Lone Wolf I: Shadows on the Dorn

[Andrew D. Gable]

Hearing the urgency in the Kai's voice, Jesabela redoubles her efforts to lower the rope. As the rope hits the ground, the shadow of an approaching figure hits the wall opposite the door. Davias collapses on the floor, and as the figure is seen outside the room, it drops its disguise as a barmaid and is revealed as what Moon's Brand feared - a Helghast.

You'd have been able to deduce its identity. And that's what it was, so it's a moot point.

 

[Krug]

Hoagar raises his rifle and fires at the barmaid. "Back to hell you go!" he shouts.

 

[Relenoir]

Moon's Brand, understanding the implications of the arrival of this creature, shoulders her bow and prepares her sword. Moving to block the Helghast's approach toward the others, she prepares herself to fight a battle that she knows she can't win. "Unless somebody's got a magic weapon, I won't be able to hold it off for long. Get Davias and the rest of you out of here!" she says. Moon's Brand will try to keep the Helghast from the room by fighting defensively in the doorway. Hoping that this delaying action will work, and the fact that the Helghast must have at least been blown backward by the force of Hoagar's blast, she will jump out the second floor (it is the second floor, yes?) window after the last person begins down the rope, relying on her high Dex and Hunting skills to help her land safely. If it is too high for her to semi-safely jump, hopefully she can rappel her way down by grabbing the rope on her way out the window and sliding down faster than the Helghast can cut or untie it. By the way, if Helghasts burn (not sure if they do), would fire help us? I don't have the core book yet. . .

 

[Paido]

Running out of curses for the moment, Jesabela quickly fastens the rope, then calls softly to Silver Wind for help and makes a grab for the collapsed Davias, intent on pulling him to the window.

 

[Relenoir]

Damn! I was hoping not to be leaving at such an interesting point in the game. Andrew, I'm heading for Disneyworld and won't be back until about January 3. I'll leave Moon's Brand in your hands for the time being, and hope she survives until I get back. In case you want us to roll initiatives, I just got a 10 on the D20, plus my Dex would be 14.
Happy Holidays Everyone!

 

[Andrew D. Gable]

The Helghast shrieks as a shot from a Bor-musket rings out. Thrown back to the opposite wall by the blast, Moon's Brand slowly begins backing towards the window as Jesabela and Silver Wind pull Davias towards the window. The scroll falls out of its place in the Durenese man's vest pocket. The Helghast shrieks and dives for the scroll. Moon's Brand kicks it back towards the pirate.

I'm not going to actually make you fight the Helghast -- with its damage resistance, I think it would be very tough and rather doubtful you'd pull through.

 

[Krug]

"It's not dead?" gasps Hoagar, feeling slightly insulted. "Get the scroll Jesebela and lets be off!"

 

[Paido]

Hastily Jesabela grabs the scroll, then she gives a - somewhat shaken - cocky grin, turns and almost jumps out of the window, clambering down the rope like a monkey. Assuming there's no greeting comittee: About five or six feet above the ground, she lets go of the rope, drops down, hits the ground running and disappears into the shadows ...

Andrew:

Spoiler

She's not going to run from the party, only from the Helghast; Jesabela's just trying to draw away the admittedly deadly foe from the others - and the (still living?) Davias - and to find a good hiding spot in the darkness where she can wait for the others. She'll prefer a spot from which the escape window is still in sight.

Krug? Relenoir? Shame on you for peeking!

 

[Andrew D. Gable]

Scroll in tow, Jesabela hits the ground and flees into the streets surrounding the inn. Thankfully for the citizens of Ragadorn, the streets are mostly empty. As expected, the Helghast takes off after the pirate. Her ability to lose herself in urban settings comes in handy, and she hears a shriek somewhere behind her as the Helghast loses its quarry.

The others make their way out of the burning building (( OOC: Davias still lives, though he's unconscious )) and turn across the bridge over the muddy, stinking waters of the River Dorn.

 

[Relenoir]

Wow, I go away for a couple weeks and the whole website looks different! Glad I didn't miss too much. . .
As they cross the Dorn, Moon's Brand takes quick inventory of her allies and suggests they get to someplace where they can tend to Davias and that hopefully Jesabela will be able to find them. "Just keep in mind, if the Helghast wanted to try to find Jesabela, it might take on the guise of her to get near us. When we next see Jesabela, we need to confirm it's her. Perhaps we should ask her for the same response that Davias gave us when we met him? I hope she makes it; a Helghast is a dangerous adversary," she says, then says a quick prayer to Ishir to protect Jesabela. "I'm sure she isn't trying to escape with the scroll, she's had plenty of opportunities in the past to do so. I think she's trying to lead the creature away." Moon's Brand then begins looking for a place they can keep a low profile and wait for Jesabela.