Last Stand of the Dorinthians (Final Chapter)

[Deuce Traveler]

Barok
[sblock]
You travel through the streets and seem to be able to avoid patches of pursuing humanoids by dodging down side paths while getting closer to the crumbled walls near the river. You smile at your own luck until you notice the crow flying above you and begin to realize that you are not escaping, but instead are being funneled. Behind you are the former Dorinthians and Imperials that have been chasing you, but 50 feet ahead of you and along the fallen walls can be seen waiting figures blocking your path to the harbor buildings and river.
[/sblock]

Caramip, Dartis, and Silas
[sblock]
You see no one outside of the city and eventually scramble over the ruined walls that you find yourself next to. It would seem as if fire and siege weapons eventually pulled them down. You scramble over the rubble and peer inside from a higher vantage point on the top of some of the broken walls. The rare movement that you do see in the town involves several townsfolk and soldiers, but they are some distance from you, walk aimlessly, and are more in the far side of the city closer to the river and harbor buildings.
[/sblock]

 

[Nephtys]

Frowning in irritation at having been tricked by his pursuers Barok drinks a potion of invisibility and heads for the second most likely way out (since the most likely way is probably a trap).

 

[Fenris]

A hollow pit forms in Dartis' stomach. This was worse than seeing it destroyed. He turns to Silas "What has happened here? A plague? A famine? I see Imperial soldiers, but they have left no sentries, no guards. Something is much amiss here. Caramip, what do you make of this?"

 

[GlassEye]

Silas shakes his head. The look on his face clearly shows that he feels as sickened by the sight as Dartis. Squinting into the distance towards the moving men he says, "Plague, yes. That could do this. Or perhaps it is something...worse. Be ready for anything; I don't like this." An echoing croak sounds from Silas' cloak pocket.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

Silas, Caramip, and Dartis
[sblock]
You continue forward and pass by an old chapel to the Rider, ignoring the building despite seeing a light in the top of its steeple. What's of more immediate interest is the gathering of people you see further down closer to the river. They are still a few minutes away, and as you approach you note that you see no movement at all in the city. It's eerily quiet except for the crying of a flying crow that passes above you and then continues towards the river.
[/sblock]

Barok
[sblock]
You drink your potion and just like that you disappear from sight. The Imperials and Dorinthians look around as if confused and you take the opportunity to climb up the crumbled section of wall, careful to look for traps or dug pits along the way. As you quietly move between two creatures in Dorinthian clothes you see the robed figure walk into sight a hundred feet away and lit by moonlight. "You lost him? Tch. How very disappointing. And here I was hoping to make a new friend." You hear the cry of the crow you saw earlier, and the bird lands on the figure's shoulder. "What's that? There are three other guests on the way? Well, I suppose three for dinner is much better than one. Let's greet them properly, shall we?"
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[Bloodweaver1]

Caramip

“That’s odd. Just one bird in the whole town.” Comments Caramip as they make their way into the town. “I think it’s a safe bet that someone knows we are here.”

 

[Nephtys]

Barok looks at the mad priest and considers his options for a moment. He could try to warn his allies that they had been noticed, but what good would that do? He did not really know much about the true nature of the threat they faced and his opponents were blocking his most direct path to them. The cleric's minoions would probably reach Dartis and the others before he could even warn them of the threat, and in that case he would be of very little use. If the townspeople were undead there would be no point for him to try to fight them directly, and his invilisiblity would fade before he got a chance to attack the cleric while he was distracted by attacking his associates. On the other hand Dartis, Caramip and Silas could easily outrun the shambling minions if the odds were against them. So, what should he do?
As far as he could see it there were only three realistic objectives here. Get information about what had happened here (and figure out a way to use it), loot everything that isn't nailed down, and (if it would be convenient and desirable) kill the cleric of Festios. The best place for at least two of those objectives was the cathedral, but one important test could be carried out in the streets.

Moving from shadow to shadow, using but not relying on his invisibility, Barok stalks, looking for easy prey. If he finds a shambling slave alone in a dark and isolated place he draws his weapons, moves silently closer and stabs the poor minion in the back.

 

[GlassEye]

Silas follows the bird with his eyes until he can no longer see it. "Yes, you're likely right. Now, does anyone see Barok?"

 

[Deuce Traveler]

Barok
[sblock]
You begin to hug close to the sides of the nearby buildings and watch as Silas, Dartis, and Caramip get near. You still intend to disappear from this area, although you hang nearby for a moment to see what will happen.
[/sblock]

Caramip, Dartis, and Silas get closer to the large group near the wall that divides the river harbor area and the outskirts of the city. The people are wearing either Imperial soldier clothes or those of common Dorinthians. A man in a black set of robes and wearing an expressionless, thin-lipped mask of marble stands in the center, a crow resting on his shoulder. "Ah... the other visitors have arrived. We haven't had visitors in some time, and suddenly we've had four, although the fourth seems to have slipped away. Please do not be afraid. Perhaps you would like to join me on neutral ground and talk. Maybe we can sit in one of the nearby harbor houses or boathouses."

 

[Nephtys]

[sblock=ooc] I thought the rest of the group were further away on the other side of town.[/sblock]