Pulling Stitches
Log Info
- Title: Pulling Stitches
- Emitter: Knightmare
- Characters: Seyardu, Paenitia
- Place: H03: Eldwyn Road
- Time: Thursday, May 06, 2021, 10:17 PM
- Summary: Paenitia and Seyardu are contracted to search for a bard friend of two twins, who was kidnapped. Investigating along the Eldwyn road, they find an ambush site and follow the trail into the woods to a bandit camp. Deciding that boldness is the best approach, Paenitia flies on Ramirez into the middle of the camp and orders the bandits to stand down. They don't. Battle ensues, and Seyardu successfully restrains one of the archers. The other bandits, meanwhile, attack the Lucht Knight and discover that she, and her peacock-andalusian hippogryph, are very hard targets. They are bloodily taken down, with Paenitia challening and defeating their leader while Seyardu wrestles and restrains an archer, then frees the captive. Once the battle is won, the pair treat the wounds, then go to get the guards.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--<* H03: Eldwyn Road *>--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
The Eldwyn Road meanders continuously around hills, wilderness, and farmland, though it is occasionally broken by fingerlets from the great Tornmawr. At one point, the road crosses the Tornmawr itself, which takes place by use of a ferry.
Further east and past the ferry are the great Redridge Mountains. These mountains, which run mostly north and south, charge through the landscape, and even through the eastern end of the Lord's City of Alexandria.
Towards the south is the city, with its flags rising far above the walls. The fiery Rising Phoenix almost glows in the sunlight and airships may be seen both in flight and in dock, as they make use of a carefully sculpted section of the Redridge.
Towards the north, the landscape of rolling hills and farmland breaks into denser forest.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Appearing, in Order -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Paenitia 3'0" 34 Lb Halfling Female A Lucht knight, dark skinned in bold feathery finery. Seyardu 5'6" 150 Lb Sith-Makar Female A friendly silver sith-makar with a perpetual squint. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Noteable NPCs -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Liatris Vorhearst Human Female A bard, daughter of a Baetriov Vampire -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- As the GM -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Knightmare 6'4" 294 Lb War Golem Female A knightly construct on the hoof bearing heraldry of lost Dragonier. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
There's been a request put forth at the Guild through the usual channels. Some preference was put toward certain members for familiarity with the particulars, but they've been unavailable for a variety of reasons, and so, they've reached out to others.
Lucky you.
You were met at the Flashing Blade Inn in the town of Greenholme by a brother and sister who look like they've been through it, though as they are feverish in the wake of their troubles, you had been taken up to the room the pair are sequestered. The sister, broader of shoulder, is nonetheless no better prepared for battle than her nimble seeming brother, the two almost mummified in bandages, and just shy of bedridden.
They spoke of their friend, a troubled young woman who must have been born under an ill fated star. They touched lightly upon their friend struggling to redeem herself for greater sins than the woman herself was responsible for, herself.
How they three had ridden out to answer some bandits who'd been hounding the town for some weeks. The ambush that laid them low, with their friend, Liatris being dragged off into the night by the bandits.
Which brings the adventurers here, a copse of trees where the ambush occurred. Blood has dried in plenty, and the impressions of several absent bodies indicate the twins and their friend had accounted reasonably well for themselves, and signs of the struggling bard being dragged off to the west. The fletchings of several quarrels poking from the odd tree here and there.
One of the assembled adventurers is a dark-skinned Lucht Siuil. A knight, one would presume, from her armour and mount, confirmed by her introduction as 'Sister Paenitia Snapdragon del Harana, Knight of the Pillar and Paladina of Tarien' to the twins.
The Knights of the Pillar are known to be a little on the outlandish, outlaw side of society. Revolutionaries who protect the peasants and strike at corrupt rulers. In addition to her red coat, red hat, and rusted armour, Paenitia wears a mask with an exagerated man's smiling face. The dark curls of her hair bustle right up to its edges.
And she rides a horse-sized peacock. A hippogryph, with ivory feathers and tail-train a good fifteen feet behind it, as if he comes with his own cart. She leans in her saddle, looking down at the blood, then at her fellow adventurer. "The signs show to the west. Do you track?"
The sith-makar had been seeking more work in the city to aid others, and it was not long before she found herself at the adventurer's guild. Having her own trouble with bandits, and the plight that had befallen the small group led her to the area as well. While she wanted to aid the two, it was more important to deal with their missing companion while time was still potentially on their side.
"I am afraid that I have never been good at tracking. It's hard enough to tell where the blood is here." The other adventurer replies, a short by her races standards, but still tall sith'makar, clad in leather armor with a polished metal breastplate, shield strapped to one arm and a warhammer on her belt. She investigates some of the crossbow ammunition lodged into one of trees as she speaks. "I am sorry to say, but it may be best for you to see where we would be going. But I will do my best to assist you with that matter where I am able."
GAME: Paenitia rolls perception: (13)+4: 17 GAME: Seyardu rolls perception: (18)+3: 21 <OOC> Knightmare says, "wisdom or survival to follow the trail" GAME: Paenitia rolls wisdom: (4)+2: 6 GAME: Seyardu rolls wisdom: (7)+3: 10
"I do my best to follow the trail. Ramirez! Onward." The Red Knight declares. Her peacock-andalusian immediately starts off in the wrong direction. The trees are further apart, it's easier for him to pass between them.
"No, Ramirez, that is not the way. This is the way." Paenitia directs.
'Ruuaaahh!' Ramirez objects, but changes course as commanded. Paenitia leans over, holding onto the saddle and following the drag marks.
"If you will follow the trail, I will as well." The sith'makar replies with a nod and what appeared to be a thumbs up, before she continued nearby on the path, once the cavalier was able to move in the proper orientation. She was slow in her movements, either methodical or just careful, but able to pick up a few areas of note as a result.
GAME: Paenitia rolls perception: (18)+4: 22 GAME: Paenitia rolls knowledge/military theory: (10)+7: 17 GAME: Seyardu rolls perception: (5)+3: 8
There are signs of relocated shrubbery ahead, the underbrush density a little ways up gets dense too abruptly to be natural. That's probably the boundry of an encampment, with that much deliberation, and the crossbow quarrels at the ambush sight, it's not unreasonable to assume the bandits might have some set up to cover the entrance.
"We halt." Paenitia says, holding her hand up abruptly, but keeping her voice low. She leans closer to Seyardu and points further ahead, "Look the shrubberies, they are too close for how they grow around here. It can be boundary for encampment. The desperados may be here."
She examines the trees carefully, shifting her head frequently to better see past her mask. "To sneak in is possible, or we challenge direct. I think the sneak would be better plan, to see what we face. The lookouts and the guards are very likely now."
The sith'makar stopped, nodding back to Paenitia and stepping closer to where she was so their voices did not carry as much, still sniffing at the air as she went. "Smells like a camp, and possibly those we are looking for, given the area. At the very least, a better view of what we are up against is a sound plan. But I do not know how well I would be able to sneak into the actual camp, however. Give word though, and I will steel you for a fight, should it come to that."
Paenitia nods, staring at Seyardu, her masculine mask an odd, fixed grin. She sounds very amused when she says, "It is ok. Hide behind Ramirez, and they will not see you because they will be looking at the giant peacock. Except they will not see Ramirez, because he hides so well."
Ramirez nods as she says this, either in agreement or as a trick she has trained him to perform. At least one part of her suggestion is true, a horse-sized white peacock is hard to overlook in a verdant forest.
"That is true. I may very well just blend in amongst the feathers with my scales." Seyardu replies with just a hint of a grin, a mask unnecessary. "I would like to avoid killing them if at all possible, but I would rather not risk your life or that of the person we have come here seeking. So if it is not possible, I will be alright. I will be ready to move when you are."
<OOC> Paenitia says, "Stealth Synergy, cavalier tactical." GAME: Paenitia rolls stealth: (19)+8: 27 GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+3: (13)+3: 16 GAME: Seyardu rolls stealth: (2)+0: 2 <OOC> Paenitia says, "So: Paenitia 27, Ramirez 22, Seyardu 19" GAME: Knightmare rolls 1d20-2: (13)+-2: 11 GAME: Knightmare rolls 1d20-2: (5)+-2: 3 GAME: Knightmare rolls 1d20+5: (6)+5: 11 GAME: Knightmare rolls 1d20+5: (1)+5: 6 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Knightmare rolls 1d20+2: (7)+2: 9
The camp is, all told, about 60 feet wide, and probably 120 long, roughly ovoid. There are several lean-toos set in a rough rhombus, and of the dozen tents, six are apparantly occupied with moaning wounded.
There is a campfire going, two men, one in studded leather with daggers tending to the shishkabobs in progress, while another, in a long brigandine overcoat is cleaning a thunderbelcher whilst sitting on a log.
Further in, there is a blonde woman in expensive, if weathered chainmail and a longbow kicking sand into the face of another, red haired, who is bound with her arms behind her back if her posture is any indication. Her face is bloodied, and her sunburned flesh is blotched with ugly bruises.
Closer to the entrance, emerging from one of the moaning tends is another woman in chain, who takes up the bow stood outside the flap and she calls, "Ziglr's had it."
This news gets the bound woman's head yanked up by the hair by the blonde and punched with a sharp, "Bitch!"
If the redhead makes a sound, it's hard to pick up.
GAME: Paenitia rolls perception: (15)+4: 19 GAME: Seyardu rolls perception: (20)+3: 23
The redhead has a rope with a constrictor knot around her throat, and most of the blood on her face is near her mouth"
"On my honour, I cannot watch a damsel suffer. I must intervene." Paenitia whispers to Seyardu, "and offer quarter. Be quick with the spells. Ramirez and I will make the approach, try to free Liatris."
"There are three that I can see immediately with weapons for striking at range. But I agree. Two with bows and one with one of those artificer, things." she notes quickly and quietly, already placing one hand on the cavalier's weapon once she worked through the feathers to do so. "I agree, there are many compared to us. It may be wise to rescue the bard first, and possibly retreat. I will do that."
GAME: Paenitia rolls intimidate+3: (9)+7+3: 19
The Red Knight holds her lance low, to allow the silver Sith'makar to temporarily enchant it. She's all smiles as she's a magic glow surround it. Of course, her mask is always smiling. Adjusting her shield, she settles herself, small yet determined on fanciful steed.
"Ramirez, to the ready!" She orders, squeezing with her knees. The peacock-andalusian leaps forward, part gallop, part glide. He explodes out of the forest like an avalanche of Yetis. White, wings wide, talons open, he lands in the bandit camp.
Paenitia sets her lance point towards the Thunderbelcher owner, braced, and announces, "Do not touch the trigger. I am Sister Paenitia Snapdragon del Harana, Knight of the Pillar and Paladina of Tarien. I am here for the damsel and do not wish to shed blood. I offer the option of surrender and will accept quarter, you have my word."
GAME: Knightmare rolls cmb: (15)+6: 21 GAME: Seyardu rolls cmb: (20)+3: 23
While Paenitia leapt into the fray, ahead of the sith'makar, so too did Seyardu charge in, with a few strikes to her shield. She rushes the woman who left the tent, seeking to restrain her while the cavalier took most of the attention. "They speak true. Surrender yourselves now, and there is no need for more bloodshed." She shouts.
One guy hesitates, the other one is going to move and draw a dagger.
<OOC> Knightmare says, "paenitia, you have reach, so he provokes as he moves in" GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon8+1: (16)+5+1: 22 GAME: Paenitia rolls damage8+1: aliased to 1d6+1+1: (3)+1+1: 5 GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+4: (10)+4: 14 (Ramirez Beak) GAME: Knightmare rolls 1d20+4: (16)+4: 20
The bound woman, granted a moment's reprieve by the stunning arrival of the mounted feathered fury blinks past her assailant with an eye starting to swell shut and, "hmmmmph?" Up close, the Knight can see the blaggards have stifled the bard's expression through crude needlecraft.
Fiends!
One of those, an Eldnar thug who's river like scar twists his lips into a groteqsue sneer, rushes from the campfire to try and lay into the dusky halfling with a jagged dagger, partaking deeply of her lance in the doing, though her shield diverts his paltry weapon.
The musketeer had lost some color as the thousand pounds of furious fluffy whiteness and armored resolve suddenly bore down on him, his hands freezing over the Thunderbelcher.
Oh, wait, no, no, there it is, spreading along the leg of his trousers, clearly trying to flee. It may be on to something, there.
GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon8+1: (2)+5+1: 8 GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+4: (13)+4: 17 (Ramirez Beak) GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+4: (12)+4: 16 (Ramirez Claw) GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+4: (18)+4: 22 (Ramirez Claw) GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d6+3: (5)+3: 8 GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d4+3: (4)+3: 7 GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d4+3: (3)+3: 6 <OOC> Knightmare says, "he is... making feeble gurgly noises"
"Do not!" Paenitia says, as the Eldnar thug lunges at her, her shield saving the Dark Lucht. She struggles to pull her lance back for a second stab at him. The angle is poor. She misses.
'RUAAAAH!' Ramirez is terror of claw and beak. He snaps at the man, ripping along the scar as if it's a zipper to remove his face, followed by his talons that land with the full thousand pound plus weight of an andalusian horse. They tear through the man's body, leaving him making feeble, gurgling noises.
Blood splashes up onto the ivory feathers, matching the hippogryphs crown and tail-spots. He snorts decisively.
"This will be your end. Do not test us. Flee, fight with honour or parlay, but the sneak, this gets the ignoble death." The Red Knight warns. Her mask has such a happy grin.
GAME: Seyardu rolls cmb+5: (17)+3+5: 25
With the sudden flurry of movement and chaos of the combat, Seyardu manages to get a claw on the archer leaving the tent, and in a followup movement, sweeps a leg, sending her down to the ground. then follows the archer to the ground, keeping her restrained for the moment, but shield still raised towards the threats that remained.
"It is not too late. You have wounded. Lay down your arms, and we can bring you into town for treatment. I swear on my word I will treat you fairly." She shouts to those who remain in the camp.
<OOC> Knightmare says, "ok, she is going to draw her longbow and try to shoot pae" GAME: Knightmare rolls 1d20+8: (19)+8: 27 GAME: Knightmare rolls 1d8+4: (1)+4: 5 GAME: Gigi damaged you for 5 points. 27 HP remaining.
The blonde, eyes widening wetly in rage screams, "MEYBUR, NO!" and, quick as a wink, she's somehow gotten the longbow fro around her shoulders aligned, nocked and drawn, only to loose a shaft of hate into the halfling, "I'LL KILL YOU!"
GAME: Knightmare rolls +5: (18)++5: 23 GAME: Seyardu rolls Diplomacy: (9)+7: 16
Meanwhile, the other bowwoman, currently tangled up in silver limbs with a Sith breathing calming words in her face, wiggles fitfully with a, "Damnit! Lemmego!" and, as she is unsuccessful in getting loose, cries, "Gah!"
<OOC> Knightmare says, "ok, liatris is going to try and trip the bow woman shooting at pae" GAME: Knightmare rolls 1d20+2: (10)+2: 12
Seeing her chance, the redhead, left eye trailing tears and swollen near to useless, rolls onto her hip with a little 'hmmph!" and swings her legs out to try and trip the archer, though she doesn't even make contact. Probably due to her depth perception being wonky.
<OOC> Knightmare says, "Ferg, fight or freeze, high/low" GAME: Knightmare rolls 1d100: (51): 51 <OOC> Knightmare says, "ok, he's going to pick up the weapon, move action. 5' back, then move action again to load"
Ferg, astounded, if emboldened by the support fire of the blonde, pushes off of the log with thunderbelcher in hand, starting his withdraw to get just that little bit more time to get the chamber filled.
Ram it home.
Up it comes...
Chick-CHCK-!
<OOC> Paenitia says, "okay, Ferg has picked up his Thunderbelcher and is loading it, so charge him" <OOC> Paenitia says, "so thats a +4 and no AC penalty," GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon8+1+4: (13)+5+1+4: 23 GAME: Paenitia rolls damage8: aliased to 1d6+1: (5)+1: 6 GAME: Paenitia rolls damage8: aliased to 1d6+1: (6)+1: 7 GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+4+2: (10)+4+2: 16 (Ramirez Bite) GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d6+3: (6)+3: 9 <OOC> Knightmare says, "you wound him badly on the charge. ramirez puts him soundly into gurgly territory"
"Mnff!" Paenitia makes a small squeak of pain as the arrow of hate finds her. She inhales sharply, then laughs dramatically, "Try harder my friend."
Then, Ferg makes a decision he may not live to regret. He steps back, loading and readying his Thunderbelcher.
"Ramirez!" It's all the command the peacock-andalusian needs. They surge forward as one, Paenitia sinking into her saddle and bracing herself for impact. She strikes true, the force rocking up the lance, making her wince. The weapon pierces deeply, pushing Ferg off balance. Enough that Ramirez follows with a viscious peck to the neck.
Any retort he might make is lost in his gurgling.
<OOC> Seyardu says, "I can take an item out of my bag right? What action would that be?" <OOC> Seyardu says, "in order to take rope to restrain the pinned person" <OOC> Knightmare says, "ok, so that becomes a dc 23 for her to escape"
The silver sith'makar remained with her shield arm keeping the archer pinned, while her other fished around quickly in her bag, pulling out a length of rope and swiftly tying the figure until she could no longer mover, a bit rough in the execution and movements in her haste. Sith'makar could be hard to read in most circumstances, and this was no exception, perhaps to her detriment as she looked to the now two bloodied figures.
"There are now two injured by the fire as well as those in the tents. Please lay down your weapons and come peacefully. I will have no time to tend to them otherwise." She says, in the same tone.
The blonde woman, seeing, even through her rage, how untennable her situation is, falls back to the vilest aspects of her nature: Victimizing the helpless to better her own position. She turns to Liatris, grabbing a handful of the bard's hair and hauls her bodily forward on her knees with a tight whimper through her cruelly sealed lips, one that cuts off into fitful choking as the rope at her throat goes taut.
That done, the bandita tries to run, leaving her victim effectively en garrotte.
GAME: Knightmare rolls 1d20+5: (1)+5: 6 (EPIC FAIL)
The other archer, deftly trussed up in nearly so thorough a state as the choking captive, though in a significantly more humane manner cries out, "Gigi, you bitch, don't leave me like this!" Somehow, her fitful squirming worsens her position. She might be worried about her fingers later.
GAME: Knightmare rolls 1d20+2: (7)+2: 9
Barely able to make a sound, and face darkening to a rose hude from the constriction of her throat, Liatris wiggles and squirms, trying to loosen the tension on her leash, but for naught. The knot only moves one way, and so locked, continues to serve it's dark purpose.
<OOC> Paenitia says, "I'll ask Seyardu to deal with Liatris' rope, swift to challenge Gigi, then charge her" <OOC> Paenitia says, "if she attacks anything other than me, I get a bonus to hit her." <OOC> Paenitia says, "a +1, the challenge also does my cav levels in extra damage, so +3" <OOC> Paenitia nods, and there's a -2 AC to everyone else GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon8+1+4: (18)+5+1+4: 28 GAME: Paenitia rolls damage8+3: aliased to 1d6+1+3: (5)+1+3: 9 GAME: Paenitia rolls damage8+3: aliased to 1d6+1+3: (3)+1+3: 7 GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+4+2: (15)+4+2: 21 (Ramirez Bite) <OOC> Knightmare says, "mounted charge, that's doubled" GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d6+3: (2)+3: 5
"Seyardu! See to the rope." Paenitia calls, wheeling Ramirez about and lowering her lance. She still sounds cheerful, perhaps even a little insane.
"You do not flee this fight, Gigi. You will fight me. You like the forced smiles, you will see mine, so close. Like a noose on your neck."
Challenge and threat issued, the Red Knight spurs her Ivory Steed into a charge. They thunder after the fleeing archer. As before, the bloody lance tip strikes and pierces deep into the body. Blood spurts up the shaft.
Ramirez is next, snapping at her shoulders, biting hard enough to stagger the woman, leaving her mauled, but still kicking.
GAME: Seyardu rolls heal: (13)+7: 20
Fortunately, that the the rope isn't completely cutting off her blood flow. It's definately strangling her. It's probably necessary to cut it off, but if she panics and squirms it may end up making things dangerous for her.
"Please stay down. I will not have time to tend to the others if you try to get up." The sith'makar says in their calm tone as she leaves the bound archer on the ground, before sprinting over to where the captive was bound and choking. She quickly looks her over, and continues just as calmly as before. "Relax, we are here to help. Just steady your breathing, and do not move too much. I will have that rope off in a moment." she reassures. "Give me a moment and I will take care of it."
GAME: Knightmare rolls 1d20+6: (14)+6: 20 <OOC> Paenitia says, "yes, Ramirez only has AC16, 14 now because of charge" <OOC> Paenitia says, "I might be allowed to do a Ride check to help him dodge it" GAME: Knightmare rolls 1d8+3: (6)+3: 9 <OOC> Paenitia says, "okay, rolling ride +6 to counter ACP" GAME: Paenitia rolls ride+6: (13)+3+6: 22
Gigi, the brigand, cries out in agony as she is pierced through by the halfling's lance, scored deeply by the hippogryph's razored beak. But, as flight is clearly not an option while the little knight is mounted, the blonde shrugs her spear from her shoulder and tries to embed it in the proud steed. It is a fine, well trained thrust, but avails her naught, for the rider's deft reinwork turns calamity into empty air, into ashes for her hopes of escape on foot.
The bards struggles continue some as the Sith reaches her, but her steady tone, her even cadence give her pause. Her good eye opens, brows knit imploringly as tears turn her sandy veneer into mud in wavy streaks down her face. Still, in her posture, what freedom her bonds allow to it, tells the tale that helplessly staring into the Grey Lady's embrace is not an entirel new experience.
There is a very faint nod. Her eyes close. She nods again.... and waits.
<OOC> Paenitia says, "so attack and Ramirez Full attack, I'll have the +1, since she struck at him" GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon8+1+1: (7)+5+1+1: 14 GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+4: (12)+4: 16 (Ramirez Beak) GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+4: (9)+4: 13 (Ramirez Claw) GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+4: (12)+4: 16 (Ramirez Claw)
Spear against Lance! Paenitia guides Ramirez in the deadly dance, helping him dodge the incoming blow, then tucking the lance haft tight under her arm to thrust once more at Gigi. She misses.
Ramirez is a flurry of fury, striking wildly, though in his great enthusiasm he is too fast, too short or too far. His peck, the slash of his talons, both fall short.
The Red Knight is silent, only for her physical grunts. She lets the unchanging grin of her mask speak for her.
GAME: Seyardu rolls cmb: (20)+3: 23
"Just a moment. Don't move, I'm going to remove the rope." Seyardu continues as she pulls out her pack of healing tools, and a small knife she normally used for trimming books and scrolls. Finding the safest spot she could, the sith'makar began slicing through the noose, until she could pull it off and away.
"Stay close to me if you can still move. Do you need any assistance, knight?" She shouts to the cavalier, torn between her continuing fight, and the two on the ground nearby.
GAME: Knightmare rolls 1d20+6: (20)+6: 26 GAME: Knightmare rolls 1d20+6: (10)+6: 16 GAME: Knightmare rolls 1d8+3: (3)+3: 6 GAME: Knightmare damaged you for 4 points. 23 HP remaining. GAME: Knightmare damaged you for 2 points of nonlethal. You have 2 total.
Crazed, and no doubt expecting a fight to the finish better than facing whatever is justice for what are likely many, many dips into extraordinarily naughty behaviour, the blonde archer Gigi makes a frenzied thrust into the smiling Knight's side, a blow yet blunted by the woman's armor, but still, there was passion behind that one.
Liatris, while no longer choking, is still bound, though feeling the noose fall away from her neck makes her sag over her knees, taking several deeps breathes through her nose before she looks into the face of her closest savior.
GAME: Paenitia rolls weapon8+1+1: (7)+5+1+1: 14 GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+4: (14)+4: 18 (Ramirez Beak) GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+4: (6)+4: 10 (Ramirez Claw) GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d20+4: (10)+4: 14 (Ramirez Claw) GAME: Paenitia rolls 1d6+3: (6)+3: 9
Paenitia squeaks as she takes another hit, and then laughs over exhuberantly, "You touch, but I do not feel it. Strike harder."
She brings her lance around again, droplets flinging as she thrusts at the woman. Perhaps she is hurt more than she lets on, as this attack also misses.
Ramirez snorts angrily, snapping at the woman's arm and opening a deep cut at her elbow, all the way to her shoulder. His talons fall short again, sliding off her armour to bury into the dirt. The bite is enough, the woman falls unconscious.
Paenitia covers her with lance tip, just to be sure, glancing over her shoulder at Seyardu and Liatris. "Is the damsel free? The foe is down, and deserve our mercy if we are secure."
Meybur bled to death already. Ferg is awful pale, but still bleeding. Gigi's still breathing.
There are more wounded in the tents from the sound of it
"Thank the knight here with me first, she did the bulk of the work. But you are safe now, I believe." Seyardu says once she sees the face of the bard they came to save, and seeing Paenitia covering the combatant. With a few slices she undid the bindings on Liantris' arms and legs, helping her into a position to rest and recover where she was. The stitches gave pause, but there was still the matter of those by the fire. She returned quickly, picking up the bow from where the bound archer was and carrying it with her, until she could set it down and begin her work, opening up the healers kit, tending to the wounds of the fallen. At least, for the one still alive.
"Ramirez, I dismount!" Paenitia says dramatically, and her peacock-andalusian extends a wing. She sets her lance and shield on her saddle, takes her healers's kit and slides down, landing on her feet.
She clanks over to Liatris, looking up so the bard can see her mask, and nods firmly. "We will see you safely home. First, we must give aid."
She kneels beside Ferg, opens her kit and pulls out some bandages, looking to see if Seyardu requires any assistance. The Red Knight plans to see to the leader, Gigi next, but providing what assistance she can in the tent.
"This may be little mercy for them if their crimes are great. They act the scoundrels so I do not have much trust for them."
Liatris, the bard, flexes her fingers and elbows, massaging her shoulders as her arms are free at last, grunting a little in discomfort. A sigh, then an almost expectant whimper, puzzlement, as it seems the Sith is wandering off, pointing at her lips, but her legs are too wobbly for her to truly stand just yet, and so she ends up sitting once more and sighs. Any indignance the muzzled bard is feeling is overshadowed by the realization that the silver sith and the... curious little Lucht are trying yet to save the lives of her captors. She sighs again, closes her eyes and lifts her face to the sky and starts, to the volume her lingering bonds allow her, to hum an inspirational melody.
She can do this much, at least...
Of the bandits fought, the man with the Thunderbelcher was whisked back form death's door, and Gigi, laid low, still fights to live.
Others in the tents are badly wounded, some of those infected, and possibly at cost to limb, while the last archer, bound and beaten begs for release, making the usual promises. She accuses the red haired woman of being a vampire at one point, drawing a look from the Bard and very nearly souring a note, but...
In the tents are bandits with ill treated battle wounds. All of these guys are scarred to some extent or other, and there's a lot of scavenged gear, loot boxes and the like.
<OOC> Paenitia nods, "I'm willing to let the dice decide for Gigi, Treat Deadly wounds is DC20. " <OOC> Paenitia nods, "I'll get +3 for healing on others, +2 from the Healer's kit, and it requires 2 uses, " <OOC> Paenitia nods, "and +2 from the song" GAME: Paenitia rolls heal+7: (16)+8+7: 31
There was a lot of people in need at the moment. But there was still the concern that those around, and in the tents could become combatants again if she tried anything too substantial. Instead, she pulled the bloodied firearm away from Ferg, before she placed a hand on one of his arm, and her other on the amuled around her neck.
"Celestial mother, there has been death and bloodshed here today, but with your grace, there will be no more. Help me to save this one from returning to the death singing dragon needlessly, mend their wounds so that they may recover here." She prays, releasing restorative magics to staunch the bleeding of the man, and close the worst of their wounds.
<OOC> Seyardu says, "cure light wounds converted from level 1 command spell slot" GAME: Seyardu rolls 1d8+2: (5)+2: 7
With the Man stable, she picked up the bow and thunder belcher in hand, returning to the bard's side, and beginning to work on dealing with the abhorrent stitching they seemed to have put in place, and continuing to ignore the bound archer. "There are many wounded in the tents, but I can tend to them in time. We need to make sure Liantris' is safe and it is safe to tend to them first though. Contact the guards." She calls over to the cavalier.
"Do no worry, we will tend to you." Paenitia reassures Liatris, as she starts working on Gigi. This takes some time. A long time. Her bandaging is successful and it seems the woman will live.
The ones in the tents will require more than the little Lucht can provide. Her gaze lingers on their gear. That tells a tale.
She wishes for a wagon for Ramirez to pull on occasions like these, then shakes her head at the thought. He never would allow that ignomy. He is too proud a peacock.
"There are too many to carry all. I can take the bound one, send the guards if you think you will be safe here." She clucks at Ramirez, and then he is at her side already extending a wing as she says, "Ramirez, I mount!"
The Dark Lucht is scooped up and into the saddle, "lift her up to me, then we fly and return fast."
"Too many, but it will be alright. Those left are all injured." Seyardu replies with a shake of her head. She pauses to bind up Gigi, dragging her near the fire to keep her in view. And the tall sith'makar is able to lift up the archer without too much issue, loading her onto the peacock, she holds a hand out, holding one of the lucht's hands for a moment to mend their wounds with another spell. "I saw you were injured. The celestial mother looks out for all deserving of her care." She says, before loading on the weaponry as well, stowing the daggers in her own bag. "Go, I will be alright here. Thank you for all your assistance so far."
The bard nods as she is reassured, and continues to hum her song until it seems the worst is over. Eventually, once the emminent danger is abated and the sutures are cut and carefully withdrawn, Liatris sighs in relief and asks about her friends to what assurances are given to her on that front. She then scours a tent nearby to gather her own equipment.
SHe looks between her saviors, uncertain a moment as it becomes clear that it's intended that she leave with the Lucht, "Will... will you be alright?"
The sith'makar nods in response, giving a sharp toothed, but earnest smile. "I will be alright, most likely. If it comes to it, I should be able to outrun this many injured people. But someone needs to make sure nothing happens to them while they are all incapaciated like this. But it shouldn't, and I can't leave those who may need aid within reason. That, and they need to face justice, so others will not be harmed unnecessarily."
Paenitia glances at Seyardu, her expression unreadable because of her mask. Her voice is neutral and cautious, "She seem she will be okay, and we will not be long. Ramirez will carry us all just fine."
'Ruaaah!' The peacock-andalusian caws, in agreement, as the Red Knight holds out her hand.
"Come," she faces Liatris, "warm food awaits. I want to hear your tale."
The words of the adventurers seem to mollify the uncertain bard, and she nods, offering the Sith a quick, impulsive hug, and another surge of gratitude before she looks with some womder at her proposed ride home. Her eyes sparkle in his radiance. She's never dreamed she could fly, so exciting! She takes a moment and carefully manages to get up onto the massive creature, "I'll tell you all about it." she says, a subtle note of shame in her tone, but that die is cast.
The wounded bandits are too far off to give the Sith any real trouble in the interum, the closest it gets is the archer, the one still concious, pleading, and cajoling and carrying on, though even her struggles are more an annoyance than a threat, and soon there are guards on hand with a wagon to take the remaining crew to face Justice.
The twins are delighted to have their battered friend safe again, though her tale is not a pleasant one.
Still... the night is won, and the rewards are sweetly earned by the merciful Sith, Bold Lucht and Resplendant Hippogryph.
Well won, indeed.
Combatty
===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 1 =====================
---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
18 Liatris 1
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16 Meybur 1
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16 Ferg 1
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13 Paenitia 1
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13 Seyardu 1
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>> 6 Gigi 1 <<
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4 Jillian
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Dramatis Personae
Seyardu
While not as physically imposing as many others of her kind, Seyardu still towers over most regardless. The sith-makar is covered in bright silver scales, with almost metallic, silvery eyes that are usually found in what looks like an appraising squint. Two long, ridged horns curve forward on their face, and a long tail trails slightly on the ground, keeping them balanced. Usually they are seen in town with simple, plain clothes, a simple vest and accompanying gray skirt. A large rucksack is usually slung over her back with most of her worldly posessions, with a large wooden shield, well used but completely bare, save for a rough dark black painting of a dragon's head.
Paenitia
Small, dark and winsome.
On a Giant white peacock.
Sister Paenitia Snapdragon del Harrana, is a crimson knight astride an ivory steed. A dark skinned Lucht Siuil, her black hair hangs in ringlets to mid-back, wild, untamed, loose. Matching fetlocks curl about her shins, demure, tamed, tied back with crimson bows. She wears a broad feathered hat, a matching single shoulder cape, both crafted from the bold feathers of her mount; striking white with red eyes. Beneath that hat, a smiling mask with rosy cheeks and a wide upturned moustache. Her armour has the same patina, an elaborate breastplate, rusted to match the mesas of her homeland. Paenitia's deep eyes smoulder behind the mask, and her skin, where visible, is a warm mahogany that is both heritage and time in the sun. She moves with an intensity overwhelming for her size.
Ramirez, her mount, is an eye-catching hippogryph. An albescent peacock gypsy-andalusan breed. Glorious, the size of a strong warhorse, his tail could cover a cart and easily hides his fluffy equine hind. His forelegs are the delicate and deceptively strong legs of the avian, and his body flows well into his feathery trail. Almost completely white, Ramirez is blood red on his neck, shoulders and breast, with the same bold colour in his crown and his many tailfeather eyes. He struts about regally, staring imperiously, proud and beautiful. Paenitia's saddle straps his midsection and has its own tail fan, a scabbard candelabra of pole arms that lies along his back.
She's from the land of the wind, tilting against windmills. A self-appointed knight, tiny and trite, riding a fancy and brings twice the fight.