Metropolis (Slaves to the City) - Chapter Two

[jkason]

The children wake from their slumber but move only enough into the shadows to watch the confrontation that is unfolding before their homes. The dwarf shambles up the road towards Ru, giving him plenty of time to prepare his attack. His staff whirls in his hand, cracking the dwarf soundly across the head and causing the shaft to jar in his hands.

Blood sprays across the street and their is a cracking sound in the dwarf's face, as the cannibal looks back Ru notices that his jaw is out of place. It doesn't slow him down though. The dwarf lunges at Ru, giving him time to try one last strike across the man's chest to slow him down, but all it succeeds in doing is throwing the dwarf's balance out and pushing him to the ground.

Rolling on the street, the dwarf desperately tries to grab Ru's feet to bite, but his staff comes down heavily several times and Ru hears the sounds of bones breaking in the man's legs and back.

The dwarf moans and wails, trying to scream through a shattered jaw. Barely able to pull himself across the street, it seems that the man will not die...

Ru pulls back, once again sickened by this state of ... not unlife, even, but perpetual living. It was an ugly thing, and whoever had inflicted it on the Killi-kelli-hek was sick indeed.

Noticing the children still milling about in the shadows, bearing witness to the monstrosity inching its pained way along the ground, Ru realized his opportunity. Cynical as street kids could be, even they couldn't help but be fazed by what they were seeing. Street beatings? Common. Street beating victims that just won't die? Not so much.

Keeping a safe distance from (and an eye on) the dwarf, Ru called out to the kids. Two birds with one stone time, it was.

"Most of you know me from my protection rounds. Those that don't, ask the others; it'll keep you healthy to know who not to pickpocket.

"This thing?" he pointed to the moaning corpse. "It's cursed. It's whole clan is cursed. And I'm out to get rid of that curse, 'cause ain't no one deserves this, and you know it.

"The ones responsible walk around wearing yellow robes. Don't go near them, either, unless you want to end up cursed like this one. You see them, you find me and tell me, and I'll do what needs doing. Capice?"

Ru grabs the chains connected to the dwarf's leg weights and uses them to keep his distance as he drags it back over to the water and dumps it in, hoping it's too disabled to climb back out again. He has no idea who has done this to the Killi-kelli-hek. For all he knows, it's their natural state. Maybe that's how they survive, eating chunks off each other without dying. But it sure did sound good, and gives the greedy little street rats a powerful, non-monetary incentive to spread the word and keep an eye out.

Now, home. Ru stinks of dwarven gore and sweat. He needs to clean his weapons, his clothes, and himself. Then hopefully an hour or two of rest before he has to start quizzing the merchants about the yellow robes, too.

 

[Phoenix]

As the albino approaches Jovik with his question of being capable of stealth, the Jackal grunts a "Yeah, I can do that stuff well enough" and wanders over to the stealthy party. His wandering on the "beach" were not entirely in vain however, his head has cleared and the drink has passed some clarity has returned. 'Ok' thought Jovik, 'so the yellow robe guy wasn't interested in Wasp, because he was picking a pocket, but merely becasue he spotted a child. But that weird thing he did that made the street stop, Idunno what that was about, but maybe that was how he made the kids forget me. Must have been, he coulda never founf those boys in the alleys. 'course they live HERE so who knows right? Well no pack of boys will be safe I suppose with these yellas around. And there goes a decent living, plus those kids was supporting families at that.' And as if he has finally decided whether to stay and extract revenge or run and survive as the Jackal knows best, Jovik squares his shoulders and steps into the stealthy line. 'Well' he thinks, 'If I want revenge better to have a good bunch of men to go in with than to go in alone. By the hells, I sure didn't bet on a whole group of them doing this.'

Phoenix:
[sblock] Should I stay in this thread or move to Chapter 1.
Love, the Naughty Monkey

ps: Really, I wasn't trying to jump chapters[/sblock]

OOC:
[sblock]The first time you have meaningful interaction with the others you can jump chapters, at the moment you're stil doing fine here [/sblock]

Once the groups have been decided the inital scouts number seven. Jovik, four halflings (including Perrik), and two humans. The big half-orc, whom Jovik heard was named Ba'aktar, begins waving people in through the door, signalling the beginning of the assault.

[sblock]Hide check (DC hidden) +17
Move Silently check (DC hidden) +22[/sblock]

As they approach the door, the albino elf, Ghost, whispers to them all to scout the far chamber and check the door opposite. Once the way is clear they should return and the warriors will come and secure the area as a foothold.

The door itself is set into the rock wall of the cavern and once opened, a perfectly cut corridor leads down to a rusted iron door. As the group approaches one of the halfling runs out ahead and slowly opens it, just wide enough for one man at a time to slip through.

Jovik slides through the gap with ease, and is somewhat surprised to find himself walking on a perferated metal walkway that circles a large spherical chamber. On the far side of the walkway a second iron door stands, obviously the way that Ghost wanted to go.

Below him, Jovik noticed that there was a large gathering chamber of sorts, probably religious. At the head of the chamber was a large metal vat in which dozens of pipes and tubes fed into. Down by the vat two men in yellow robes were extracting some of the liquid through a small tap in its front, filling tiny glass bottles with the liquid and setting them aside on a wooden tray at their feet.

 

[Phoenix]

Now, home. Ru stinks of dwarven gore and sweat. He needs to clean his weapons, his clothes, and himself. Then hopefully an hour or two of rest before he has to start quizzing the merchants about the yellow robes, too.

Sleep didn't come easy to Ru. For once he was worried, if one could not dispose of one's enemies, what would the city come to? He awoke late in the night after a nightmare, something about the shattered dwarf crawling up out of the harbour to hunt him once more. Damn dreams.

He stretched and licked his dry lips, water. Rolling out of bed, Ru walked to the window and grabbed the water jug, gulping down huge mouthfuls of the stuff to sate his thirst. His eyes subconsciously drifted outside, watching the few people that were still about.

Two men were fighting in an alleyway nearby, swords clashed and shouts rang out. Not really unusual in this part of the city. Ru saw one of them ungraciously stab the other in the belly, the stranger falls to the ground, probably dead.

The first man walks out of the alleyway, his body covered in wounds. Three cuts across his face, half his left hand cut off, some of his insides hanging out of his stomach, there is no way that man could be standing. Then his victim rises once more and leaps from the shadows into the street, slashing desperately and starting the fight anew. Both have enough wounds on their bodies to drop the strongest of men, but still they continue on regardless.

 

[jkason]

The first man walks out of the alleyway, his body covered in wounds. Three cuts across his face, half his left hand cut off, some of his insides hanging out of his stomach, there is no way that man could be standing. Then his victim rises once more and leaps from the shadows into the street, slashing desperately and starting the fight anew. Both have enough wounds on their bodies to drop the strongest of men, but still they continue on regardless.

Ru stopps mid-gulp, slowly placing the jug back down as he watches the fight--and innards--unfold. This isn't just with the dwarves. This is... what in the hells is this?

Forget sleep. The damn dry air had already pretty much dried his clothing from the washing he'd given them. He throws on his clothes, grabs up his weapons and his rucksack, and heads out into the night. He makes sure to leave in the opposite direction of the dueling never-dies, then looped around to find Master Gis. He'd been around; maybe he'd seen something like this before. Surely someone knew something, and Ru intended to find that someone.

 

[Phoenix]

He makes sure to leave in the opposite direction of the dueling never-dies, then looped around to find Master Gis. He'd been around; maybe he'd seen something like this before. Surely someone knew something, and Ru intended to find that someone.

The streets of Metropolis do not sleep at night, the darkness only serves to drive the desperate from their homes to prey on the weak. Ru made his way quickly and quietly through the streets, he was hardly in any mood for confrontation this night, Master Gis' wisdom awaited.

The shop was closed for the night, though Ru's key slipped easily into the lock and soon he was walking into the meditation room on the second floor. Master Gis rested before an image of the Guressan*, insence burning thick in the air about him. Without opening his eyes or moving a muscle he speaks.

"Ru. It is late. Do you have some pressing concerns coming here? It is not often that you bless me with your presence at this time of the evening."

[sblock]*The Guressan is an idol often found in the chambers of venerable monks. It is a representation of wisdom, compassion and mercy, taking the form of a woman with twelve arms and the head of a cow.[/sblock]

 

[Fenris]

OOC:
[sblock]The first time you have meaningful interaction with the others you can jump chapters, at the moment you're stil doing fine here [/sblock]

Once the groups have been decided the inital scouts number seven. Jovik, four halflings (including Perrik), and two humans. The big half-orc, whom Jovik heard was named Ba'aktar, begins waving people in through the door, signalling the beginning of the assault.

[sblock]Hide check (DC hidden) +17
Move Silently check (DC hidden) +22[/sblock]

As they approach the door, the albino elf, Ghost, whispers to them all to scout the far chamber and check the door opposite. Once the way is clear they should return and the warriors will come and secure the area as a foothold.

The door itself is set into the rock wall of the cavern and once opened, a perfectly cut corridor leads down to a rusted iron door. As the group approaches one of the halfling runs out ahead and slowly opens it, just wide enough for one man at a time to slip through.

Jovik slides through the gap with ease, and is somewhat surprised to find himself walking on a perferated metal walkway that circles a large spherical chamber. On the far side of the walkway a second iron door stands, obviously the way that Ghost wanted to go.

Below him, Jovik noticed that there was a large gathering chamber of sorts, probably religious. At the head of the chamber was a large metal vat in which dozens of pipes and tubes fed into. Down by the vat two men in yellow robes were extracting some of the liquid through a small tap in its front, filling tiny glass bottles with the liquid and setting them aside on a wooden tray at their feet.

In thieves cant, Jovik raises his finger and spins it indicates to his fellows who can understand to encircle the room, he then points down to the two yellow robes, points to his eye and then draws his thumb across his throat followed by a finger against his lips. Again telling those who understand, that once they have encirlced the men, or they have been spotted, they will all atack at once. With instructions given as best they can, the Jackal proceeds with caution around the metal grating, quietly drawing his bow for use at some point.

 

[jkason]

The shop was closed for the night, though Ru's key slipped easily into the lock and soon he was walking into the meditation room on the second floor. Master Gis rested before an image of the Guressan*, insence burning thick in the air about him. Without opening his eyes or moving a muscle he speaks.

"Ru. It is late. Do you have some pressing concerns coming here? It is not often that you bless me with your presence at this time of the evening."

Ru kneels next to his master, bowing his head deeply as a sign of respect for The Guressan before speaking. He, too, avoids eye contact for the moment, hoping the story will sound less outlandish if he's not faced with Gis' truth-seeking stare.

"I don't know how or why, but it seems death has abandoned us, Master," Ru begins. "This very night I've witnessed three separate instances of people who should have died from their wounds rising and walking again. But this wasn't merely revival at the hands of a Necro. Those you can still slay. These ... Master, they just kept going. Pulped and broken, they dragged themselves forward with their fingers if that was the only joint still whole. It's like nothing I've heard of before--something I didn't think even possible."

Now he turns, unable to hide his desperation. "I wonder ... you're the wisest person I know. You've travelled more of Metropolis than I can imagine. I hoped perhaps you would know something, or be able to point me in the direction of someone who might."

 

[Phoenix]

Ru kneels next to his master, bowing his head deeply as a sign of respect for The Guressan before speaking. He, too, avoids eye contact for the moment, hoping the story will sound less outlandish if he's not faced with Gis' truth-seeking stare.

"I don't know how or why, but it seems death has abandoned us, Master," Ru begins. "This very night I've witnessed three separate instances of people who should have died from their wounds rising and walking again. But this wasn't merely revival at the hands of a Necro. Those you can still slay. These ... Master, they just kept going. Pulped and broken, they dragged themselves forward with their fingers if that was the only joint still whole. It's like nothing I've heard of before--something I didn't think even possible."

Now he turns, unable to hide his desperation. "I wonder ... you're the wisest person I know. You've travelled more of Metropolis than I can imagine. I hoped perhaps you would know something, or be able to point me in the direction of someone who might."

"Little Ru, let me ask you something," Master Gis passes a small cake across for Ru to contemplate on. "These answers you seek, are they for counciling, profit, or are you simply seeking the truth?"

 

[Phoenix]

In thieves cant, Jovik raises his finger and spins it indicates to his fellows who can understand to encircle the room, he then points down to the two yellow robes, points to his eye and then draws his thumb across his throat followed by a finger against his lips. Again telling those who understand, that once they have encirlced the men, or they have been spotted, they will all atack at once. With instructions given as best they can, the Jackal proceeds with caution around the metal grating, quietly drawing his bow for use at some point.

[sblock]Scout's Move Silently check (DC 18) +22 - Success
Scout's Hide check (DC 12) +14 - Success[/sblock]

Four of the men slowly creep down the ladder and approach the two yellow robes from behind. One grabs and covers the mouth of the cultist, while the second runs a knife across the man's throat. The two robes are lowered gently to the ground and the four men look back up to The Jackal for further instructions.

 

[Fenris]

[sblock]Scout's Move Silently check (DC 18) +22 - Success
Scout's Hide check (DC 12) +14 - Success[/sblock]

Four of the men slowly creep down the ladder and approach the two yellow robes from behind. One grabs and covers the mouth of the cultist, while the second runs a knife across the man's throat. The two robes are lowered gently to the ground and the four men look back up to The Jackal for further instructions.

Jovik tosses down some rope and signals for the men to be tied up and hoisted up to the catwalk. 'Never leave a body to be spotted' the Jackal reminds himself as he chaffes at the slow progress. He then signals two others on the far side to go and listen at the door opposite. The Jackal will signal the two humans to haul up the dead cultists and will take a good look at the lower room to see if there are in doors on the ground floor. Once the scout reach the other door and signal no noise and the bodies are up on the catwalk, the Jackal will send back a scout to give the all clear to Ghost.

OOC:[sblock]sorry, I know I am holding up the Ch1 group, Im' trying to hurry this part along[/sblock]