Seafront Spectacle
Log Info
- Title: Seafront Spectacle
- Emitter: Cryosanthia
- Characters: Cryosanthia, Culix, Aryia, Smuldur, Venom
- Place: A18: Port Alexandria, The Inmost Sea
- Time: Thursday, June 10, 2021, 2:30 PM
- Summary: Cryosanthia is leaving the docks, and waves at Aryia as she passes. The Mul'niessa is working, putting her muleback cords to good use. Culix comes over to confer with her, and the two notice they're being watched by a pair of suspicious guys who definitely aren't any of the local dockworkers. Smuldur arrives, having been hired to deliver a package to Culix, whom he spots. Then immediately loses sight of, as the female goblin sneaks up on the two observers, overhearing that they're on a mission: Aryia is the objective; Culix the target, and Smuldur the distraction. The two pull back into the alley, Culix attempts to follow and find them, unsuccessfully. About this time Venom arrives, to see a game of mouse and mouse as Aryia tries to locate Culix while Smuldur tries to locate Culix by following Aryia. Venom comes closer and signs, 'what's up' as Smuldur and Culix come together and Culix tells him to open the box. Inside, is the head of her brother. It explodes. Aryia and Culix are in fire, Smuldur is unconscious and on fire. Venom rushes to help and battle ensues as a thug pops out of nowhere and nearly hobbles Aryia, and the two from the alley appear and assess the situation. One of the thugs is taken down, Aryia is taken down, another thug is non lethally dispatched, then Culix takes some non-lethal from a sap and drops also. Venom manages to save Smuldur and drop the third. Dockworkers are both fleeing the explosion and watching the fight, so Aryia and Venom drink potions, arrange the thugs sitting nicely against the wall, grab the goblins and go. The Watch shows up late to attempt to sort things out, and a Charnese Merchant Ship departs suddenly.
- APL: 3: Aryia 3, Venom 3, Culix 3, Smuldur (afk before fight), Cryo (Cameo)
- Encounters: CR4, XP1200
- (1) CR 1 XP 400 Thug (rg2) as #1, Human
- (1) CR 1 XP 400 Street Thug (f1,r1) as #2, Human
- (1) CR 1 XP 400 Bullying Brawler (mk2) as Thug #3, Mul'niessa
- (1) CR 1 XP --- Legbreaker (wr1,ft1) as Thug #4, (not used)
-=--=--=--=--=--=-<* A18: Port Alexandria, The Inmost Sea *>-=--=--=--=--=--=-
The Sea Walls of Alexandria have been called a Wonder of the World. So has its port. From here, one can see both--the walls, rising either side of the mighty Tornmawr River where it feeds into the Inner Sea, and the Port. A port of international envy, ships fill its waters in plenty, along with the Alexandrian Navy. To the south and all sides, the Inmost Sea stretches. To the North, the Sea Wall, and a great gate which leads to the shining city.
Overhead, flies the flag of the Phoenix. Atop the wall, massive artifice-lights shine out into the waters.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Appearing, in Order -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Cryosanthia 6'9" 291 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman. Culix 3'2" 36 Lb Goblin Female Beady-eyed goblin female in leathers and hood. Aryia 4'8" 110 Lb Shadow Elf Female A heavily scarred mul with a curious look about her. Venom 5'6" 130 Lb Human Female A woman(?) about 5'6" in a ragged black veil and poncho. Smuldur 3'4" 45 Lb Goblin Male A gently used (cut, scraped, burnt, exploded) gobber. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- As the GM -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Cryosanthia 6'9" 291 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
It's warm. A clear day. The sky is brilliant and blue. A light breeze from the west flutters sails and washes the docks clean with the smell of the crisp sea air. Ships and boats are heading in and out.
Heading out, is a whitescaled Sith'makar wearing dockworker coveralls and a long sleeved shirt. Riding on her shoulders is a pink-scaled youngling. As she steps from docks to cobbles, there's a shimmering to her clothes. They become lighter, a brighter white, and turn into a blouse, corset and tight leather pants. Her stride is energetic but she seems to have a lot of weight on her shoulders.
That kobold must be heavier than she looks.
Culix is making her way through the docks today, as usual her cloak drawn up despite the warm weather, and bundled about her chest. She keeps her eyes peeled as she makes her way down the less well traveled side routes along the port, away from the main concorse for the most part. Though her route does, at times, necessitate crossing it. And it is during one such time she spies the familiar whitescale. She does chance a nod in greeting at the known face, though she seems keen on continuing about her business.
Aryia should take a night shift instead. Always, it was so bright... maybe just a sun hat.
She huffs to herself in a nod as she's stacking boxes along the dock. Wiping free the sweat on her brow, she spots Cryosanthia and Lily walking by. She whistles loudly, her giving a wide smile and an even wider wave. Looks like she was fairing better now.
The whitescale seems to be on a bit of a mission as well, raising her hand but not slowing as she passes Culix. Her youngling rider does the same, and included a large harmonica tweet.
She does pause a little longer when she waves at Aryia, examining her first, scenting her at a distance, registering the improvement. "Going to the Temple now to see if I can help Seyardu, unless I get sidetracked again. The fishing boats are frozen up and heading out, so not sure they've got work for you, but a bunch of merchants are coming in and also loading up."
"At least one's Charnese." Cryo cautions, then departs with a wave that is paired by Lily's.
The pinkscale shouts, "Peaasss on you Kneeesta," as they're almost out of sight. She has to get that in.
A little while ago, a goblin in goblintown found Smuldur and inquired if he'd be willing to deliver a box, describes the recipient, Culix. As long as it gets to her and she opens it, nothing else matters. Smuldur readily agress. Female! Courtship rituals can commence!
Culix spies Aryia as well, with a brief head tilt as she peers at the markedly more chipper Mul'niessa than their last meeting. Her ears twitch at the mention of a Charnese trader. She makes no comment, but she does slow her roll, eventually coming up near Aryia even as Cryosanthia departs. "What was that about?" she wonders.
*shake shake* *rattle rattle rattle* *THUD THUD THUD THUD*
From the city, comes a gobber, improprer. A gobber with a box. Smuldur is shaking the box, at first, which is what makes the rattle. He then drops it to the ground and kicks it to make it roll. The edges and corners on the box make the 'rolling' rather ... rough, which results in many thuds. then he picks up the slightly-more-rounded box to carry it further into the port.
"Delivery-ing! Delivery-ing! Who want box?" He looks around at passersby, workersworking, and even briefly at a gullpreening. Oh, right, he was told about someone who want it, so he looks around s'more.
Aryia's smile drops to a scowl at the mention of a Charn trader. She nods to Culix while giving a thumbs up to Cryo and replying from across the street "Peace on your nest" with her hands. Though, she glances to the gobber's box handling, her flinching as it rolls across the ground. <Handspeech>
GAME: Smuldur rolls perception: (10)+9: 19 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "you spot who it is meant for, over there. the goblin by the mul'niessa. Also Bluff, DC20" GAME: Smuldur rolls bluff: (16)+2: 18 to Cryosanthia
The delivery goblin's offer gets a few curious looks, but no one takes him up on the offer of a free box. Gifts from strange gobbers and all that, also, they're working and it might mean trouble.
Culix stuffs her hands into her pockets as she watches the approaching goblin with the tumbling crate. "Wonder what's in there." she asides to Aryia absently. "Hope whatever it was wasn't fragile. 'cause if it was, it's probably not anymore." she says and shrugs her shoulders.
Aryia leans against the heavy crates, her giving a big shrug. She holds her hands up together in a ball, shakes it a bit, then peels off fingers and scatters them downward into open plams. Yeah, whatever was in there was probably totally destroyed.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+8: (3)+8: 11 (Thug 1 Stealth) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (6)+7: 13 (Thug 2 Stealth) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+5: (20)+5: 25 (Thug 3 Stealth) <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Okay. Rolls for all. Perceptions, Sense Motive, and K/local if you've got it. Or... Prof/sailor would work." GAME: Aryia rolls perception: (1)+11: 12 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Aryia rolls sense motive: (5)+9: 14 GAME: Aryia rolls profession/sailor: (4)+8: 12 GAME: Culix rolls perception: (12)+8: 20 GAME: Culix rolls sense motive: (18)+0: 18 GAME: Culix rolls knowledge/local: (16)+9: 25 GAME: Smuldur rolls perception: (12)+9: 21 GAME: Smuldur rolls sense motive: (13)+1: 14
There are these two dudes...
One of the guys is leaning against the corner of a building, talking to someone in an alleyway. Not looking at them, not looking at the Mu'niessa, but he's been holding up that wall for a while now and is close by. It seemed like he looked in Smuldur's direction, then told whomever is out of sight about it. Aryia is certain of one thing, he's not a dock worker, doesn't have the build, the clothes, or the posture.
The other guy is standing in the shadows. They're definitely up to something, they're close by, watching Aryia. They seem to have a 'syndicate' look about them.
Culix's beady eyes are good for something, after all, as she spots the two guys, she gives Aryia a brief elbow in the- well, she was aiming for the side, but with the height difference it's more like the hip- and nods her head towards them. "Trouble." she says, and then she pulls her cloak up around herself and makes to melt into the scenery, to move out of sight while she keeps an eye on the goings-on.
... one of them hanging around at the corner of a building, watching the world go by and people at work.
He seemed relaxed, then suddenly less so.
And there's Culix, who should get the box!
Business continues as usual on the docks, shouts of deckhands to each other, things moving. It's busy.
Aryia seems to have spotted whoever Culkx pointed out. Her eyes narrow and she nods. She resumes 'working', but keeps an eye on them just incase she had to sprint over there.
GAME: Culix rolls stealth: (3)+14: 17 <OOC> Culix says, "I'll use my reroll here." GAME: Culix rolls stealth: (11)+14: 25
Smuldur spies the hand stuffing, wondering gobber. No! Don't hide the lovely large hands! How else can he shove the box into them?! "Ah-hah!" He skitters his way towards Culix, lifting the box on high to present it. "Box for you!" Hopefully Culix didn't order anything fragile? But if it was, by her own admission, Smuldur made it stronger!
He sees a couple of guys. So what? They aren't the box-holders (or -catchers)
GAME: Smuldur rolls perception: (4)+9: 13
Except, just as he's about to hand over the box, someone carrying a sack of potatoes steps in front of Smuldur. It's just a second, but it's enough. Somehow he lost track of the intended recipient.
Oh no! Not unrequited delivery!
Oh well. Her Mul'friend is still visible at least.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+6: (12)+6: 18 (Thug 1 Perception) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+5: (1)+5: 6 (EPIC FAIL) (Thug 2 Perception) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (8)+7: 15 (Thug 3 Perception)
Having ducked behind the passing vendor, Culix uses the break in line of sight between herself and those she's stalking to step behind a stationary cart. She creeps along its edge, peeking out from behind it as she draws near its end, before moving from there to behind a barrel of saltfish.
Now drawing nearer the two of them, her hand slips to her belt and she pulls one of the daggers free, inching slowly closer while keeping to the shadows. Trying to draw near enough to hear exactly what it is the two are talking about.
Smuldur is spared a curosry glance, as he brings the crate to her former location. Coincidence? She doesn't believe in them.
She overhears some conversation...
"Here is !.... box?" Smuldur begins to present the recipient with her shiny new (well, it was?) box, only to realize, a bit late, that she is gone! With no one present for him to present the present, he's back to looking around. He even lowers the box to look over it, and hoists it back up over his head to look under it. Where'd she go?
... in some very 'professional' tones, for a certain kind of profession. The one on the corner is looking around, talking quietly to the air. "Objective and Target... Shit! I've lost sight of the target."
"Where's the distraction?" Words come from the alleyway.
"Over by the Objective."
"Okay, pull back."
After which the guy holding up the corner seems to decide he's done for the day, and slips into the alley.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+8: (18)+8: 26 (Thug 1 Stealth) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (19)+7: 26 (Thug 2 Stealth) GAME: Culix rolls perception: (11)+8: 19
As one of the two vacates his spot at the entrance to the alleyway, Culix moves up to take it, pressing herself against the wall adjacent to the entrance that she can peek around the corner after them. She has no such luck, though, and they've already slipped out of her line of sight.
GAME: Aryia rolls perception: (2)+11: 13 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay, the guy you saw earlier vanished, culix vanished."
Aryia wanders a bit from her stacking, the shadow elf looking full on down the alley from across the road. She'd be able to see pretty far in due to her nature, but can put heads or tails on where they went. Same with Culix. A bead of worry forms. Knocking around the idea in her head, she slips away from the work to look where Culix went, taking a wide breadth from the alleyway to not just walk straight up on it.
As Aryia begins to approach the alleyway, Culix shakes her head a bit- though realizing she likely can't be seen, she uses her dagger to attempt to catch a glimmer of sunshine and reflect it over Aryia's way. With an absent thought that she ought plunge the blades into a fire some time to dull their steely glint.
The Mul stops dead in her tracks. Aryia plus direct sunlight equals: "Ffff...." she hisses quietly while covering her eyes, stopping and leaning against the adjacent wall to recover.
Having adequately caught Aryia's attention, Culix sheaths her dagger again, and thumbs in the direction of Smuldur- after Arya's has finished blinking the light blindness from her eyes, and then she makes her way back over towards the other goblin- breaking stealth once she has passed a fair distance from the alleyway as she strides up towards him. "What's in the box?" she demands, bluntly.
Smuldur hasn't had much fortune in noticing where people are, and more where they aren't. He DOES spy the burnt elf (why else would she be darker if not for soot? It's a pride thing!). The recipent was near the burnt elf before... and is heading for the alley... and now the men he passed are not there and must have gone into the alley. Therefor, via flawless gobber logic, The Recipient must be in the alley, also! So he starts heading alleways.
Or, you know, she could be behind him and now asking him a question? Smuldur stops, turns, and grins wildly. "For you!" He offers up the box, presenting it to Culix. "Dunno. Said no open." In his defense, that is the one thing he did NOT do to the box. A box is a box even if it is no longer rectangular, right?"
Aryia sighs, getting over the spots in her eyes before settling them on Culix. She glances to the alleyway, then to the other goblin. The elf raises a brow, taking a safety step away from the box before gesturing to Culix and herself while jabbing a thumb towards the alleyway.
GAME: Venom rolls perception: (4)+10: 14 GAME: Venom rolls sense motive: (14)+10: 24 GAME: Venom rolls knowledge/local+2: Trained Use Only: 0
Doing inner city stuff in daylight isn't normally her thing, but, it does help to practice. Moving through alleys and side streets to avoid a lot of the ebb and flow of the docks, Venom does eventually find herself on the primary thoroughfare in time to catch sight of a couple of familiar souls playing an odd game of kickball. There are other souls in proximity that tickle her paranoia, particularly when she loses sight of them, and so she starts to make her way with what discretion she can toward those visible of her acquaintance.
Meanwhile the docks go about the business of loading ships, picking up, dropping off. A cart rumbles by.
Aryia spots Venom approaching, her giving a small wave. "Hey. We saw some people acting weird over here. Probably going to check it out soon," she signs, the metal on her hands softly clinking as she fills them in. <Handspeech>
"Well, it's mine, right? So I'm saying open it." Culix tells Smuldur then, keeping a pace or two back, just incase. "And who told you to deliver it. What'd they look like?" she wonders. She looks up towards Aryia, and sighs. "I'd say let sleeping dogs lie, but if they're keeping an eye on me out in the sunshine like this, better to send a message, I reckon." she agrees with a nod. "Though if we've spooked 'em they might have gone to ground already."
GAME: Venom rolls stealth: (15)+11: 26
Venom quietly clicks her tongue as she brings herself up near Aryia still within what shadows she's managed to traverse to get where she is, signing, "I saw them, but lost track." <handspeech>
Aryia flinches from the sudden appearance of Venom, reflexively bringing up a hand to block her side. "Sh..." she hisses before shaking her head.
Finally! The Great Mystery shall be solved! Smuldur may not have recalled who sent him nor what they looked like, anyhow, but now that he gets to open the box... he wouldn't remember now. "Yes!" He merrily tears at the box to see what possibly shiny, smoking, and/or otherwise interesting secret thingies might be revealed!
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Culix, will save please. DC15" GAME: Culix rolls will: (12)+1: 13
Inside is her brother's head.
Culix's green skin grows a few shades paler as she glances at whatever is in the box, and she staggers backwards a couple of steps, hand coming to her mouth. "Gods be good..." she mutters haltingly to herself. Whatever she's seen in the box does not sit well- it's shaken her thoroughly.
Venom cocks her head a little at the admonishment, then scans the street again before she signs, "Do you know the goblin with the box?" <handspeech>
Then, Culix is having a religeous experience and the veiled woman's posture changes to something more alert.
Aryia shakes her head to Venom's question as she walks over to Culix, pointedly looking away from the box and waving to get their attention. She gives them a thumbs up and a questioning look, head tilted to the side with a brow quirked. The box is opened.
The mystery revealed!
A head! A goblin's head! One that looks familiar, especially to Culix. It seems almost exactly like her. Oddly undamaged from the rough trip over. Of course, severed heads don't usually bruise.
It's eyes 'snickt' open. It's not dead! It looks at Culix, says one word, "Betrayer."
Through the open mouth, there are gearings, pistons visible. A loud clicking and 'TICK' noise. It's not his real head. It's some sort of rubbery construct.
That is also a bomb.
Not a relief at all. More whiplash. It explodes.
>>>BOOOM<<<
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Aryia, Smuldur, Culix, reflex saves please." <OOC> Aryia thank you monk for evasion GAME: Aryia rolls reflex: (17)+6: 23 GAME: Culix rolls reflex: (4)+7: 11 GAME: Smuldur rolls REFLEX: (13)+4: 17 GAME: Aryia refreshes special ability pools. GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d6+4: (6)+4: 10 GAME: Bomb damaged Culix for 10 points. 12 HP remaining.
Smuldur has exploded. He's knocked out, wallowing in the bliss of explodiness.
And fire. He's lying in fire.
It's a good thing that his thirty alechemist's fire and dozen tindertwigs aren't affected by explosions!
Or fire.
Oh wait...
Shrapnel, fire, everywhere. In a small radius around Smuldur. A ringing in the ears.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay, moved. You're in the fire with Smuldur. DC17 to avoid catching fire." GAME: Venom rolls reflex: (11)+10: 21
Venom's veils are briefly pressed almost flat against whatever irregular features are beneath them, her hair and poncho writhing in the pressure wave of the detonation. She moves into the flaming aftermath, surveying the waking wounded as an ornate, if macabre dragonspitter is drawn from the holster along her thigh. In mere heartbeats, the shrouded one is crouching down to grab a handful of the dazed Gobber's attire with intent to drag him out with haste.
While her leathers are proof agaisnt the flames for the moment, her oilcloth is great for the rain, yet significantly less so for fire, to say nothing for her diaphanous veils.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "e does a scorpion style unarmed strike on you." GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+5: (12)+5: 17 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6+4: (2)+4: 6 GAME: You damaged Aryia for 6 points. 18 HP remaining. <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Fort Save please DC12" GAME: Aryia rolls fortitude: (20)+5: 25 (CRITICAL SUCCESS)
Seemingly out of nowhere, a Mul'niessa man appears beside Ayria. Not out of the alley. He didn't pass Thurid or Venom. No doors opened. There was some warning, the sound of feet, but he was like a ghost, then suddenly extremely solid.
He's large for a Mul, making him small-ish in comparison to a human. While also thin, he seems very wirey. And very adept.
He has a certain kind of scarification on his forearms that's unsettlingly suggestive. A suspiscion that's confirmed when he snaps a kick into Aryia's thigh.
Scorpion style. To hobble her.
She manages to twist, just enough it doesn't spasm her muscle and lock up her leg. It still hurts.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "In fire, DC17 to not catch fire if you stay in the fire," <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "at which point you'll be on fire wherever you go until you put it out or it burns out" GAME: Culix rolls weapon3: (2)+7: 9
Culix's hand comes up to shield her face as the flames surge, but she is too slow. Between seeing the head and then being caught in the explosion, she goes through a surge of emotions in a brief span of time- shock, grief, surprise. She settles on anger. "I'll kill you bastards!" she growls- seeing through the flames the assailant making themselves known by striking at Aryia. She pulls her cloak tight about herself, as she dashes through the lingering flames, before tearing it off as she bursts free from the other side tossing aside her smouldering garment.
She skids to a stop, pulling a dagger free from her belt with her off hand, as her dominant is busy discarding the cloak. She flicks it through the air, as she skids to a stop- her right hand coming around to catch the hilt of the dagger in a reversed grip. She lunges for the side of Aryia's attacker, but his deft martial movements prevail and the sweeping slash falls wide. She flips the dagger around, to settle it in a more familiar forward grip in her hand as she watches the man- waiting for her chance to strike again.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (4)+4: 8 (Thug 1 Bluff)
One of those two guys, the visible one who was leaning against the wall appears at the mouth of the alleyway. He avoids the fire, immediately looks at where Aryia was working, then at the explosion.
His eyes focus on Culix. He seems startled to see Venom. In flames.
Almost as an afterthought, he yells. "Uh, look out. There's a second bomb!"
He doesn't sound very convincing. The first one was convincing enough, most civilians are scattering.
GAME: Aryia spends ONE use of STUNNING FIST. GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0: (14)+6: 20 GAME: Aryia rolls weapon0: (12)+6: 18 GAME: Aryia rolls damage0: aliased to 1d6+2: (5)+2: 7 GAME: Aryia rolls damage0: aliased to 1d6+2: (6)+2: 8 <OOC> Aryia says, "dc 14 fort save or stun" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+5: (13)+5: 18 (Thug 1 Fort)
Aryia gasps in pain as she twists out of the way, her turning around to face whatever it was that hurt her. Her gut drops. Panic starts to set in. But not just panic. Anger. She slips to the side and throws unstyled haymakers. She does not hold back, her teeth bared in a fierce snarl.
There's some unusual noises come from the edge of the docks. Angry, frustrated noises. "Taara's Tits!"
Then, "Deimos' earthshattering cock! I'm caugh on..." <sildanyari>
A cracking noise.
>>>SPLASH<<
Bloop.
A second man appears from the alleyway, wearing tight fitting, non-descript clothes. A hood pulled over his head, despite the sunlight. He's a little further out, skirting the flames and scanning the area.
His attention clearly on Aryia and Culix.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "reflex DC17 to not catch on fire Venom" GAME: Venom rolls reflex: (4)+10: 14 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (2): 2 GAME: Fire damaged Venom for 2 points. 29 HP remaining. <OOC> Venom says, "drag smul to 14,11, drop him pull a clw from the haversack and pass it to culix"
In due course, Venom's altruistic gesture ends with her catching fire, and she finds herself beyond merely uncomfortably warm as the hem of her poncho takes light. Undeterred, the veiled figure drags the unconscious male from the fire to drop him near the badly burned Culix. That hand slips back under the blazing shroud and emerges with an ampuoule of red liquid that is thrust toward the female with a crisp whistle.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Thug 3, 5' steps away from Culix, still beside Aryia, does Flurry and Stunning Fist" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (20)+4: 24 (THREAT) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (14)+4: 18 (Confirmed) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (15)+4: 19 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "DC12 Fort save or stunned Aryia" GAME: Aryia rolls fortitude: (16)+5: 21 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 2d6+8: (6)+8: 14 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6+4: (3)+4: 7 GAME: Thug 3 damaged Aryia for 21 points. -3 HP remaining. (DYING)
"Sleep with the fishes then, you useless..." The thug facing Aryia shouts. Not at her, over his shoulder. A lack of focus? A planned distraction? Perhaps the latter. <sildanyari>
Two fists snap out. The first, the heavily scared Mul'niessa has a crisp view of knuckles as two impact right between her eyes. A solid it. One that rattles her brain box and nearly staggers her.
The second to the solar plexus however, knocks the air out of her lungs, the wind out of her sails, and drops her.
<OOC> Culix says, "Throw my dagger at Thug 3 and accept the potion." GAME: Venom used a Potion. GAME: Culix rolls weapon3: (18)+7: 25 GAME: Culix rolls damage3: aliased to 1d4+0: (4)+0: 4
As the assailant backs away and puts Aryia down- he looks rather proud of himself. A look which Culix is rather intent on wiping off his face. She tosses her dagger into the air again, it performs a half revolution before she catches it by the blade, and then she throws it at him- it lands squarely in the center of his throat, the blade sinking to its hilt in his adams apple.
With that done, she snatches the proffered ampoule from Venom, but doesn't quaff it herself instead dashing over to Aryia's side. "Watch my back." she calls back to the helpful, if enigmatic, figure.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "thug 1 runs through the flames and attacks Culix" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+6: (16)+6: 22 (Thug 1 Reflex) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (16)+3: 19 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6+1: (6)+1: 7 GAME: Thug 1 damaged Culix for 7 points. 5 HP remaining.
"What do I...?" The first thug asks, interrupted.
"You stab, I'll grab." The second one says. Clearly the boss.
"Through the..."
"Yes!" That's a very firm yes.
The wall-lounger dashes across the burning pavement, drawing a very nice looking short sword which he stabs at Culix with. This scrapes across her back.
<OOC> Aryia says, "roll to stablize?" GAME: Aryia rolls constitution-3: (15)+2+-3: 14
Aryia's head snaps back from the hit, smashing against the wall behind her. Her vision flickers before the it erupts into white from pain as she crumples into a pile on the floor. Her jaw is tense, face set in a mixture of fear and rage.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Thug 2 runs up and grabs Aryia" <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "standing in flames" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (3)+4: 7 (Thug 2 Reflex) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (4): 4 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "doing the emit, but the fire goes out. Except you venom, you're on fire. Thug 2, also"
Just as he ordered, the second thug runs straight over to Aryia, also through the fire. A bad choice on his part, his pantlegs weren't as tight as they should be. They're more like cloth chimneys, catching fire and sending flames shooting up his legs.
Which he ignores. Like he ignores the treat Culix might be, were she armed. He's focused on grabbing Aryia, and does.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+1: (10)+1: 11 (Thug 3 Stabilize) <OOC> Venom says, "ok, flurry, leading with stunning fist" GAME: Venom spends ONE use of STUNNING FIST. GAME: Venom rolls weapon0: (11)+5: 16 <OOC> Venom says, "if that hit it's a dc 15" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+2: (11)+2: 13 (Thug 1 Fort) GAME: Venom rolls 1d6+2: (4)+2: 6 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "he is stunned. he loses dex, sneak attack on this one then" GAME: Venom rolls weapon0: (13)+5: 18 GAME: Venom rolls 2d6+2: (8)+2: 10 Non-Lethal (10 Total Thug 1) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (3): 3 GAME: Fire damaged Venom for 3 points. 26 HP remaining.
The Mul'niessa brawler drops, a knife in his throat. Yet there's still a gurgle of breath. He might pull through. He's not on fire.
As Culix takes a slightly different tack than she was expecting, Venom reorients her thinking as the tide seems a turning while her shroud is aburning.
It's pain, the sensation of Meat being purified her master would drill into her head. Not enough threat to function to warrant overlooking the enemy, and so she endures.
The emboldened thug attacking the goblin takes a protruded knuckle thrust into a particular nerve cluster near the base of his sternum that throws a lot of the autonomous breathing out of synch.
As the man lurches forward with a particular gagging, wheezing sound she's personally found rather amusing, the silent one brings her elbow around into the side of his head, leaving him reeling, punch drunk, yet somehow still standing.
<OOC> Culix says, "I'll draw my Sap and also sneak attack the flatfooted one." GAME: Culix rolls weapon2: (16)+7: 23 GAME: Culix rolls 2d6: (4): 4, 5 nonlethal damage." (15 Total Thug 1) <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay, he's knocked unconscious by that."
Culix lets out a cry of pain as the shortsword sweeps across her back, and she staggers forwards, blinking at the ground as her vision begins to fade at the periphery. She grits her teeth, back still to the thug as Venom rocks his world. She pushes back up, spinning around- drawing her Sap from its frog on her belt as she does, she slams the leatherbound bundle of lead shot into his temple, and finishes the job Venom started. Then she grunts in pain as the vigourous motion draws a new gush of blood from the wound on her back, and stands there panting and trying to gather her senses.
The first thug drops also. Now he's holding up the ground. Or the ground is holding up him.
Aryia drags along the ground unconscoius before being dropped.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "ok, 1-7 grab and go, 8-14 potion, 15-20 attack Culix" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20-1: (20)+-1: 19 (Thug 2 thought process) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+4: (19)+4: 23 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6+3: (2)+3: 5 GAME: Thug 2 damaged Culix for 5 points of nonlethal. 5 total. GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (6): 6 (Thug 2 on fire)
Fire! Fire! Pants on Fire!
Today, was not a day of good sartorial choices. The flames are shooting up the second thug's legs, to his shirt. There's the crackling of skin. His co-worker has just gone down.
"Shit!" Grab and Go? Potion? Attack? He tries to decide. When in doubt, hit something. He draws his sap and cracks it across the back of Culix's skull in one fluid motion. It's waist height, so is her head, it all works out.
"Bro says 'lo!"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (5): 5 GAME: Fire damaged Venom for 5 points. 21 HP remaining. <OOC> Venom says, "5' to 14,13 and flurry, leading with stunning fist, DC15" GAME: Venom rolls weapon0: (20)+5: 25 (THREAT) GAME: Venom rolls weapon0: (1)+5: 6 (EPIC FAIL) (Not confirmed) GAME: Venom rolls weapon0: (12)+5: 17 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (7)+3: 10 (Fort Save. Stunned result) GAME: Venom rolls 1d6+2: (2)+2: 4 <OOC> Venom says, "second attack has sneak on it" GAME: Venom rolls 2d6+2: (10)+2: 12 Non-Lethal
Ok, that's.... ok, that's hair. There's hair caught, now.
Now more fully enflamed, Venom is nearing the very crucial threshold of objective vs preservation.
Still, Aryia seems to be their objective, and Culix looks dazed, so she steps in to press the would be kidnapper as he rings the goblin's bell.
There is a downward wedge-knuckle strike that grazes the tender nublies, briefly locking the man up in pain before she pivots slightly on her heel. As the man starts to fold to clutch (You don't have to crush them, just graze them), the quiet figure brings her knee up to her chest and thrusts her heavy sole into the side his head, briefly pinning it to the wall and leaving a unique waffle print in the side of his face as he collapses, drooling, to the street.
Next priority: It burns! It burns!
He drops like a stone. He burns like a log.
Heartwarming.
Time slows down in a crisis. The crisis is over now. At least all the opponents are down. Some things still need to be rapidly addressed. Venom is on fire, so is one of the thugs. Culix is punch-drunk, sap drunk and having trouble concentrating. Aryia is unconscious. It's broad daylight and the street and docks were full of people. Less full now that an explosion has gone off. Returning, when it's noticed goblins are involved.
Goblins exploding isn't that unusual, it seems.
Smuldur is still unconscious. Miraculously, none of his alchemical fires or tindertwigs were set off. There were a lot of witnesses. Potential witnesses. Maybe. A lot of 'Saw 'nuffin officer, wuz below', or 'inside' witnesses, even if they saw exactly what happened.
There are warehouses full of expensive things. Guards paid to protect them. Guards paid off to look the other way.
A lot of unknowns. Somebody is coming, sooner or later. Somebody might own up to seeing... whatever this is to see.
GAME: Culix rolls 1d8+1: (2)+1: 3 (CLW Healing) GAME: You damaged Aryia for -3 points. 0 HP remaining. (DISABLED) <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Aryia, you become conscious but are at 0 HP, so disabled."
Culix flops down onto her backside, now. Dizzy from the strikes and the searing pain in her back, she flops over, half draped across Aryia. She pushes on the narrow neck of the ampoule with a thumb, and the glass pops open. "Here reckon... you need this more than me." she says, and drizzles the contents mostly on her lips, but some of it manages to make it past them and down her throat, easing the worst of her wounds. Despite her words, Culix's spinning head can take it no more and her eyes roll back, still pretty much laying ontop of Aryia.
Aryia coughs, some of the potion back up as she comes to consciousness. Her eyes lull around, her getting to a sitting position. She surveys the field in a haze, looking at the aftermath. A fire of anger flares at seeing the mul that tried to get her, but her head throbs in pain as she rests there. "Thank you," she mouths to Culix.
Now that the hastily terminal stuff is under control, the veiled woman throws herself on the ground, hissing as the flames start to really bite and she makes a concerted effort to try and put herself out before she goes the way of the proverbial two-ended candle, while the others recover from the battle.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "roll reflex +2 Venom please" GAME: Venom rolls reflex+2: (14)+10+2: 26 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d6: (2): 2 <OOC> Venom says, "gonna take a -5 on this perception, being a bit distracted" GAME: Venom rolls perception-5: (8)+10+-5: 13 GAME: Aryia rolls perception: (14)+11: 25
Her efforts are successful, the veiled woman manages to put out the fires. Grimy cobbles help.
The other thug, he's still burning.
A ways down the dock, a Charnese merchantship, heavy with grain to supply the stricken nation, unfurls sails, pulls ropes and away from its mooring. It lugubriously heads out into the harbour.
There was a flash of light on the deck. Someone with a spyglass on the merchant ship was looking straight at Aryia. When she clearly sat up, the person drops the spyglass, turns and gives an order. The ship immediately set sail. The crew were ready and waiting, for something and the signal.
Dazed, disoriented, and aching, Aryia's attention settles on the boat setting out to sea. For moment, her eyes sharpen, squinting at the boat. Checking what boat it was, name's colors. Then she looks dead on at... something. Someone. While she was being observed, she raises a hand, and gives a well known phrase that most know in Handspeech.
"Fuck you, a single, raised middle finger says. <Handspeech>
Venom sighs quietly as the flames finally relent and, smouldering, pushes herself to a knee and looks around. The Charnese sails putting to sea so close in time gets a bit of a headcant, but she rises the rest of the way and beats the burning thug's flames out before she turns to her companions, signing, "We have questions, yes?" <handspeech>
She approaches the others, then and slips the spitter back into it's place.
The thug is put out. Smuldur is still out. Culix is stable but sips unconscious, the sap to her head enough to send her to dreamland but not where threatening.
Two of the thugs are in a similar place, they'll wake up eventually on their own. The third, might not without medical attention.
There's several unconscious bodies, and onlookers, who are starting to get curious.
Aryia looks down at Culix, her worried about their friend. But she felt as if she moved at all, she'd pass right out. She just props the gobbo up and to the side so they could breath correctly. "Yes... many questions. One... one moment," she sloppily signs back, glaring daggers at the unconscious body as she rifles around her back for a small vial. She pops the cork and drains it. <Handspeech>
GAME: Aryia used a Potion. GAME: Aryia rolls 1d8+1: (3)+1: 4 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "okay, make the poses, stabilizing, moving, rolling, getting the gobbers" <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "what roll represents how people feel about you..." <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "diplomacy, kinda. bluff, maybe, or intimidate" <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Aryia, roll prof/sailor. You're a known worker here, and they like you" GAME: Aryia rolls profession/sailor: (19)+8: 27 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Venom, disguise DC20" GAME: Venom rolls disguise: (11)+6: 17 GAME: Venom rolls intimidate: (14)+4: 18
Aryia staggers to her feet, holding Culix easily over a shoulder as the leather cords on her arms tighting to compensate. She moves over to the dying thug, using a foot to push them over to the recovery position so they wouldn't die. She swipes one of their potions to replensih the one she used. There's a very, very deadly glare at the thugs, her really wanting to take her frustations out on those that tried to take her back to that hell.
But people were watching. And she had a reputation here. She bites her tongue, picks up the other gobbo, and waits to limp away with Venom.
Venom, like Aryia, stretches out the thugs and pats them down, as much for clues as supplies to replenish what she's had to use thus far. They won't die, but she leans reaal close to the heads of either of them, her veil encompassing their features as she commits them in their purest essence, to memory.
She'll follow that up, later.
There's the din of the crowd, a subtle thing, but she can feel it changing within the onlookers; the trepidations and ire in ranges accross their postures, and she straightens to look back to the Mul'niessa. A glance about, a low hiss, and then she rises to try and lead them out of the pincer before the law arrives.
This could have gone better.
The scarred Mul'niessa does have a reputation at the docks. Quiet, hard working, never complains. If she does, its through hand signs or on paper, which is easy enough to ignore. Likes to keep to herself, doesn't want any help. That's fine. Everyone has secrets. She's trustworthy enough.
Not enough to risk life and limb and run into combat to save her, but anyone that saw anything and is willing to own up to the authorities says much the same. She was doing her job, there was an explosion, several people rushed her and she was beaten to the ground. Not clear what happened after that, but she woke up, carried off two goblins. Who were delivered to the Temples for healing. She's a victim, had nothing to do with whatever happened.
If they say anything. After all, everyone has secrets.
They are more forthcoming about venom. A vieled woman fighting on fire, that's pretty interesting. That gets a lot of talk. Didn't get a good look at her face. She was kind of scary. Took out all three guys! The goblins couldn't have, right? They were on the ground. Regular folk who are hiding from explosions don't give the most accurate descriptions of how a fight went.
They're also concerned, too much information, well, might get back to her who was talking. That could be bad. A couple informants 'do the right thing', and tell as much as they can.
The guards will look into it. Venom might want to avoid tap-dancing in front of them for a few days.
The ship was seen. The thugs, they'll live. Their faces, also seen, all three, and remembered well enough they could be found later. Almost anywhere. Back alleys for instance.
Answers will be forthcoming. Not immediately, but soon. Right now there is a lot of patching up to do.
Combatty and OOC
===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 1 =====================
---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
24 Venom 1 Flat-footed (0 rnds active)
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13 Thug 3
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13 Culix 1 Flat-footed (0 rnds active)
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13 Thug 1
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8 Aryia 4 Flat-footed (0 rnds active)
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8 Thug 4
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5 Thug 2
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==============================================================================
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| Name | Race | Class | CHP | HP | AC/FF/T |CMD |For |Ref |Wil |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|Aryia |SHADOW_ELF|Mnk | 24 | 24 |16/13/16 | 21 | 5 | 6 | 4 |
|Culix |GOBLIN |Rog | 12 | 22 |19/15/16 | 16 | 3 | 7 | 1 |
|Venom |HUMAN |Mnk/Rog | 31 | 31 |18/14/17 | 22 | 5 | 10 | 3 |
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
| Name | CHP (T) | HP |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
| Aryia.........| -3 | 24 |
| Culix.........| 5 | 22 |
| Venom.........| 26 | 31 |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
| Name | CHP (T) | HP |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
| Aryia.........| 0 | 24 |
| Culix.........| 5 | 22 |
| Venom.........| 21 | 31 |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Map
https://www.mipui.net/app/index.html?mid=m8anmmbo202
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Venom, you're the snake. Culix is the female shrouded, Aryia the fist, Smuldur the Goblin head"
Pre-Set preamble
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "So. I'll set. I'll be in the set but am exiting, because I feel like that today. One free re-roll for everyone here at the start, so Aryia, Culix, and the other one. If combat starts and it's your turn on the init, and five minutes go by and we're not working on what you're doing, I'll move to the next and your turn will move lower on the init or get skipped if we end up rolling back around to you. Please warn if you're going to AFK for long periods or hit the new 'afk' or '+afk' widget."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Also, from RP I gather: The Ebon Syndicate is hunting Culix for reasons, and something is after Aryia, for reasons. I am thinking how I might work that in, but might need some more details. :) Doesn't have to be much, for example, your assassin doesn't really have to know why or who, but if they're gonna send a rainbow coloured flying snake or a stormgiant born after you, that's useful. :)"
<OOC> Cryosanthia might also save that for later
<OOC> Aryia says, "culix has more info what warehouse aryia hit as her first guild job, it was Syndicate owned"
Culix pages: The ebon syndicate has beef with us both, I believe. In Culix's case, she used to work with them, but they set her up. She was supposed to get shanked in prison, but survived her stint. Her brother is still a member, and believes she petrayed the syndicate. In Aryia's case, yeah, she took back something the Syndicate stole and beat the asses of some of their members.
<OOC> Aryia says, "there might be like, some slavers looking to reclaim her to go back into fighting pits"
Syndicate
You paged Culix with 'and would slavers be part of/deal with the syndicate?'
Culix pages: They deal in just about everything unscrupulous, so I don't doubt it.
Culix pages: They do thievery, robbery, assassinations, gambling, blackmail and extortion etc. They are basically the Mafia.
You paged Smuldur with 'HMM! Someone would like to hire you to deliver a box. Do you accept?'
Smuldur pages: Sure! Especially if they didn't specify anything about the condition of it!
You paged Smuldur with 'Okay! It's another goblin, that finds you in goblintown. Says don't open it, describes Culix.'
From afar, Smuldur oohs. Female! Courtship rituals can commence!
You paged Smuldur with 'Indeed!'
You paged (Strike, Culix, Aryia, Smuldur) with 'Okay. So far it's a lot of sneaking around on the docks, and a lot of AFKs. I'm willing to let Strike (or a more appropriate alt T1 alt) join if everyone is okay with that. It is both dock-worker related and seemingly thieves guild, and goblin-y, if that helps for choices.'
Inviting Venom
You paged (Strike, Culix, Smuldur, Aryia) with 'okay, send someone over. Difficulty will go up slightly. :) Currently every one is lvl 3, i think. Smuldur might be higher.'
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "I will, once again remind all, that rerolls are normally 3RPP, and so is a skill point boon in a craft or a profession (or perform) so you can always get a point in something for flavour/ribbons. y'know, if you had 3RPP which you didn't spend. :)"
<OOC> Aryia side glances at rpp, quietly pushes it back into bag and accepts failures.
When Smuldur has to AFK
<OOC> Aryia says, "thanks for delivering the bomb! xD"
<OOC> Smuldur says, "You're all very welcome!"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "You set us up the bomb"
<OOC> Venom says, "What you say?"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "you should all totally recall that"
<OOC> Aryia says, "now *that's* a reference"
<OOC> Smuldur says, ""
<OOC> Venom says, "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQE66WA2s-A"
<OOC> Aryia sweats
<OOC> Culix says, "All your base are belong to us. Make your time."
<OOC> Aryia says, "ah, early youtube"
<OOC> Culix says, "Base... base... all your base"
<OOC> Venom says, "i think it's actually pre youtube"
<OOC> Cryosanthia is such an ancient dragon
<OOC> Aryia says, "mostly was referring to all the remixes of it"
<OOC> Venom says, "there's a pretty fair gunda wing amv to this"
<OOC> Venom says, "fair enough"
<OOC> Culix says, "All your base made thee rounds on newgrounds and 4chan many years away."
When Aryia is taken out
<OOC> Aryia says, "goodnight"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Not stunned"
<OOC> Aryia says, "thank goodness xD"
<OOC> Cryosanthia hugs, "ok, that's funny. nice timing."
<OOC> Aryia takes a nap
<OOC> Venom has more wake up juice.
<OOC> Culix says, "Nooo, you were supposed to be my flanking partner :<"
<OOC> Aryia says, "look the floor is really comfy"
Thug decision tree
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "there's three things he can do, which I think are 'smartest', 'kinda smart' and 'not so smart'. smartest, feed a healing potion to Thug 3 to get him back in the fight. kinda smart, try to take culix out. not so smart, focus completely on the mission, grab Aryia, and try to run when he'll be slower and it's 2 against one. Firstly, do you agree on the assessment, or would you put attacking over potion, or grab and run?"
<OOC> Culix says, "Well, trying to feed a potion as the positions are now will provoke a couple of AoOs"
<OOC> Culix says, "So I dunno if that's necessarily the smartest."
<OOC> Culix says, "But, you're the DM, so do whatever you feel is right :p"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "an AOO for drawing and an Aoo for feeding, but Venom isn't in AOO range, so it'd be just you, and he might be counting on you having only 1"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "but that's a good point, trying to take you out might be smarter"
<OOC> Venom says, "seems about right"
<OOC> Culix says, "He'd need to move through Venom's threatened spaces to get there this turn, unless he tumbles."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "no. 1 is down, 2 is beside Aryia, he just 5' steps and stands over her"
<OOC> Aryia says, "sorry didn't pose when asked"
<OOC> Culix says, "Ah fair enough."