CH. 02 - Raider's Camp

[Matt4]

Chantilly Sweettooth

HP: 19/19 - AC: 16 - Perception: 15 - Insight: 11 - Inspiration: No

Conditions: None


A lady..?
Hearing that, the young half-kender seemed a bit disappointed.
As the white haired man continued, Chantilly lowered her eyes and sheathed her dagger: "I'm sorry about your friends."
The weird feeling she felt last night as she witnessed the attack was back again. Back at her village, everyone's thoughts about death were mostly accompanied by curiosity or even excitement, so why does it feel different to her?
The guilt also came back up, maybe if she didn't hide during the attack things could have been different and this man wouldn't be so sad and angry.
But this time it will be different, she is here now, and she can help!
Chantilly was initially surprised when the man asked her to call her father, thinking that he actually knew him but then remembered her earlier empty threat. There was no reason to tell him it was empty though, she liked the idea of someone thinking she was the daughter of a powerful wizard.
"Yes, I'll go and tell them everything!"
She turned around but then stopped: "..Which direction for the chapel? And who should I tell is going to scout ahead?"

[Zero Prime]

Caelin Valaerys, pariah of Tarkhisis
HP: 18 of 18 | AC: 17 | Perception: 15 | Insight: 17 | Inspiration: 1
Conditions: None.

A paused as he watched a flood of emotion wash across the young woman's face, guilt, regret, prehaps? Strange. However, the accusing glare of the villagers of Greenest was starting to irritate him, to anger him, as if he *was* the villain. He who had ...

Chantilly's response snapped his attention back to the girl, his eyes studied her, then he nodded. "The chapel is towards the centre of town, follow the main raod," he gave her the directions as best he remembered them, "there will be the banging of carpenters hanging the main doors." A pause, he scanned the crowd again, his face twisting in anger, shame, guilt, "I am Caelin," his voice was louder now, pitched for both his listener, and the growing crowd, "and I wear this cloak because it is easier to slit a man's throat if he believes you friend. And trust me," again, addressing the villagers and not Chantilly, "you needed my blades last night, to protect the survivors of the Moon's Rest as I guided them to the keep, as I attacked and led away the raiders about to breach the gates of the chapel, where they would have slaughtered those they found. To protect your precious mill! Ask Escobert's family if I am one to look at with scorn or hate in your eyes. Ask Them! Ask Nighthill!" He pulled his tunic away from his hip, revealing a jagged wound that still seeped blood. "I bear the scars of your salvation," he snapped at the villagers of Greenest, "so don't look at me and judge."

And with that he stalked away, searching for the tracks of the raiders as they moved to the south and the east away from Greenest, their movement laden down and slowed by the goods that they had stolen, and the souls they had kidnapped.

[Igordragonian]

'It's just a matter of debt.' Zakkoth say.
'My heart is my own judge.' he say, and try to see.. any clue within those objects.


--------------

Investigation

D2opETdy1d20+11d20+1

[Matt4]

Chantilly Sweettooth

HP: 19/19 - AC: 16 - Perception: 15 - Insight: 11 - Inspiration: No

Conditions: None

Chantilly looked in awe at the wound on Caelin's body while trying to store every information he was spouting.
She waited for him to step away before heading to the nearest town guard.
"Did you hear what Lord Caelin said? Stop frowning like that and go fetch his companions at the chapel! Told them he and Lady Chantilly are scouting for trails to track down the invaders! It's an order from Lord Nighthill!"
As she was approaching the guard she heard the familiar sound of pots clanking in her backpack. She had to do something for that so she rummaged trough her belongings and took the iron pot extending it to the guard.
"Also, give this to Lady Reyra, she will understand!"
Without waiting for an answer, she followed on Caelin tracks trying not to get noticed.

SPOILER: Click to show

{OOC action}
I assume I shall attempt to a Stelth check?

[HorizonsDream]

Eliana couldn't help but giggle when Zakkoth mentioned that Henry was human, and the fact that his excuse was that male human like faces blurred together was somewhat amusing. "Well, while he might be wrong about your race, he is right about one thing," Eliana says as she links arms with the newest member of their little group. "You are rather wise," she admits. So far, Henry wasn't showing signs of being quite as naive as Conard. "Though, I'm not really sure the people of the town are going to be of much help to us. I don't dare say most of them, but quite a few of the townspeople were in the fortress during most of the attack. We saved as many people as we could, including many of the people from this very temple," she explains. "I suppose we could ask the people that we saved last night if they remember seeing the monk. At the very least, it might give us an idea as to when he disappeared. Though, before that, I do agree we should find Caelin." She was worried that he might go off on his own.

[Zero Prime]

Caelin Valaerys, pariah of Tarkhisis
HP: 18 of 18 | AC: 17 | Perception: 15 | Insight: 17 | Inspiration: 1
Conditions: None.

Caelin was too focused to pay attention to Chantilly shouting orders at the guard, he was moving through the grass, towards a copse of trees that sat beside the road that entered the town from the south east and considered the task ahead. From what he knew of the lay of the land, the raiders would move beneath cover, or at least enough cover to disappear into if they were spotted, confronted. Given the number of raiders involved in the assault on Greenest, he assumed they would be moving back in small groups, and likely some of those groups would have the, unenviable task of doing a rear guard to prevent pursuit. They would be aware that their brethren had encountered resistance in Greenest, and would likely expect Nighthill to send out a patrol to follow them to their base of operations.

A rustle in the grass behind him, he could only assume it was the young girl, he looked over his shoulder to confirm his suspicions, and noted a lock of reddish blond hair peaking out from behind a tree.

"Chantilly was it?" He paused, "A quiet approach, but have more care on dried leaves. Shouldn't you be gathering your father and his arcane might for the defense of Greenest?"

SPOILER: Click to show

{Out of Character Actions}OOC: For ease of interactions, since Chantilly blew her roll, +9? Wow! And it didn't beat my passive Perception I will just go with he heard her because she hit a patch of dry leaves in her excitement. I will, however, roll a Perception check to find the trail of the Raiders, 1d20+5= ;795x545Y1d20+5. Also, trying to avoid any rear guard, so if it appears I am closing on someone I will do it quietly, 1d20+8= ;1d20+8.

1d20+5·1d20+8

[Daos]

Zakkoth, Eliana and Henry
Zakkoth looks over the broken staff and the choker.  The staff appears to have been damaged in a fight.  From the way the wood is snapped, it looks like something--a large beast of some kind--bit into it.  He remembers the drakes that fought alongside the raiders last night, and he deduces that one of them is the likely culprit.

The choker is a braided leather neckband with a silver dragon design chased into the leather.  The ends are ragged, suggesting that someone had roughly torn it off; it was not removed normally.

Caelin, Chantilly and Beatrice
Beatrice steps out of the caravan that just pulled into the market square of Greenest.  A number of folk were riding it alongside her, and they scatter around, taking in the sight of the fallen town.  Most of the fires are out, but some buildings still smolder.  The corpses have been cleared off the streets, but their blood stains remain.  People are either digging through the rubble for possessions or missing loved ones, or trying to hawk wares to the newcomers, hoping to earn back something that was lost last night.  There's a keep in the middle of town, south of her, up on a hill.  Even from here, she can see black char marks along the walls.  This was no ordinary bandit raid, that much is certain.

Although to anyone who turns eyes upon her, Beatrice appears like any other Solamnic woman.  But her tan is deeper than most locals, and her equipment looks a bit foreign in nature.  Her attention is caught by the sound of yelling not far from where she stands.  A young man with ashen white hair and a sinister looking black cloak appears to be yelling at a teenage girl with strawberry blonde hair.  The man then turns his tirade toward the others in the town square, including herself.  Before she can decide whether she should intervene or just walk away, the two seem to settle their dispute.  The teenage girl then bounds up to Beatrice, and inexplicably hands her an iron pot and gives her a set of instructions to find some people she has never heard of and to give one of them the pot.  Either this girl is addle-brained or she seems to have confused Beatrice with someone else.

[Igordragonian]

Zakkoth was weak to beautiful and strong women, and couldn't help but smile for a moment, when Eliana giggled. He was spiritual... but he never denied his carnal side.
But The Blue Lady's giggle... kept hauntingly echo in every women's giggle.
Abyss. He was sure he was over Takhisis and Kitiara..

He frown.
'It isn't good.' he share his findings. 'Violence. Possibly from drakes's maws. I fear I might not be able to repay my debt to Leosin'

[Bunny Commando]

When the two of them call him "wise", Henry raises his hand and says jokingly "Hold that thought for when I will do something truly dumb, I'll need it." and listens when Eliana chimes in, shrugs and responds "You know the place and the people better than me, so I trust your judgment and will follow your lead in trying to unearth more informations."

Before Henry could say more, Zakkoth utter words that shuts down any good humour in the squire; he looks at the choker and the broken staff then hesitantly put a hand on Zakkoth's shoulder "Hope may be fickle, but hold onto it. And if your debt won't be paid to your friend, keep his legacy alive." Henry squeezes Zakkoth's shoulder a little bit more, a bittersweet smile on his lips "Maybe you could tell me about your friend around the campfire, I would like to know more about him." then points at Eliana with his head "As my kin suggested, we should go find Caelin."

[GorgonHeap]

Benyt/Female Human Fighter 2





Standing amid the rubble with a stewpot, Benyt wondered at the strange circumstance. Were it not for all the dead, she’d laugh. How nice not to be questioned or threatened upon entering town. And having just missed a grim bit of business as well.

Though much of her face was hidden by her helm, aventail, and scarf, she stressed the respectful smile in her voice when saying, “Of course. Right away,” and tossed the pot aside the moment the girl moved away.

She turned her gaze in a broad circle, taking in the damage, both structural and personal, and pushed down a shudder of fear and despair for these poor people. There’s nothing she can do to help them except possibly halt another attack. The bossy gray-haired man seemed the only (adult) with his wits about him, but she didn’t want to be a distraction, so getting away quickly would be best. Get out of the way and find common ground to begin taking in the unfortunately morbid gossip and news.

Her words are mildly clipped and rolled with unusual pronunciation. “You seem to have this well in-hand, goodman. Tell me if the inn still stands and where I can find it, and I will leave you to assisting brothers and sisters.”

[Zero Prime]

Caelin Valaerys, pariah of Tarkhisis
HP: 18 of 18 | AC: 17 | Perception: 15 | Insight: 17 | Inspiration: 1
Conditions: None.

He looked up at the woman who addressed him, tall, squarely built, well equipped and heavily armored. "Well in hand?" A wry look in his face as he indicated the town with a sweep of his hand, "Follow this road west, about two intersections, past a pile of bodies, and a burnt out cottage. You'll see the remains of a wood and stone structure with the charred remains of a stable a stones throw from it. That'd be the remains of the Silver Tear Inn. No vacancy, no proprietor, dragon made sure of that. Might try the keep up the hill, Nighthill's probably looking to replace some of the guardsmen he lost against the raiders though."

[Daos]

Zakkoth, Eliana and Henry
The three agreed that they should seek out Caelin, but where to look for him?  The most logical place to start would be the town square.  It was the most populated area, so if he wasn't there, they could at least ask around if someone had seen him.

As luck would have it, he was there, though.  He's easy enough to spot in a crowd with his white hair and black cloak.  Oddly enough, he is not alone.  He seems to be in a conversation with two women.  One looks like a teenage girl with strawberry blonde hair.  The other is dressed like a warrior, but her armor and blade seem foreign and alien; not of Solamnia, to be sure.

[Matt4]

Chantilly Sweettooth

HP: 19/19 - AC: 16 - Perception: 15 - Insight: 11 - Inspiration: No

Conditions: None

Darn it!
She got distracted, but the leaves were so beautiful..
"Yes! That's me! As for my father.." she lowered her voice a bit, saddened by her inability to find him more than by the fact she got caught in a lie.
"I would fetch him, happily. If only I knew where he was. Or who he is. I'm not even sure he is a mage, i was just trying to scare you."
Then quickly added: "When I thought you were one of them, obviously."
While she was saying that she couldn't help but notice a small group of people approaching: "A beautiful lady, a bozak, and a knight..Hey, aren't those your friends?", she said excitedly.

[HorizonsDream]

"He looks like he is making friends," Eliana says, sounding slightly sarcastic as she takes in the people that he is with. "Caelin!" she calls out to him as they approach. Once she reaches the group, she looks down to Chantilly and back up to Benyt. "Who are your friends?"

[Zero Prime]

Caelin Valaerys, pariah of Tarkhisis
HP: 18 of 18 | AC: 17 | Perception: 15 | Insight: 17 | Inspiration: 1
Conditions: None.

Caelin looked towards Eliana, "This one's," he nodded towards the firey haired young woman, "is Chantilly, she came in with the caravan, I was about to send her looking for you while I followed the raider's trail." He looked towards the armed and armored woman, "This one a guard perhaps, mercenary? Sellsword? She was just asking directions towards the inn." He shrugged, pulled himself up from the tree, a wince pain as his weight centered over his injured hip.

"The raider's went south and east, Mistress Mondath and Cyanwrath will be with the vanguard, and so will not be slowed down by captives or plundered wealth. However, the main body will splinter into smaller groups. They will be garbed as farmers, mercenaries, or sellswords," he looked towards the warrior woman with a questioning eye, "so as not to draw attention from locals or villagers. There will be a rear guard, that we must be wary of."