Metropolis - The Weight of the World (and Found Wanting)

[Tonks]

[Sblock]Sense Motive (DC 2) +11 - Success[/sblock]

"Yar what?" The scrubby gnome stared at Azot, and even though others shied away from his stench, the gnome seemed unfazed. "I dinna know whet ya meen ya funni leekin' fella, I git sum fud if'n thas wayya want?"

The huge man slowly turned the spit, his eyes lazily looking across to the new arrival.

"Leaguers:" His voice was slow, considered, careful, and very deep. "Slang dated only thirty-eight years old, dating back to the arcane societies of Aimsbridge during the resurgence of the studies of ancient history. The word pertains to a particular group of people dedicated to the research of a particular theory of geneology, archaeology, biology or suburbian history. Considered out of date in the current frame of society, Leaguers usually now refer to educational extremists looking to prove a wild theory to people considered to be of greater knowledge, experience, or intelligence."

Across the fire the gnome quickly shot, "Shuuuuduuup ya stoopid cow!"

His focus fully on the large man turning the spitted sewer snake, Azot handed the gnome some bits and walked towards the fire.

“Aimsbridge, where is this place? I would see it with my own eyes that the Leaguers of old are no more.”

Although the other man towered over Azot, it did not stop the druid from approaching to the edge of the spit and staring up at him while he waited for his answer.

[sblock]Another sense motive check to read the larger man as best he can.[/sblock]

 

[Scotley]

Still, a weak smile crossed Father Lunley's face as he ushered Jazick in.

"Welcome back son."

"What a night. I have seen a terrible thing this night and I need wise council." The story comes out in a confused tumble. First he tells of the battered hooker only to say that it seemed unrelated. The rest is told: a well dressed halfling and his whisle, the people sleepwalking and chewing bloody meat, the dark magic, Jackles, the halfling that was bloodless, the people waking confused. "I am still not sure that what I did was right. I slew the man and prevented the magic, but he seemed to want me too."

 

[GlassEye]

The group jumped a little at Ymris'...insistance. Their eyes scanned the picture and then tried to avoid her gaze as a poorly dressed, thin man yammered at her. "Jasmine, I dunno who she is. These have been around for months, local lads are handin' them out."

His eyes looked past Ymris, scanning the crowd for something, someone. "They been sayin' that she offed some people, and now their friends wan't her...local law y'know?"

Ymris' brow wrinkles a bit at the man's reaction to her presence. Local law? "Ah. I see. Thank you." She inclines her head to the men then steps away, careful to always keep them in sight. Returning to the table with her cooling plate (if it still remains) she'll choke down a bit then head out onto the streets.

 

[Fenris]

[sblock]Diplomacy check (DC 23) +25 - Success[/sblock]

The three knights looked at each other a little warily, though the Whale's helm came a mutter, "Bloody hell, a paladin...great..."

Each of them took their seats once more, still keeping their eyes on the new arrival. For a moment nothing was said, not a drink was touched, until the Dragon raised his voice again.

"Fine, however this works, it doesn't really matter. Ham has a substantial amount of money for us safely tucked away. Once we find this wizard's tower, kill everyone there, and return, we'll get our reward. He hired us because we're the best, we can take wizards without a problem, right? Now, avoiding any further divine interventions, where do we stand?"

"Well as a paladin, I would need to ask what has this wizard done that was so evil." asks Alexi rhetorically.

Then with a grin he adds: "Of course I am not a paladin, so the money is motivation enough for me."

"Now I have to say that you all are passing up a very fine drink. I uncorked that bottle in fornt of you and poured it in front of you, so please enjoy" says Alexi finishing his glass.

"But whether you drink or not, let us begin. You said this tower was in the Outskirts, well in what direction. Let us be off!" says Alexi as he stands and heads to the bar.

"For a fortunate tavern name my friend" says Alexi to the barman leaying two gold pieces ont he bar.

Walking back to the table he says: "Let us be off!"

 

[Phoenix]

His focus fully on the large man turning the spitted sewer snake, Azot handed the gnome some bits and walked towards the fire.

“Aimsbridge, where is this place? I would see it with my own eyes that the Leaguers of old are no more.”

Although the other man towered over Azot, it did not stop the druid from approaching to the edge of the spit and staring up at him while he waited for his answer.

[sblock]Another sense motive check to read the larger man as best he can.[/sblock]

[sblock]Sense Motive check (DC 2) +9 - Success[/sblock]

The gnome was distracted by the bits of coinage dropped into his hands, allowing Azot to wander closer to the slow talking ogre of a man. The cook didn't even look away from the snake he was very carefully attending like it was the only thing in the world.

"Aimsbridge: Located on the banks of the Gyrarole Channel, easily accessible to the public by taking the Flute Barges from the Ivory Markets, only three coppers for a one way trip it's a steal. If you're travelling by carriage, try taking Wessem Road or Tyreen Street for a smoother ride. Aimsbridge has all your literary needs, sage advice, and magical connections that everyone from the curious to the archmage can take advantage of."

The cook's eyes were dull, but carefully studied the snake, almost unaware of what his mouth was doing. His hands occassionally used a long thin iron pole to move the snake, and once he was satisfied, he shaved slices from it into a hard bun, passing it to Azot.

 

[Phoenix]

"What a night. I have seen a terrible thing this night and I need wise council." The story comes out in a confused tumble. First he tells of the battered hooker only to say that it seemed unrelated. The rest is told: a well dressed halfling and his whisle, the people sleepwalking and chewing bloody meat, the dark magic, Jackles, the halfling that was bloodless, the people waking confused. "I am still not sure that what I did was right. I slew the man and prevented the magic, but he seemed to want me too."

Father Lunley led Jazick into the old church and past the dozens of homeless that sought shelter in this building every night, nodding occassionally to show that he was listening to the tale, but allowing the story to continue uninterrupted. Several of the homeless nodded as the two walked past, some murmering a "...my lord..." in a measure of respect.

Once the story had spilled its way out the two of them were by the hearth warming themselves, sipping refined water from tin cups. "That is a strange story indeed my lord." The last few words were said with a smile as a little chide, trying to lighten the mood.

"I know that you do not subscribe to the faith that I preach Jazick, but it doesn't mean that it doesn't exist. The city, Metropolis, she is alive all around us. She works in mysterious ways, trying to help us even though it is us that hurt her the most."

Lunley stared into the crackling fire and finished his water, wincing a little as he drank the last few drops and licked his lips. Never had so many people been so thirsty with so much water in the streets.

"I cannot give you all of the answers, but I can tell you that which may make your story a little more...understandable?" He screwed up his face a little at the last word, as if it was an uncomfortable word to finish his sentence.

"Perhaps the man was but a messenger for somone, or something, else. The god that was once worshipped in this hall was called Zsath, the god of death. Many books in these halls said that he was interpreted as being a lord of ice as well, the coming of a blizzard was a sign of death to come."

"But Zsath's religion fell into disfavour for some reason, several decades ago. His priests and priestess' lost their divine spark and their empire swiftly crumbled. Now death comes in many forms, but more and more people tell of spiritual jackals that stalk the night, devouring the souls of men that have died."

"If this man, be he living or dead, was trying to tell you, or show you, something, then it is up to you if you wish to discover what it was. But I warn you good Lord Shadow, playing with the dead is not something to be done lightly, be careful of what you dig up, for you may not be able to lay it to rest again..."

 

[Phoenix]

Ymris' brow wrinkles a bit at the man's reaction to her presence. Local law? "Ah. I see. Thank you." She inclines her head to the men then steps away, careful to always keep them in sight. Returning to the table with her cooling plate (if it still remains) she'll choke down a bit then head out onto the streets.

Her meal was waiting for her when she returned, mostly. Wandering fingers had stripped several choice cuts from the plate, but by the look of the people in the room it could've been anyone. The meal was easier to eat now at least, and within minutes Ymris was being soaked like the hundreds of others in the streets.

Her eyes squinted as a waft of smoke from a group of men stung her eyes, they were smoking some weed or another, something to deaden the pain. Across the road there was a yeowling as Thom dropped a dead rat into a puddle at his feet, looking proud of himself even though this wet fur was covered in mud.

A handful of men looked on from an alleyway at the rat, licking their lips, but Thom picked it up again and bolted across the street, smooging against Ymris' leg and giving her clothing a, unique, smell.

The storm rumbled overhead once more, though few people paid attention to it anymore. Most of them wandered through the streets desperately seeking shelter, fresh water, and food, little else mattered to them.

What mattered to Ymris though, was entirely different...

 

[Phoenix]

Corbin yelped in pain as the beast tore a chunk out of his furred flesh. "Gotta watch out for those teeth," he thought to himself, even as his legs threatened to give out and blood poured from of his side. "Ignore the pain, focus on the kill. Everything will be fine." He lunged for the monster again, canine jaws agape.

[sblock=Combat]Bite attack at +6 for 1d6+3. Do I get an AoO for the creature jumping away?[/sblock]

[sblock]Don't worry, most my fighting is cinematic, if you deserve an AoO you'll get it.[/sblock]

Blood flowed freely from Corbin's side but still he lept towards the land shark. The creature down into the earth once more, it's large flipper spraying dirt and rocks into Corbin's face and swimming deep into the ground. After a moment, all was still.

Turning slowly, his side in a great deal of pain and his leg a little limp, Corbin came face to face with the soldiers once more, each with their crossbow trained on him nervously, almost expecting the wolf to leap at them.

 

[Phoenix]

"Well as a paladin, I would need to ask what has this wizard done that was so evil." asks Alexi rhetorically.

Then with a grin he adds: "Of course I am not a paladin, so the money is motivation enough for me."

"Now I have to say that you all are passing up a very fine drink. I uncorked that bottle in fornt of you and poured it in front of you, so please enjoy" says Alexi finishing his glass.

"But whether you drink or not, let us begin. You said this tower was in the Outskirts, well in what direction. Let us be off!" says Alexi as he stands and heads to the bar.

"For a fortunate tavern name my friend" says Alexi to the barman leaying two gold pieces ont he bar.

Walking back to the table he says: "Let us be off!"

Only the Whale moved to drink Alexi's offering once he had left the table, and from behind his he could hear, "S'good y'know," as well as some sloshing and gurgling. As Alexi payed the bartender, the man looked down upon the two golden coins in awe, hardly able to understand what to do next. Just before the man dove desperately for the coins, Alexi could almost swear that the pictures on the coins were different, maybe just a trick of the eye.

Each of the knights had stood and tossed a silver coin across the bar as they left, nodding to the bartender who was oblivious to the money raining down upon him. All his problems had been solved.

One mighty hand dropped upon Alexi's shoulder, a spray of spittle and ale broke through the visor of the Whale. "You're a good man Stag, I like you, even ifya are a paladin."

Each of the men collected their steeds from within buildings around the courtyard and swiftly mounted. Within minutes four juggernaughts of iron trotted down the streets of Metropolis, no-one daring to get in their way. Alexi noted that the other men even had chainmail barding for their horses, suitable company for one trained as he no doubt.

Dragon and Boar muttered to each other through closed helms, leaving Whale to speak to Alexi as they moved on. He noticed that the rider guided his steed with his legs as he rested upon his saddle and finished the bottle of Burgi that had been opened for the group.

"Y'know, you paldins're a strange lot y'know. Talkin' 'bout evil like it matters to ya, then agreein' ta kill people without even askin' the fee or yer cut. Seein' divine vishens, given' people gold, yeh, i saw ya, the others woulda killed that fella for them coins, but not ol'...", he looked at his shield, "...ol' Whale, nah, not me..."

 

[Scotley]

Jazick

Jazick nods at those he recognizes, clasping a hand or shoulder here and there as he moves through the old church. Also trying to lighten the mood, Jazick says, "I thought priests were supposed to provide comforting words." Despite the limited answers at least he knows he isn't crazy and the fear he felt earlier has past. He looks longingly at the water, but asks for no more knowing that others need it. "I appreciate the warning, but if people are being called from their beds against their will for dark magical purposes, I can't help but feel the need to act. Are the jackals and the eating of bloody meat associated with the practice of Zsath's religion?" He looks at the former church. "Do you think their is any lore left in this place--paintings or carvings even books or scrolls that might shed some light on what the God or those interested in his return might be after?"