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<blockquote data-quote="the Jester" data-source="post: 2211872" data-attributes="member: 1210"><p><strong>Things Go Awry</strong></p><p></p><p><em><strong>9/3/369 O.L.G., 3 p.m., the road to Sritivara</strong></em></p><p></p><p>The rest of our heroes’ journey, though not uneventful, was simply a journey interrupted by a couple of enocounters. Neither the bulette nor the river troll caused the party an exceptional amount of distress, though the time required to harvest the bulette’s hide is considerable and delayed our heroes’ journey somewhat. The most exciting part of it was the party’s discussion of the name H.A.M., or the Halfling Action Militia. They collectively like it.</p><p></p><p>Now, at the gates to Sritivara, the party finds a group of tough-looking guards in uniforms resembling the Strogassian. The guards give them a considerable hassle; apparently, the word that Martini killed the old mayor is out amongst them somehow. The halflings keep themselves from giving too much away or getting too mouthy with the guards, finally <em>suggesting</em> that they aren’t the halflings the guards are looking for. Once inside the town, Ezeekiel insists on checking in with Grizliwentho, the gang leader that our heroes had previously defeated and made into their man, and what he discovers horrifies him.</p><p></p><p>Two days before, the <em>Black Sea</em> and the <em>Bloody Chum</em> (two ships from Zacradose, the island that was technically the capitol of the Strogassian province including Dyshim) had arrived in Sritivara, disgorging over a hundred marines. The reinforcements the now-dead mayor had been seeking had arrived at last. But their uniforms are slightly different than the standard ones they had worn previously, leaving some of the Strogassian Imperial marks off and making some subtle changes. The former governor of Zacradose has apparently decided that, with the death of the Dark Emperor (still not known to most people, but our heroes read between the lines while traveling with Laodegan), the time is ripe to carve out his own kingdom. Now, instead of Governor Stackler, he sports himself King Stackler. And he has sent several hundred troops to bring his ‘rebellious possession’ back in line. </p><p></p><p>“Oppression!” curses Zeke. </p><p></p><p>Unfortunately, while the party is in conference with Grizliwentho, Naomi manages to deal the Green Tigers several insults while the party and the gang leader talk. Finally, she is ejected, fuming, from the safe house they are at to wait in the alley out back. Muttering imprecations to herself, she lights up a cigar, tips her top hat back and sighs. <em>Damn humans,</em> she thinks. <em>They’re so uppity... yet so tasty.</em></p><p></p><p>Then, suddenly, pain explodes in her head as someone saps her from behind. Naomi drops like a sack of potatoes. </p><p></p><p>Inside, Brickneck nearly picks a fight, and he too is ejected from the gang’s safe house. Much like Naomi, he is ambushed and taken prisoner without much fuss.</p><p></p><p>The others, unaware of the shennanigans in the alleyway outside, continue their discussion with Grizliwentho. “We left too soon after we liberated this place,” states Ezeekiel firmly. “We can’t make the same mistake again.”</p><p></p><p>Grizliwentho nods seriously. “We’ll do what we can to aid you,” he promises. “My boys don’t like these Zacradosian soldiers any more than you do.”</p><p></p><p>A few minutes later our heroes head out into the alleyway to look for their friends. Not only are both Brickneck and Naomi missing, but Naomi’s top hat lies forlornly against the wall of the building next to the Green Tigers’ safe house. “She wouldn’t have dropped this willingly,” Federico says worriedly. </p><p></p><p>Just then soldiers start to pour into the alleyway. With a collective cry of dismay, our heroes turn and flee. Hortense casts <em>obscuring mist,</em> which helps them escape capture- for the moment, anyway. They rush through the streets towards the halfling district, praying that the soldiers won’t receive much in the way of directions from the townsfolk they are newly-oppressing. Unfortunately, whether they are betrayed by an informer or simply unlucky, moments after arriving at the halfling district they find themselves engaged by a squadron of longspear and awl pike-wielding soldiers! Federico takes out a pair of them with a <em>sleep</em> spell, and they are individually no match for our heroes; but they move in ranks, with one ranks of awl pikes behind a double-layered front of longspears. Our heroes try to fall back and pepper their foes with missile fire, and for a moment the formation wavers as Martini slays one after another of the spearmen; but then they form up again, clustering around their sleeping comrades and taking a moment to wake them up. </p><p></p><p>Federico tries another trick. Using a <em>ventriloquism</em> spell, he attempts to fool the enemy into believing that they are about to receive an attack from the rear. Their sergeant sees through the clever little kobold’s deception. “Fools! It’s a trick! ATTACK!!!” he roars. The spearmen surge forward again.</p><p></p><p>But the halfling strategy is working, thinning the soldiers’ ranks with arrows and bolts; and Federico shoots another <em>sleep</em> spell their way. The formation wavers again and Ezeekiel charges in with his axe, crying out, “H.A.M.!!!!” He hews about, slashing ahead and to either side, and the sergeant turns to spring towards him, sword weaving in a complex pattern. He never makes it- one of Martini’s arrows hits him in the ear, slaying him instantly. </p><p></p><p>In a few more seconds the battle is over. The squad is defeated, with the last of the pikemen surrendering to our heroes. </p><p></p><p>“Where are our friends? What are you doing with them?” demands Zeke angrily.</p><p></p><p>The man cowers. “They have been taken prisoner. Commander Lender...”</p><p></p><p>“Lender!” exclaims Martini. That’s the name of one of the major halfling clans, famous for usury. Just to be sure, he asks, “Is he a halfling?”</p><p></p><p>Their prisoner nods. Grone Lender, it turns out, is actually one of the officers of the invasion force, and according to the party’s captive, he is responsible for instilling the fear of the invasion force into the island. He is a creative and sadistic villain, from accounts the party heard earlier. After learning what they can from him, the party releases him with an admonishment to get out of town. Sandy gripes about letting him go, but Ezeekiel won’t harm a prisoner. </p><p></p><p>Then things get even more complicated. The battle, which happened in the halfling quarter, was naturally observed by the locals (from within the safety of their homes and the quarter’s tavern). Now one of them emerges, whom our heroes have seen before: Heather Peachtree. Our heroes’ relations with the Peachtree clan have been very poor since once of their clansmates shot out Benjy Peachtree’s eye a year before or thereabouts. Now his cousin Heather challenges the party to explain their actions, and angrily begins to challenge them to a fight.</p><p></p><p>Jawbreaker has seen enough. He wants her to be his wife.</p><p></p><p>So he tries to club her over the head and drag her off by the hair. </p><p></p><p>But things go horribly awry. She turns her head towards the blow he directs with the flat of his axe instead of away from it, and there’s a sickening crack. </p><p></p><p>Her neck snaps, and Heather Peachtree collapses in a heap on the ground, insensate and paralyzed.</p><p></p><p>”Jawbreaker, no!” cries Hortense.</p><p></p><p>“What are you doing!” shouts Ezeekiel is dismay.</p><p></p><p>“Jawbreaker want wife,” he says. “Jawbreaker thought... is she okay? Uh oh,” he grumbles. This isn’t how things are supposed to turn out! To his chagrin, Heather Peachtree is groaning deliriously in pain, and her head lies at a horrible angle.</p><p></p><p>”Heather, I’m so sorry!” cries Zeke. “Oh my god, we didn’t mean to...”</p><p></p><p>A rotten fruit splatters on Jawbreaker. He turns to see several angry young halflings with handsfuls of fruit advancing, throwing at them. This is <em>not</em> a good day for our heroes.</p><p></p><p>“Retreat to the sewers!” cries Federico.</p><p></p><p><em><strong>Next Time:</strong></em> What do our heroes do now? Things are definitely not the best they’ve been for the party. I guess the best next move is... to set something on fire!!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="the Jester, post: 2211872, member: 1210"] [b]Things Go Awry[/b] [i][b]9/3/369 O.L.G., 3 p.m., the road to Sritivara[/b][/i][b][/b] The rest of our heroes’ journey, though not uneventful, was simply a journey interrupted by a couple of enocounters. Neither the bulette nor the river troll caused the party an exceptional amount of distress, though the time required to harvest the bulette’s hide is considerable and delayed our heroes’ journey somewhat. The most exciting part of it was the party’s discussion of the name H.A.M., or the Halfling Action Militia. They collectively like it. Now, at the gates to Sritivara, the party finds a group of tough-looking guards in uniforms resembling the Strogassian. The guards give them a considerable hassle; apparently, the word that Martini killed the old mayor is out amongst them somehow. The halflings keep themselves from giving too much away or getting too mouthy with the guards, finally [i]suggesting[/i] that they aren’t the halflings the guards are looking for. Once inside the town, Ezeekiel insists on checking in with Grizliwentho, the gang leader that our heroes had previously defeated and made into their man, and what he discovers horrifies him. Two days before, the [i]Black Sea[/i] and the [i]Bloody Chum[/i] (two ships from Zacradose, the island that was technically the capitol of the Strogassian province including Dyshim) had arrived in Sritivara, disgorging over a hundred marines. The reinforcements the now-dead mayor had been seeking had arrived at last. But their uniforms are slightly different than the standard ones they had worn previously, leaving some of the Strogassian Imperial marks off and making some subtle changes. The former governor of Zacradose has apparently decided that, with the death of the Dark Emperor (still not known to most people, but our heroes read between the lines while traveling with Laodegan), the time is ripe to carve out his own kingdom. Now, instead of Governor Stackler, he sports himself King Stackler. And he has sent several hundred troops to bring his ‘rebellious possession’ back in line. “Oppression!” curses Zeke. Unfortunately, while the party is in conference with Grizliwentho, Naomi manages to deal the Green Tigers several insults while the party and the gang leader talk. Finally, she is ejected, fuming, from the safe house they are at to wait in the alley out back. Muttering imprecations to herself, she lights up a cigar, tips her top hat back and sighs. [i]Damn humans,[/i] she thinks. [i]They’re so uppity... yet so tasty.[/i] Then, suddenly, pain explodes in her head as someone saps her from behind. Naomi drops like a sack of potatoes. Inside, Brickneck nearly picks a fight, and he too is ejected from the gang’s safe house. Much like Naomi, he is ambushed and taken prisoner without much fuss. The others, unaware of the shennanigans in the alleyway outside, continue their discussion with Grizliwentho. “We left too soon after we liberated this place,” states Ezeekiel firmly. “We can’t make the same mistake again.” Grizliwentho nods seriously. “We’ll do what we can to aid you,” he promises. “My boys don’t like these Zacradosian soldiers any more than you do.” A few minutes later our heroes head out into the alleyway to look for their friends. Not only are both Brickneck and Naomi missing, but Naomi’s top hat lies forlornly against the wall of the building next to the Green Tigers’ safe house. “She wouldn’t have dropped this willingly,” Federico says worriedly. Just then soldiers start to pour into the alleyway. With a collective cry of dismay, our heroes turn and flee. Hortense casts [i]obscuring mist,[/i] which helps them escape capture- for the moment, anyway. They rush through the streets towards the halfling district, praying that the soldiers won’t receive much in the way of directions from the townsfolk they are newly-oppressing. Unfortunately, whether they are betrayed by an informer or simply unlucky, moments after arriving at the halfling district they find themselves engaged by a squadron of longspear and awl pike-wielding soldiers! Federico takes out a pair of them with a [i]sleep[/i] spell, and they are individually no match for our heroes; but they move in ranks, with one ranks of awl pikes behind a double-layered front of longspears. Our heroes try to fall back and pepper their foes with missile fire, and for a moment the formation wavers as Martini slays one after another of the spearmen; but then they form up again, clustering around their sleeping comrades and taking a moment to wake them up. Federico tries another trick. Using a [i]ventriloquism[/i] spell, he attempts to fool the enemy into believing that they are about to receive an attack from the rear. Their sergeant sees through the clever little kobold’s deception. “Fools! It’s a trick! ATTACK!!!” he roars. The spearmen surge forward again. But the halfling strategy is working, thinning the soldiers’ ranks with arrows and bolts; and Federico shoots another [i]sleep[/i] spell their way. The formation wavers again and Ezeekiel charges in with his axe, crying out, “H.A.M.!!!!” He hews about, slashing ahead and to either side, and the sergeant turns to spring towards him, sword weaving in a complex pattern. He never makes it- one of Martini’s arrows hits him in the ear, slaying him instantly. In a few more seconds the battle is over. The squad is defeated, with the last of the pikemen surrendering to our heroes. “Where are our friends? What are you doing with them?” demands Zeke angrily. The man cowers. “They have been taken prisoner. Commander Lender...” “Lender!” exclaims Martini. That’s the name of one of the major halfling clans, famous for usury. Just to be sure, he asks, “Is he a halfling?” Their prisoner nods. Grone Lender, it turns out, is actually one of the officers of the invasion force, and according to the party’s captive, he is responsible for instilling the fear of the invasion force into the island. He is a creative and sadistic villain, from accounts the party heard earlier. After learning what they can from him, the party releases him with an admonishment to get out of town. Sandy gripes about letting him go, but Ezeekiel won’t harm a prisoner. Then things get even more complicated. The battle, which happened in the halfling quarter, was naturally observed by the locals (from within the safety of their homes and the quarter’s tavern). Now one of them emerges, whom our heroes have seen before: Heather Peachtree. Our heroes’ relations with the Peachtree clan have been very poor since once of their clansmates shot out Benjy Peachtree’s eye a year before or thereabouts. Now his cousin Heather challenges the party to explain their actions, and angrily begins to challenge them to a fight. Jawbreaker has seen enough. He wants her to be his wife. So he tries to club her over the head and drag her off by the hair. But things go horribly awry. She turns her head towards the blow he directs with the flat of his axe instead of away from it, and there’s a sickening crack. Her neck snaps, and Heather Peachtree collapses in a heap on the ground, insensate and paralyzed. ”Jawbreaker, no!” cries Hortense. “What are you doing!” shouts Ezeekiel is dismay. “Jawbreaker want wife,” he says. “Jawbreaker thought... is she okay? Uh oh,” he grumbles. This isn’t how things are supposed to turn out! To his chagrin, Heather Peachtree is groaning deliriously in pain, and her head lies at a horrible angle. ”Heather, I’m so sorry!” cries Zeke. “Oh my god, we didn’t mean to...” A rotten fruit splatters on Jawbreaker. He turns to see several angry young halflings with handsfuls of fruit advancing, throwing at them. This is [i]not[/i] a good day for our heroes. “Retreat to the sewers!” cries Federico. [i][b]Next Time:[/b][/i][b][/b] What do our heroes do now? Things are definitely not the best they’ve been for the party. I guess the best next move is... to set something on fire!! [/QUOTE]
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