[Game Thread] Road to Urik

[Peter172]

Diplomats Dravor dropped down from his perch and landed with a muted thud, then proceeded up the stairs to await Master Hanfros, why couldn't it be a woman? he lamented to himself as he looked for a commodious hiding place, thinking that it would be best to be hidden, just in case. He began trying to think of a valid excuse for his being here to open the conversation, and prayed the elements would aid his tongue in the coming moments. He knew he needed all the help he could get.

[Birched]

Diplomats Senator Vildeen presses his lips together. It's close enough to a smile that it can pass for one in diplomatic circles. "Of course, Mistress Soddenwhisper is more than welcome accompany you. A woman cannot be assured of her own safety when travelling alone these days in Tyr. A true tragedy about your family." He bows his head. "I will see you tomorrow then, Lady Uudoorian." The noble ignores Lanina entirely as he takes his leave and then marches off out of the main entrance in the company of a mul guard, presumably to return to his residence in Tyr during the recess of council. Faldor catches up to Lanina and D'Aguar just as the Senator is disappearing. He glances at the man just before he's gone. "I saw you talking to him. Did you catch him? Did it work out?" Faldor looks around. "I hope so. I'm going to be returning to watch the evening session, I think. I doubt the council will come back together before then, and this business with Turax is going to cause problems I'm sure." Faldor looks about nervously. "And I think I'm going to be very busy until then."

Gladiators Quick Wenzer smiles. "Now, see, there's something I can understand. You sure you want to fight me, though? It'd be nice to have you along, rather than bleeding out on the sand. I could just deal with your friend here instead." He points at Maunek. "Then Tyr would have a good man like you to defend it at its time of need. Because you know, I will win." The mul's smile broadens into a confident grin. The half dozen spectators from Lissan's fight are now spreading out in a ring around Wenzer, Thron, Maunek, and Big. The bemuscled watchers are joined by a few other brutish looking characters who have decided to see what's up. It's clear that they expect Big's challenge to be answered.

Dravor Dravor vaults lightly back down onto the steps and glances about quickly. He has almost no time to find a spot to hide, and the only two options are to squeeze against one of the hall doors and hope that the man passes him by, or to rush (stealthily, and hopefully still invisibly) up the stairs ahead of Hanfros and hope for better circumstances upstairs. ooc fyi, we're between one and two minutes into his invisible adventure, though that's purely metagame I guess considering that you've stated that he has no idea how long it'll last

Basha It's kind of nice not to have to smell the rot in the streets of free Tyr. Perhaps more people should try finding a shady spot outside the gates for contemplation and escape from the curious life within.

[Admin Chuck]

Gladiators The grin that splits Big'un's face is one of feral eagerness. The glint in his eyes hasn't been seen in some time, and the half giant lets the thrill of upcoming battle wash through him. He rolls his bull neck from side to side, causing it to pop with a sound like a snapping thigh bone, and massive shoulders roll in circles to loosen up. "I no kill you, you no kill me. We both able to fight 'gainst Urik later." Big'un says with a final shrug.

OOC Are there 'practice' weapons available, or should Big'un pull out the big ass sword strapped to his back and/or those nasty teeth of his?

[Elucidus]

Diplomats Lanina knows to keep quiet and so simply nods when addressed and keeps to herself. You can tell she isn't happy about it, she has learned over the years to step up and be a voice, this goes against her nature, but she does what she must so that others may benefit.

[mountainbound]

Diplomats Originally Posted by Birched Slightly off-put by Vildeen's contempt of her friend, D'aguar answers Faldor a bit sharply. "Yes, we caught him. What an asher! I had forgotten how little the nobility cares for any but themselves." Was I like that? She softens a bit. "In any case, we have an appointment with him tomorrow at dawn. Did you hear anything in today's session that we might use to help our cause? Is Vildeen a friend of Turax, or might he perhaps be among those willing to close the door on the events surrounding Kalak's end days? People dwelling on the past will find it hard to see the danger mounting against us presently."

[Peter172]

Diplomats Dravor continued to make his way up the stairs, having had little luck in finding a suitable hiding spot. He went as Dice Roll: d20+9 (5)+9 Total = 14 quietly as he could, pausing to look perception Dice Roll: d20+8 (14)+8 Total = 22 out a window to gauge the possibility of escape through it should things go horribly wrong. He just needed a moment alone with the secretary, then he would need to be gone as quickly as possible, but it seemed to be more difficult than he had imagined to get the man alone.

[Elfman6]

Gladiators The druid rolls his eyes. He had decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and appeal to an intelligent survivalist nature. The crux of the problem had become quickly apparent though after minimal reflection. You should not have tried to appeal to yourself. You should have appealed to Big... Bloody obvious if you had given it some thought instead of some arrogance. Of course they would want to settle things with violence. Whatever. Thron crosses his arms over his chest and takes a step back away from Big, keeping a watchful eye on those present. The options could certainly be worse. "Well, this will be... interesting."

[Birched]

Diplomats Faldor grimaces. "I'm not sure about Senator Vildeen. He'll likely do whatever benefits him the most, regardless of any personal suspicions about who did what. I'm not aware of any special relationship between him and Senator Turax, but you can be assured that Turax has his reasons for the petition he made." "I worry that 'closing the door' as you put it will mean finding someone to blame. I hardly have to tell you how important it is that that process be handled by the right people...." Faldor is sweating more than the increasing heat of the day might warrant, and looks agitated. "I'm not sure this is the best place to talk about it, either. I should go. I'll be in touch soon." With that, Faldor puts his fingers to his forehead in a symbol of respect and departs, making his way out of council ampitheatre. Lanina and D'Aguar are left standing near the entrance, watching council members and spectators slowly filter through to the street.

Gladiators Quick Wenzer grins confidently. "It's not over until someone's on the ground. Dead or unconscious, either works. If you can't handle that, walk away right now. Last chance." The mul reaches back to where another mul is approaching with a pair of wicked looking impaler: arena weapon with two blades mounted at the end perpendicular to a 4' shaft, forming a bladed 'T' impalers. He takes the two weapons and begins to swing them around in an impressive display of whirling pointy bits. He's still smiling. "You going to try it with just your fists, then?"

Dravor Dravor moves quickly up the stairs, silent as a cat. At one point a clasp drags against the wall, but there is no sign that the bard is heard by anyone except himself. Heart beating rapidly and unsure how much longer D'Aguar's magic will last, he reaches the second floor and casts about for a quick hiding spot. There is a wide landing with two exits: a door straight ahead, and one to the right. Both are slightly ajar. Ahead, Dravor sees a room with rugs on the floor and the corner of a desk against the far wall. An office space perhaps? To the right, the direction of the street, is another room with rugs on the floor. He can't make out much more from where he stands. Dravor can hear Hanfros coming up the stairs behind him.

Basha A small lizard scuttles up onto Basha's still foot and sits there, staring at him and no doubt ready to flee at the slightest movement.

sorry about the delay - I was away, and then had some technical issues with the site to deal with (and still do) and that has to take priority sometimes; also, I will start NPC'ing Blane for the time beingooc

[zebedee]

Basha A smile appears on the halfling's face. "Ah. Welcome." He watches the lizard intently, studying its near-mindless movements, unencumbered by anything other than the desire for food, and drink, and shelter. It is, perhaps, a life to be envied. But his life is not so simple. He sometimes feels like a toy of forces he doesn't understand and cannot see. He doesn't know why he lingers here in Tyr. He had come here as a weapon of his people, and that weapon had found its mark. But now he lies restless, and fears that he doesn't know the motivations of the ones that now aim him at new targets. He sighs, wistful. He watches as the lizard settles. He hums a strain of a children's song, something about the chain of life. Then his left hand snaps out in a flash, snaring the lizard by the tail. His right hand comes forward to grip the creature's head, and he pulls, snapping the neck and killing it instantly. "Kakzim, his arms wide." He brings the body to his mouth and rips open the soft flesh of its belly, drinking deeply of the flow of blood. He proceeds to bite off what little meat there is on the tiny thing, sharp teeth ripping skin and flesh and tendons. He throws the carcass away. He wipes his mouth and face with his hands, then cleans his hands in the sand. The sun has finally finished setting, and Basha knows that he's not safe here once night falls, however close the walls may be. He stands, takes a deep breath, and returns to the gates. Once inside the walls, he concentrates on keeping his walk natural, light, the movements of the predator, not the stiff, stunted stride of the city-dwelling karntas. He makes his way back to Nina's shelter, where he loses himself in helping to prepare the evening meal with whatever stores are still available.

[Admin Chuck]

Gladiators The grin that splits Big's face is one of fierce eagerness. The macahuitl makes a shhhhhhhnkt sound as he pulls it out of the sheath on his back. The sword, sized to be two handed for a human or mul, looks like it fits perfectly in one of Big's hamfists, but the half giant surprisingly takes a two handed grip on the blade to start. A deep growling chuckle rolls forth from his mouth, which begins reforming while he is laughing. "You have two, I have two." Big'un says through his new mouthful of teeth. Stooped forward Big'un has the appearance of some feral beast of legend. The first few fat drops of slobber spatter to the hard packed floor of the arena and perhaps Quick Wenzer has something of a better idea of the thread before him. Macahuitl waving menacingly Big'un stalks forward on powerful limbs. Mindscape The Tembo growls in eager anticipation, hoping that this puny thing in front of him can provide some sort of challenge. It's been too long since there's been any release, and the beast wishes to stretch its legs.

OOC Should I go roll initiative and first round attacks now?

[Peter172]

Dravor Dravor headed straight through into the room that appeared to be an office, figuring that would be the place the secretary would most likely be headed to, and sat down in a chair to wait, lounging back and looking like he owned the place. He wished he would have asked how to dispel the invisibility, but there was little he could do about it now. Fortune favors the brave right? he thought hopefully, working on the the story he had concocted and polishing it in his mind as he waited.

[Birched]

Gladiators Quick Wenzer begins to circle slowly around Big with smooth practised steps. Each footfall digs into the sandy-floored practice area. As he moves, he continues to circle the impalers, making it difficult for Big to find his way to a clear strike. you get first strike; you are rolling against AC 19 for this oneooc

Dravor Dravor walks into the room and finds a suitable chair in the corner. It is comfortably padded, and clearly intended to be suitable for guests of station. There is another similar chair behind the paper-strewn desk, and another (closed) door at the far side of the room, in the direction of the gated courtyard. Hanfros strides into the room with hurried steps. His back to Dravor, he begins to root through the papers on the desk. A few moments after his entrance, Benan enters and stands by the door. The servant watches Hanfros briefly, and then his eyes begin to wander. Almost immediately, they move towards Dravor, and then go wide. Benan lets out a strangled "eep!". Dravor realises that he is now visible to all.

[Admin Chuck]

Gladiators Big'un steps forward and simply powers his way through the waving impalers, bringing his macahuitl down in a two handed slash across Wenzer's chest. Unfortunately he knocked the little mul out of the way of his ensuing bite, and those vicious teeth snap closed only on air. The beast within growls in delight as blood splatters the sand below and shivers in anticipation of being allowed release - or taking it for himself.

[Birched]

Gladiators Big steps forward and puts his full weight into a massive slash. One of Quick's swirling impalers is knocked aside, and the macahuitl moves through the opening in the mul's defenses. The blade carves a long slice across the gladiator's torso, peeling back a strip of skin that is quickly concealed beneath a gush of red blood. Quick Wenzer grimaces, but does not slow down. The using mountainbound's descriptionsseriously wounded gladiator continues to whirl his impalers, though his rhythm has been interrupted. They fly wildly, and despite multiple attempts to beat through to the half-giant, only one meets flesh. One strike is enough to make it clear to anyone that the mul isn't kidding around. The impaler's spike sinks deeply into Big'un's upper arm. [9 damage to Big] Blood sprays as Quick Wenzer pulls the weapon back out. "I'm gonna hang that muzzle on my wall." QW's AC is now 17ooc

[zebedee]

OOC: