in his study, glows briefly as the big man holds out both large hands before him, one face-up and the other face-down. He never draws a weapon, but the hilt of his greatsword suddenly materializes there, disappearing from his back, flat of the blade whipping around and down towards the temple of the drunk still facing Caragh.
Xari then pivots (Action Surge), ready to sweep the pommel of his greatsword up into the solar plexus of the brawler (P3) behind him, which occurs an instant after Ash the owl flies from his shoulder to flap her wings in the man's face, distracting him, then wings up into the rafters.
Movement: None (or maybe a step if needed to reach M1).
Bonus Action: Summon Weapon (War Bond) - Xari'sgreatsword suddenly appears in his hands without his ever having drawn it.
Action 1: Xari attacks M1non-lethally with the flat of his greatsword, expending the daily charge in his Clockwork Amulet. Greatsword to hit M1: 16 (automatic 10 on die from Clockwork Amulet). Greatsword damage to M1 on a hit: 8 (non-lethal) Graze Weapon Mastery: on a miss, Xari still deals 4 damage to the target.
(Action Surge)
Action 2 and Reaction: Xarireadies a non-lethal attack on P3 with the pommel of his greatsword triggered after Ash's upcoming help (see below). Greatsword to hit P3 (with advantage thanks to Ash'shelp): 24 Greatsword damage to P3 on a hit: 7 (non-lethal) Graze Weapon Mastery: on a miss, Xari still deals 4 damage to the target.
Ash flies from Xari's shoulder into the face of P3, taking the help action for Xari's readied second attack (which it triggers). The little owl then flies up and away, using her Flyby ability to avoid any opportunity attack, into the rafters above Xari's head, attempting to take partial cover (60' fly speed).
The tankard sails over the heads of the other patrons, nailing the drunken rotund merchant squarely between the eyes. He goes crosseyed, and with a groan falls backwards with a thud as the mug clatters to the ground.
In a blur of steel and feathers, Xari's greatsword whirls through the tight space, knocking out two other brawlers.
But the reaction to him pulling the weapon is immediate and visceral. There's a chorus of cries of alarm. One of the men nearest the door(P4), a regular fellow in common clothes, yells out, "HE'S GOT A BLADE OUT!" Before scrambling for the tavern's exit, disappearing through the door onto the street. The atmosphere in the tavern drops like someone yanked the bottom from the room.
A sailor with a scimitar on his hip(P7), who had been advancing with a wolfish grin on his face and sleeves rolled up halts, putting a hand to the hilt and circling around while keeping his distance. "Look around you lad, we're here to wake sore, not wake the Watch." He says lowly, his face now drawn into a more serious grimace.
The tavern is dead silent now, the chaotic energy frozen solid. Around you, you can see it in their faces: not anger at the blow, nor outrage at the injury, but a kind of offended disbelief.
"Shit,"Arthursays under his breath as the greatsword appears in Xari's hand. He should have explained better or hammered the point home more. Casting a brief apologetic look over his shoulder at Selyne, he moves forward with his hands raised in a posture of surrender. "Sorry! Sorry! He didn't mean it!"The noblesays hurriedly as he maneuvers to reach the big man, careful sliding between one of the others who'd stood up for a fight and the bar. "It's his first Fleetswake, he doesn't understand this is just part Waterdhavian celebrations." He shoots Xariana look, a silent plea to stow the weapon. "He meant well, he saw trouble and wanted to stop it quickly. Didn't understand that it was supposed to be fun trouble. Let's just ah...All reset, yeah? I'll buy everyone a round."
(OOC: In case off-turn speech and free actions are allowed - if not, I'll delete.)
"Look around you lad, we're here to wake sore, not wake the Watch."
Xari looks incredulous. "Why don't YOU take your own advice and look around you. These ones I knocked out with the flat and pommel of my blade will be sore when they wake just as you say, NOT bleeding or dead. Same as the one taking a dirt nap from my friend's mug to the head. And your chickenhawk friend's the one who ran to 'wake' the Watch, not me. For ones so eager to brawl, you have delicate sensibilities on it being an improvised club and not a weapon flat that puts you down. I've been beaten near to death by both and it hurt the same when I woke up. But I did wake up."
He thinks: being beaten near to death is no joke. I know - it's why I was trying to stop it. But these same people want to split hairs on HOW it happens?
That being said, once Arthur speaks up, the big man looks apologetic and stows his greatsword, then gamely clenches his fists.
Those still left around the room stare at Xarian like he's grown a second head. The sailor merely shakes his, removing his hand from the hilt of the scimitar. "Mugs and knuckles won't take someone's head off or split them open. S' not a life or death situation here ."
Arthur's plea doesn't quite cut the tension in the room, but the rest of the men more or less stand down. The shock of seeing a greatsword whirled around in the cramped space had already turned this into something more than a simple brawl, something none of them seemed keen on dealing with in the first place. The promise of free drinks and an appeal to ignorance in addition to that was enough to stop further violence.
A few plop down into seats. Another couple go the unconscious men and pull them upright against the wall. The tavern owner and his two servers peer up from over the bar. The owner himself has a conflicted look on his face, a mixture of relief and worry. The sailor turns his gaze from the lumbering giant of a man to the young noble beside him. "Better go get that round and scurry off 'fore the Watch get here lad."
OOC: Typically yes, off-turn speech isn't allowed as it's more or less the Influence action. But we were already dropping out of initiative anyway.
Caraghlooks about as the fighting seems to have come to a sudden halt before she could even take a swing or be swung at. She glances at Xariwith a grin. "That was one way to stop the brawl I guess!" She nimbly tries to pick her way back towards the group's table, still talking to the big man. "You know Waterdeep has laws? Brandishing a sword's likely to get you fined or worse." She picks up her mug of ale and drains whatever is left. "Best get going before the Watch arrives. You need help getting your stuff Selyne? You said you had a room here, right? Probably going to have to abandon it."
She makes sure she has all of her things gathered up, ready to accompany Selyneif she needs help. Otherwise, to make for the exit.
Ayla whips her hair behind her shoulders with a sharp, practiced huff, looking as if she is the one who has just personally restored order. She turns her gaze to the other elf, her lips curling into a rare, genuine grin of approval."I must admit, Selyne, that was a spectacularly aimed tankard. Truly magnificent form. And the sound it made against his skull... almost... musical. Well done."
She doesn't even flinch at the sight of the unconscious bodies. Instead, she looks towards Arthur with a look of pure, smug triumph.
"It would seem 'tis I who won that bet, Mr. Celebrine," she says sweetly, her golden eyes twinkling. "The rounder one definitely lunged first. You'd better have a nice bottle of red - a proper vintage, mind you - ready for me once we reach the villa."
Her expression sours slightly as she looks around the tavern, noting the wide-eyed stares of the patrons and the looks they shoot Xari. She lets out a grumpy little sigh, smoothing a non-existent wrinkle on her silk sleeve. "Although it appears Caragh may be right and our reunion here is to be tragically short-lived. Such a shame I let the errand boy go! He could have helped with the equipment. Now I suppose I shall have to carry my own things like a common traveler."
Delicately, she begins gathering her belongings, scoops up her Talking Doll and tucks it under one arm, clutching her mahogany staff in the other as she prepares to leave with the rest of the party.
Xari looks even more apologetic than before, though only towards his friends. Not at all towards the others in the tavern who seem to ignore that it is just as possible to kill a man, particularly a commoner, with lethal unarmed strikes or improvised weapons as with a sword. He is actually surprised Selyne's thrown mug did not slay the portly commoner instead of knocking him out, as it is tougher to make ranged and thrown attacks non-lethal than melee ones.
Ash the owl lands unperturbed on the crestfallen big man's shoulders as he hangs his head and approaches his companions. His stutter is back.
"I'm r-really sorry... um, Arthur, thank you for... for... I wish I h-hadn't put you in that position. Y-you're right, Caragh. I... I should know the law, I g-guess, but it doesn't make any... make any... oh well. Anyway, S-Selyne, I apologize - I know you wanted the bar brawl but, p-people really do get hurt or even k-killed in those, even without blades or deadly magic. H-happened to me, though not exactly in a tavern. And Ayla... it's okay. I c-can carry your stuff."
Arthurturns slightly to Xarian, lowering his voice. "Don't worry about it. Most of these people haven't been through the things you have. It's just fun to them. I should have warned you sooner something like this might happen, sorry."He turns back to the tavern crowd, backing away towards the bar while fishing in his pouch for two gold coins. "Ah...However much this gets you all, enjoy the drinks!"With a sympathetic glance towards the tavern owner and the servers, he places the coins on the bar top.
"We'll go get Ayla that bottle I owe her, yeah?"He says to his companions as he slowly moves to the door. "Better drinks and less noise sounds good anyway right?"
Seylnebeams at the compliment from her fellow elf, placing her hands on her hips. "I was simply born to do this."
As she walks past Xari to follow Arthuroutside, she pats the large man reassuringly on the shoulder. "Don't worry! I got my good hit in, that's enough for me."
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Xari shakes his head morosely as the drunks he and Caragh had been addressing make unwise choices and chaos overtakes the tavern. He gives a start as Selyne cries out a warning and a tankard flies by his face and knocks the portly man out cold. Out of the corner of his eye, he catches the elven lady then ducking back to cower behind Arthur and shakes his head again in both fondness and exasperation.
I wonder if rich folks ever face consequences for their actions, he muses. Maybe they never do, so their choices are understandable. He has a sudden vivid memory of lying face down, body smashed and bruised and being kicked and spit on, in the mud of the sparring yard by the Amphail guard tower. It had been days before he could walk again. Consequences... not that I won't do my very best to protect my friends from consequences anyway!
He looks apologetically at the drunk merchant (M1) who still stands. "Well, I guess there's only the hard way. I'm sorry about tomorrow's headache."
The Clockwork Amulet hanging from the big man's throat below his armor, the one Orlan had left for him in his study, glows briefly as the big man holds out both large hands before him, one face-up and the other face-down. He never draws a weapon, but the hilt of his greatsword suddenly materializes there, disappearing from his back, flat of the blade whipping around and down towards the temple of the drunk still facing Caragh.
Xari then pivots (Action Surge), ready to sweep the pommel of his greatsword up into the solar plexus of the brawler (P3) behind him, which occurs an instant after Ash the owl flies from his shoulder to flap her wings in the man's face, distracting him, then wings up into the rafters.
Movement: None (or maybe a step if needed to reach M1).
Bonus Action: Summon Weapon (War Bond) - Xari's greatsword suddenly appears in his hands without his ever having drawn it.
Action 1: Xari attacks M1 non-lethally with the flat of his greatsword, expending the daily charge in his Clockwork Amulet.
Greatsword to hit M1: 16 (automatic 10 on die from Clockwork Amulet).
Greatsword damage to M1 on a hit: 8 (non-lethal)
Graze Weapon Mastery: on a miss, Xari still deals 4 damage to the target.
(Action Surge)
Action 2 and Reaction: Xari readies a non-lethal attack on P3 with the pommel of his greatsword triggered after Ash's upcoming help (see below).
Greatsword to hit P3 (with advantage thanks to Ash's help): 24
Greatsword damage to P3 on a hit: 7 (non-lethal)
Graze Weapon Mastery: on a miss, Xari still deals 4 damage to the target.
Ash flies from Xari's shoulder into the face of P3, taking the help action for Xari's readied second attack (which it triggers). The little owl then flies up and away, using her Flyby ability to avoid any opportunity attack, into the rafters above Xari's head, attempting to take partial cover (60' fly speed).
Tanis (Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Barn (Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra (Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest
Joren (Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha (Monk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Quyen (Adept1, ba5ic system): ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord)
Xarian (Fighter3): Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map
21 Ches, 1501 DR — Waterdeep, Dock Ward
The tankard sails over the heads of the other patrons, nailing the drunken rotund merchant squarely between the eyes. He goes crosseyed, and with a groan falls backwards with a thud as the mug clatters to the ground.
In a blur of steel and feathers, Xari's greatsword whirls through the tight space, knocking out two other brawlers.
But the reaction to him pulling the weapon is immediate and visceral. There's a chorus of cries of alarm. One of the men nearest the door(P4), a regular fellow in common clothes, yells out, "HE'S GOT A BLADE OUT!" Before scrambling for the tavern's exit, disappearing through the door onto the street. The atmosphere in the tavern drops like someone yanked the bottom from the room.
A sailor with a scimitar on his hip(P7), who had been advancing with a wolfish grin on his face and sleeves rolled up halts, putting a hand to the hilt and circling around while keeping his distance. "Look around you lad, we're here to wake sore, not wake the Watch." He says lowly, his face now drawn into a more serious grimace.
The tavern is dead silent now, the chaotic energy frozen solid. Around you, you can see it in their faces: not anger at the blow, nor outrage at the injury, but a kind of offended disbelief.
Initiative: Arthur
Mooring Knot Map
"Shit," Arthur says under his breath as the greatsword appears in Xari's hand. He should have explained better or hammered the point home more. Casting a brief apologetic look over his shoulder at Selyne, he moves forward with his hands raised in a posture of surrender. "Sorry! Sorry! He didn't mean it!" The noble says hurriedly as he maneuvers to reach the big man, careful sliding between one of the others who'd stood up for a fight and the bar. "It's his first Fleetswake, he doesn't understand this is just part Waterdhavian celebrations." He shoots Xarian a look, a silent plea to stow the weapon. "He meant well, he saw trouble and wanted to stop it quickly. Didn't understand that it was supposed to be fun trouble. Let's just ah...All reset, yeah? I'll buy everyone a round."
Action - Influence(Persuasion): 15
OOC: Rolled with disadvantage just in case. Roll is the same even if it's flat.
(OOC: In case off-turn speech and free actions are allowed - if not, I'll delete.)
Xari looks incredulous. "Why don't YOU take your own advice and look around you. These ones I knocked out with the flat and pommel of my blade will be sore when they wake just as you say, NOT bleeding or dead. Same as the one taking a dirt nap from my friend's mug to the head. And your chickenhawk friend's the one who ran to 'wake' the Watch, not me. For ones so eager to brawl, you have delicate sensibilities on it being an improvised club and not a weapon flat that puts you down. I've been beaten near to death by both and it hurt the same when I woke up. But I did wake up."
He thinks: being beaten near to death is no joke. I know - it's why I was trying to stop it. But these same people want to split hairs on HOW it happens?
That being said, once Arthur speaks up, the big man looks apologetic and stows his greatsword, then gamely clenches his fists.
Tanis (Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Barn (Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra (Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest
Joren (Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha (Monk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Quyen (Adept1, ba5ic system): ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord)
Xarian (Fighter3): Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map
21 Ches, 1501 DR — Waterdeep, Dock Ward
Those still left around the room stare at Xarian like he's grown a second head. The sailor merely shakes his, removing his hand from the hilt of the scimitar. "Mugs and knuckles won't take someone's head off or split them open. S' not a life or death situation here ."
Arthur's plea doesn't quite cut the tension in the room, but the rest of the men more or less stand down. The shock of seeing a greatsword whirled around in the cramped space had already turned this into something more than a simple brawl, something none of them seemed keen on dealing with in the first place. The promise of free drinks and an appeal to ignorance in addition to that was enough to stop further violence.
A few plop down into seats. Another couple go the unconscious men and pull them upright against the wall. The tavern owner and his two servers peer up from over the bar. The owner himself has a conflicted look on his face, a mixture of relief and worry. The sailor turns his gaze from the lumbering giant of a man to the young noble beside him. "Better go get that round and scurry off 'fore the Watch get here lad."
OOC: Typically yes, off-turn speech isn't allowed as it's more or less the Influence action. But we were already dropping out of initiative anyway.
Caragh looks about as the fighting seems to have come to a sudden halt before she could even take a swing or be swung at. She glances at Xari with a grin. "That was one way to stop the brawl I guess!" She nimbly tries to pick her way back towards the group's table, still talking to the big man. "You know Waterdeep has laws? Brandishing a sword's likely to get you fined or worse." She picks up her mug of ale and drains whatever is left. "Best get going before the Watch arrives. You need help getting your stuff Selyne? You said you had a room here, right? Probably going to have to abandon it."
She makes sure she has all of her things gathered up, ready to accompany Selyne if she needs help. Otherwise, to make for the exit.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard || Iromae Quinaea, Cleric
Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer || Bronnryn Hethgar, Cleric
Ayla whips her hair behind her shoulders with a sharp, practiced huff, looking as if she is the one who has just personally restored order. She turns her gaze to the other elf, her lips curling into a rare, genuine grin of approval. "I must admit, Selyne, that was a spectacularly aimed tankard. Truly magnificent form. And the sound it made against his skull... almost... musical. Well done."
She doesn't even flinch at the sight of the unconscious bodies. Instead, she looks towards Arthur with a look of pure, smug triumph.
"It would seem 'tis I who won that bet, Mr. Celebrine," she says sweetly, her golden eyes twinkling. "The rounder one definitely lunged first. You'd better have a nice bottle of red - a proper vintage, mind you - ready for me once we reach the villa."
Her expression sours slightly as she looks around the tavern, noting the wide-eyed stares of the patrons and the looks they shoot Xari. She lets out a grumpy little sigh, smoothing a non-existent wrinkle on her silk sleeve. "Although it appears Caragh may be right and our reunion here is to be tragically short-lived. Such a shame I let the errand boy go! He could have helped with the equipment. Now I suppose I shall have to carry my own things like a common traveler."
Delicately, she begins gathering her belongings, scoops up her Talking Doll and tucks it under one arm, clutching her mahogany staff in the other as she prepares to leave with the rest of the party.
DM: Hoard of the Dragon Queen Adventure
Xari looks even more apologetic than before, though only towards his friends. Not at all towards the others in the tavern who seem to ignore that it is just as possible to kill a man, particularly a commoner, with lethal unarmed strikes or improvised weapons as with a sword. He is actually surprised Selyne's thrown mug did not slay the portly commoner instead of knocking him out, as it is tougher to make ranged and thrown attacks non-lethal than melee ones.
Ash the owl lands unperturbed on the crestfallen big man's shoulders as he hangs his head and approaches his companions. His stutter is back.
"I'm r-really sorry... um, Arthur, thank you for... for... I wish I h-hadn't put you in that position. Y-you're right, Caragh. I... I should know the law, I g-guess, but it doesn't make any... make any... oh well. Anyway, S-Selyne, I apologize - I know you wanted the bar brawl but, p-people really do get hurt or even k-killed in those, even without blades or deadly magic. H-happened to me, though not exactly in a tavern. And Ayla... it's okay. I c-can carry your stuff."
Tanis (Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Barn (Paladin1): Damian_May's Ereworn Under the Shadow | Lyra (Warlock2/Bard4): VitusW's Silverwood Forest
Joren (Fighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha (Monk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Quyen (Adept1, ba5ic system): ConstancePhokas' Nentir Vale (Discord)
Xarian (Fighter3): Luna_Dust's Marks on the Map
Arthur turns slightly to Xarian, lowering his voice. "Don't worry about it. Most of these people haven't been through the things you have. It's just fun to them. I should have warned you sooner something like this might happen, sorry." He turns back to the tavern crowd, backing away towards the bar while fishing in his pouch for two gold coins. "Ah...However much this gets you all, enjoy the drinks!" With a sympathetic glance towards the tavern owner and the servers, he places the coins on the bar top.
"We'll go get Ayla that bottle I owe her, yeah?" He says to his companions as he slowly moves to the door. "Better drinks and less noise sounds good anyway right?"
Seylne beams at the compliment from her fellow elf, placing her hands on her hips. "I was simply born to do this."
As she walks past Xari to follow Arthur outside, she pats the large man reassuringly on the shoulder. "Don't worry! I got my good hit in, that's enough for me."