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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Eccles" data-source="post: 5664662" data-attributes="member: 5675">20th AugustRecently knighted we are introduced to the rest of Gallows’ bodyguards and “special” staff.Leopold (as yet unannounced / decided surname) Human HuntsmanThe son of a minor noble in Gallows’ estate, Leopold himself seems to swap between huntsman and scout depending on whether the land is at war or not. With thick lustrous hair, and a beautiful beard to match his rugged outdoorsman build! Armed with two vicious looking short blades, its said his skill with them is only rivalled by his skill with the quill, of course he saves his poetry on for those of his own status, such culture is wasted upon peasants!Arty – Gnome Genius Gadgeteer and Alchemist ExtraordinaireAs mentioned, a gnome by all accounts though hard to pin down his appearance as his face is hidden partly by a huge set of goggles that he rarely takes off, the rest is a mass of beard (more than a little singled in places) with a near Mohawk of hair jutting up from his head. Clad in a thick leather frock coat festooned with pocket and where there aren’t pockets arcane symbols have been cut into the leather. Over (or perhaps under) the coat he has a strange harness and backpack, covered in all sorts of valves and gears and seems to buzz and whir at a low hum. Cables and strange pipes seem to flow from this contraption into other bits of armour and gadgetry that he wears. One thick set of pipes spiral like serpents into an oddly shaped device that shares lineage with a crossbow!On with the TaleAfter the short and informal ceremony Gallo tells us we will be riding out almost immediately and orders quickly work their way around the camp for his retinue to form up, when we do ride out our numbers barely reach thirty and our “trip” to the peace conference seems to harkens more towards a surrender as Steppengards entire army (some fifteen thousand) escort us every step of the way to Bresk.Three days later we reach the city (one we only recently fled leaving a bloody trail of carnage behind us) to a massive parade in which everyone seem to cheer madly for their king and several hours later when our little group passes through the streets much of their enthusiasm has waned (of course the liberal amount of grey cloaked Talon agents amongst them could also be responsible for our muted greeting). Still we reach the castle and ride into the courtyard with our heads held high (some higher than others). A flock of children sweep forward presenting people with lilies, behind them ruining the mood of the gesture is a garrison of soldiers all with crossbows armed and ready. In one lonely corner stands the Ragesian Envoy Seramis standing with a grin on his face, behind him as ever stands Torax the Inquisitor in his bearskin and little else, spiked straps and harnesses cover his modesty, scar tissue covers the rest.Steppengard dismounts from his horse and approaches Gallow, hand held out in gesture and as pair lock arms, he addresses the crowd speaking heavily of coming together, putting the past behind us and bringing a brighter future for all. He praises Gallows steadfastness, standing true to his ideals and rousing him to his senses! “New information has come to light that will show us who is really at fault! But those are matters that will wait until the Tournament of Unity has finished!” Gallow leans in to whisper “you are talking about the Ragesians?” but the king doesn’t answer.With all the pomp and ceremony over we discover that we are staying in a manor house within the city limits, we head there are a huge group and are barely unpacked when Lord Dashkoban and Lady Timor appear for an “informal” chat, generally bemoaning the lack of a decisive victory on the field of battle and all believe there is more to this conference than it seems, like us they are wary of the kings generosity.The next day the festival and tournament begins, we arrange a loose schedule with Lord Gallow so that we aren’t all stuck guarding him so we may enjoy the games (and also dig a little dirt). His indulgence however comes at a price “I was told that Jinis would be …returned… to me after the banquet, the statement was delivered as ominously as I’ve given it to you. I wish you to discover what has happened to the man before the day is out!”So our trip around the Tournament of Unity begins with Leopold enrolling in the Joust competition, committing him to returning every few hours to compete in the next round, with Cricket convinced to act as the man’s squire (the details of the tournament listed later as a complete entry), that done e head into the faire that spans across several districts of the city.We discover that we have become quite infamous within the city, notably due to our previous exit but many (but not all) are amused by the rumours the Ruby is a vampire that seem to flitter through the streets. Leopold fiercely defends the “lady’s” honour which brings a chuckle to Crickets lips every time the fiery impassioned noble voices his displeasure at the peasants!As we walk along the streets and stalls checking out the fairly naff works (the quality of the merchandise severely reflects the haste with which the festival has been arranged, local fair and poorly made at best) when we are harassed by a dwarf, he seems to be looking to hire acts for the nobles amusements between tournament events, many of his bookings failed to reach the capital in time and now seems to be hiring anyone who can do anything at all. “So the dog there” he says pointing at Dag and the scruffy looking tabard tied around his neck “Can he do any tricks? Sit? Play Dead? Roll Over? Anything… no, ok you?” finally coming to Ruby who performs a little ditty on her Lute and has a hastily written certificate thrust in to her hands “Main Ring, after the jousts!” scribbled on the back “you’ll be paid after the show!” he says before scampering off towards a man singing badly out of tune on the corner.Following our noses we reach a street filled with vendors and stalls filled with all manner of foods and snacks, but one stalls (and I use the term loosely a cart overfilled with pots, pans and other cooking utensils) next to a small brazier. The owner, a Halfling (in a massive chef’s hat) seems to be in a heated argument with a local over the quality of the food as we approach we hear the tail end of the argument “Peasant filth! You don’t deserve my food, you have the palette of a donkey!” he roars in a thick accent that sets his huge moustache a quiver. The tiny chef snatches the plate of food back, tips it into the dirt and throws a handful of coins at the spluttering peasant “be gone from my sight!” the chef demands “your stench alone is curdling my Coulis! Shoo, shoo” he continues sweeping at the man with his hands. The peasant stands in shock, unable to decide if he should leave or punch the Halfling, finally comes to a decision his head sinks and he retreats.We waste no time in gathering around his little makeshift kitchen and see what he has to offer. Leopold in particular congratulates the mans cooking talent and enquires about his training, the chef tells his tale of outrage “Two days ago I was zee ed’ chef at the castle, cook to King Steppengard ‘imself and now, thrown out into zee street. A team of specialists have been brought in, usurped my place to cook iz’ banquet!” he continues his tale and it all sounds exceedingly suspicious! We continue to wolf done his delicious food, but our meal is rudely interrupted by a coy looking palace guard who tries to move the chef along for “causing an obstruction and disturbing the peace” however a few choice words from Ruby makes him change his mind, embarrassed at attempting to bully the Halfling he falls back on “those were my orders m’am” while staring at his feet, we slip him a few coins and he lets us finish our meal. Cricket suggests that he heads over to Gallows manor house, a good cook is hard to find and his presence will be most welcome and we leave him to pack up his things.Our next little incident occurs shortly after we stumble across a street filled with games of chance and other amusements, a dwarf in a silly hat pushes his way through the crowd and tugs on Leopold’s coat “I must not be seen with you!” he hisses. We all step in close forming a curtain of flesh around us as he quickly blurts out that he is a guard at the castle and used to be assigned to a position near the back of the castle near the graveyard, here there is a small postern gate that is normally guarded at all times but he was recently reassigned to the royal vaults and checking the duty logs no other guards were sent to replace him. He snuck back there once or twice to find the gate wide open and a bunch of dodgy looking priests bringing crates of dubious stuff in. Now he’s been given the day off, a few coins and told to go and enjoy himself while half the castle stands open to anyone.We continue our amble down the street trying a few of the games of chance such as Horseshoe Tossing (Leopold wins a match, Cricket does not) and we spend a few minutes at the Coin in a Cup as the peddler swishes the cups around, we fail to spot it a few times but eventually we break even. Ruby suddenly dashes off, a test of strength stall captivating her attention. “Why little… eh?... lady, fancy a swing?” asks the peddler, happily taking her coin and handing over the hammer, she takes the hammer and attempts to heft it up and over her head but her grip falters and the heavy hammer slips and crashes into the floor. Leopold quickly leaps into action “are you ok my dear? No, no, I’ll take it, we can’t have you hurting yourself, far too delicate” and snatches the hammer away from her “this is a game for Men, is it not Cricket?” “Oh! Aye, something like that” replies the half-orc, and the pair of them each take a swing ringing the bell.Finally reaching the end of the street we find a square with two loud and noisy events going on, on one side a group of mages are duelling each other, a small crowd watches them waggling their wands and producing a plethora of sparks, more than a few people turn away and join the crowd for the other performance where a man dressed in a gaudy wizards outfit (complete with oversized pointy hat and robes filled with glittery stars and crescent moons) staggers around mumbling nonsensical “magical” phrases with an unfortunate lips as he blatantly pulls fireworks from his sleeves and hurls them up into the air where they explode in impressive colourful blasts, a rapt audience (mostly comprised of children) clap endlessly for each explosion!Being a man keen in all things Alchemical Arty strikes up a conversation with the man after the show as the rest of us applaud his efforts. The lisp quickly vanishes from his voice as he talks shop with Arty and reveals a tale of woe, he no longer has enough fireworks and other alchemical nonsense to do his final performance, his usual stockists have run out and seems every Alchemist in the city has been requisitioned (along with their stock) for some secret project at the castle! Never one to give up on a challenge Arty agrees a deal with him and vanishes for the rest of the afternoon cobbling together bits and bobs from a variety of house hold objects and supplies. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaQvBbzslJE]MacGyver Theme - Season 1 - YouTube[/ame]With a good mornings ramblings and investigating done we return to Lord Gallow to share our discoveries, he is likewise concerned (but not surprised) at our discoveries but of course is socially and politically bound to attend tonight. He tells us an old tradition of Dassan to trade plates with their host, he shall invoke that tonight and to be on the save side his Chaplains will magically ward us all against poison.The TourneyAs expected Leopold manages to waltz through the opening rounds against mismatched peasant rabbles and it’s not long before the real event starts against men of title (and own their own armour).His first serious bout is against the questing knight Ser Quincy Felthoof, a knight we had met before travelling to seaquen who was rather enamoured by Sir Brick (another of the bards’ fancies) and he does not recognise the now changed Brick. The first few turns are rather lacklustre but come together at the third when both collide into each other, their lances splinter and both tumble from their horses, the crowd joins as one to shout MELEE! It would seem the round will be decided on foot, by martial prowess and it is not long before Quincy is beaten down to his knees and yields.He moves on to face Grim Morgenson, a half-orc knight, refugee from Ragesia. He rides with lance but has a wicked looking spiked chain wrapped around his breastplate. However Leopold manages to unhorse him, in his fury the half-orc drags himself to his feet and punches his horse much to the booing of the crowd.His next opponent is Jeriff Buchaven and looks every bit the gallant jouster in gleaming silver plate. A whole fleet of squires rush around making sure everything sits just so; two young men carry his lance, a bright pink favour tied just in front of the guard. He waves towards a gaggle of ladies in the lists and snaps his faceguard down, Leopold glances over to his hulking squire and begins to feel quite inadequate; the half-orc nonchalantly ambles over, lance resting over one shoulder.Jeriff gets an early lead expertly sending his lance into Leopolds chest, the wood splinters and almost threatens to unhorse him but by grim determination holds on. They turn and go again and by more luck than judgement Leopold manages to even the score, his lance shatters against the knights shining breastplate. On their third pass the two both catch each other square and are unhorsed, the crowd goes wild and once again the chants for melee ripple around the arena as the pair pulls themselves to their feet. The pair square up and its long and brutal driving the pair to near exhaustion, Leopolds considers yielding before his legs give out and attempts one more act of bravado, but it seems Jeriff was feeling much the same way and falls for the rangers bluster and yields, leaving the path to the final for Leopold to travel alone.While things are prepared for the final event more musicians and dancers take to the arena to entertain the nobles and eventually Ruby’s number is called and she steps out into the public, lute at the ready and begins to play with all her Bardic heart and after standing ovation is forced to perform several encores before being praised by the King himself, which of course starts Lady Dean off (ever to try and lure the king to her bed) who rewards Ruby with a small plot of land within her boarders (some 20 acres in the Forest of Dean) and given the title of Baronettess.It’s after a heavy session with the tournaments healers and clerics and more than a healthy amount of ale before Leopold is fit to compete once again and finally gets to see his prize and of course the knight he is competing against. The stewards lead a magnificent beast around the arena, a prize stallion and white as pure snow the product of strict breeding by famed experts. His heart sinks a little when his gaze moves from the horse to his opponent to see her standing next to a similar animal.Silvia Cosalla, an expert jouster and professional duellist, a giant of a woman in some of the heaviest armour he’s ever seen “she’s huge” he gasps in a most unmanly fashion, quickly repeating himself in a forced deeper voice. “Aye, her balls are probably bigger than yours too” says cricket with a reassuring thump on the shoulder, before hefting him up and into the saddle. Across the way two men carry across a blunted boar spear and pass the huge weapon up to her, she grasps it easily in one hand “I’ll have a bottle of brandy ready for when you wake up” he adds.As expected the first tilt proves his undoing and like a run away wagon she slams her spear into his chest and he is catapulted off of his horse into the straw covered floor, she gazes down from herhorse and gives him the option of another tilt or the melee, he chooses the melee and she climbs down from her horse. Even in his chosen element he is run ragged and brought to a bloody and battered end and is dragged off the field by Cricket to the nearest set of healers.Shortly after the closing ceremonies and while Cricket and Leopold are busy clearing out their things from the stables they are interrupted by Silvia and she congratulates the ranger, giving him a few pointers and gives him the horse as she already has one.With the tournament over and everyone busy celebrating we decide that now is an opportune time to investigate the “abandoned” rear entrance to the castle, gathering our things we make our way through (with very little obstruction) the castle graveyards and as mentioned there is a subsidence revealing a cracked sewer pipe that leads under the castle. We carefully climb down the frozen earth and into the pipe to find the sewage frozen solid (but still very unpleasant looking). We follow the pipe away until it seems to stop being a pipe and more of a natural channel that winds under the castle.As we turn a corner we start to hear a pitiful groaning sound and casting our lanterns around we spy the source, a collection of zombies (or want of a better term) are half frozen waist deep in the sewage, unable to move they seem to form a writhing and grasping wall of putrid flesh that blocks easy passage through, to make matters worse three ghost like creatures bob and wave around and through the zombies, a mass of twisted faces that seem to suck at the air as if feeding on the misfortune of the situation. Leopold swears he spies Jinis’ face as part of one of the ghost like beings, sensing the presence of the living they turn and howl hitting us with a chill as cold as the grave, willing some into a magical hibernation!But we over come this by generally kicking each other awake and Arty keeps our spirits up as we play a cat and mouse game with them as the slink into the very walls of the caves to hide and ambush us while we avoid the grasping hands of the zombies around us. With the last of the ghost things obliterated we set to clearing out the zombies with ranged weapons until they are suitably disarmed (quite literally) and we can pass on through to the iron grate in the ceiling that they were somewhat guarding. However whatever it leads to is pitch black so we raise a lantern up and discover it leads into a room and the grate is in fact hinged, but there is a thin wire leading from it deeper into the room. Rogueless we turn to Ruby who gingerly reaches up and snips the wire… we all hold our breaths waiting for something to jingle or explode and are pleasantly surprised when nothing happens… so we quietly (well not really) push the thing open and clamber up into… a torture chamber.Having a search around the small room reveals a large number of racks and cages, the bodies of unfortunate souls draped or chained within them, strapped to a large wooden X are the remains of Jinis, his face horribly disfigured but still just recognisable, bits of his body are in a bucket below the X. Both Leopold and Cricket say a small prayer under their breaths, the best last rights they can offer before the ranger removes the dead mans signet ring and pops it into his pocket as proof for Lord Gallow.Ruby and Arty investigates the tiny wire that was attached to the grate and follow it back to a very well made hidden door in one corner and surmise that pulling the wire would unlock and open the door revealing whatever lies within. The bard gives a little tug, hearing a mechanism begin to strain and has her hand slapped by the gnome along with a telling finger wag of disapproval, inside the hidden chamber something moves!There is a single door that leads from the chamber, light from outside flickers through the cracks at the bottom along with a regular clanking of a man in armour patrolling, in hushed tones we debate going further into the castle or leaving with news of Jinis. It is agreed that we push our luck as far as we can and attempt to open the heavy door as quietly as possible, but everyone’s heart sinks as a loud creak squeals from the hinges and the heavy tread of the guard outside stops “whose there?”, all sense of surprise lost Cricket wrenches the door the rest of the way open, the guard looks a little flustered and is all thumbs trying to decide if he should reach for his cross bow or pull up his shield.Arty reaches into his many pouches and begins flipping tiny devices down upon the floor, each one unfurling like clockwork flowers and then flip over scuttling beneath peoples feet and lifting them with astonishing strength and speed, both Cricket and Leopold are swished forwards on the little clockwork spiders to close on the guard, so they can stop him.<a href="http://tinyurl.com/3v2rr54" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/3v2rr54</a>But alas he finally overcomes his mental block and shouts “Intruders!” and turns heading for the doorway at the end of the corridor behind him “in the castle” he adds as if that wasn’t obvious enough. Reaching the door he fumbles with the latch and manages push the thing open before cricket barrels into him from behind, driving his head into the doorframe as he pushes passed and into the room, allowing Leopold to slip up behind him, blocking his escape.However it appears the room was not empty, a rather shocked looking Seramis (the Ragesian Envoy) sits at a desk quill in hand, near him stands the Inquisitor Torax, impassive as ever and around the rest of the room several more knights busy trying to ready their weapons. A series of dark words come from the inquisitors mask and much to Ruby’s horror the body of Jinis (or whats left of it) drags itself from the rack and stumbles towards the hidden door, she raises he crossbow and plants a bolt neatly in the back of his head and the body collapses. Torax raises his non clawed hand, a beam of burning light dazzles Cricket, before coalesces around the wounded palace guard closing some of his wounds (that are quickly reopened by Leopold driving his blades into the mans chest).Dropping his Quill the envoy draws his dagger, takes a testing step towards Cricket as the half-orc is busy blinking and rubbing his eyes, but thinks better of it and slinks away towards the stairs the lead up and away from the barrack room. Arty runs up the corridor behind Leopold and pulls forth a small pounce, casting the purple dust in the air and begins to mutter at alarmingly high speed, the dust sparkles and a glowing purple eye bursts forward in a starburst of power, zipping over everyone’s heads and sits in the middle of the barracks, sweeping its gaze over everyone and firing tiny bolts of energy. Cricket lets out a howl of fury and literally frothing with rage lashes out at everyone in the room, blood, spit and steel flying in all directions.Another word from Torax raises another body in the torture room, like its predecessor it attempts to reach the door and suffers the same fate as the other, Ruby slips her crossbow down, winching it ready again in one fluid motion, her tail dropping another bolt in the groove. However the ting within the room seems to have woken up and slams itself against the door, obviously no longer content to be cooped up. Unconcerned at the death of another minion Torax flicks his free hand forward, a snake of fire leaps from his palm and slithers between Crickets legs, through the door and along the corridor leaving a path of roaring flame under everyone.With the room now partially on fire Seramis, turns tail and runs up the stairs as fast as possible vanishing around the corner. Leopold bundles his way through the fire and into the barracks, a little singed but full of zeal, clipping the knights on the shoulder with his blades taunting them as he backs into a corner ready to take on all comers, even Torax is swayed by his actions and steps away from the mad barbarian. His gambit pays off as Arty slinks into the room unopposed and levels hiscrossbow like contraption; there is a loud phssst as rocket whizzes out and crumples into one of the knights armour, leaving a blackened stain of ash on the now dented metal.Cricket levels his huge blade towards Torax “you’ll keep” he promises and hefts his blade over one shoulder as he turns and dashes after Seramis, taking the stairs two, sometimes three at a time and rounds the corner to find the envoy pitifully banging on a door, the barbarians first swing cleaves the man in twain, but more blows rain down reducing him to unidentifiable meat. In response the Inquisitor launches a huge fireball up the stairs which catches the barbarian in the chest sending him flying, the fire cascades around the room setting it ablaze and filling the room with acrid smoke and the smell of burnt meat. Badly burnt Cricket brings his singed hands up to his face, smearing and rubbing the soot from his eyes, coughs up more than a little blood and begins to clamber back to his feet. His gaze settles across the burnt remains of the envoy and an uncontrollable laughter bursts from his lips as he staggers back towards the stairs and the fight.Below Leopold and Arty continue against the palace guards whittling them down to only a single guard remains (as well as Torax), finally Ruby emerges from the flames (completely nonplussed by the heat) and dispatches the final guard leaving only the inquisitor. Both Cricket and Leopold set upon him and it’s not long before he retreats to a corner in the barracks “Forgive me my lady, I have failed you” and erupts in flame trying to engulf Cricket and Leopold as he kills himself but all of us prove more resilient that he anticipated and looks very confused to find himself still alive, living in failure. But that lasts only a moment as both the barbarian and ranger level their blades and plunge them forward but pulls one last trick even as Crickets blade impales him to the wall, foul magic snares the rangers blades and twists them, plunging deep into the Crickets back. The half-orc drops to one knee, breathing ragged and near dead.No longer alive to sustain the wall of flame it peters out and with a shocking crash of wood and stone whatever was contained within the hidden room breaks free. Ruby stands watch at the door, crossbow levelled along the corridor as a huge bleach white skeleton rounds the torture rooms door, a lump of twisting flesh hidden within its ribcage sends out tiny tentacles like a snakes tongue tasting the air… its cold lifeless voice roars “BLOOD OF THE LIVING!” and begins charge.</blockquote>

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