The street lamps are lit, though it's not yet completely dark. It was during that time when the sun is no longer visible, but still daylight existed in the sky itself, casting a heavy bluish hue on everything.
When the party makes it back to the barracks courtyard, where they first left their horses, they find only a few of the Chosen Men. Their backs to the party, as was that of one of the North Midgar Guard.
Coming closer, it was evident that the two present Chosen Men, Hagman and the tiefling woman Ea, and the guardsmen, one whom members of the party had met before, Sergeant York, were all three watching two young human males argue. Even though both had already made it through puberty, they yelled at each other with shrieking voices. It wasn't completely coherent.
"How long are we letting this go?" Sergeant York says. "Depends. Can yours fight?" Hagman replied. "No. Yours?" "He was taught. I cannot say he learned though." Ea added, joining the conversation. All three of them spoke with nothing more than mild amusement and even some pity, in their voices.
The three continued watching, even when Ea looked over her shoulder, only to go back to watching after nodding to the party.
The two young humans were the chaInmailed human from the Chosen Men, Perkins, and a young North Midgar guard clerk, whom the party had had a run-in with previously when he burned down the barracks. After a few more minutes the 'conflict' did in fact get physical, as the two began slapping at each other.
Uthal just looks at the two. "Well this is just pathetic. And now that stupid boy looks even more useless than before, which I didn't think was possible."
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Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisysin Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
Anearis observed the two men "fighting". The boy from the North Midgar Guard seemed to have learned nothing since they had been gone. But seeing the Chosen Man’s representative stoop to the same level was unexpected.
The elf turned his attention towards Hagman and York, trying to convey a "should we stop them?" with his face.
"Human noble nonsense." Ea replied, almost with a touch of disgust in her voice, not just continuing to watch, but glaring at the two boys.
"Unfortunately so. Nobility is a difficult trait to come by among the noble class." Hagman turned towards Anearis. "They come from families with opposing strong beliefs. Regardless of the politics and issue, disagreeing with a noble's beliefs tends to be taken as an offense to their 'honor'."
"Five copper, on mine!" York chimed up. Immediately Hagman turned back. "Done."
They seemed to be intent on letting the scene play out.
Uthal continues his reproachful glance. "That clerk is of noble blood? You'd think they would have taught him to think a bit more, rather than letting him turn into such a disappointment."
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Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisysin Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
Atal rolls his eyes, watching the fight with little interest, though his opinion of York does drop slightly when he bets on The Fool. „See, this is why you shouldn‘t cast aspirations on royalty,“ he says drily to Current - though in a low, weary undertone. „They‘re so much more refined than nobility. Slap fights, or actually murdering people. The two can‘t possibly compare.“
Should the Fool actually look up and spot Atal, Atal is more than willing to have a spell prepared to create the image of a large cube of ice rotating above his ready palm, in order to distract him from his opponent.
York responded to Uthal. "He's the third son of a nobles second wife, or something of the like. Stands to inherit nothing other than a name and ego, and has likely known that his whole life. I'd defend him saying that he may have had it rough, but given the circumstances-" York nods towards the half-constructed building where the main barracks once stood.
"An' Perkins is of royal relations, purely through marriage. Hence why he was assigned as a steward to the Right Hand. Strings pulled in hopes that he'd learn something of value, since he actually will be a Lord some day." Hagman then added. "Right now I'm hoping he'll just learn the value of sense knocked into him."
No sooner had Hagman said that that the clerk's limp-wristed open palm made contact with Perkins' cheek. Both boys stopped and stared in disbelief. Then both hands went towards their swords.
"Whoa, ok. I think that's about enough, lads." The three finally moved to interviene, Ea and Hagman noticeable quicker than York, who was just physically sluggish in general. They pulled the two boys apart, York taking the clerk by the back of his collar and pulling him towards the barracks warehouse door, where the party knew the guard had since set up as the current makeshift barracks. Ea simply held Perkins until he cooled down, she appeared to have to use little effort in doing so.
"You all set then?" Captain Sharpe had entered the courtyard from the same opening as the party. On his horse, seemingly ready to go, H'Aris next to him, mounted and in similar fashion of readiness.
Ea, Hagman, and Perkins went over to where the horses were tied up; bringing the party's horses to them, but considering how many times the party had mounted and dismounted since Lindenfeld, the interaction was more the handing of reigns, rather than the assistance of seating.
The gate was visible from the street as the party left the North Midgar barracks courtyard, the block of buildings being immediately next to the city wall. It was a short trot, but Sharpe and the other Chosen Men still saw the party the entire way there, moving aside at the gate to allow them tobpass through. "The horses are rested, so they should be able to get you started, rather than waiting until daybreak. Just follow the northern road; there's a hunter's lodge that you should be able to reach before midnight. Not much, but it will give you a bit of a start."
Nodding to the city guard, the gate was opened. Since there were no lanterns outside the wall, with the diminishing light, the members of the party without darkvision would have to wait for their eyes to adjust and produce shapes. However, sitting some thirty feet from the gate was a single horse pulling a two-wheeled cart. Sitting side by side in this cart, which was obvious from the sight not made to be wide enough for two people across, sat Nik and Nack.
"Ay, girly! It's us!" Nack shouted, waving to the party. Nick spoke as well. "Yes, it's TIK and TACK. The guides you hired. We're ready to go."
It was evident that for likely the same reason the duo had had the party meetbthem outside the city walls was likely the same reason for Nik to provide aliases, even if they weren't exactly a stretch.
"Let's get on with it." Austin said, nudging her horse forward even before her eyes had adjusted to the darkness. "I'd like to get to this shelter and out of this darkness as soon as we can. Traveling at night is never a good idea when neither you nor your horse can see much past the end of your nose." She gives a short nod in the direction of the cart, though can likely not see much of the two dwarfs there. Recognizing their voices is enough for her though. "Boys, seems we are seeking out a shelter we can reach in a couple of hours, you two ready to head out?"
Anearis readies his horse to move out of the city, but turns to the Right Hand’s representative one last time. Its expression is hard to read. He seems reluctant to get the words out.
‘’For what it is worth, I hope we meet again. At the very least, it will mean the world will not yet be swallowed by darkness. But if we fail, I hope your plan is not simply to throw more adventurers to their deaths.’’, he says dryly.
Nik tried avoiding eye contract with Sharpe or any of the other Chosen Men, even though being human, the Captain was unable to see much other than shadowy shapes in the dark. Still, he watched the dwarfs as, the party led through the gate to meet them.
"If you fail, I doubt there'll be anyone left to throw." He responded to Anearis, as the North Midgar Guard closed the gate door behind the group.
Outside the city walls, a chilling breeze blew by the party. An orangish glow of lanterns and street lamps shown over the wall, but other than lamps lit by the party and their pair of guides, the only other lights were far in the distance. The buildings that existed outside the wall, the storehouses and raw material staging area (were the party had previously deposited of empty crates that they used as a ploy) and the charred remains of a religious house, were all dark and silent. Lifeless as seemingly no one was around to concern themselves with any of it.
"Since tha hunting lodge is the only thing nearby, I'm assuming that's where we're going. We're ready if you are." Nik said, regularly looking over his shoulder, southward along the wall.
"Ugh, being apprehended and pressed into the service by the Hand. What a way to ruin an otherwise pleasant city for me," Atal grumbles when they're further down the road. "We didn't even get a chance to go to the Maiden's Bossom and have a nice bath." Shaking his head to clear it of the experience, he grins at the two dwarves. "So what've you two been up to since we last met? I haven't managed to get my revenge on that Viggo fellow yet, though I'm thinking we're going in the right direction to cross paths and blades with him again."
Even as he speaks, Atal keeps a wary eye out as they make their way down the road, looking for any potential ambushers or even the standard fodder of highwaymen. The Jump Scare Perception Check: 21
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Austin continues along, following where the others go.
Current follows Atal's lead, making a mental note of the two dwarf's names, although she doesn't quite know which one is which yet.
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
The street lamps are lit, though it's not yet completely dark. It was during that time when the sun is no longer visible, but still daylight existed in the sky itself, casting a heavy bluish hue on everything.
When the party makes it back to the barracks courtyard, where they first left their horses, they find only a few of the Chosen Men. Their backs to the party, as was that of one of the North Midgar Guard.
Coming closer, it was evident that the two present Chosen Men, Hagman and the tiefling woman Ea, and the guardsmen, one whom members of the party had met before, Sergeant York, were all three watching two young human males argue. Even though both had already made it through puberty, they yelled at each other with shrieking voices. It wasn't completely coherent.
"How long are we letting this go?" Sergeant York says. "Depends. Can yours fight?" Hagman replied. "No. Yours?" "He was taught. I cannot say he learned though." Ea added, joining the conversation. All three of them spoke with nothing more than mild amusement and even some pity, in their voices.
The three continued watching, even when Ea looked over her shoulder, only to go back to watching after nodding to the party.
The two young humans were the chaInmailed human from the Chosen Men, Perkins, and a young North Midgar guard clerk, whom the party had had a run-in with previously when he burned down the barracks. After a few more minutes the 'conflict' did in fact get physical, as the two began slapping at each other.
Uthal just looks at the two. "Well this is just pathetic. And now that stupid boy looks even more useless than before, which I didn't think was possible."
Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisys in Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
Anearis observed the two men "fighting". The boy from the North Midgar Guard seemed to have learned nothing since they had been gone. But seeing the Chosen Man’s representative stoop to the same level was unexpected.
The elf turned his attention towards Hagman and York, trying to convey a "should we stop them?" with his face.
"What is this even about?"
"Human noble nonsense." Ea replied, almost with a touch of disgust in her voice, not just continuing to watch, but glaring at the two boys.
"Unfortunately so. Nobility is a difficult trait to come by among the noble class." Hagman turned towards Anearis. "They come from families with opposing strong beliefs. Regardless of the politics and issue, disagreeing with a noble's beliefs tends to be taken as an offense to their 'honor'."
"Five copper, on mine!" York chimed up. Immediately Hagman turned back. "Done."
They seemed to be intent on letting the scene play out.
Uthal continues his reproachful glance. "That clerk is of noble blood? You'd think they would have taught him to think a bit more, rather than letting him turn into such a disappointment."
Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisys in Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
Atal rolls his eyes, watching the fight with little interest, though his opinion of York does drop slightly when he bets on The Fool. „See, this is why you shouldn‘t cast aspirations on royalty,“ he says drily to Current - though in a low, weary undertone. „They‘re so much more refined than nobility. Slap fights, or actually murdering people. The two can‘t possibly compare.“
Should the Fool actually look up and spot Atal, Atal is more than willing to have a spell prepared to create the image of a large cube of ice rotating above his ready palm, in order to distract him from his opponent.
York responded to Uthal. "He's the third son of a nobles second wife, or something of the like. Stands to inherit nothing other than a name and ego, and has likely known that his whole life. I'd defend him saying that he may have had it rough, but given the circumstances-" York nods towards the half-constructed building where the main barracks once stood.
"An' Perkins is of royal relations, purely through marriage. Hence why he was assigned as a steward to the Right Hand. Strings pulled in hopes that he'd learn something of value, since he actually will be a Lord some day." Hagman then added. "Right now I'm hoping he'll just learn the value of sense knocked into him."
No sooner had Hagman said that that the clerk's limp-wristed open palm made contact with Perkins' cheek. Both boys stopped and stared in disbelief. Then both hands went towards their swords.
"Whoa, ok. I think that's about enough, lads." The three finally moved to interviene, Ea and Hagman noticeable quicker than York, who was just physically sluggish in general. They pulled the two boys apart, York taking the clerk by the back of his collar and pulling him towards the barracks warehouse door, where the party knew the guard had since set up as the current makeshift barracks. Ea simply held Perkins until he cooled down, she appeared to have to use little effort in doing so.
"You all set then?" Captain Sharpe had entered the courtyard from the same opening as the party. On his horse, seemingly ready to go, H'Aris next to him, mounted and in similar fashion of readiness.
"Ready enough," Atal said, looking a bit like he wished he'd joined Nik and Nack after the two boys' display.
"Let's get on with it." Austin agrees with a nod. She was not at all concerned about the noble brats and their squabbles, so is ready to move out.
Ea, Hagman, and Perkins went over to where the horses were tied up; bringing the party's horses to them, but considering how many times the party had mounted and dismounted since Lindenfeld, the interaction was more the handing of reigns, rather than the assistance of seating.
The gate was visible from the street as the party left the North Midgar barracks courtyard, the block of buildings being immediately next to the city wall. It was a short trot, but Sharpe and the other Chosen Men still saw the party the entire way there, moving aside at the gate to allow them tobpass through. "The horses are rested, so they should be able to get you started, rather than waiting until daybreak. Just follow the northern road; there's a hunter's lodge that you should be able to reach before midnight. Not much, but it will give you a bit of a start."
Nodding to the city guard, the gate was opened. Since there were no lanterns outside the wall, with the diminishing light, the members of the party without darkvision would have to wait for their eyes to adjust and produce shapes. However, sitting some thirty feet from the gate was a single horse pulling a two-wheeled cart. Sitting side by side in this cart, which was obvious from the sight not made to be wide enough for two people across, sat Nik and Nack.
Her eyes still adjusting to the darkness, Current turns to the shape of the cart that she can see and calls out quietly, "Nik? Nack? Is that you?"
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
"Ay, girly! It's us!" Nack shouted, waving to the party. Nick spoke as well. "Yes, it's TIK and TACK. The guides you hired. We're ready to go."
It was evident that for likely the same reason the duo had had the party meetbthem outside the city walls was likely the same reason for Nik to provide aliases, even if they weren't exactly a stretch.
"Let's get on with it." Austin said, nudging her horse forward even before her eyes had adjusted to the darkness. "I'd like to get to this shelter and out of this darkness as soon as we can. Traveling at night is never a good idea when neither you nor your horse can see much past the end of your nose." She gives a short nod in the direction of the cart, though can likely not see much of the two dwarfs there. Recognizing their voices is enough for her though. "Boys, seems we are seeking out a shelter we can reach in a couple of hours, you two ready to head out?"
Current nods and voices a short agreement in response to Austin's statement.
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
Anearis readies his horse to move out of the city, but turns to the Right Hand’s representative one last time. Its expression is hard to read. He seems reluctant to get the words out.
‘’For what it is worth, I hope we meet again. At the very least, it will mean the world will not yet be swallowed by darkness. But if we fail, I hope your plan is not simply to throw more adventurers to their deaths.’’, he says dryly.
Nik tried avoiding eye contract with Sharpe or any of the other Chosen Men, even though being human, the Captain was unable to see much other than shadowy shapes in the dark. Still, he watched the dwarfs as, the party led through the gate to meet them.
"If you fail, I doubt there'll be anyone left to throw." He responded to Anearis, as the North Midgar Guard closed the gate door behind the group.
Outside the city walls, a chilling breeze blew by the party. An orangish glow of lanterns and street lamps shown over the wall, but other than lamps lit by the party and their pair of guides, the only other lights were far in the distance. The buildings that existed outside the wall, the storehouses and raw material staging area (were the party had previously deposited of empty crates that they used as a ploy) and the charred remains of a religious house, were all dark and silent. Lifeless as seemingly no one was around to concern themselves with any of it.
"Since tha hunting lodge is the only thing nearby, I'm assuming that's where we're going. We're ready if you are." Nik said, regularly looking over his shoulder, southward along the wall.
"Then lets go." Austin says and prepares to have her horse follow whoever takes the lead.
"Ugh, being apprehended and pressed into the service by the Hand. What a way to ruin an otherwise pleasant city for me," Atal grumbles when they're further down the road. "We didn't even get a chance to go to the Maiden's Bossom and have a nice bath." Shaking his head to clear it of the experience, he grins at the two dwarves. "So what've you two been up to since we last met? I haven't managed to get my revenge on that Viggo fellow yet, though I'm thinking we're going in the right direction to cross paths and blades with him again."
Even as he speaks, Atal keeps a wary eye out as they make their way down the road, looking for any potential ambushers or even the standard fodder of highwaymen.
The Jump Scare Perception Check: 21