[Game Thread] Chapter 1: For Love or Money

[Glenn Coco]

Groz turned to face the recently introduced Holly Hold. "That is unfortunate to hear but drink I shall! To finding a glorious death in battle!"

Groz picks up the dwarven ale he ordered, holding it up for a moment and then finishing it off in one gulp.

"Bring me another!" yelling toward Karl holding the empty mug up in his right hand.

"Aye, the name's Groz, Groz Doomseeker. And yes I am a slayer! " continuing to shout in a drunken, obnoxious fashion.

[DukeofTuring]

"Marcus Brandt, priest of Sigmar Heldenhammer. And apparently the most sober one at this table, at least for now."

[darthcharon]

Before any of you have a chance to respond, an armored dwarf steps up to your table. Decorated with battle scars that cover the majority of his extremities, he also has a sizeable bald patch on the back of his head--the result of losing part of his scalp. This is a dwarf that has clearly seen battle, his long beard tightly knotted to keep it out of his way, and his brown hair neatly cropped. He had black beady eyes that stare over a sizeable nose, and he greets you all, and especially the slayer, with a healthy dose of respect.

"You look like a fearsome band," He says, "It's hardy folk like you that we need in order to rid Zhufbar of the ratmen. If it's money you're looking for, we'll gladly pay it. If it's danger you crave, we'll give it to you in abundance. If it's the greater good you're lookin' to support, you'll find no good greater than this one. Are ye up for it?"

"Oh, quit with the recruiting pitch already, Grod" Another patron, wearing colorful cothing, laughs as he passes by, "You've already recruited every suicidal nutcase within... oh, nevermind," He finishes when he notices the slayer. Taking an empty chair from the nearby table and placing it next to Holly, he sits in the chair backwards, leaning on the back of the chair, and introduces himself. "Louis LaCroix. Yes, it's a Brettonian name. Nobility. You may have heard of me, I'm rather famous over there. Not so much over here. Strange, I'd think word would travel faster. You see, I single handily stopped Archaon from invading Brettonia. Forced him to retreat, made him decide to invade the empire instead. And of course, by the time I found out, the war was over. Still, I came here anyways, hoping there might be a few beastmen to slay at least, but alas, they all appear to have gotten wind of my coming and ran away. I'm in no hurry to go home, however, as I've none to meet me there. I've quite the lonely life when I'm not slaying chaos. Lonely, quiet, and mysterious," His eyes end solidly on Holly as he finishes his monologue.

"Bah, you foppish clown, I doubt you've ever even held a sword," Grod mocks, "and ye've got no business teling me off then proceeding to harass this lass"

Louis looks flustered. "I was not harassing this lass," he replied indignantly, "I was merely introducing myself to this beautiful fower."

"Oh, lay off them, both of you," Another man steps forth. "Can't you see they're just trying to enjoy their meal?" Turning towards you, the man, who wears a soot covered blacksmith apron and has a single, large scruff of blonde hair on top of his head, sighs and says, "I appologize about that. Don't let these two give you any ideas about our little town, they're just visitors. Name's Ned by the way. I run the local blacksmith. So, what brings you all to our litte section of the world?"

[Quadra Wield]

Holly listened to the old dwarf's advertisement of ridding Zhubfar of ratmen. She knew that the dwarves would pay quite a good amount to rid their hold of ratmen, but Zhubfar was all the way in the southern fringes of the Empire and too far from Middenheim where she was headed. Besides the fact that dealing with ratmen in an underground dwarven hold did not sound like the best way to spend her time, or her life.

As she was about to reply to Grod though, the Bretonnian "noble" arrived. She though that the noble was lying through his teeth. She remembered that the human Kingdom of Kislev had a call of arms all throughout the human lands when Chaos had attacked them first. Also didn't the emperor Karl Franz himself have to beg the Bretonnians to come fight against Chaos? Whatever, maybe this man had his uses.

"Louis LaCroix was it? I'm sorry if my crude imperial accent butchers your Breton name." She said this in the "cutest" voice she could conjure, putting her fingers to her lips as if she said something wrong. "So, do you have lots of gold, as a noble? Do you think you could buy everyone at this table some rounds of ale?"

She says this to the noble with a wink, and then turns the blacksmiths arrival.

"Hello Ned, the name's Holly Hold, I'm just passing through. I have business to attend to in Middenheim."

[DukeofTuring]

Marcus listens seriously to Grods tale until the dwarf mentions ratmen, when Marcus gets a funny look in his face and suddenly but nonchalantly decides to rest his head on his hand for a few moments in a way that covers up his mouth. He manages to endure the Bretonian's speech and Holly's response.

Turning to the blacksmith, he gives a rather practiced response. "Brother Marcus, doing what I can to protect the empire and the faithful from the taint of chaos in these, ah, troubled times. If you know of any rogue beastmen, any remnants of the horde of chaos, anything unusual, let me know"

Turning to face Holly and Luis, he then says, "But Holly, if this gentleman is looking for a challenge, shouldn't we tell him about what we heard earlier? The, um, Chaos ... Orcs, from the hoard? It would sure take a mighty warrior to slay those orcs, maybe Luis could do that"

Edited to reflect my bluff checks.

[Insacrum]

It seemed that everyone was getting in introductions, except Ollona. Ollona was just about to introduce herself when the dwarf cut her off. Chompy on her backpack started to talk into her ear, "Squeek snicker snicker chirp!" Ollona stiffled a giggle at the lizard's remark.

When the human joined them, she couldn't help but know the man was a liar. While her family was an ambassador within Bretonnia, she had met a Louis LaCroix. That was about 50 years ago, so if this was the same man, he has preserved rather well. Either this was a different Louis LaCroix, or he was a braggart and a liar. She was inclined to think the latter.

The presence of the blacksmith seemed to bring some semblance of sanity to the gathering. She was about to finally introduce herself, but she decided to hold back, and simply follow along on the merriment of the situation. Granted, if anyone asked her name, should would be happy to oblige.

[Glenn Coco]

"Ah ha!" Groz gives a hearty laugh at Grod's mention of some actual combat.

"Trust a dwarf to finally speak some sense." Nodding at Grod with a large smile on his face.

Groz looked at the so called Louis LaCroix with a face of disgust. It was humans like him that made Groz wish he was never forced to leave Karak Azul. This man wouldn't have lasted five minutes as a slayer Groz thought to himself.

He then turned toward Ned the blacksmith. "I'm seeking exactly what my dwarven brother is talking about, some action!" Groz says as he slams his fist onto the table. Clearly he was getting fired up and was gearing for a fight.

[DukeofTuring]

"My thoughts exactly", Marcus adds diplomatically. "But perhaps we should be be looking for something nearby. Something a bit more concrete, not chasing after shadows in some faraway land. Meaning no offense."

"Smith, can you think of anything threatening the people? Any chaos or corruption?"

[darthcharon]

With a nervous laugh, the Brettonian repies, "Well milady, under other circumstances I'd be happy to foot your bill. Alas, as it is, I came packed lightly, expecting to be spending my time fighting chaos, not idling in a bar. I might have even called this trip a waste of my time, had I not just met you today," He winks back at Holly, seemingly having regained his courage.

As Marcus begins to speak, however, his courage seems to waver yet again. "Ah, well, that certainly does seem like a good challenge. However, I've already rented several nights in advance here, and I'd hate to see good money wasted. Perhaps when my room is no longer paid, I shall ride out to meet them, but for now, well, I'm here to recoup from my long, ardorous ride up here. "

"Right, ardorous ride," Ned rolls his eyes. "Anyways, if you're looking for work, I know that Bela had sent his servant Bertram, that's the tall one in the corner there, to find some folk to try and find something or another. I think he already found help though, but since Betram has come here every day for the last three days, I'd warrant they haven't come back yet. He may want--"

Before Ned can finish, the door opens with a bang, drawing the attention of all within. Standing in the door is a messy sight. A human youth, sopping wet, with torn clothes, and apparantly bleeding from a scalp wound, steps into the room, immediatly spots Betram, and points at him with an accusing finger. "You!" He shouts, "Your master sent us on a fool's errand! We went into those woods and they slaughtered us to a man! Now you'll pay!" With that, the boy takes out his dagger and bandishes it in Bertram's direction. Bertram says nothing, merely drawing his own weapon, a longsword strapped to his back, and faces his accuser. With a scream, the boy charges Betram! He tries to connect with Bertram, but he easily sidesteps the boy and counters with a swing of his sword that leaves a large gash on his shoulder.

[Insacrum]

The boy’s abrupt entrance draws the attention of Chompy on Ollona’s back. The lizard watches the boy make a direct line for the man only to watch him be sliced by the sword, “Hiss growl hiss!”

Ollona hears chompy scream into her ear. But really, how wouldn’t she. She turns her head just in time to see the boy take the slice from Betrum. “Do I have to deal with stuff like this no matter where I go?” Ollona seems to be speaking to no one but herself.

Ollona stands up, drawing her bow, notching an arrow into it, watching what she can only describe as a battle between a Halfling and a giant. Not yet knowing who to aim at yet, she keeps her bow aimed downwards while she yells, hopefully over the noise of the skirmish, “Cease and Desist!”

 

Move Action: Draw Weapon
Free Action: Yell at the top of her lungs!
Standard Action: Held. If Bertram takes another swing at the Kid, she’ll Healing Hex the kid, if he takes a swing at someone else, she’ll Evil Eye Hex him (-2 to attack rolls).

Dice if healing:

1d8+1

(8)+1

Total = 9

If evil eye: DC 13 will save, if fail he has -2 to attack rolls for 6 rounds, if he succeeds, it’s for 1 round.

[DukeofTuring]

Marcus stands up and steps a few feet away from the table (towards the combatants) while clutching his holy symbol. He shouts, "By Sigmar, stay your hand!"

 

In addition to talking, Marcus uses the command power of his inevitable domain to make Bertrem drop his weapon, Will DC 16 negates. If he fails, Bertram cannot pick up his sword during his turn.

[Glenn Coco]

After years of traveling the world, the scene that was playing out in front of Groz was nothing he hadn't seen before. He admitted to himself that the kid had spunk and would have made a great slayer. Alas he wasn't one and dying here by the hands of that Betram fellow was not something Groz wanted to witness.

As he was thinking this to himself, the youth took a frightful looking blow from Bertram, Groz knew the youth wouldn't last for much longer.

Groz quickly rose from the table and shouted to Bertram "Why don't ya pick on someone your own size!".

Groz then proceeded to charge toward the encounter drawing his mighty battleaxe. With a loud grunt, Groz hopped over the table that stood in his way and landed on the other side with a loud thud. He gave the youth a forceful push out of the way so the could face Bertram. He then turned to Bertram with a large smile on his face waiting to see if this man knew better than to confront a slayer, still keeping an eye on the youth to make sure he wouldn't try anything stupid.

 

Free Action: Stand up and yell
Move Action: Move toward the youth by jumping over the table (see dice forum for acrobatic roll)
Standard Action: Bull rush the youth to move him back 5 ft and attempts to intimidate Betram (see dice forum for Bull rush roll)

[Quadra Wield]

Holly is visibly annoyed by the interruption to her drink and conversation. That large fellow, Bertram, obviously knew how to use his sword and the half dead youth charging the large man did not stand a chance. With an audible sigh, Holly stands up, draws her pistol and shoots straight up to get their attention.

"Oy, either of you two take a swing at each other again, a bullet goes through your head."

Holly takes aim, ready to fire another shot.

 

Free Action:Stand up and attempt to intimidate(dice forum for intimidate)
Move Action: Draw pistol
Standard Action: Shoot pistol straight up

[darthcharon]

Ollona lines her her bow at Bertram, which only midly catches his attention.

Groz leaps across the table, managing to knock it down and spilling all the food and alcohol on the table to the floor. He successfully manages to knock the already injured boy away, but Bertram seems only slightly amused. Even the sound of a gunshot as Holly fires into the roof, causing no small amount of debris to land on the now tipped table and spilt meal barely catches his attention.

What does catch his attention, however, is his hand suddenly opening of it's own accord, and his sword landing on the floor. He looks up confused, until he sees Marcus holding his holy symbol before him, and Bertram backs away just a smidge.

Before anyone has a chance to do or say anything else, Karl jumps in. "Everyone, put your weapons away! No fighting in my inn." Looking at Bertram, he says, "The boy didn't know any better, let it go."

Glancing towards the priest of sigmar, Bertram nods. "you're right, as always, Karl. Somebody better run for the surgeon." Ned immediately jumps from his seat at the suggestion, and runs out the door to fetch him. Once he has regained control of his hands, Bertram leans down to pick up his sword, and wipes the blood from it with the edge of his shirt, while Karl looks at the dwarf. "I won't charge you for the mess you made if you clean it up yourself." Turning towards Holly, he glares, "I will, however, have to charge you for the sizeable hole you just put in my ceiling."

"Send the bill to Bela," Bertram replies, "they were simply doing what they thought right. I'm sure Bela will be more than happy to compensate you for your trouble."

Karl looks back towards him. Nodding, he says, "I'll do that, but the next time I see weapons out in my tavern you'll not be allowed in, agreed?"

"Agreed," Bertram consents as he finishes sheathing his blade. Walking towards you, he says, "My apologies for that. It's not very proper, shedding blood in front of visitors, especially on their first evening in our town. Still, you don't seem the types that are sensitive to the type. And it would appear that my master still requires outside services to help him retrieve what he's lost. Would you be interested? I can offer you forty gold crowns now, and Bela has promised two hundred more upon your success."

[Glenn Coco]

Groz straps his battle-axe to his back, while letting out a laugh, "HAHAHA perhaps I was a tad too hasty with my actions."

He reaches out his hand to shake Bertram's. "The name's Groz Doomseeker, and by the looks from this youth's condition, your master's task is exactly what I've been lookin for." once again laughing at the fact he has finally found a suitable quest.

"Please join us for a drink and explain a little more" says Groz as he walks back to his table completely oblivious to the angry looks he is receives from those who's table he just ruined.