## page was renamed from Cauldron1 = Cauldron, Part 1 = 10/3/07 <
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> - A wretched drizzle falls from the ash-gray sky. The crowded rain-slicked buildings seem especially bleak and frightful this evening. - A few lights burn in their windows, but mostly the shutters have been closed for the night. The scent of chimney smoke fills the air, and the din of water trundles from the rooftops, splashing into dark alleys and turning street gutters into rivulets. <
> DM to Jiona and Tillandor: You two are walking through the city, Jiona trying to keep her hood up so as to not arouse too much suspicion. Tillandor thought this would be a good time to show Jiona the city... and then it started raining. Ethkin is more or less immune to 'bleak and frightful' imagery, but finds the rain irritating... Well, what's the temperature like this evening? Mud says, "I seek high ground if any, and try and huddle with my dog." Jiona glumly trudges through the streets alongside Tillandor, her hooded cloak held tightly about her to conceal her nature, and now to protect her fur from the rain as well. Tillandor apologizes, "Sorry Jiona. I don't think the city will be all that interesting in the rain." - A sudden plaintive cry for help from a nearby alley splits the evening air. Mud says, "I send my dog to scout ahaed, and move toward the sound" Jiona musters a smile for Tillandor. "I know you meant well. I did hope for a less gloomy tour-- did you hear something?" she asks, her voice shifting to concern. Calico walks briskly towards the cry. Tillandor eyes the corner ahead warily. "What should we do?" Jiona warily sniffs ahead, although the unfamiliar smells of the city are rather distracting. "This is your home, Tillandor..." she allows, "but I would like to know what that was, and if it's a threat." Tillandor looks toward the sound. Whichever direction that is. - (red yellow and orange) Three figures assault a fourth (blue), who lies face down on the wet cobblestones. - The alley slants upward away from you. Rayne charges forward easing his greatsword out of his shoulder holster DM says, "Initiative." Tillandor rolls 1f20: 14. Rayne rolls 1d20: 1. Calico rolls 1d20+DEX: 4,5 = 9. Jiona rolls 1f20+3: 30,3 = 33. Tillandor rolls 14+2: 14,2 = 16. Rayne rolls 1d20+dex: 9. Ethkin rolls 1d20+3: 10,3 = 13. Mud rolls 1f20: 30. DM says, "Jiona has first action." DM says, "with a 33 initiative." - Vaguely aware of other citizens approaching, Jiona readies her spear and moves around the north side of the hillock to get a clearer view of exactly what is going on, ready to defend herself, or attack if the situation warrants it. - Jiona sees three figures assaulting a fourth, who is facedown on the wet cobblestones. One of the attackers grabs the victim by the hood of his cloak and slams him against the wall. Another growls, "Stay away from the orphanage, you got that?" - Taking in the situation, Jiona growls and lunges forward, thrusting her spear at the attacker that's manhandling the victim. DM says, "Roll to hit. The turn order: Jiona, Mud, Tillandor, Ethkin, Calico, Rayne" Jiona rolls 1f20+2: 16,2 = 18. Jiona rolls 1d6+3: 5,3 = 8. Tillandor rushes forward, mention of his old home (the orphanage) having caught his attention. - Jiona stabs the man in the shoulder. He drops his victim and turns to Jiona and says, "You're gonna pay, little lady." - As he moves, Tillandor withdraws a small item from a pouch, and mutters some incantations. Tillandor rolls to strike yellow with his open hand, casting Perrins Freezing Touch. Tillandor rolls 1f20+1: 10,1 = 11. - Tillandor strikes the thug's armor, and a frosty chill forms on him. (roll damage) Tillandor rolls 1d6+1+2: 1,1,2 = 4. - Forms on the thug, coming from Tillandor's hand. - The thug, already wounded from Jiona's stab, collapses to the ground. The other thugs look nervous. Ethkin moves closer to the action. Unable to see, he is unsure if the attackers are thugs from said orphanage dealing with a Samaritan , or town police dealing with a pervert. Ethkin meets a dog, "Hey, pup." Dog moves toward Mud and growls. DM says, "Calico, go." Calico runs to get a better view and line of fire, and lets out a loude cat screach. DM asks, "That's a full move for calico. Rayne?" Rayne steps out of the alleyway into the clearing and says, "You know from what I understand, the City guard is the one to take care of the orphanage and you don't much look like guards to me." While casually wielding the Greatsword in one hand. Rayne uses Intimidate DM says, "Rollit." Rayne rolls 1f20+7: 6,7 = 13. DM rolls 1d20+1: 17,1 = 18. Ethkin flinches from Calico! Calico intended to intimidate the thugs. - The neares thug (orange) sneers, "You're not from around here, are ya? Around here, we run this town. - The thugs take their attacks... - Orange provokes an attack of opportunity from Mud and his dog. Ethkin thinks to himself, "That settles it then..." Mud says, "dog attacks" Mud rolls 1f20: 5. DM says, "That's a miss. Okay, Orange takes a swing at Ethkin and says 'Get outta my way'." DM rolls 1f20+3: 11,3 = 14. DM says, "Orange misses." DM says, "Red takes a shot at Tillandor" DM rolls 1f20+3: 30,3 = 33. DM says, "ow" DM rolls 1f20+3: 14,3 = 17. Tillandor asks, "Ow. What's he hitting me with?" Ethkin thinks to himself, Why you little!... DM says, "Short sword." DM says, "megaow." Tillandor collapses in a heap. - Tillandor is unconcious. DM rolls 1d6+1: 2,1 = 3. DM says, "Only 10 damage. -3 hp" DM says, "Jiona. You're up." Mud asks, "is blue concious?" DM says, "Blue is down." DM says, "Unconcious." Jiona is thinking, just a sec. Jiona watches Tillandor fall with a look of horror, screams, then moves as best she can between him and Red, and hurls her spear at him, augmented with Air. Jiona rolls 1f20+3: 8,3 = 11. DM says, "That hits, as a ranged touch attack." Jiona rolls 2d6+3+1d6: 1,1,3,4 = 9. DM rolls 1d20: 7. DM says, "He fails his reflex save and his hit for semi-heavy damage." DM says, "He is not dead, but he is very hurt." DM says, "Mud. Your move." Mud says, "I move towards red and throw my spear" DM says, "Roll it." Mud rolls 1f20+4: 2,4 = 6. DM asks, "That's a miss. =( Dog?" DM says, "He gets +3" Mud rolls 1f20+3: 9,3 = 12. DM exclaims, "A hit!" Mud rolls 1d6+3: 2,3 = 5. Rayne exclaims, "Nice!" Tillandor bleeds, on his turn. - The dog grabs the ruffian by his knee and takes a big chunk off. The ruffian falls to the ground. DM says, "Tillandor is at -4 now." DM asks, "Ethkin?" Ethkin pretends to bet out of the way and pretends to fumble it, hopefully tripping Orange with his staff... Ethkin rolls 1f20+3: 4,3 = 7. DM rolls 1f20+1: 13,1 = 14. Ethkin backs against the building wall, even so. Ethkin says, "Sorry Gov'nah, sorry." - Ethkin attempts to trip Orange with his staff, but Orange manages to dodge the attempt. - Orange says, "Foolish blind man. I'll teach you." DM says, "Calico." Calico takes a shot at orange with her sling. Calico rolls 1f20+ranged: 2,6 = 8. Ethkin prays Calico doesn't miss. DM says, "That's a miss. Orange's turn." Calico asks, "rayne?" Rayne says, "Not my turn yet sadly..." - Orange turns towards Ethkin with rage in his eyes, "Take this, old fool." DM rolls 1f20+3: 7,3 = 10. Ethkin says, "I'm 37, I'm not old." - Orange whiffs badly and curses his luck, then moves back a bit. Tillandor says, "It has been pointed out that on my turn I can stabilize on 10% chance. So next turn, I'm rolling it." Rayne steps forward eyes locked on the thug and moves swiftly towards him shifting into a peculiar stance saying, "Scum like you don't deserve to have any place in this city!" and attacks with his greatsword Rayne uses both hands Rayne rolls 1f20+5: 30,5 = 35. DM! Rayne rolls 1f20+5: 13,5 = 18. Rayne rolls 2d6+6: 5,1,6 = 12. Rayne rolls 2d6+6: 3,2,6 = 11. - Rayne steps forward and neatly cleaves Orange in two, taking Orange's shortsword in half as well. - Tillandor strangely stabilizes and heals 2 hit points. Ethkin senses the thug die, "Metsotza!" Tillandor stops bleeding. - The thugs bleed. Rayne looks around and after seeing no more apparent "threats" he stops by the victim to assess his condition Ethkin follows Rayne... Mud says, "I attempt to heal blue" Rayne says, "We should probably make sure they don't bleed to death so the city guard can take them for questioning." - The victim attempts to sit up, looking very bruised and bloodied, but not nearly as bad as Tillandor. Rayne nods towards the thugs still alive on the ground Calico jogs over to Tillander to see about some healing. Mud says, "attempt to heal tillandor" Rayne wipes his blade off and puts it back in his holster around his back with one hand with apparent ease. Mud says, "dog sniffs at corps" - The victim is a man in his 40s with the cross of St. Cuthbert around his neck. He appears to be a priest. Jiona leaves her spear stuck in the fallen thug and tends to Tillandor, unaware at first that he's already been assisted by someone else. She also seems wary of the others that approach. Ethkin wonders who 'Tillandor' is, and who mud is talking to. DM asks, "Who here is damaged other than Tillandor?" Rayne shakes his head and says, "Not I." DM asks, "Mud, roll a heal on the victim?" DM asks, "Or Tillandor?" DM wonders if we should stick to initiative out of combat as well. =/ Mud says, "May offer some assistance, I know to first aid, said to Jiona" Mud rolls 1f20+6: 13,6 = 19. - Mud manages to patch up some of Tillandor's wounds. Mud says, "I send dog to stand watch" Tillandor comes to. "Ouch. Everybody ok?" Ethkin asks, "Could someone please explain what just happened, aside form the obvious?" Tillandor blinks a few times. "Not I." - the victim hobbles up and looks around at you all, "Thank you all for coming to my rescue... without your help... who knows what they would have done to me." Calico glances at both blue and Tillander to assess who needs her help more. Rayne looks towards the victim and asks, "What is your name?" - the victim says, "My name is Ruphus. Here, let me help with that..." DM rolls 1d8+4: 6,4 = 10. Jiona rounds on Mud with some anger, still on the edge after seeing her closest friend fall and nearly die. "Keep back!" she fairly shouts at him. - Ruphus heals Tillandor. Tillandor looks as good as new. Tillandor climbs to his feet. "Wow, I feel much better." Tillandor says, "Jiona. Go easy, I'm ok." Mud says, "fine , as you wish. Hwistles for dog" - Ruphus looks quite taken aback at Jiona's outburst, "I... I'm sorry. Ethkin wonders what he senses with all this magic going off... Jiona whirls around to see Tillandor stand back up, shocked... then steps back, quieting. This city is just too strange to her. Rayne moves quickly but gently towards Jiona and Tillandor and says, "Tillandor you old dog, I wondered what was keeping you out of the academy these days." Rayne looks at Jiona and says, "Tillandor and I graduated from the academy together, you have nothing to fear from me." Tillandor shrugs with a lopsided smile. "I prefer to study in solitude. Well, relative solitude." Calico backs into the nearby trees to watch and listen. Mud says, "mud move towards calico " do you know any of these people?"" Calico scowles mildly and shakes her head. Ethkin thinks Eric should move Rayne closer to Tillandor. Rayne thinks Ethkin is right - The rain pours down the city streets as a few people stop to gawk at the scene. Jiona nods to Rayne, still looking subdued, if relieved Tillandor is okay. "My... apologies. After seeing him fall... and I don't know any of you...." She trails off, allowing him to fill in the blanks. Tillandor asks, "Ruphus, why did these men want you to stay away from the orphanage?" Calico tries to take shelter under a tree. - Ruphus says, "I... I don't know. I was investigating the missing children..." Jiona tightens her cloak about herself again as the rain continues to fall, the inexpensive wool gradually soaking through anyway, and goes to retrieve her spear from the fallen thug. Calico's ears perk up at mention of missing children. Mud same as calico - Now that the combat is over, you can see that the faces of the assailants are painted... half black, half white. Tillandor frowns. "Missing children?" Calico says, "can we take this inside somewhere? my fur is getting soaked." - Ruphus says, "Yes, four children vanished from the orphanage the other night. Hadn't you heard?" Jiona frowns thoughtfully at the thugs' coloration, not recalling having seen them before or heard of such coloration, at least not immediately. She then looks up with renewed interest upon hearing about the children. Mud makes to retreive his spear, and is listening Rayne moves towards one of the gawkers and appears to speak with him Tillandor says, "I suppose I've been a little out of the loop. I haven't visited in such a long time." - Ruphus nods to Calico, squinting to see her more clearly in the rain, "Yes, that would be wise... we should go to my church, we can warm up there. { Church of St. Cuthbert } Ethkin asks, "Warm, that sounds good. Uh, could some one lead the way?" - The gawker appears to nod and hurry off into the rain. Mud doesn't reply, but tags along - Ruphus flexes his clearly aching muscles, "Yes, come this way." Rayne looks towards the group and says, "I will catch up with you in a minute. I want to make sure there aren't any unwarranted suspicions here with the guard. I will catch up to you shortly." Jiona looks definitely eager at the offer of getting out of the rain, even despite her uncertainty of being in a crowd. She follows along, but stays quite close to Tillandor. Calico follows Ruphus at a respectable distance. Calico detures to retrieve the sling bulled which missed. Tillandor says, "You're quite a ways from your church." Tillandor asks, "What brings you out so far on such a night?" Ethkin follows the spirits of Ruphus and Tillandor, keeping with the 'blind' 'act', mostly to avoid walking into building walls... - Ruphus says, "Well, I went to the orphanage. It's just around the corner (map 18) from where they accosted me. - Calico manages to find her missing sling stone. Tillandor wrings out the corners of his robes, trying to avoid sloshing water all over the church. - The rain pours heavily over the gloomy city. After the attack, the buildings seem to be crowding in as you walk to the temple. - As you round the corner, you see the church itself. Tillandor says, "Heh. Got ahead of myself it seems." Calico, following cat instinct, seaks an elevated perch inside. Tillandor says, "So tell us about That Night. The night of the incident." Tillandor says, "The night the children went missing." - The two story Church of St. Cuthbert, it's white marble walls suffused with veins of vivid blue, stands in stark contrast to the night sky and dark black stone buildings surrounding it. - Ruphus says, "Well, unfortunately I haven't been able to learn much." - Ruphus says, "But it is similar to the other disappearances in town lately... Calico says, "I'd guess the thugs we rescued you from are involved." - Ruphus says, "I don't know. You should speak with Jenya, my superior. She knows more." - Ruphus leads you all inside, but is almost immediately met by an acolyte. Jiona's cloak is completely sodden and drooping as she follows, and she tries to wring off the worst of it once sheltered from the rain. She looks inquisitively at Tillandor, though, gripping her cloak and wordlessly asking him if it's safe for her to reveal herself here. She has also been listening closely to their discussion, although not speaking up herself. - Ruphus and the acolyte speak, then Ruphus says, "I must go speak with Jenya. She'll be down to meet with you all soon." Tillandor shakes his head, unsure himself. Ethkin doesn't know white marble from thatch and clay, he's just glad to be in from the bad weather. Tillandor, as they enter the church, tries to keep himself between the humans and Jiona, but is less concerned with the other fae-toched. Calico ponders, "disappearances... where else besides the orphanage?" - An acolyte comes in and says, "There is a warm fire in the other room. I can take your cloaks and have them dried as well. - The acolyte leads the way. Jiona sighs a bit, and resigns herself to staying uncomfortably damp, as the soaked wool is wicking the water into her fur, where it's going to be much harder to dry off. But she remains covered up, still listening. However, she abruptly looks a bit panicked at the acolyte's offer. Tillandor says to the acolyte, "You'll have to excuse my companion. She is uncomfortable around groups of people." Calico doesn't bother removing her robe, as she's already soaked to the skin. Mud moves forward with a nod , "I don't mind getting warm" Ethkin moves towards the fire, and kneels beside it, and then remains perfectly still. - The acolyte nods, then looks at Calico for a few seconds, then walks off. Calico would muck like to be someplace warm and dry. and not too bright would be nice. Jiona gives the helpful acolyte a bashful nod of her head, keeping her cloak closed tightly around herself. - The acolyte returns into the room with some dry blankets and sets them on a small table, "Make yourselves at home, Jenya will be down momentarily." Mud warms up a bit and then moves to a corner with dog, and makes hemself at home, pulling out a bit of food for them both, and removing dog's pack. Calico,spotting the blankets, quickly trades her robe for one. Ethkin quietly asks, "Would someone hand me a blanket, please." Calico tosses a blanklet, oblivious to his blindness. - The acolyte bows out and you can hear chanting in the distance. Ethkin hears the sound of a blanket sailing through the air, holds out a hand in that general direction... Ethkin rolls 1f20+2: 30,2 = 32. Rayne LOL - Aware that it's going to look odd, but not as bad as the alternative, Jiona helps herself to a blanket, and wraps it over the wet wool, hoping the blanket's dry warmth will also help dry off her cloak. Ethkin deftly catches the blanket. Tillandor asks, "Wow. I thought you were blind... ?" Ethkin says, "Thanks." Ethkin loks dead in Till's direction, bunt not in his eyes, "I am." Mud pretends to sleep, but wonder how blind the old fool really is. Ethkin ooc, "I'M 27!!!" Tillandor says, "But blind." Calico looks for an elevated perch to rest on near the fire. Mud ooc sorry, "blind fool", better? Ethkin ooc, "Uh, yeah..." - Some minutes later, a lovely lady with premature streaks of grey in her brown hair, wearing a brown robe with the symbol of St Cuthbert around her neck comes in. Rayne ooc laughs - She says, "I am Jenya. Thank you so much for coming to Ruphus's aid. He was in a bad situation and you saved him." Mud dog runs up to lick her face Tillandor says, "I hear people have been disappearing in the city." - Jenya laughs and pats the dog, "And who is this?" - Jenya wrestles with the dog a little and makes 'whatddyagudboy' noises and smiles. Dog seems pretty happy. Calico asks, "and what's with the half black half white makeup?" Jiona continues to hang around next to Tillandor, and looks up curiously when the one named Jenya approaches. She smiles a bit at the praise, although her hood still hides most of her features. Mud says, "Kobane, heal", I'm sorry, he's just happy to be out of the rain - Jenya smiles, "He's a good dog." she turns to Calico, "I am unsure what that means. I expect it must be some gang in the city, I don't know." Ethkin removes his back back, setting it upon the hearth, then uses the blanket as a towel. Mud is much happier now that he's seen the reaction to his dog. He discretley has dog sniff aroud Jenya and the others, to search for anything out of the ordainary. Jiona volunteers, her voice soft, "They did make a claim of running this town, and of wanting Rayne to avoid the orphanage. I would guess that means there are more of them." - Jenya says, "The disappearances in the city have been getting worse and worse. Four children were kidnapped from the local orphanage, as Ruphus has told you." Tillandor says, "And at the orphanage." Calico isn't half bad at snooping, if the weather cleared and she had some idea where to snoop. Calico says, "but for now I think we'd like a nights rest out of that miserable rain." - Jenya says, "I do not want to give up on this investigation. Obviously I can't ask Ruphus to continue this, but I have been asked to hire someone to help in this time of despair." - Jenya says, "You are all heroic and should be commended for your timely aid, even at your own peril. Tillandor says, "I'd like to help look for the missing children." Ethkin asks Jenya, "May I keep this blanket 'Mother'? I've had not but the stars for such, these many weeks upon the road." Rayne walks in handing his soaked cloak to the acolyte who lead him in. He stands at 5'7 with red hair and olive skin and a very large sword on his back. He wears chain armor with a red lion on a white background as an emblem on the chest and a holy Symbol with four maces and four spears all radiating out on a red circle hanging from his neck. - Jenya turns and sees Rayne, "And... you are?" Rayne walks forward, recognizing some and asks, "Jenya I presume? My name is Rayne Delthor. I wanted to ask you about the disappearances that have been occuring in the city." Calico says, "I may be able to help, but I can't fight well enough if the thugs are as organized as I suspect." Jiona smiles again at Tillandor, and says to Jenya, "I would also like to help." - Jenya says, "Ah, you must be the sixth member that Ruphus was speaking of." Rayne looks around again studying each person intently Rayne says, "If you mean the poor man we helped get away from those thugs then yes." - Jenya says, "I would like to offer you all a job, then. I see you are eager to help, and St. Cuthbert is eager to aid those who offer their assistance to efforts such as these." Rayne says, "I spoke with the city guard, apparently such incidents are of no surprise to them." Jiona is not easy to study. Almost all of her features are concealed by sodden, blanket-wrapped hooded cloak she's still wearing, and the shadows of the hood conceal her face unless directly exposed to light. Rayne says, "I think we have nothing to fear as the law stands." - Jenya says, "Well, the city guard have enough trouble keeping peace, they don't have the manpower or investigative skills to tackle jobs like this right now." Rayne looks directly at Jenya and asks, "The guard mentioned something about the Last Laugh taking interest - do you know what that would mean?" Calico says, "good. I'd have little respect for any law that aided such thuggery." Tillandor asks, "Last Laugh? What is that?" Rayne gives Calico a questioning glance - Jenya seems confused, "I do not know who the Last Laugh is." Jiona looks briefly uncertain; she wanted to help, although being in greater company is a worrying thought. But she offered, and... she still wants to help. The children don't deserve what's happening to them. - Jenya says, "Well, hear my offer, it is this:" Rayne looks equally as confused and said, "I hoped someone would know. Well it might have something to do with the disappearing townsfolk. The guard said you were investigating such matters." - Jenya says, "I want you to find the missing townsfolk, or at least the children, and punish those responsible." Rayne raises an eyebrow and asks, "Children?" Ethkin says, "From the orphanage in town, the latest." Ethkin says, "The latest dissapearances." Tillandor says, "I'll do what I can. An orphan's life is hard enough without being kidnapped." Rayne looks very perturbed and says, "How low can these people sink? To prey on children!" Calico asks, "any wittnesses? to any of the disappearances?" Rayne looks angry - Jenya reaches into her robes and pulls out a bag that she sets down on the table, she reaches in and pulls out a small potion bottle with the cross of St Cuthbert on it, "Here are six potions of healing, one for each of you. You may have these as a token of the good faith of St. Cuthbert. In addition, once you complete the mission, we will give you a reward of 2,500 gold pieces." - Jenya says, "The information I have is rather sparse, but I will divulge all I know." Ethkin opens unseeing eyes WIDE. Rayne waves away the thought of reward as if visibly with his hand and says, "I seek no reward for finding and helping children, although the potion may come in handy if we find one injured. I will aid your cause." Calico will want to search the bodies of the attackers tomorrow, if they're still there. - Jenya smiles at the enthusiasm, "The services of the church of St. Cuthbert are at your disposal, within reason of course." Calico accepts the healing potion, and places it in her pack. Tillandor gathers up two potions, and delivers one to Jiona. - Jenya says, "The Church of St. Cuthbert has publicly vowed to locate the missing children and bring the kidnappers to justice." Ethkin says, "I'll check with my order. They may wish to publicly have their hand in that." - Jenya says, "The children's names were Deakon, Evelyn, Lucinda and Terrem. The orphanage has two common bedchambers on the second floor, one for girls, the other for boys. Two children were taken from each room. None of the other children and none of the resident staff heard or saw anything, from Ruphus' report." - Jenya says, "The orphanage has barred windows and excellent locks. The children are locked into their rooms at night to prevent mischief as well." Calico says, "then they were not likely taken by raw force." Jiona accepts the one she's given, storing it safely in her small sack. The money doesn't really mean as much to her at the moment, although it is an impressive amount. More than she could image having, really... but more importantly, she'll get to help and spend some more time with Tillandor again. She bows lightly to Jenya, thanking her for the gesture. Rayne pockets the potion handed to him while listening intently to every detail in order to memorize every word Calico takes her own blanket fron her pack and lays it out to sleep on. Tillandor asks, "In the morning then. If we may stay the night in the warmth and safety of these walls?" - Jenya nods, "One last thing before I have the acolyte show you to the common room." Ethkin perks an ear. - Jenya says, "While Ruphus was out, I prayed mightily to St. Cuthbert for some help, and I was inspired to write these words." - Jenya hands a note to Tillandor. http://www.splitreflection.com/~paw/gamin/Handout-Note-TheLocks.jpg Rayne moves closer to Tillandor and makes a motion to request reading the note with him Ethkin looks at the note blankly. Tillandor shows the note around. DM says, "And with that I'd like to wrap up." CategoryCauldron