Watermark's Shackled City

[CoolHand]

Clarification request: Are the Dancing Lights moving toward the party, or toward the thugs?

Clarification: Sorry, the lights are behind the party, moving towards the thugs, but of course that would mean they are moving towards the party as well. Binkle will continue to move them forth until they reach the edge of the fog so as not to ruin the illusion.

Here's how I'm picturing it. (T=Thugs, P=Party, L=Lights, Binkle)

____________
T--------P
____________B <==L

 

[CoolHand]

Binkle watches the lights approach for a bit then chances a glance into the alleyway, hoping beyond hope that the painted thugs will turn and flee. At least there are plenty of other's here if it comes to blows, he thinks with a relieved sigh. Summoning a bit of courage, he moves carefully into the alley and mentally prepares his next spell.

 

[Vigwyn the Unruly]

Brokkus: Dwarf Cleric1 of Obad-Hai

Brokkus becomes quite alarmed as he catches a glimpse of their painted faces. Something about the design seems to jog his memory [Knowledge (religion) check +4 to see if he has any knowledge of this design].

He moves toward the others in the alley, helping to form a protective circle around the accosted man, and trying to stay clear of the strange lights moving through the drizzle. "Who’re those masked thugs, and why have they accosted you?" he asks the figure in a whisper.

 

[Watermark12]

Brokkus becomes quite alarmed as he catches a glimpse of their painted faces. Something about the design seems to jog his memory [Knowledge (religion) check +4 to see if he has any knowledge of this design].

[Knowledge Religion Check: 11][sblock] The design on the thugs' faces is a little bit reminiscent of a familiar, if unwelcome holy symbol...that of Olidammara. Yet, it doesn't quite seem to be a perfect match. It's unclear whether this is merely a testament to the lack of skill on the artists' part, or whether the design means something else entirely.[/sblock]

"Here. Quickly." Meg moves a few steps forward, holding one hand out to the victim. "I see they will not be reasoned with." She ignores the goings-on behind her; if they are friends, well and good. If enemies, they will be dealt with when they come.

"She is brave I will give her that." Eldar thinks to himself as he quietly joins Meg in case the muggers decide to do something rash.

Brokkus moves toward the others in the alley, helping to form a protective circle around the accosted man, and trying to stay clear of the strange lights moving through the drizzle. "Who’re those masked thugs, and why have they accosted you?" he asks the figure in a whisper.

The poor victim of the thugs' assault stumbles forward to where Meg, Eldar and Brokkus have stepped out to protectively surround him. Up close, you can see that he is but a young man, perhaps barely out of his teens. He wears simple brown robes, and a holy symbol of St. Cuthbert is seen dangling out from his disheveled clothing.

In response to Brokkus' question, the young man gasps, "I don't know! I was just on my way back from the orphanage when they jumped me! I have no idea why anyone would want to keep me away from there."

As the thug's victim came to stand beside one of the others who were in the alley with him, Toskar knew it was time for the situation to end and he called out to everyone in the alley.

"Ye spoke yer piece with this man and we'll be escorting him out now. Since ye've had the sense to keep blood from wetting yer blade, I'll count to fifty before I summon the watch."

Binkle's initial spell faded away, but perhaps another would do the trick. "Tripudio adustum" he whispered the familiar words, tracing runes in the air.

[sblock]cast dancing lights[/sblock]

Four lantern lights appear through the fog, starting about 30 feet away and moving slowly forward toward the entrance to the alley.

Toskar's words in conjunction with the sudden appearance of what appear to be lantern lights (coupled with the prior mob noises) have the desired effect. One of the toughs grumbles, "Come on, it's not worth it! Let's get out of here!" With that, the three thugs turn and dash from the other end of the alley, and disappear into the chill, rainy evening.

Suddenly, a woman's voice calls out from somewhere above. "Well done! But the cleric lives because we wish it so, not because of your misplaced bravado." Following the sound of the voice, you see a small figure clinging beneath a second-story eave on the side of one of the buildings. She is dressed all in black, and her face is also painted in the black and white harlequin's visage. Pointing a baleful finger at the rescued cleric, she says, "Take these words back to your temple, priest! The children are lost and no longer St. Cuthbert's concern!"

Actions?

 

[Tarlonniel]

"He lives; that is enough." Meg begins to lead the injured man towards the relative safety of the main thoroughfare, directing her next words as much at him as at the mysterious woman. "And I hope that no follower of St. Cuthbert would heed the words of evil lawbreakers."

 

[CoolHand]

"The children?" The words bring an unwelcome knot to Binkles gut. For a moment he considers firing his spell at the figure overhead, but decides better of it. He approaches the others instead, and offers his assistance.

"Fine job, indeed," he looks to each of the rescuers. "And not a drop of blood spilled." He then focuses on the injured man. "What is this they speak of regarding the children?"

 

[Vigwyn the Unruly]

Brokkus: Dwarf Cleric1 of Obad-Hai

Brokkus continues to eye the female above them, waiting to see if she will follow her henchman out of the alley now that she has said her piece.

Assuming she does leave, he will share his hunch with the rest of the group.

Result of Knowledge (religion) check: The design on the thugs' faces is a little bit reminiscent of a familiar, if unwelcome holy symbol...that of Olidammara. Yet, it doesn't quite seem to be a perfect match. It's unclear whether this is merely a testament to the lack of skill on the artists' part, or whether the design means something else entirely.

 

[Two-Gun Kid]

Watching the thugs turn and leave into the far side of their alley, Toskar hears a female voice faintly from above and to his right. Straining to hear her words better, Toskar quickly realized that she had to be the brains behind the beating.

'Wonder what children she is talking about? Why would anyone be dumb enough to try and pick a fight with the Cudgels?'

While Toskar had only been in town for a couple of weeks, he had learned quickly that the followers of St. Cuthbert had little patience for those who would break the law. It was with the clergy of Cuthbert in mind that he began carring his own version of their cudgel when working.

As the woman continued to stare down at them, Toskar turned back to face the others.

"I think it would be best if we got out of this alley as well. I'm not thinkin' she'll want to take us all on, especially if she wants her message delivered."

 

[Mimic]

Eldar glares at the women for a moment, his knuckles crack as he clenches his hand into a tight fist before he turns his back on the women and regards the others that have also come to this man's aid.

"I think it would be best if we got out of this alley as well. I'm not thinkin' she'll want to take us all on, especially if she wants her message delivered."

"That would be best, those that have left maybe getting reinforcements. Perhaps we should escort this man to where ever he was going before they arrive."

 

[Watermark12]

"He lives; that is enough." Meg begins to lead the injured man towards the relative safety of the main thoroughfare, directing her next words as much at him as at the mysterious woman. "And I hope that no follower of St. Cuthbert would heed the words of evil lawbreakers."

As the woman continued to stare down at them, Toskar turned back to face the others.

"I think it would be best if we got out of this alley as well. I'm not thinkin' she'll want to take us all on, especially if she wants her message delivered."

Eldar glares at the woman for a moment, his knuckles crack as he clenches his hand into a tight fist before he turns his back on the women and regards the others that have also come to this man's aid.

"That would be best, those that have left maybe getting reinforcements. Perhaps we should escort this man to where ever he was going before they arrive."

"The children?" The words bring an unwelcome knot to Binkles gut. For a moment he considers firing his spell at the figure overhead, but decides better of it. He approaches the others instead, and offers his assistance.

The dark woman, unmolested, laughs sharply to punctuate her warning, then scurries, spider-like, up the wall of the building. She disappears onto the rain-shrouded rooftop. The party takes advantage of the opportunity, and emerges safely from the alley onto the main street.

"Fine job, indeed," Binkle looks to each of the rescuers. "And not a drop of blood spilled." He then focuses on the injured man. "What is this they speak of regarding the children?"

The young cleric smooths over his robes, and takes a moment to compose himself before answering Binkle's question. He seems none the worse for wear, just a bit shaken up. "Three nights ago, four children disappeared from the Lantern Street Orphanage, you know? They're hardly the first disappearances of late, as I'm sure you've heard...or are you just newly arrived in town? Anyway, it's the first time children have been involved, so my church pledged to help in any way we could with the investigation. I had just gone tonight on a mercy errand, to console the children and staff, that sort of thing. It went well, but then on my way back, those goons jumped me and dragged me into the alley. At first, I thought I was being robbed, but it seems now they were trying to intimidate me. Oh...I'm Ruphus, by the way...Ruphus Laro."

Brokkus shares his hunch with the rest of the group:

Result of Knowledge (religion) check: The design on the thugs' faces is a little bit reminiscent of a familiar, if unwelcome holy symbol...that of Olidammara. Yet, it doesn't quite seem to be a perfect match. It's unclear whether this is merely a testament to the lack of skill on the artists' part, or whether the design means something else entirely.

Ruphus shrugs, "I don't think there are any worshippers of Olidammara in Cauldron...not public ones, anyway. Who knows?"

Ruphus then asks, "Umm, did one of you say something about an escort? If it's not an imposition...the church of St. Cuthbert isn't far, but I'd feel safer if you walked with me. And, Mistress Urikas might wish to speak with you, if you've the time. Will you come?"

Responses/Actions?