Exploring the Hase-Suna Complex (Manzanita judging) [Concluded]

[TwistedMindInc]

Rolling her head upon its stand, groaning as the men debate. ``Death is never final, nor is it always the end. For some? It's only the beginning.`` Payne worked hand in hand with death over the years, and not honorably as they have talked. She wasn't one that put much thought towards it, other than not partaking when it involved children. She had a soft spot for them. Yes, we know.. how evil of her. Everyone had a chink in their armor - her's was youth. So, when Zurd had approached her about slaying the women and children, her foot was put down. ``I find it humorous, Zurd, how you speak of me all most losing my life in the battle. And you continue to point fingers at Kol, yet.. where were you? Saving my life? Oh. No, that's right.. you were painting yourself in the blood of the fallen 'foes'.. right.. next.. to.. me. If it were not for Lokin running back in, I wouldn't be here arguing with you right now.`` And to that statement, she snorted with laughter. ``So, thank you Lokin for prolonging this seemingly endless conflict.`` Payne had actually turned to make eye contact with the warrior, and actually wink at him. Lost in her own humor, she winced when the limb Zurd severed from its body was tossed in the water. Jumping away from the pool to keep from catching the splash back. ``Easy there, killer.``

 

[orsal]

[sblock=darkvision]
In the distance you can see three more pools, but still can't see the edge of the room.
Drop this text at http://www.irony.com/java/mmee
*BEGIN 0 0 rs 0
*s -1 c 30 rs 0 0 c -30 c -c c 30 *s -1 g 6o rs 0 0 8 6o 8 0 g
@-g *s -1 2c 3o rs 0 0 -c 2c -4 1o c 18 10 10 1o 18 24 1o 2c 2c
@24 30 1o 3g 10 3o c 3g -4 30 -c 2c *s -1 2c 1c rs 0 0 10 1c c 14
@-4 o -c 0 -4 -o c -14 10 -1c 1o -14 24 -o 2c 0 24 o 1o 14 10 1c *s
@-1 2c 60 rs 0 0 10 3c c 3k -4 40 -c 4o -4 5c c 5s 10 60 1o 5s 24
@5c 2c 4o 24 40 1o 3s 10 3c *s -3 39 1i rs 0 A *s -3 38 65 rs 0 B
@*s -3 3b ar rs 0 C *s 6 2z 7m rs 0 *s 0 13 51 rs 0 *s 0 1m 51 rs
@0 *s 0 1n 4d rs 0 *s 0 2b 7m r5 -15 *s 0 14 5q rs 0 *s -3 29 50
@rs 0 *s -3 2p 7d rs 0 g *s -3 1s 59 rs 0 Z *s -3 h 54 rs 0 P *s
@-3 3 5t rs 0 Kon *s -3 2z 8d rs 0 Kol *s 0 3q 7q rs 0 *s 6 28 4e
@rs 0 *s -3 13 4b rs 0 L *s -3 1r 81 rs 0 Kyle *s 7 1r 5m rs 0 *s
@-3 1t 44 rs 0 (f) *s -3 z 6d rs 0 *s -3 z 6b rs 0 *s -1 4o 4c
@rs 0 0 20 30 28 2c 2o 1w 3c 1o 40 1w 4g 2c 4o 30 4g 3o 40 44 3c
@4c 2o 44 28 3o 20 30 *s -1 4o 20 rs 0 0 3c 20 2o 1s 28 1c 20 o
@28 0 2o -g 3c -o 40 -g 4g 0 4o o 4g 1c 40 1s 3c 20 *s -1 4o 6o
@rs 0 0 3c 40 2o 48 28 4o 20 5c 28 60 2o 6g 3c 6o 40 6g 4g 60 4o
@5c 4g 4o 40 48 3c 40 *s -3 7y 2s rs 0 D *s -3 7w 7h rs 0 E *s -3
@7z c5 rs 0 F
*END -5dhucy
[/sblock]

Kongu listens intently to the recriminations.
[sblock=Sense Motive DC13 (roll your own)]
She is surprised to learn that the orcs had done nothing to provoke Kol's attack.[/sblock]

Zurd throws an orc limb into the pool, as Lokin and Kol team up to heave an entire orc in. The limb disturbs the water, making ripples -- and then disappears briefly as it drops. When the whole body goes in, the water is disturbed much more. As the ripples clear, the treasure has disappeared, and both the limb and the body are suddenly visible at the bottom of the pool, about 8' below the surface.

 

[Lot]

(OOC: Sense Motive: 5)

 

[TwistedMindInc]

( Not going to bother rolling, because Payne doesn't see it as being a wrong thing to have done. )

 

[DerHauptman]

Zurd watches the pool ignoring the rest of them...when the surface breaks and the gold disappears, he rolls his eyes....

%$#@&* !!! Perfect just %&$#@ing perfect!

Nothing in here and we've compromised any chance of getting the chief to show us where the "real" treasure is.

<laughing> Well, at least we can rest, sure in the fact that in the end, the orcs knew we were their enemies. I wonder what that is worth in gold...

Rather abruptly, and without warning he heads off (directly east of where he is) toward the pools he sees out of the range of vision of the others to see what he can see before they follow.

He calls for Kurg to come... When he gets out of sight (or at least making enough distance to whisper to Kurg without the others hearing in case they decide to follow) he gives Kurg the command "guard" in reference himself. (see below)

[sblock]
Kurg has been given the command to "guard" Zurd. The intent is so that Kurg will be poised with a readied action to attack anyone who attacks his master.

He is in a heightened state of alert and will not let anyone get too near, he will try and keep himself between Zurd and others (the one he views as most threatening if more than one person), he will let out a low growl if he thinks anyone is getting inside the safe zone (personal space), he will show teeth, growl threateningly and bark if anyone makes an aggressive move inside that space or at Zurd and if anyone actually attacks Zurd he will use his readied attack and attempt to trip the attacker.

Now I think, that while technically he can't "ready" an action unless initiative has been rolled I say since the "guard" command puts Kurg on the offensive and is active not passive that it is plausible that he is always taking combat actions while in this heightened state of readiness. I have used this in games of my own with regard to bodyguards, royal men at arms and in tense situations when one side suspects the other of possible threats at any moment. They are considered to me moving in a deliberate manner.

Feel free to adjudicate this however you consider fair - I will go along regardless. It's not worth arguing over. However, I think that in some situations especially with a trained animal there should be some kind of benefit to being on alert. Perhaps even a modifier to initiative if nothing else.

I'll caveat this with I intend to take no combat actions at this time regarding the group. Its just a precautionary measure I think Zurd would take and the whole purpose for having trained animals to begin with.

[/sblock]

 

[D20Dazza]

"For the benefit of you that don't have darkvision there are some more pools out there" Kyle says tiredly indicating the direction Zurd had taken.

Turning to the resting Lokin the fat dwarf says "Its all sounds rather complicated, and bothersome, perhaps when next advertsing for help we should let people know that there is a, ummm, issue" he says with raised eyebrows and a wink.

 

[hero4hire]

OOC: are you rolling sense motive against Kol? TMK He hasnt lied about anything.

 

[Lot]

Lokin nods to Kyle as he starts securing his shield to his back.

"Yeah, we should have warned you, I suppose. We'll figure something out after we clean this place out. For all the trouble it's been, no one is ready to walk out and give up their claim on whatever treasure is in here. So it looks like we're all going to be together for a while."

With his left hand now free, Lokin lights a torch and carries it. With a strained grin, turns to the party.

"Let's go follow our fearless leader. Maybe we can be berated for not following plans we didn't know about and be constantly reminded of how much better everything would be if we'd done what he said. That never gets old."

With that, Lokin proceeds east after Zurd.

 

[TwistedMindInc]

Watching the treasure disappear, Payne swears under her breath. She knew it! Damn her for being right. And just where did Zurd think he was going? More pools? Oh, that sneaky bastard! Trying to get a look at what may be within before her? Mm.. we do not think so. The rogue hastily turned on heel and followed the 'party' as they made way into the dark-- oo, newly lit area. ``For the record? I didn't ask for any of this..`` She motions elaborately in the air, trying to encompass Zurd and Kol in her invisible diagram. Lokin's comment did however bring a crooked grin to her lips.

(OOC: Grr.. stupid play by post, makes it hard to accurately act sometimes. Payne never would have let Zurd march off by himself, because she had all ready seen more pools in the area. The greedy thief definitely would've tried to beat everyone to the punch, but, alas.. getting to the boards after Zurd cost me. )

 

[D20Dazza]

Kyle slowly rises, using the wall to help push his mass up and forward, and desolutely follows behind his quarreling companions, keeping a wary eye out for attack.