Union! Game Thread

Brandt continues to keep his gun up. "If you're reaching for a gun, you better be quick on the draw and you better be able to put a bullet in between the eyes, because if you aren't, your insides are going to be on the walls. Now put your hands back on the counter before you make me do something we both regret. I didn't come here to kill you. If I did, you'd already be dead." And if Mendraxes does the smart thing, Brandt will point his gun away from Mendraxes, but not lower it.

"Doesn't feel good being threatened, does it? You don't seem too experienced, so let me clue you in on something. You don't go around threatening people with big guns, or the people that they like, because that's a really good way to get shot. Someone that's dumber or worse-tempered than I am might decide to skip the talking and just put a bullet in your skull for pissing them off. Violence begets violence, Mendraxes, and if you don't have the guts to stare down the barrel of someone else's rifle, I suggest that you don't go hiring goons that threaten to cut women up. Are we clear?"

At Thia's declaration of poison Corti stands in shock, Could this be the work of one of the generals?  She listens to Thia's analysis, and then speaks up, a little sheepishly, as Thia trails off, "I think you're right about that antitoxin. I can do my best to learn Lesser Restoration, but I'm afraid I've never heard of a bard as fresh as me successfully performing it." 

As she hears the orderly speak, she perks up, "The herbs! Since there was the plan to head out of the city tomorrow anyway, I could keep my eyes out for them, so long as I know what they look like." 

Brandt didn’t want to hurt this idiot, but when he saw the kobold crack a grin and reach for whatever he held behind the counter, he simply had to react.

At Corti's exclamation, Wilfred's eyes turn to Thia: "You were planning to head out of the city? I'm sorry we dragged you into this... But your friend here is right, we might need some ingredients that are rarer than your common garden herbs, and if you could keep a lookout for them outside of the city, that could help tremendously. We now know at least to keep watching for what they eat and drink, to maybe try and prevent further poisonings. But we can't let them know what the cause is yet. if you're willing, I will tell their elders that we suspect some kind of food or water that has gone off, to prevent them from eating and drinking from their usual sources, but so as not to start a panic... or Gods forbid, any revenge actions..."

Brandt: 23

Thia would nod to Corti, then look to Wilfred and nod to him as well, “Yes. We were planning to head out of the city for a couple days. I wanted to ensure that I could be here for support and assist with anything before I left. I was a little worried earlier that we may not be able to make a break in the case, I wouldn’t have left if so. I am thankful that as a team, we have been able to draw a conclusion and formulate a plan to move forward. I believe what you’ve suggested would be the best for the people Wilfred. Thank you. The last thing we’d want is a panic. If you have things under control from here, I will head out tomorrow with Corti.”

She’d look to Corti, “I’m in need of a long rest before we begin our day tomorrow. I may as well rest here and head out to the meeting from here. Of course you are welcomed to stay here as well if you wish.” Thia would smile at her before starting to tidy up the study table. She’d put away any books or tools that she doesn’t expect to need tonight. She will keep out a book or two on herbalism for her and Corti to thumb through before bed to familiarized themselves with the herbs they’ll need to find for the antitoxin. Thia would offer a book to Corti. Making eye contact with her, Thia would exhale letting a long breath leave her, as if nerves and anxiety were leaving her with it. “Thank you for your help. It made a difference today.”

Thia would reach into her pocket, pulling out the silver thread. She’d stare at it, wondering if she’d have time before tomorrow to finalize her project.

Corti returns Thia's smile before taking the book, "I'm just happy that I was of use." Taking a seat in an open chair, she responds, "I suppose I'll stay here. Oh-" She looks up, a little shyly, "I'm glad you're coming with us tomorrow. I would have missed you."

Corti sits back in her chair and looks through the book Thia had given her. After a moment, she looks up, and sees Thia turning over the silver thread in her hand, "What will you use that for?"

“Have you ever heard of a Bag of Holding before Corti?” She’d look up with a smile on her face, “I hope to succeed at creating my own. This was the missing piece I needed.” Thia would pull out her incantation notes that she had written down from her studies.

Corti's eyes light up at Thia's response, "Yes... stories of them. Why, that's incredible!" Corti leans over to look at Thia's notes, and although she can't understand a word of it, she skims it over and marvels at the extent of Thia's artistry. "A Bag of Holding... you are certainly a woman of many talents!" she finishes, beaming.

Thia would smile with redden cheeks from Corti’s excitement. Her energy was always so infectious. “Jack of a few trades perhaps, but a master of none... yet. The life of a tinkerer.” She’d chuckle a little, ”As much as I desire to attempt to create it tonight, I feel as though I’ve reached my metal limits for today.” Thia would tuck the thread back in her pocket for safe keeping. “Tomorrow’s another day.”

Brandt will take a few steps back and take the Dodge action, so that he can give Mendraxes disadvantage and say that Mendraxes shot first and technically be in the right if any guards show up.

Corti grins at Thia's use of the phrase, and then finishes it, chuckling along with her friend, "...but oftentimes better than a master of one." She settles back into her chair and nods, "It certainly is, and it'll be a big one." 

Corti waits until the conversation is over and Thia is clearly getting ready to rest for the night before going into her Sentry's Rest.

As Brandt darts for the door, he catches a glimpse of a large and unwieldy experimental firearm in the hands of the kobold. He takes aim and fires, but Brandt ducks out of the doorway, and is only caught in a shower of splinters left from the impact the shot had with the wooden beam. Focused and ready, Brandt takes in the situation, seeing several bystanders running for cover, terrified at the sound of the firearm.

With the door to the shop behind him, he can see a vendor's cart with a young woman hiding behind, two water barrels in the middle of the road for watering horses with two trembling dwarves nearby, and a couple of crates stacked at the side of a nearby shop, all of which could offer shelter. Beyond that, the street is empty safe for a few dropped groceries and a coupl shattered bottles as people ran for the nearest cover. No guards are in sight.

What would Brandt like to do?

Brandt is able to dodge the Kobold's attack and retaliates with a shot from Mercy. I'm still quick on my feet, let's see if my aim is still as good as it always was.

Attack: 24 Damage: 11

With some distance between himself and the ridiculous absurdity of the large firearm in the hands of the really rather small kobold, Brandt removed the cloth cover from his rifle, and took quick aim. As soon as he saw the kobold lift the gun to fire, he took his shot. The crimson cloud and the loud scream from the kobold told him that he had been successful. He had aimed for the kobold's wrist, as a rifleman with a shattered wrist wasn't able to pull the trigger. Nearing the shop, with his weapon still held out in front, he walked around the counter.

In front of him, in a quickly growing pool of brownish kobold blood, he saw Mendraxes, clutching his shattered hand close to his chest. He was clearly in no state to fight on. "Pl-please, d-d-d-don't k-kill m-m-m-me, all I-I w-wanted w-w-was to g-get you to t-take care of m-m-my rival."

"I understand that, I really do. But then you sent thugs to threaten me and a companion of mine and you pulled a gun on me even after I told you that I had just come to talk. Now, I'm not gonna lie, I messed up your hand pretty bad and there's no guarantee that it'll ever be able to work the way it did before. But, if we can agree to let bygones be bygones, with no more hiring thugs to threaten innocent women and no more shooting, I'll send you to someone I know and we'll see if your hand can't at least be saved. Deal?"

"D-D-Deal. And y-you'll g-get your p-p-parts for f-free, of course." Mendraxes was whimpering, and glad to be alive. At this point, he would probably have said or offered just about anything.

After winding down her conversation with Corti, Thia would have found a clean corner close by the desk to build a 'nest' for the night. She'd curl up with her jacket, hood up, using her bag as a pillow.

Thia would be guilty of sleeping in a little later than usual due to the late night. She'd wake up to the sound of others bustling about, and sit up against the wall to rub the sleep out of her eyes. After a few arm stretches, groans and a lot of blinking, she would pick herself up off the floor to finish off some more morning stretches. Now a little more awake, Thia would take a seat at the desk by Corti and quietly begin organizing her notes. Her attempt at being quiet would soon be interrupted by her growling stomach. She'd reach for some rations to snack on while pouring over her blueprints and incantations.

Corti comes to consciousness a little before Thia, and quietly thumbs through the herbalism books one more time, making sure she knows what to look for. When Thia wakes up Corti waves good morning,  and then slips into the main room of the church to give her some space to get moving. As she steps out she looks around the room to see how the patients and orderlies were doing, and if there were any noticeable new patients.

Tarian winced as daylight pierced through the open window. She pulled tighter under the covers, curled into a warm ball, and a weight atop her shifted, meowed, and walked off. This is my room, not yours, cat. You’re not allowed to complain when I move.

Tarian stretched and slunk out of bed. The morning cold is a different beast from back home. There, it’s brisk. Invigorating. Here, the air just clings to you. It’s not as cold, but this cold has a way of draining the heat out of you. That’s the difference between the sea and the mountains, I guess.

Tarian donned her armor and belted her sword. She looked over her few belongings and considered the day, then grabbed her backpack and upturned its contents all over her bed. It wasn’t much: emergency supplies, mostly, in the case she had to vacate quickly. It wasn’t quite enough for a long mission out of town, though. She took stock of what she had, estimated what she’d need, then shouldered the empty pack and headed downstairs.

Tarian leaned over the counter and set her day’s rent down with a single solid clack. Elise looked up from her woodwork, smoothing the edges of a small chest.

“You’re already set for today. You trying to get ahead on rent?”

Tarian nodded. “Think I might have work beyond Duskrock soon. I just wanted to make sure I’m paid at least through tonight. If I make it back, I’d like to rent that room again.”

Elise absently bobbed her head. “I don’t usually get anyone who wants to rent on the fourth floor, anyway. You’ll probably be fine.”

Tarian stood back up from the counter. “You might if those repairs were finished.” She almost turned to leave before she remembered her promise. “Speaking of which, you know the Hermit’s Bushel in the Souk?”

Elise looked up. “That place run by the flashy red-bearded dwarf? Dannar buys his coffee there.”

“Yeah, well, he had some trouble with some local thugs last night. Busted up his shop a bit. I told him I’d ask if you’d be willing to do some repairs.”

“I can take a look, I suppose. Dannar’s useless before noon without his coffee.”

“Thanks.” Tarian bid her farewells and headed to the Souk.

Shopping is quick when you know where to go and what to buy. Tarian had been through the Souk quite a few times—it was a useful place to gather information—and thus had a decent knowledge of where the things she needed could be found. With her pack now again partly full, she made her way to where Thorbek had told her Marius Villamov had his atelier.