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Post by Juniper on Nov 2, 2011 10:40:47 GMT -4
Miriam sighs. "That will have to be good enough, I suppose. I am with you as far as we go." Her tone seems to refer to the whole group, but her eyes flash up at Vince as she speaks. "To the Academy, and the temple to wait until after."
She follows Ori to the door.
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Post by irishmagician on Nov 2, 2011 21:44:46 GMT -4
Seeing a general agreement, Seamus grins slightly as he looks towards the Abbot, who returns his glance with a solemnly-raised eyebrow. He looks back towards the dwarf who responded first.
"That seems fair enough, good dwarf. We will send word via messenger if any issues should arise. I will give you a word of caution, however. The perimeter of the Academy grounds have been cordoned off by the town guard, as a precaution should monsters or such attempt to appear out of...that,"Seamus says, giving an emphatic nod towards one of the stained glass windows facing towards the school. The pulsating ball of light coming from the Academy can be clearly seen, though tinted by the picturesque scenes of the window.
"Please take this," Seamus says as he walks up to Ori to hand her a small object. Closer inspection reveals it to be a small silver amulet, shaped to look like the tree-and-stars symbol that guardsmen had displayed previously. "Show this to the men at the Academy gates, and tell them I gave authorization to enter. They should let you all pass after that. Despite what is obviously going on, we haven't encountered anyone fleeing from the Academy yet; so there is a good chance this assistant is still there. Do be careful as you search, however. Of all the guards we sent in to investigate, only one has returned alive," he says grimly.
Solonius nods to the group once more. "May you go with the blessings of Sarenrae. I will pray for your safe return, as well as for a resolution to this nightmare," he says as he bows slightly. The Abbot turns to wander amongst the cots, providing assistance to the acolytes tending to the townsfolk. Seamus salutes and heads outside to join the other guardsmen at the door to the Temple.
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Post by irishmagician on Nov 4, 2011 15:39:32 GMT -4
(OOC: I'll need a couple things from y'all as the party heads towards the Academy.
1) How is the party getting there? Are you using backstreets again or just heading straight there via main thoroughfares? I'll assume most of the group knows the direct route, if you want to use the backstreets again I'll need a knowledge (local) check.
2) Is the party attempting to be stealthy in their approach? If so, need stealth checks
3) Perception checks from everyone for the trip there)
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Post by Veritas on Nov 4, 2011 17:27:39 GMT -4
Stepping out from the temple, Vince nods to everyone. He's made sure that he's prepared. The blade is clean, pistols loaded. Eyes wander over Ori, a stout dwarf. He's glad she's there. Tough. Sensible. Wise. And then over Cael. They might have just met, yet he feels this is a dependable person - if a little wary to work on a team. Fine, so is Vince. He can deal with that. And then there is Miriam. Ah yes.
He smiles.
"Very well," he murmurs as he moves down the temple's front step. It must hurt to leave it behind, but there is no sense leaving a temple as a bastion to be overrun. Not to his mind. Not even if there is things unheard of in the basement. "I think we should go straight there. We have the guards' permission to do so. It'll be quicker."
Perception: [dice=20]+12[rand=25122674732894557112004632536385829079271799381058058020409700586306]
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Post by comicsans12pt on Nov 7, 2011 16:24:50 GMT -4
Ori takes the amulet and nods a bow to Seamus.
She falls back behind the VinceMiriam contingent and waits since she neither knows her way about townnad is looking for a little time to process all the things that have happened since she got to this town.
Perception [dice=20] + 9[rand=184799560155485939900645633114231516554247951206925447461012816796]
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Post by joviality on Nov 7, 2011 19:36:38 GMT -4
Cael nods in assent when the decisions have been made. He will do whatever is necessary to help Erfryn and make right what has gone wrong in the Academy; he owes the old gnome that. As for the details, he will leave that to the humans... this is moreso their fight, after all.
The man with the metal sticks filled with powder seemed to be taking a sort of leadership role here, which Cael was all too happy to allow him to do. He was more comfortable that way. And those weapons... they seemed horribly inefficient compared to a bow and arrow. But they were fascinating. And now back to the task at hand.
Naria under his arm, he follows behind Vince out of the temple, making an effort to stay alert as they move out. They reach the outside and Cael pauses a moment. His talents could be of use here.
"The academy is a good hour away on foot, if I recall correctly - I think we should ride."
Cael then reaches for the scroll case at his side, pulling out two pieces of parchment with flourishing Elven script written upon them. A few moments pass, and as the scrolls disintegrate into ash, two beautiful L'Thonriel mares appear on either side of him in a brush of wind and a swirl of leaves.
"I am afraid we'll have to share, though. I am not prepared to transport large groups, usually."
Cael moves beside one of the horses, motioning to the group. He is prepared to assist whoever will ride with him in mounting.
Perception: [dice=20] + 9[rand=83580091618932787883997056633234544751391746103817375068133696914]
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Post by comicsans12pt on Nov 9, 2011 13:50:28 GMT -4
Ori steps up to Cael. She eyes the horse standing next to Cael. She seems a bit....hesitant.
"As far as these things go," she nods to the horse standing next to Cael, "this mare is beautiful. I fear my talent for riding is not up to the quality of this creature. Still, if it's acceptable to you and Naria, i'll ride with you and learn what i can about this new art."
She winks at Cael and begins to look for a way to get herself up onto the horse.
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Post by joviality on Nov 9, 2011 18:40:46 GMT -4
Cael smiles at the dwarf, admiring her spirit. Not many unversed in riding would try their hand so readily. As she steps toward the horse, he offers a hand and a boost for her up into the saddle. He then vaults up on the animal after her, sitting in front of the dwarf.
Acrobatics: [dice=20] + 4
He glances back to Ori. "No worries, you're in safe hands." A small grin appears on his face.
Looking at the other two, he says, "You two alright getting on?"[rand=403246746631339268554055155254977788472687825564236450083553791]
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Post by irishmagician on Nov 11, 2011 16:27:57 GMT -4
(Furtive DM Die-Roll: 58. Spelling errors >_<)
The party manages to mount their respective steeds, the two mares stomping the ground impatiently and tossing their manes with a whinnying snort. As soon as the last person mounts, the horses take off down the street leading away from the Temple. They seem to respond to the rider's thoughts and desires, and are rather obediant beyond their desire to arrive the ultimate destination.
The steeds move swiftly through the streets Oakdale, their hooves making little sound as they canter along the cobblestone roads. The aftermath of the chaos can be seen clearly as you ride throughout the town; bodies lay lifeless in alleyways, buildings smolder slightly from a recently extinguished fire, and other scenes unfold before you. It does seem that most of the fighting in the town itself seems to have died down, as you see a stronger watch presence and townsfolk wandering around to cleanup the carnage. Despite this lull, the aurora of twisting and undulating energy still gleams brilliantly in the sky, casting a soft violet light down on the town below.
The horses eventually come to the iron-wrought gates of the Oakdale Academy, the design of a large oak tree weaves its branches throughout the set of doors. Beyond it, off in the distance several groups of buildings can be seen, with a forest encroaching off to one-side. A large tower looms even farther past these beyond another set of gates. The top portion of the tower seems to have been completely obliterated, as piercingly brilliant purple light shoots forth from a vortex of magical energies swirling in the air above the tower.
Your attention shifts back to the gate as the horses approach what appears to be a barricade of sorts. Scrounged from the wreckage of merchant stalls, barrels, and fences, it serves as a perimeter for a large group of guards standing watch in front of the gates. Several of them shift around uncomfortably as they grip their spears, sending nervous glances over their shoulders at the tower in the distance. One of them steps forward as the horses stop short of the barricade.
"Halt!" he calls out. "We are under orders that no-one is to enter the Academy at this time!" As he says this, three other guards step up behind him with uncertain looks on their faces.
[rand=5730328503996134559981590136885661654328648000969923370005562901]
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Post by comicsans12pt on Nov 14, 2011 19:33:13 GMT -4
Ori clears her throat and shouts, "Hail!"
"We are here under orders to find a particular person who can help us." Ori pulls out the amulet and holds it up.
"Seamus has given us permission to search the Academy and has assured us that this will show you that we have his permission."
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Post by irishmagician on Nov 15, 2011 23:23:58 GMT -4
Upon sight of the token held by the dwarf, most of the guards relax. However, several of them lean in and whisper amongst themselves with a slight smirk on their faces. The guard who hailed the party removes his helmet, revealing a human with slightly angular features. His eyes glint purple in the shimmering light ahead as a mixed expression crosses his face.
"Oh, did he say that? That red-haired farmboy bast-...errr...," the man begins to say, tapering the end off with a slight cough. "I mean, Lieutenant[/b] Seamus needs to learn a thing or two about over-stepping his position. I am Captain Tomas Oakton, Head of the Watch. While I am sure that the merit behind your need to pass here is so[/b] great that Lieutenant[/b] Seamus would give you his badge, I am afraid that actual decision is quite outside of his...authority. Though, if I knew he was so[/b] eager to relieve himself of his badge, I would have gladly taken it from him..." Tomas trails off, obviously imagining such a thing in his mind. He turns his back to you dismissively and says over his shoulder, "you'll have to come back later when the Governor rescinds the order prohibiting entry to the Academy, unfortunately for you. If you are in need of an escort to safety, please do inquire with one of the guardsmen..."
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Post by comicsans12pt on Nov 16, 2011 19:22:44 GMT -4
Ori wonders. Did Seamus set them up or did the Governor? Either way, others suffer. She could feel a fury rising that she knew she must keep in check. This was not her town but Erfyrnn was her people and he was hurt.
She looks to Vince. "I'd not expected the petty bickering of two mere soldiers to allow so much suffering and death to happen."
She turns to address the back of the Captain and says, "Where i come from if a warrior knows he is right, he makes decisions in the field and is not afraid of what a superior will say. If Lieutenant Seamus has overstepped his bounds, perhaps it is because he is the better warrior."
"If the only person who can help with this mess dies because we cannot get into the Academy, then if i were you, Captain Tomas Oakton, Head of the Watch, i would worry about more than the Governor. I will come for you myself."
Ori's fury is seen in her face.
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Post by Veritas on Nov 17, 2011 15:00:57 GMT -4
"Soldiers do what soldiers do," Vince begins, but then he watches in silence as Ori turns towards the men and speaks to them. He does everything he can do to not plant his face in his palm as Ori is speaking loudly towards the Captain. Aw, goddamnit.
His eyes look over to Cael first, and then to Miriam, and he just grins. How many times did he talk his way past these sorts of folks? Well, more than she'd remember. After all, this is what he does now. Slipping from the horse, Vince moves over to Ori, reaching up to rest a hand on her arm as he looks out to the captain.
"Calm yourself, Ori. Captain Oakton is a good man, doing a good man's duty. He doesn't recognize the situation for what it is. Perhaps he is right, in that the Governor has sealed the Academy. But what the Captain doesn't realize is that the Governor - a good fellow himself, of course - can't know the things we know. Let's be truly honest here," and now Vince turns his head to the Captain himself, giving an easy grin. "We're friends of the Archmage Erfyrn, and he told us how we can figure out how to sort this out. Look at it this way..."
Vince starts to walk over towards the Captain, holding out his hand, moving it left to right. "Now, on one side, we have the Captain, doing his duty, which will lead most likely to this problem continuing, the city destroyed, nothing left. It's hard to be Head of the Watch of a city that is ruined. On the other side," and the hand slides to the other way as he continues to speak, "On the other side, you have Captain Tomas Oakton, who made the brave and bold decision to let four extremely lucky souls forward. Souls who will become heroes, and remind everyone that Captain Oakton was the key...to getting this done."
"Then there's the final side. Four people pass here, disappear, die in there, and nobody ever knows that there was a moment when the Captain turned his back and let a couple people slip past his cordon."
(Diplomacy check: [dice=20]+12)[rand=45109896400264680873472569125245480673369460781166626108170981515]
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Post by irishmagician on Nov 18, 2011 1:25:34 GMT -4
The captain is at first completely speechless at the retort coming from the dwarf, a slight flush of rage creeping slowly up his face. Behind him, the guards who had smirked earlier reach to grab their weapons. As Vince speaks, Tomas sharply stops them with a gesture, the rage on his face replaced with an expressionless visage. He is silent for a few moments, apparently mulling the words over in his mind. The captain then speaks in a dangerously calm tone.
"Fair words, good sir," he says to Vince; "though you must forgive me, if I appear a little...doubtful...of what you claim. These times are rather trying on one's patience, I am afraid." He walks a couple of paces away, turning to look at the Wizard's Tower off in the distance for a few moments. The captain strokes his thin beard thoughtfully, a calculating look spreading across his face. He turns back to you all decisively.
"A mutually beneficial situation, eh?" he says with a derisive grin. "Very well, I will let you pass...with the following condition." The captain looks at the western skyline above the town, as the last remaining rays of sunlight fade into night. "Return here with evidence on the cause of this chaos before the sun rises on the morrow. Should you not, I will have Lieutenant[/b] Seamus sent in to search for you or your corpses; either one is fine by me, really. He will be alone and unarmed of course, I won't be able to spare any resources to assist him in his search, unfortunately. I doubt he will survive long and will most likely perish a rather painful death." He savors that idea for a second before continuing. "Though I must say, I rather look forward to filling out that paperwork. Regardless, these are my terms," the captain says with finality. "Take them, or leave."
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Post by Veritas on Nov 20, 2011 10:55:45 GMT -4
The look on Vince's face is nothing more than purest innocence as the captain speaks. Vince's head tilts as the man speaks back. His distrust of Seamus is obviously more than a little rivalry. There is pure hatred there. Nodding, the professor steps forward, starting to move past the captain. "I accept your terms. Don't worry, Captain. You'll get your little bump in fame when we return. Then you won't have to worry about the troublesome minstrations of Lieutenant Seamus for some time. After all, how long since there has been a true Commander...no. General...of the watch?"
Vince smiles an easy smile as he is starting past towards the Wizard's Tower, leading his horse as he does, to navigate both the barricade and gates. Whereupon he stops, to wait for his companions. If he feels any pressure at taking another man's life into his hands, he doesn't show it. Instead, he only exudes confidence.
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