Chapter 6: Escape from the Prison World - Dark Beginnings

[Rukellian]

You guys win initiative.

Whitsell's ability with the longsword is the real deal! He mightily swings the blade at his armored opponent's legs, forcing it to drop to one knee and even drop its own weapon.

"A parry, a feint, and a..."
The swashbuckler, even with his fresh wound, toys with his opponent in a bravado that only he can pull off, showing off his skils in rapier like always.
"a lesson in swordplay, my friend! " The blade pierces and strikes true.

Deceidon... weeble wobbles. Perhaps something else is eating away at him right now... the dark magics of this place perhaps, who can say?

The enemies in suits of heavy armor try to retaliate, but find that their attacks are easily dodged, one even being forced to its knees after a nasty blow from Whitsell. The holy warrior, not wanting this short skirmish to prolong any further, brings his sword down again, delivering the final blow to his adversary.

Two enemy suits of armor standing. Whitsell's opponent is down, Flynn's opponent lost another 9 hp this round, Deceidon's opponent not being touched. None of the heroes were hit this round.

[tooleychris]

Flynn becomes a bit over confident and twirls his blade in a way only a specialist can but swings wide of his opponent.
Rapier to hit roll [1d20+7] = 3+7 = 10 Damage [1d6+3] = 4+3 = 7

[Zhym]

Elethil switches to his bow and peers around the corner. If he spots his attacker, he fires.

Long bow of distance (THAC0 16): [1d20+4] = 14+4 = 18, Dmg: [1d6] = 1
Long bow of distance (THAC0 16): [1d20+4] = 9+4 = 13, Dmg: [1d6] = 4

[Grognardsw]

Deceidon finally gets the hang of the sword as metal clangs on metal.

Sword Attack [1d20] = 16, damage s/m [1d8] = 6, damage L [1d12] = 2

[MonkeyWrench]

Rand steps in front of the storekeeper, "We cannot do nothing and still have hope for this to change!" He lays his hands on the older mans shoulders, looking at him, "We need not be evil to use our gifts to help, gather whoever we have left in this city and have them meet here as soon as possible, there must be something we can do and we won't know until we actually try... Please, do this for Matkinsei... do it for yourselves! Someone must know some scrying spells, let us attempt to scry for Elethil, I know he must be close by here because he and I came from the same place."

[Rukellian]

Elethil switches to his bow and peers around the corner. If he spots his attacker, he fires.

Long bow of distance (THAC0 16): [1d20+4] = 14+4 = 18, Dmg: [1d6] = 1
Long bow of distance (THAC0 16): [1d20+4] = 9+4 = 13, Dmg: [1d6] = 4

Elithil fires off an arrow into the darkness, hoping that it meets where he thinks his target is. It doesn't sound like it hit a wall or the water. Firing another arrow quickly afterwards, the second makes a snapping sound.

[Rukellian]

Rand steps in front of the storekeeper, "We cannot do nothing and still have hope for this to change!" He lays his hands on the older mans shoulders, looking at him, "We need not be evil to use our gifts to help, gather whoever we have left in this city and have them meet here as soon as possible, there must be something we can do and we won't know until we actually try... Please, do this for Matkinsei... do it for yourselves! Someone must know some scrying spells, let us attempt to scry for Elethil, I know he must be close by here because he and I came from the same place."

"If only more people saw the world the way you do..." The man let's out a heavy sigh as he puts his balled up fists to his sides and leans his head back in thought. He looks down after a minute of silence and eyes Rand seriously. "The fact that you've met Elethil and know of our leader's name... perhaps this meeting was more than just coincidence. Alright, I'm willing to take another chance on this city, but I cannot peform a clairvoyance alone. My abilities are not as great as the others when it comes to scrying, my forte is in the reading and translating of scriptures, a fitting role for a book keeper like myself, don't you think?" He winks at his own joke and briskly walks to a wall shared by the building next door. He raps his knuckles in a pattern and after waiting for a few seconds, does so again. This time someone responds. "Consider the message sent," the shopkeeper exclaims. "Whoever here has an ounce of bravery left in them will come; it certainly looks like Bredlow does... come, follow me."

Having managed to persuade a Brother to help, Rand is lead down to what looks like a concealed basement, hidden behind a counter in the kitchen area of the store. The room you are brought to has seen a lot of use and looks like a hastily put together assembly hall. Crates and broken barrels are used as podiums and chairs, the walls and roofing in a state of serious disrepair. Along one of the walls of the room, you see a great bookshelf full of big and very old looking tomes. Scrolls and other rolled up pieces of parchment can be found stuffed here and their. As you look at this site of what looked like learning, another man rushes across the room with a basket in his arms. He proceeds in pulling the books off the wall; he does not notice Rand as he does so, nor the shop owner.

The book keeper clears his throat in order to get the other man's attention. It works.

"...W-what?" He turns around, clearly not expecting anyone to be down here as well. "Joffrey? You're still here? Why man!? You were in charge of getting the components out of the city yesterday, a-and should be already on your way to-" The man pauses for a moment as he notices Rand for the first time. "Who's he?"

[Rukellian]

Will Whitsell continue battle and help Flynn or Deceidon, or does he perform a different action?

MonkeyWrench, would you like me to continue the scene Rand is in, or do you want your character to say or do anything?

Also, hope everyone enjoyed their Memorial Day celebrations!

[MonkeyWrench]

Rand steps forward, showing the symbol to the man, "A brother to some." After saying that he will allow Joffrey to continue.

[onlyme]

Whitsell will continue attacking to help.
long sword attack [1d20+4] = 9+4 = 13 thac017; damage [1d8+4] = 3+4 = 7
Sorry. Missed the last update...

[Rukellian]

Flynn thrusts in for another show of expert swordplay, but only manages to swing wide and miss his target. Whitsell backs up the swashbuckler though as he successfully strikes the armored opponent. Deceidon, too, manages to strike his foe, some of his nerve returning to him bit by bit.

One of the armored opponents tries to hit Flynn, but he proves to agile in his movements and the attack is eluded. Deceidon does not share this luck though as his opponent manages to cut into one of his sides (dealing 7 points of damage).

Two enemies remain standing, both lost hp (7 and 6 respectively). Deceidon lost 7 during this round of combat. The heroes won initiative.

-------

Having learned that the shopkeeper's name is Joffrey, Rand shows his symbol to the stranger and briefly explains who he is. This is enough for the man as he nods and continues to pile books into his large arm basket. Joffrey clears his throat and says in a surprisingly calm manner, "We are going to attempt to save Matkinsai. We have Elithil amongst us once again and our new brother here seems confident that we can do this. We will need the tome of clairvoyance to seek out our warrior friend."

The man pauses for a moment and furrows his brows, as if in deep though. He then smiles silently and nods his head in understanding. "I will help," the man says in response. "I don't see the point in running anyways if we let those vile people have their way." He quickly scans the bookshelf and produces the tome that Joffrey spoke of. It is thick and musty, covered in dust in fact, but well maintained at that. He flips the book open, having set down his basket, and scans the pages for the spell in question. It doesn't take the man long. He hands the book to Rand and nods towards the shopkeeper.

The pages shown before you contain symbols and ancient scripts. Some of the words glow as you look upon them and you feel as if you can make some of it out already. The ritual seems pretty straightforward and can be done by yourself even, strange considering how everyone else seems to be treating it as more of a challenge. Perhaps they really are that bad in casting magics...

[onlyme]

Whitsell continues with a bit more speed.
long sword attack [1d20+4] = 9+4 = 13 thac017; damage [1d8+4] = 7+4 = 11

but a bit rushed.
long sword attack [1d20+4] = 3+4 = 7 thac017; damage [1d8+4] = 8+4 = 12

[Grognardsw]

Deceidon thrusts, hoping to finish off the metal menace.

Sword Attack [1d20] = 12, damage s/m [1d8] = 4, damage L [1d12] = 12

[tooleychris]

"My advisory appears to have a bit more fight than yours, demon slayer!" laughs Flynn striking again.

Rapier to hit roll [1d20+7] = 5+7 = 12 Damage [1d6+3] = 2+3 = 5

[MonkeyWrench]

Rand reads over the script, "We will need to gather all of the brothers left in this city." he looks to Joffrey, "Let us get the materials for this spell and I will cast it, hurry."

[Rukellian]

Through the volley of sword strikes that follow, only Whitsell's initial sword swing does any sort of damage to the enemies before the group. Fortunately for Whitsell and Flynn, the armored menace falls with said sword swing and now only one enemy remains. Whitsell is unable to follow up on his second attack, given the distance between himself and the final enemy.

The remaining enemy misses his sword swing, Deceidon weaving through the attack much like the swashbuckler would.

The group did not lose any hitpoints this round and only one enemy remains. The one enemy did not take damage this round. The heroes won initiative as well.

-----

The Brothers of Prometheus diligently gather the components needed for the clairvoyance ritual, while calling upon those who still have the courage to help. It is completed and with Rand's reading of the tome, the ritual actually goes by much faster than even Joffrey anticipated. "Such raw talent... I can see why Markus thought highly of you!" Many of the other members who were able to attend and help shared in the shopkeeper's shock.

The room floods with light as the ritual is intoned and Rand peforms the necessary hand movements. The floor that was cleared away now shows an oval shimmering in transluscent light. Acting like a window into another room, Rand and the other brother's look upon this image and tries to make out what they are seeing.

This is what Rand sees, and even hears...

The oval on the ground reveals a dark setting, lit up by a solitary source of light beaming down a ladder, moonlight. Rand instantly recognizes the location to be the sewer network underneath the city. Two figures stand near the ladder, one of them wounded. Rand and the others can see Elithil from behind, blade in hand, standing over the wounded figure. The wounded figure draws his dagger, and this warrants a response from Elithil.

"Sunshine Macero," he says, "you are guilty twice of attempted murder. Captain Hal showed you mercy after your first attempt. I will not."

Elethil brings his blade down through Sunshine's neck.

"Also," he adds in a rare moment of pettiness born from an elf trying to kill him twice in one very long day, "I still think 'Sunshine' is a childish name." With that said, Elithil is found searching Sunshine's corpse.

The sounds of a large crowd of people can be heard from above Elithil's location. This puts him just underneath the main street of the city, right past the Red Rock Inn. Rand knows the area well, having hidden with Markus there for the longest time!

The oval of shimmering light upon the ground, starts to fade, and then vanishes. The Brothers of Prometheus look to Rand now, as if they are ready to receive orders and carry them out. A strange turn of events indeed considering the life that Rand has lived up until this point. To warrant such attention, and perhaps respect... what the thief do now?

[onlyme]

Whitsell, (feeling somewhat relieved that he is no longer fighting 1 on 3 hee hee) lets fly another hammering sword thrust.
long sword attack [1d20+4] = 14+4 = 18 thac017; damage [1d8+4] = 5+4 = 9

[Zhym]

Elethil leans against the sewer wall, exhales heavily, and pauses to consider the day's events. Freed from his mountain prison, attacked by skeletons and spiders, assaulted by a flying skull, accused of magic use in a tense standoff that nearly came to blows, taunted by a dark mage whose death was mere prelude to a grand battle against a huge fiery demon, nearly assassinated by Sunshine in the middle of that demon battle, saved from imprisonment by Captain Hal of all people, pulled through a magic portal to confer with Matkinsai, sent back to chase down the magic elven dagger Sunshine had taken, and then, after returning to his own world, attacked yet again by that psychopath Sunshine.

It's been one hell of a day, and it's not over yet.

The elf takes Sunshine's cloak and puts it on, brown side out. With the hood over his head, maybe he could pass as a short human in the commotion above. He takes Sunshine's monogrammed coin purse and the 25 gold and 8 copper pieces that are in it. He smiles sardonically as he realizes that of all his battles this day, Sunshine's defeats are the only fights that have yielded treasure. He replenishes his quiver with Sunshine's arrows and takes a few other mundane but useful items—a blanket, a whetstone, flint & steel, a small silver mirror, a roll of twine, two small sacks, rations, a flask of oil, a small shovel, a grappling hook, and 50' of rope. He wonders how the assassin was able to move so quietly carrying that much gear. He also takes Sunshine's bow and thief tools. He can resell both for several gold pieces.

Thus equipped, Elethil considers his next move. He could climb out of the sewers and seek out one of the meeting places of the Brothers. Perhaps they could tell him what's going on. He is also in deep need of rest and healing; now is not the time to find himself yet another fight. But he is intrigued by the boarded-up section of the sewers.

He decides to investigate. Returning to the boarded-up section, he takes Sunshine's threatening note and puts in in his pack. He listens for any sounds behind the boards, then carefully pries a few of the boards away until he can look inside—first with his infravision if he can, then with torch light.

I realized that since Rand's solo thread is public, Elethil's might as well be too.

[tooleychris]

Flynn, determined to NOT Let whitsell take all the glory...again...weaves his steel beneath the armored specters defenses and drives his rapier home.
Rapier to hit roll [1d20+7] = 19+7 = 26 Damage [1d6+3] = 3+3 = 6

[MonkeyWrench]

Rand takes a moment to breath and swallow, not used to being in command of others, or even being liked by others, "Alright, I need men down in those sewers under, he is near the main portion of the city, just beyond the Red Rock Inn. You all saw his face, look for him or anyone fitting his physical description, he may have taken Sunshines clothes to conceal himself. Once he is found make sure to let him know you are friends and bring him here." Rand then looks to Joffrey, "Alright, while that is happening I need you to tell me everything you can about the hanging, leave no detail of the area, those in attendance, guards, everything. Freeing Matkinsai will be the easy part, keeping him alive is the next step."

With that Rand will listen to Joffrey while finding a map of the city.