The Romance of the River Kingdoms

[Dr Simon]

The house that you are in is something like a spiral shell. There are three floors to it, progressively smaller, joined by a spiral staircase that runs around the outer edge. It has a front and back door, both made of wood, and some openings that serve as windows on the street side. It is simply furnished, allowing such hiding places as behind a curtain or in an ottoman chest. Fleeing through the back door would take you into the open as much as going through the front door.

Iris and Salmon look worried at Jar'Thol's suggestion.

"Well, you could try the attic room," says Iris. She looks at Salmon.

"I don't know if the Prince is much of one for talking..." says Salmon nervously.

"We won't stop you if you want to try..."

Through the open windows you can see a group of five riders heading into town. They are lightly armoured and riding creatures that look a bit like blue-green horses. Banners of the same colour, bearing a black dragon, flutter from standard poles on their backs.

 

[The Rolling Man]

Jar'Thol

Jar'Thol nods at Iris and Salmon. "Yes, I supposed you are the ones that know these men, so I'll do like you say." The Salsham'ai then quickly tries to find an hidding spot close to one of the opened windows.

 

[Blackrat]

Three Flowers looks around and a thought occurs to him. If these creatures can sense things of mortal origin, it won't be a good idea to leave Annika's clothes on the floor. He quickly gathers them and starts towards the attic.

 

[Dr Simon]

OOC: Just a quick note. Some GMs use NPCs as a mouthpiece to try to guide the PCs along a particular path. I don't. So don't feel like you have to do what the NPCs say - sometimes it isn't always the best option.

IC:

Xielt grumbles something about hiding in tall grass being easier than hiding in a house, but joins Three Flowers in the attic. The others deploy themselves around Salmon and Iris's house as best they can - the smaller Jar'Thol and Eagle Annika finding it easiest.

You hear the sounds of not-quite-hooves coming to a stop outside, and a voice calls out "Salmon! Iris! Here now!"

Salmon glances about.

"We'd better go," he whispers.

"We'll try to stall him," adds Iris. The two of them leave the house and you hear Master Salmon's voice.

"To what does Heartsflow owe the honour of your presence, O Prince?"

"Don't play games, Salmon. The Ice Demon is dead, the Ropoko Gate has opened. Have you got mortals here?" The voice is unctuous and lyrical.

"Your Highness," says Iris, sounding shocked. "We would never disobey the laws of your father."

"Start searching the houses!" says the Prince's voice. You hear the jingle and rustle of men in armour moving, then crashes and bangs. Not from Salmon's house, but nearby. Prince Flood's voice drops low and menacing, but still carries clearly. "You two had better tell me the truth. If you hand over the mortals, you can go free. If we find out you've been lying, my father will be very, very, displeased with you. I will be very, very displeaed with you. Do you understand what that means, Master Salmon? Do you comprehend the endless torments you will have to endure, or to watch Mistress Iris here endure? Now, tell me. Where. Are. The. Mortals?"

There is a long pause.

"Please, Your Highness," says Iris, sounding shaky. "There are no mortals here."

 

[Dr Simon]

OOC: I'll assume from the silence that you are all going to continue hiding at this juncture, so unless told otherwise I'll try and get the next post up tomorrow. Hopefully!

 

[Shayuri]

(OOC - Meep, yes, sorry. Only if it seems like violence is about to be done, Annika will emerge from hiding, though stay in bird form at first.)

 

[The Rolling Man]

Jar'Thol

Jar'Thol feels a bit guilty for putting the kind spirits in such danger. He stays hidden for now, hoping that their subterfuge will be successful. However, if it looks like Iris and Salmon are about to be hurt, Jar'Thol will reveal himself to spare them. He hopes that the prince will believe that he's the only mortal here.

 

[Dr Simon]

There is a crash as the door to Salmon's house is slammed open. Two soldiers enter, humans with blue-green tinged skin, each carries a quarterstaff in his hands and a light crossbow hangs at his hip. They give a cursory glance around the room, poke drapes with their staves, but they aren't looking for small mortals so Annika and Jar'Thol go unnoticed as the soldiers rattle up the ramp to the upper floors.

In the attic, Xielt, Three Flowers and Growling Ape hear the men stamping up towards them and hope that the hiding places that they've picked amongst the assorted barrels, crates and piles of old belongings is enough. The door bangs open.

"There's one!" says one of the soldiers, pointing the end of his quarterstaff at Growling Ape.

"And another," says the second, pointing at Xielt.

Three Flowers, for now, doesn't seem to have been spotted.

"You there," says the first soldier. "On your feet." He strikes a commanding pose whilst his companion readies his staff in case of a fight.

 

[Walking Dad]

AC 15 (T15, FF13), HP 31/31, F +5,R+2,W+6 (Spells: 0:5/5, 1:4/4)

Using monkey-like movements and gestures, Ape leaves his hiding place, braces himself heavily on his staff and says: "Don't hurt monkey. Monkey confused. Monkey no human. Was never here before. Who are you? Monkey doesn't know you."

[sblock=ooc]Technically, nothing of this is a lie.
[/sblock]

 

[Dr Simon]

OOC: Oops! I was waiting for other replies, but I guess no-one else needs to!

Xielt gives Ape a sly, sideways glance.

"Meow?" he says, sarcastically.

The guards relax a little. The first one looks slightly disgusted, the second has a smirk on his face.

"As you were, monkey-boy," he says. "You see any mortals here, you tell us, okay?"

The guards leave the attic and clatter back out of the house.

"Nothing there, Your Highness," you hear him report. "Just some animal spirits."

There are further bangs and crashes as the guards search the rest of the houses of Heartsflow but, obviously, don't find what they're looking for. Finally, you hear Prince Flood.

"Watch yourself, Salmon. I know something's wring here. Take one step out of line and..." He leaves the threat hanging. There is more jingling of armour and the sound of the not-quite-horses galloping away.

Shortly, Salmon enters the house.

"You can come out, it's safe," he calls.

[SBLOCK=OOC]
Natural 20 on a Bluff check by Growling Ape!
[/SBLOCK]