"Small, yes," Seelia agrees with Gilda, "but also fast, and I can shoot the leg off a fly from a hundred paces." She pauses, then adds, "Your paces, I mean. And he's a powerful mage! Trust me, when he sees what Zephyr and I can do, he'll beg you to find him more of us and offer a finder's fee if you can!"
Arcana Evolved: The Tale of the Crystal Princess
- Thread starter Dr Simon
- Start date
Dr Simon
Explorer
"Well... if you put it like that..." says Fernando. "Just so you know, I would fight to protect Gilda." He looks at his new bride, and she smiles back at him. A moment passes and then they suddenly remember that they have company. "Although I'm glad I don't have to deal with that unpleasant man," he gestures to the Captain, who is overseeing the deployment of his men.
[sblock=OOC]
I don't have full stats for Zephyr but the roll was good even if he has no ranks in Diplomacy.
[/sblock]
[sblock=OOC]
I don't have full stats for Zephyr but the roll was good even if he has no ranks in Diplomacy.
[/sblock]
Herobizkit
Adventurer
[sblock=@Dr Simon]It looks like I've been remiss in the final clean-up of Zephyr. I don't have ranks in Diplomacy, or a bunch of other stuff either. Gleep. http://www.enworld.org/forum/5193166-post81.html[/sblock]
Dr Simon
Explorer
"A strange bunch of mercenaries," says Captain Steiglitz looking over the group stood before him. "But I'll take all the help I can get."
After the abrupt arrival of the captain and his men, the wedding party quickly lost its momentum, and fell apart. The vaijetes have sloped back to their barges, other guests have dispersed and Gilda and Fernando are nowhere to be seen. Count Rosen's soldiers are enjoying the leftovers and the inkeeper's family are clearing away around them as best they can. The moon is setting, the night has got colder and darker.
"You, faery and talking cat. I'll have to see if you can fight as well as you say, but an army is always in need of... intelligence operatives. And the bride said you were a powerful mage, Old Do... Professor." The captain takes a sip from his goblet - evidently he has found some wine that he finds acceptable. "I'll pay you all as specialists - one gold crown a day on top of food, but you buy your own equipment like all the other soldiers. Tomorrow we ride out to join the rest of the army, then we strike camp and try to intercept Ironheart's army and bring them to open battle. Are you in?"
After the abrupt arrival of the captain and his men, the wedding party quickly lost its momentum, and fell apart. The vaijetes have sloped back to their barges, other guests have dispersed and Gilda and Fernando are nowhere to be seen. Count Rosen's soldiers are enjoying the leftovers and the inkeeper's family are clearing away around them as best they can. The moon is setting, the night has got colder and darker.
"You, faery and talking cat. I'll have to see if you can fight as well as you say, but an army is always in need of... intelligence operatives. And the bride said you were a powerful mage, Old Do... Professor." The captain takes a sip from his goblet - evidently he has found some wine that he finds acceptable. "I'll pay you all as specialists - one gold crown a day on top of food, but you buy your own equipment like all the other soldiers. Tomorrow we ride out to join the rest of the army, then we strike camp and try to intercept Ironheart's army and bring them to open battle. Are you in?"
grufflehead
First Post
The Professor listens to some of the other 'guests' offer their services to defend the honour of the young groom, and a flicker of pride tinged with shame at his own unwillingness to volunteer passes through his aged frame. Peering at the officer, he slowly nods his head and says 'very well, if my skills can be of some assistance in the matter then I shall accompany you'.
He waits for the others to start to move away and says 'oh captain? A moment of your time?'. The old lecturer spends several heartbeats peering with rheumy eyes at the younger soldier. Eventually, he says 'have you ever heard the expression about teaching an old dog new tricks? Perhaps as my time grows short, my capacity to learn them has left me for good...'. He shakes his head sadly.
He continues 'which is unfortunate, as it would have been useful to be able to develop a capacity to take being lectured by an intellectually stunted, sneering, arrogant, pompous bully; and like it!'. He raises a hand as if to stop the inevitable retort about to explode from the other's mouth.
'I find your manner vile in the extreme, but sadly there appears little either of us might do about it at this stage. However, just to clarify things for you, you have at least persuaded me of the need to join forces against a greater foe. Nevertheless, regardless of how the other 'mercenaries' feel, I'm not your lackey - you can keep your crown a day and perhaps use it to attend a class on humility when this is all over - and so won't be following your orders. My talents, such as they are, will hopefully minimise any bloodshed and indiscriminate damage'.
Just as it appears he has finished his address, he slowly reaches up and carefully removes his spectacles, before carefully tucking them into his robe. Pulling himself up to his full height, with surprisingly clear eyes, he locks gaze with the Captain. Perhaps it is a coincidence and a cloud has chosen that very moment to pass in front of the evening sun, perhaps those who were there merely imagined the sudden increase in pressure that made hair and fur stand on necks and the backs of hands.
Taking a pace towards the soldier so his snout is almost touching his face, Professor Gruffle raps him smartly in the breastplate with the end of his staff. In a voice laden with rich, resonant power, he says 'there are some tricks even a dog as old as I don't forget. I've seen wars, and fighting, death and the ambitions of small men. I've seen what they do to communities like this, and to the Green, warping it, corrupting it, pushing it back so the Dark can encroach. Better make sure that you conduct yourself and your men with that in mind. Or all they'll find of you are those nice shiny spurs you like to strut about in. Once they've cooled down enough, your second in command might like to give them to someone who'll wear them with a touch more decorum'.
And with that, the old Sibeccai, stooped and leaning on his staff, shuffled back to Gilda and Ferdinand and began speaking quietly to them.
[sblock=OOC]I'll let the GM roll an Intimidate if you wish - don't want to spoil it all with a 1 after that
I'll use the ability to channel a spell into my staff to give me a total of +11 on it[/sblock]
He waits for the others to start to move away and says 'oh captain? A moment of your time?'. The old lecturer spends several heartbeats peering with rheumy eyes at the younger soldier. Eventually, he says 'have you ever heard the expression about teaching an old dog new tricks? Perhaps as my time grows short, my capacity to learn them has left me for good...'. He shakes his head sadly.
He continues 'which is unfortunate, as it would have been useful to be able to develop a capacity to take being lectured by an intellectually stunted, sneering, arrogant, pompous bully; and like it!'. He raises a hand as if to stop the inevitable retort about to explode from the other's mouth.
'I find your manner vile in the extreme, but sadly there appears little either of us might do about it at this stage. However, just to clarify things for you, you have at least persuaded me of the need to join forces against a greater foe. Nevertheless, regardless of how the other 'mercenaries' feel, I'm not your lackey - you can keep your crown a day and perhaps use it to attend a class on humility when this is all over - and so won't be following your orders. My talents, such as they are, will hopefully minimise any bloodshed and indiscriminate damage'.
Just as it appears he has finished his address, he slowly reaches up and carefully removes his spectacles, before carefully tucking them into his robe. Pulling himself up to his full height, with surprisingly clear eyes, he locks gaze with the Captain. Perhaps it is a coincidence and a cloud has chosen that very moment to pass in front of the evening sun, perhaps those who were there merely imagined the sudden increase in pressure that made hair and fur stand on necks and the backs of hands.
Taking a pace towards the soldier so his snout is almost touching his face, Professor Gruffle raps him smartly in the breastplate with the end of his staff. In a voice laden with rich, resonant power, he says 'there are some tricks even a dog as old as I don't forget. I've seen wars, and fighting, death and the ambitions of small men. I've seen what they do to communities like this, and to the Green, warping it, corrupting it, pushing it back so the Dark can encroach. Better make sure that you conduct yourself and your men with that in mind. Or all they'll find of you are those nice shiny spurs you like to strut about in. Once they've cooled down enough, your second in command might like to give them to someone who'll wear them with a touch more decorum'.
And with that, the old Sibeccai, stooped and leaning on his staff, shuffled back to Gilda and Ferdinand and began speaking quietly to them.
[sblock=OOC]I'll let the GM roll an Intimidate if you wish - don't want to spoil it all with a 1 after that
I'll use the ability to channel a spell into my staff to give me a total of +11 on it[/sblock]
Herobizkit
Adventurer
Zephyr smiles that adorable way that only cats can smile. "Your offer is accepted, Captain. You will soon learn that no one can be judged by appearances alone."
"My name's Seelia," the faery replies, giving the sibeccai a quick glance. "One gold a day's pretty slim pickings, but if we get salvage rights too, then I'll do it...as a wedding day present. As for how I fight, if you have a target range I can show you right now. Otherwise you'll just have to wait and see. Still, the fact that I'm still alive ought to tell you something."
Walking Dad
First Post
Dr Simon
Explorer
The captain, left speechless by Professor Gruffle, merely mutters a "yes, fine" to Zephyr, Seelia and Targas before storming off to take out his frustrations on his men.
Meanwhile, the Professor finds the newlyweds inside the Waybeloved Inn, packing.
"Professor," says Gilda breathlessly. "I'm sure that horrible captain isn't going to just let those people take Ferd's place. We're going. If you can help us in any way to get past the soldiers..."
Meanwhile, the Professor finds the newlyweds inside the Waybeloved Inn, packing.
"Professor," says Gilda breathlessly. "I'm sure that horrible captain isn't going to just let those people take Ferd's place. We're going. If you can help us in any way to get past the soldiers..."
Dr Simon
Explorer
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