The Sudden Approach of Unexplainable Power: IC

[unleashed]

“A toll is it? Well, I don’t think I can afford your toll, as that’d leave me with nothing to pay for a place to sleep now would it? And as for blood, I don’t like that option either, though I’ll likely be a little kinder to you fellows than it appears you’ll be to me, if it comes to that,” he says matter of factly, before changing the topic. “Hmm, I noticed you both have a small ornate gold pin on your collar, very stylish... where would a fellow get one of those?” Aekalos asks conversationally, not looking worried in the least... even allowing a slight grin to appear, as his eyes lighten a little.

[SBLOCK=OOC]No worries, we all have bad days now and then, and as I said before I have no problem with the ‘blades’ appearing. [/SBLOCK]

 

[Nonlethal Force]

The larger of the men speaks first, "Oh, we don't plan on killin' ya, if that's what you mean. You'd mean more to us alive and scarred than dead on the streets. If you ain't gonna pay the toll, at least you can bear the marks of someone who refused to pay our toll. By the time we're done with you, people would rather pay the toll."

The other man adds, "Well, these gold pins mark us as members of the Street Rats. It says 'Don't mess with us, we might be more than you can handle.' And let me tell you, if you mess with us and manage to get away before we're done, our brothers and sisters will swarm all over you before you can get out of town. That's a promise. You don't buy one of these. You earn it."

 

[unleashed]

Aekalos sighs and shakes his head, “You know, you fellows are really making this holdup thing you do sound less appealing to me by the minute. So what assurances do I have that I won’t be set upon again for the same thing, by you or more of your gang... assuming I’m willing to pay you in the first place of course and not just try to fight my way out?”

 

[Nonlethal Force]

"Assurances? You want assurances from two guys holding swords?" The larger of the two says.

The slightly smaller one, who had explained about the Street Rats, adds, "I think he's making fun of us! You making fun of us, stranger? Cause we can skewer you if you'd prefer!"

 

[unleashed]

“Well, think about it from my point of view for a second... there’s little incentive for me to pay you, if you or your gang are just going to repeat the process over and over again, is there,” Aekalos explains.

“As for the skewering, have you bothered to ask yourselves why I haven’t drawn one of my own blades, when being threatened by two fellows holding swords. Is it possibly because I don’t consider you to be a threat... that perhaps I might have other weapons at my disposal far more effective than a simple blade... that maybe I don’t want to be forced to kill you, just so I can go about my own business,” he remarks, finishing his last statement by breathing a line of lightning clear over their heads... though close enough so they can feel and smell the charge... hoping to give them something to think about.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

Ther men spook slightly at the appearance of the lightning, but then seem to become more upset. The one who always speaks first does so again, stepping forward. [Now 5 feet away] "Oh, you're a magician are you? Afraid to challenge me by hitting me directly? What is that, some kind of illusion magic like breathing electricity? Everyone knows you can't breath electricity. Yeah, go find the last gnome that tried to spook me with illusions. I think you'll find he wished he'd not made the decision that he did."

The other one replies, "Yeah, or like that other elven guy who thought he could sing his way into our hearts. Tried to buy us off with a song, he did! He'll have a hard time playing with all them scars upon his fingers. His friends remember to pay us, they do."

 

[unleashed]

Finally having had enough of these two, Aekalos’ eyes become stormy again, “You fellows really are stupid aren’t you... I’ve tried to let you walk away, but you continue to bluster and persist with your ill conceived holdup, so I see I’m left with little choice but to prove my sincerity.” Stepping around and drawing his blade as he speaks, Aekalos tries to line up his draconic breath so he can strike both without causing damage to anything or anyone else, before discharging it.

[SBLOCK=OOC]BTW, Aekalos is happy enough to just target the leader of the pair if that’s all he can get with the conditions set above, and the step is more so he can get a better line for his lightning breath than actually backing away, as his breath can’t be disrupted (it’s a supernatural ability). I would have had him cast sleep, but it has a casting time of 1 round which is a little too long I think at this juncture, plus they questioned the reality of his draconic breath... how dare they!

Draconic Breath (Su) [2d6 (using a 1st-level slot); 60 ft. line; electricity; DC 14 (Reflex half)].[/SBLOCK]

 

[Nonlethal Force]

[Sblock=OOC]Nice thing about being a former math teacher is that I well understand the concept that between any two points lies a straight line. So, yes, Aekalos is able to nail them both.

Oh, and regarding the dragon breath thing. It was too easy to pass up. I mean, how many Drakontai or Sorcerers who follow blue or bronze dragons who also have the Draconic Breath feat can there be in this town, right? I had actually been going into the encounter assuming you'd pull sleep out of Aekalos' repetoire ... but this is more interesting! This is why we actually play the game instead of just roll the dice. I like this path better than what I expected to happen.[/Sblock]

Thanks to the loudness of the holdup which caused the rest of the people nearby to flee, Aekalos finds it rather easy to line up a satisfying shot. The spark of breath surges forth and knocks the spokesman over and out cold. The second man is also hit, but he manages to step out of the way of the blast without taking the full force. He looks to Aekalos with some kind of panic in his eyes. "What ... what are you? Some kind of demon? Listen. I promise that I'll not bother you again, I swear. And my buddy won't ever bother you again either. Just let me live and drag him off the street and you'll never see us again, okay?"

As Aekalos looks to the man on the ground who is out cold, it appears he has wet himself. Whether from the surprise of the attack or the electricity causing him to lose body function Aekalos cannot be sure. But he has clearly wet himself.

The one who is still conscious continues to hold his sword and point it toward Aekalos, but the tip is anything but straight as it bounces nervously back and forth.

 

[unleashed]

“That sounds a fair deal and luckily for you it seems I’m still feeling merciful, so put up your sword and drag your friend away... before I change my mind,” Aekalos offers, sheathing his own blade nonchalantly. “So let’s hope you and your friend can keep to your word, and I don’t see you again... I’d better not hear about you doing anything like this again either, or I might just come find you and finish what was started here.”

 

[Nonlethal Force]

"Yes ... yes, sir, mister demon sir. I'll make sure not to approach the likes of you again." He shields his eyes from Aekalos and simply drops his sword. Nervously he picks it up and quickly stows it in his scabbard. Of course, it gets stuck several times because of the nervous shaking of his hands. Finally when it gets stuck the third time and is only two-thirds of the way into the scabbard the man ignores it and lifts up on his friend's shift. He struggles to drag the bigger man off, but manages well enough eventually.

For the time being, Aekalos is alone on the street as far as he can see in either direction - with or without his lowlight vision.