The Mob Rules
Log Info
- Title: The Mob Rules
- Emitter: Cryosanthia
- Characters: Auranar, Knightmare, Percy, Vaera, Skielstregar, Jinks
- Place: On the Road to Happy Valley
- Time: Thursday, September 02, 2021, 7:26 PM
- Summary: Several travelers are heading to Happy Valley, to see the Happy Gnomes in their happy homes. Indeed, the gnomes seem so elated they're having a mobile party that's coming right up the road. A party full of candles, and pitchforks, oh... and chasing a dead-seeming Sith'Makar and attempting to light him on fire. This is not the joyous encounter everyone was expecting. Skielstregar runs up to the group, who disperse to either side off the road, or block it completely, as Knightmare and Cysgodawyr does. Jinks arrives, and sees he might be able to make a difference. Battle ensues. The angry mobs are quite disorganized and not able to hit the Knightmare or Skielstregar when they go defensive. Sadly, the arrows shot at the mobs are a little too non-lethal. Percy and Auranar attempt to talk sense into the gnomes, but it's not happening. Glitterbombs are thrown, Knightmare is recognized as a gnomish construct, and Vaera and Skielstregar escape into the bush. Eventually the promise of a lot of drinks gets the mobs to break down and agree to return, though it may never be a Happy Valley for Skielstregar, who only wanted to see a play.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing, in Order -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Auranar 4'8" 123 Lb Wild Elf Female A wild elf with dark skin and a red dress. Knightmare 6'4" 294 Lb War Golem Female A knightly construct bearing heraldry of lost Dragonier. Percy 5'5" 121 Lb Dawn Elf Female An expressive llyranesi with a big blade. Vaera 7'0" 262 Lb Sith-Makar Female A tall, dark red Makari with a wooden leg. Skielstregar 7'2" 330 Lb Sith-Makar Male A tarnished bronze scale with fangs and empty eyes. Jinks 3'4" 39 Lb Gnome Male A gnomish fellow in fancy garb and jewelry. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= As the GM -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Cryosanthia 6'9" 291 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
On the Road to Happy Valley.
It's a wonderful place, all told, full of gnomes doing gnomish things. A great place to buy artifice, not so great for getting a seat at a restaurant. To say nothing of making a play, the theatres are so small!
One might have many reasons to visit Happy Valley, desires oft not detailed nor shared. It is a little trek from Alexandria. There is a chapter house of knights, as well as the lodge house for a chapter of the Darling Dames and Dashing Dudes secret society. Not so secret society.
It used to be known as Desolation Valley, but hasn't been called that in a while. The gnomish takeover was successful! This particular spot on the road is non-descript. It's hard packed earth with broken earth to either side, a light woods also bordering it. There is a cliff, with the road following alongside a cutout, meaning a dropoff is to the right, and a ridge is to the left.
Auranar was... perhaps a little bit nervous about the idea of being on the road to Happy Valley. Not really the being on the road part, but being on the way to a place that was largely known for its explosions wasn't her cup of tea. That being said, she /had/ heard that they happened to be a good location for unusual reagents, so she had reluctantly agreed to checking out the unusual location with Percy.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Auranar picks her way delicately around yet another group of gnomes on the road. Her red dress made her stand out even here, but she had no reason to expect any shenanigans (aside from those one might find around gnomes in any case), so she wasn't exactly decked out in her adventuring gear... not that she had yet to pick anything up. Mayhap they had something in Happy Valley?
With the subject of artifice often investigated, the race of the gnomes was often an accompaniment, when not speaking of goblins. And with that was mention of the lands of Happy Valley, where a large population resided, somewhat akin to Alexandria's goblintown. With postings in the guilds being sparse and no prior plans, it seemed like a decent enough time to investigate further. Though she had become sidetracked on the way as boar tracks had intersected the road, and she had instead elected to take to the forests, following the relatively fresh trail, hopefully towards something she could take back to camp afterwards.
The road to Happy Valley often sprouts a curiosity or two. One, is a huge coal grey destrier, russet of mane, tail and shaggy fetlocks clad in impressive, if battle scarred metal armor. In the saddle with her own hooves in the stirrups, is an armoured figure, set to black where he is flame and rust. They ride at an easy canter, the burnished head scanning about, as her dutiful mount follows the road.
Her brave steed doesn't understand the reason for the detour, so far from their homeland, and the rider has no fathom how to explain. Something internal and specialized, that makes this the place for the Knightmare to be.
The partners pace slows as the come upon other travellers along the road, and she eases back the reins so as to avoid any regrettable accidents, simply raising a hand in peaceful greeting to passersby.
Percy whimsically walked to the entrance to the town, With Auranar by her side and gleefully read the sign that read ' Happy Valley'. Percy turned to Auranar with a calm smile. " Of course it's a good idea! We'll be able to have allsorts of fun!" Percy Put her hands on hips with determination and her smile grew pridefully. "Pulse I'm not done exploring!" Percy hugged Auranar.
"Thanks for coming here with me, I really appreciate that." Quickly she turned to the town and marched her into 'Happy Valley'. Soon she started to talk about the kinds of food she wanted to try while she was there. In response,her stomach started to grumble.
The road winds down the side of the cliff into desolation -strike- Happy Valley. It has long stretches which gently slope before a hairpin switchback. This allows higher and lower elevations to be heard but not seen. The tree canopies are thick.
From a lower elevation, past a steep dropoff, was what sounded like a party. Cheering, hollering, presumably happy hoots and high pitched gnomish voices. Exactly what they were celebrating couldn't be determined, perhaps a local end-of-summer holiday. Whatever it was, it sounded enthusiastic and swiftly moved ahead. At some point this traveling party will come around the corner.
There's a forerunner now!
To crest the corner revealed a sight. With a trail of smoke following a half burned poncho, a massive, tarnished bronze scale was running full speed in the party's direction. They looked off: some scales overgrown with fangs protruding out of their maw, talons far too long and patches of scales missing. Somehow, through their vacant gaze of silver, was an expression of exasperation.
He held no weapons in hand as he ducks low, different debris clanking off the back of his head. Glitter and rainbow colored powder caked him, some of it smoldering as well.
Taloned feet carve into the ground as he takes the turn, him muttering to himself in a low grumble, "Why glitter...!" <Draconic>
Ears rising then swiveling back at the new scents coming around the corner, the destrier whinnies in alarm and the Knight straightens in the saddle. With a nudge to the sides with her own hooves and a light pull to one side of the reins, then the other, "Let's see what's afoot, here!" she calls, steering the mammoth beast around the other travellers and moving to intercept the smoking figure, taking up her shield along the way.
And following not far behind is a tremendous and terrifying number of gnomes. Technically two can be terrifying, depending what they are up to, but this was a sizeable mob of small folk, all in a fugue and determined.
They carry brooms, which are on fire, pitchforks, which are not, and mixed in between are gnomes carrying neither, instead laden-down with bottle-bombs of various concoctions.
It is a classic peasant uprising, local townies hell-bent on driving out an undead scourge.
"Keep it up lads! We've almost got it!" Someone shouts from the mob of fiery pursuers.
"Look! There's more!"
"Get 'em!"
The signs of partying have Auranar headed for the other side of the road, not wanting to interrupt the party. Which is her main excuse for not immediately noticing the sith-makar headed right for her. In fact she looks up just in time to spot the bronze-sale and swerve... But not fast enough to twist out of their way. Which certainly means that if the sith doesn't move... She's about to get run over! Her eyes have just enough time to widen.
Although the Sith'makar has a ways to go before she will be run over.
Vaera poked her head closer to the treeline as she heard some manner of commotion. her bow drawn already as she was hunting, and hopefully not needed, but ready. So, there was a familiar face, and just as familiar was them holding a bow, though thankfully, not aimed directly at them. She blinks, and gestures a hand to them. Against their better judgement they jog forward, seeing the mob of gnomes appearing. "Just what happened here, Skielstregar?" She asks once close enough, already starting to backpedal herself. <Draconic>
The mob surges forward, over-running Skielstregar. The bronze scale is surrounded, threatened by poorly held weapons.
And fire.
There's lots of fire.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+5: (1)+5: 6 (EPIC FAIL) (Mob 1 attack)
They're a little too close to be effective. Mostly the bronze sith'makar is bonked, not injured.
A bunch of them spread down the road, towards the Knightmare.
Percy's eyes widen as she saw the mob making it way through, drawing closer and closer in reaction of something that sparked flipping a switch on in Percy, she quickly drew her sword and thrust it into the ground blade-side facing the mob, Percy kept an eye on Auranar making sure she wasn't hurt at all. With the sword Percy found time to talk quickly. " Auranar, Are you alright?" Percy couldn't help but worry for her, making things worse the mob came out of nowhere.
GAME: Vaera rolls knowledge/military theory: (12)+5: 17 GAME: Percy rolls knowledge/military theory: (1)+9: 10 (EPIC FAIL) <OOC> Percy says, "I'd like you my re-roll now if thats alright." GAME: Percy rolls knowledge/military theory: (19)+9: 28
Gnomes make terrible troops, they don't move fast. They do get stuck in a groupthink or fugue. It will be hard to break them out of it without hurting them a little. A combination of lethal or non-lethal will be necessary. Mobs like this feed on fear, especially if the thing they're after is hurt or afraid. They could be intimidated, perhaps bluffed to back down but that is likely only going to be successful after they've taken some damage. The more hurt they are, the easier they'll be persuaded to give up. In a big chaotic group, it will be hard to reach them with reason.
Vaera was watching the encroaching crowd, and the sith-makar seeming to be fleeing from it. The lethal arrow was swapped for another from somewhere in the coat, with a less lethal head to it. She looks up to Knightmare, thinking about how the legs worked with riding animals before she chuffs. "It's a mob, they aren't going to listen to reason with their numbers. Might need to scare them off." She says to them, before turning back to watch the fleeing sith, not drawing the bow just yet. It was a welcome change of pace!
<OOC> Auranar is gonna mage armor myself and draw my bow. GAME: Auranar casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14
Seeing the mob gathering to attack the sith-makar, Auranar gathers her wits about her and casts a quick spell to give herself some protection from the angry-looking mob and pulls out her bow. She's not entirely sure what she's going to do with it, but if the gomes attack the sith-makar...
<OOC> Skielstregar says, "skiel is going to don his shield and do total defense" <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Okay! make the pose. that will be +4 AC.
The undead looking sith-makar whips their head around to Vaera, then the others. Surprise muddles with the scent of decay. "Vaera! Thisss one wasss jussst learning the land! And sssoftssskins tried to sssieze me! Dessspite me trying to explain!"
He pulls his shield free and pulls it tight to himself as the mob descends. He doesn't exactly hurt them, but ends up holding the shield out to push some of the gnomes out of the way, akin to a parent holding a child by the head to keep them from getting closer.
GAME: Percy rolls Intimidate: (5)+6: 11
Percy's eyes follow the movement of the gnomes glaring at each one, Unfortunately it doesn't work the way she intended instead they turn their attention to her and Auranar. Percy turned to Auranar and looked back at the gnomes readying herself for damage. Percy muttered under her breath to herself in a bitter tone. " Something isn't right here, whatever it is I have to find a way to fix this." Percy stood there holding her ground and her sword in place.
<OOC> Vaera says, "Going to act after Skiel and fire a blunt arrow at one of the gnomes in front" GAME: Vaera rolls weapon7: (9)+6: 15
With the explanation given it was enough for the red sith-makar to loose the arrow at one of the gnomes at the front of the group. One of the gnomes wields a pitchfork much like a racket however, and the arrow catches on it, before being smacked into the ground.
GAME: Knightmare rolls intimidate: (13)+8: 21 <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "KM is winning 'scariest thing on the map'"
With the tableau playing out before her, the Knight wheels her steed and at some unspoken cue, the might Cysgodawyr rears up with a fierce neigh, heavy hooves clawing at the air before them, joined by the hellish, reverberating neigh of his rider in a hellish chorus.
As the forehooves come back, then angrily smite the earth, churning up the dirt of the road as dame Betrys of Dragonier, the armoured figure astride the shadow roars, "BE STILL!"
She gives that a second, then, in a less hollow, less booming volume broaches the matter with a, "Good people, what calls for such bedlam?"
Townsfolk, townsfolk are calling for it.
<OOC> Jinks says, "20' gets me to 9,19 and I'm going to cast Diplomancy roll." GAME: Jinks rolls Diplomacy: (4)+10: 14
Jinks arrives mid-lyric, his fancy boots crunching quietly on the loose dirt of the road. He wasn't expect battle, clearly, as his coat hangs open and his shirt is unbuttoned down the ever-present bandages about his chest. He slows to a stop and frowns at the conflict obstructing his path, his solid-black eyes going wide when he realizes it's a mob of People provoking assorted sell swords of Alexandria. "What in the name of Mulria's rancid, sideways smile are you people doing!? The spoiled, half-rotten lizard is a mercenary from the city not a brigand!" <gnomish>
The Mob of Gnomes, acts like... a mob of gnomes.
"Look! Over there, an Evil Necromantess and her deluded bodyguard!"; "It's always a human, isn't it."; "We'll save you."
They surge towards the pair. Well, until the Knightmare gets their attention.
"Look! A Necromantic construct! Destroy it!"; "Save the horsie!"; "Poor horsie!"; "SAVE THE HORSE FROM THE HORSE!"
A goal has been chosen.
"Wait, we still need to kill the Forgotten!"; "Right! Kill the Forgotten!"
Skielstregar is surrounded, and pounded upon.
The redscale's arrow falls amongst the group, failing to even inconvenience one of them, and effectively overlooked.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "M1 attacks Jinks, M2 attacks KM" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+5: (15)+5: 20 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+5: (14)+5: 19
They surround the bronze scale and the servant of Vardama. Flaming brooms are waved, wacking at the shoulders of the tallmen. Ineffectively it would seem.
<OOC> Vaera says, "staying at a distance, and another non lethal shot at the mob around Skielstregar." GAME: Vaera rolls weapon7 -4: (10)+6+-4: 12
"As you can see, they have no intention of stopping this moment. As much as they really should." Vaera shouts as she pulls out another arrow. But the blunted arrows fly much less accurately than others, and this one too seems to do more to the ground than the ensuing mob.
<OOC> Auranar feels rather useless here really. Having no diplomacy or intimidation :"D GAME: Auranar casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14
Auranar casts the same spell as before, but this time touches Percy on the shoulder, sending the spell into her companion. "Maybe you should beat one or two of them up? Just to... get their attention?" She feels awkward even suggesting it, but she hates to see them attacking the sith-makar. "If that sith were Forgotten you'd be eaten by now!" She yells lamely at the mob.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+5: (15)+5: 20 (AOO on Skielstregar - mis)
Skielstregar brings up his shield to block himself from the crowd as he runs further down the road. He takes up a defensive stance, holding up his shield protectively. "Pleasse!" he calls out, sniffing the air and sneezing. There were so many scents going on... "Ssstop! Thisss one doesss not wisssh to hurt you!"
It really sounded like he was pleading, and actually afraid.
GAME: Auranar rolls diplomacy: (6)+3: 9 (Aid Another Percy - Fail) GAME: Percy rolls diplomacy: (14)+1: 15
Percy glances at Auranar in surprise that she'd suggested such a idea. Facing the gnomes once again she looked in a gaze, "Please listen to what I have to say!" for a moment she paused and continued " My friend here can cast 'disrupted' a spell to identify the undead that walk the planet, We can assure you they have not been brought back to life to live as the undead if you give us a chance and stop fighting us to let my friend cast the spell it will be verified that they are indeed alive and breathing beings such as all of you and me!"
GAME: Knightmare rolls intimidate: (18)+8: 26 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+5: (10)+5: 15
Knightmare hears the appeals to mercy form the haggard Sith, and coaxes her mount to move into a path to head off the main body of pursuit. She sounds out her unnerving battle cry, then readies her shield, and roars her challenge, "ENOUGH! The Sith is clearly afraid. I am a Knight of dragonier, and if you wish to pursue him any further, you will have to go through US!"
GAME: Jinks rolls Diplomacy: (20)+10: 30 <OOC> Jinks says, "10,15 for my move, please."
Jinks grumbles under his breath about being ignored and half-jogs his short little self further up the path towards the not-to-grand melee. One hand steadies the elaborate basket hilt of his rapier and the other has a thumb and two fingers in a reagent pouch on his belt. The gnome curls back his lips and presses the tongue to the roof of his mouth before issuing an ear-piercing stab of a whistle. "You're all about to be People-paste under the boots of ill-tempered (but not Evil) sell swords of Alexandria! If you can wipe the froth from your mouth long enough to listen back at the Valley I'll spring for a feast and enough booze that you can go blind if you're feeling particularly self-destructive!" He's shouting, frustrated and red in the face. His gnomish is accented and on the off chance there's some communication breakdown caused by regional dialects he adds, simply, in the trade tongue. 'FREE. BOOZE.' <gnomish>
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Mob 1... does an intimidate attempt on Vaera" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+10: (15)+10: 25 (Mob 1 Intimidate) (Vaera shaken, -2s) <OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Mob 2 throws some things at KM and Skiels" GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+5: (17)+5: 22 (Mob 2 Throw) GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+5: (3)+5: 8 (Mob 2 Throw)
The appeals are heard. Percy's gets a momentary consideration; adventurers deal with undead a lot, they probably know better.
"It's coming right for us!" Someone in the mob shouts, as the Knightmare moves up, and the momentary consideration is lost in the collective consciousness.
The other warning, Jinks', now that's got some pedigree! Another fellow Gnome. He looks like a happy dude who knows what he's talking about! Plus, there's a feast and booze promised.
"Do you think he's right?" ; "I dunno, maybe he's right." ; "I know! If they don't go blind and glitter, they're really undead."
"Undead don't glitter!" ; "Well some..."
Two grenades are lobbed at the Knightmare and Skielstregar, exploding in a sparkling cloud. The cavalier and her mount are completely covered. The bronze sith'makar isn't as lucky, the grenade bounces off his shield without detonating.
The mob surges to surround them. The second pursuing mob moves up, and they end up mixing at the edge. However, they turn towards Vaera.
"That one was shooting at us!" ; "Yeah! Get'em!"; "It's a forest undead!" They're oddly intimidating when they focus.
GAME: Vaera rolls weapon7 -6: (14)+6+-6: 14 (-2 Shaken, -4 Non-Lethal) <OOC> Vaera says, "17, 14 I think"
Vaera kept missing, and the gnomes were surrounding them more, and seeming to threaten her. She wasn't perturbed at first, then she realized the implication of them threatening her. Skielstregar did not wish to hurt them, and if they kept pushing, she did not want to deal with any disemboweled townsfolk. This was enough to put them on edge, and they duck back to the forest, firing off another arrow which sails over the mobs heads.
Auranar shakes her head. No amount of common sense nor bribery, nor fear tactics are working here. So she picks up her voice as loud as she can. "RUN! GET OUT OF HERE! WE'VE GOT YOUR BACKS!" She hopes its true. She hopes that the crowd won't decide to turn on EVERYONE.
The harried, undead looking Sith-Makar stomps over towards Vaera had been firing arrows. Oh no, her worst nightmare, Skiel has gone full fera-
He suddenly turns, his shield up with his tall and wide frame obscuring the red scale. "Do not. Touch. The ssscaled one!"
He looks over to Vaera from atop his shoulder, gouts and gouts of chilled air spilling from his maw. "We leave," he rumbles, trying to not get to much in his head about everything going on. <Draconic>
Percy pulls her sword out of the ground and holds herself into a defence position, backing away slowly until she was at Auranar's side and speaks sternly. " I'm not leaving you whether I die or not, I will be by your side," she raised her sword a little higher and rolled her shoulder. " I'm here. What can I do to help you back-up these other people, I need your eyes and your orders. Tell me what to do."
There is no discernible leader, these mobs are very much a rolling jellyfish of peasantry.
sssssssssssssss...
- Ka-POOF!
Sound and glitter, signifying... fury?
As both Knight and Steed are engulfed in artificial pixie dust(it could be real, Gnomes are crafty, though) they seem momentarily frozen, cast in a iridescently sparkling statue of confusion.
Then, as they waft the gleaming dust from their bodies into the wind, brave Cysgodawyr breaks the silence with a SNEEZE-snort-snort, whicker-sneeze and sort of staggers a bit.
Betrys herself shakes her head with only a, "Madness, Come!" heeding the brave call of the sword-elf's promise to guard the other. They wheel about, moving to cut off the leading group of gnomes to buy time for the others to leave.
<OOC> Jinks says, "Alright. We'll drop a Grease on 13,9 / 14,9 / 13,10 / 14,10. Move to 12,13." <OOC> Jinks says, "And try this Diplo-dance one more time." GAME: Jinks casts Grease. Caster Level: 4 DC: 16 GAME: Jinks rolls Diplomancy: (6)+10: 16 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+3: (5)+3: 8 (Mob 1 Reflex vs Grease - Fail)
"Happy Valley has really changed if that didn't work..." Jinks mutters to himself, finally plucking a waxpaper bundle from the pouch and squishing it between thumb and two fingers as he hums a simple declining scale. The butter bleeds from the smushed corners of the waxpaper before the Hymn has at it and the whole bundle blurs around the edges. The gnome flips his wrist towards the edge of the road and a good portion of the ground begins to glisten grossly with a greasy coating. "We can have the party here if you like, lads, but games of slip-and-slide after are always better after tying one one. At least one!"
There are two distinct mobs of gnomes, one surrounding the Knightmare and Skielstregar, at least initially. Jinks seems to have gotten through to them, they don't attack as the golem and the Sith'makar leave their midst. They are talkative though.
"It's getting away!" ; "Which it?" ; "Both of them, they're going after the other one!" ; "Well... let's see how this plays out."
"Hey! I recognize that construct! That's Nimblewidge Fuzzywubbins work! From Dragonier! My Pa told me about him! He was trying to make a golem mount." ; "Really? That's the mount?" ; "It didn't work out, so he made it ride a horse instead."
"A horse that rides a horse? That's inspired!"
Discussion turns to whether they might be able to take it apart, the practicalities of golem mounts, whether magic figurines are better. The mob has, effectively, turned back into a workshop group.
The other group though, continues to chase after Vaera and indirectly Skielstregar and the Knightmare, who have moved out in front of them. This group doesn't get far before they're slipping and sliding on the grease patch, which turns out to be highly distracting.
GAME: Skielstregar rolls stealth+5: (5)+-2+5: 8 GAME: Vaera rolls stealth: (18)+8+5: 31 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (10)+7: 17 (Mob 1 Perception)
Vaera was able to shake off the worry right as the bronze sith-makar was stopping and placing themselves in front of her. The redscale chuffs, and nocks another arrow into her bow. She nods, ducking back into the trees and watching in case any of the curiosity to the war golem turned violent.
"They are incensed, and will not listen to reason with their confidence so high." She says while retreating. "This one's failure to hit anything did not help matters. Perhaps time to cool their heads will be the best solution."
Percy now taking charge, she snatched her sword and placed it on her back with that she swooped Auranar up off her feet and glared back at the gnomes and ran back onto the road as fast as she possibly could.
Skielstregar saw Vaera move off, and he followed suit, shield raised for any more glitter bombs and errant stones. He nods in agreement. "Yesss, their mindsss are beyond made up."
Vaera could tell as the situation was growing more controlled, Skiel wasn't looking as nervous.
GAME: Knightmare rolls sense motive: (4)+-2: 2 GAME: Jinks rolls Perform/Sing: (12)+11: 23 (Inspired Performance as Sense Motive)
Half of the mob seems to have de-mobbed and are putting out their torches or lighting pipes from them. The other half are sliding all over the hillside, trying to follow Skielstregar and Vaera. A good scare or a persuasive argument will likely calm down the ones that are still actively seeking a fight.
GAME: Jinks rolls Diplomacy: (16)+10: 26
Leaving a sparkling cloud in their wake as they move, Betrys and Cysgodawyr follow the two Sith as, to the golem's eyes, they've drawn the biggest ire from the bestirred locals. Still holding her shield aloft, she draws rein of her great beast as they near the edge of the wood and call toward them, "Keep safe!" <Draconic>
Cysgodawyr, in counter, ears still flat, starts to petulantly stomp his forehoves into the thick grass, though the Knight is not yet ready to commit to the sword.
"Well now Coyote is just laughing AT you making fools of yourselves," Jinks snorts as the gnot of gnomes with gno sense attempts to press through the greased ground. "They're off on longer legs, didn't raise hands against you-- and I've seen one of them spear a tallmen through the chest with one punch-- and there's free drink, good food, and merry making in the opposite direction." He lifts a hand and gestures with no small amount of exasperation back towards Happy Valley.
"Now how about I remind you of some of the hijinks your clans and I got up to before the Mists over a decade ago and then we have that time-honored debate: Coyote or Lady Inspiration." He rolls the gesturing hand over and flares his fingers with his thumbs curled, flashing a trio of gold pieces he's seemingly plucked from thin air.
"Drinks are on me."
"Lady Inspiration!"
"No, Coyote!"
"What do you know, you've slid down the hill."
"Hey, we could always check out Fuzzywubbins' golem."
"I was tired of running anyhow."
"Fugues aren't like they were in the old days." ; "Yes."
The groups of gnomes become a single, much larger group of gnomes that are all shaking their heads and wondering why this seemed like a good idea in the first place. A few come up to Jinks, a few wander back down the road. One of them is looking for the unexploded glitter grenade, which explodes upon retrieval.
The mob has dispersed.
Skielstregar gives a long, heavy sigh of relief, his shield clattering to the ground as he falls to his rear. A small plume of rainbow powder and glitter wafting off of him. There is a heavy silence coming from him. What started all of this?
"... thisss one jussst wanted to sssee what a play was," he quietly admits.
Combatty
===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 1 =====================
---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
17 Jinks 1 Flat-footed (0 rnds active)
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17 Mob Of Gnomes 1
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15 Vaera 1
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7 Auranar 1
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7 Skielstregar 1
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>> 7 Percy 1 <<
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6 Knightmare 1
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===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 5 =====================
---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
>> 17 Jinks 1 Flat-footed (5 rnds active) <<
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17 Mob Of Gnomes 1
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15 Vaera 1
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7 Auranar 1
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7 Skielstregar 1
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7 Percy 1
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6 Knightmare 1
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| Name | Race | Class | CHP | HP | AC/FF/T |CMD |For |Ref |Wil |
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|Auranar |WILD_ELF |Sor | 13 | 13 |13/10/13 | 15 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|Jinks |GNOME |Bard | 28 | 28 |18/15/14 | 16 | 3 | 7 | 4 |
|Knightmare|WAR_GOLEM |Brg/Cav | 37 | 37 |22/21/11 | 18 | 8 | 2 | 3 |
|Percy |DAWN_ELF |Ftr | 21 | 21 |15/14/11 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
|Skielstreg|SITH-MAKAR|Brg | 18 | 18 |22/20/12 | 17 | 6 | 2 | 1 |
|Vaera |SITH-MAKAR|Rgr | 29 | 29 |18/15/13 | 17 | 6 | 6 | 3 |
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MAP!
https://www.mipui.net/app/index.html?mid=md0bwtv3ows
Inspirational Music!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikUwJuzw7O8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnl4ryyGkSQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvBASN_jLnE
https://youtu.be/ZTfINdVDJn8?t=17
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCeD2gF9jUo
Dramatis Personae
Auranar
Before you is a beautiful woman with raven hair dyed an ombre pink from about halfway through to the bottom of her shoulder-length hair. The hair is curly and bounces whenever she moves, creating a waterfall illusion. Her skin is the color of dark oak on top of delicate elven features; her black eyes seem to always be wandering and rarely settle on anything for a terribly long time unless it catches her interest for some reason.
She is clothed in a dress of an odd shade of red with gold piping and black accents. The dress has many layers and folds to it, creating a sort of puffy skirt that is shorter than is strictly fashionable. The undermost layer is one of black lace peeking around the edge of red. Two golden pins hold her skirts in place, one on either hip. The neck of the dress comes up underneath her chin and is clasped with fine rope of red and black knotted to ether side down her front. Beneath her skirts one can see short-heeled boots of a similar red color peeking out.
When adventuring she is always carrying a bow strung across her back, which looks a bit out of place on her. Even so she handles it like she knows its value and how to use it, and in spite of her gentlewomanly attire her clothing bear the marks of someone who uses it on the road as much as at a tea party.
Knightmare
A flutter of penant...
- ... A clatter of steel.
- An iron maiden...
Forged in battle...
- ... Tempered in death.
An armlength plume of sable starts at the crown of her visored sallet atop her nearly six and a half foot frame, matched by a second that caps the articulations of her counterbalancing tail. The slim profile of near mirrored plate over the digitigrade figure suggest an unnatural origin. A gilded vertical visor rests over an embossed skull of feminine jawline, with a gap to either side of the 'teeth' spanned by blackened venting. Her contralto voice rings hollow from within; words peppered with a particular lilt, and ever does this Dragonieri Knight stand proud.
Her carapace is brightly polished steel; the front of her contoured cuirass, the asymmetrical pauldrons, and knee guards are laquered in a tinting scarlet between the scalloped gold of their borders. The golden dragon of Caer Dragoras is embossed upon the pauldron on her left shoulder and trails a pennant of the Lost Crown that drapes to that wrist.
A heavy weapons' belt and chain tassets obscure the point where the taper of her waist transitions to the segmentations of hips and counterbalancing tail. Shortly past the calf, her legs crook in digitigrade format, with articulated greaves belled and fluted to suggest the shag of certain destrier's fetlocks over the bronze tempered sheen of her hooves.
Percy
Percy has long light blond hair that is always down, it reaches past her shoulders and is pushed back out of her face though strands often escape to drift over her eyes. A moderately tall sildanyar, she is about five and a half feet tall. Her build is a delicate one, and she is somewhat athletic. Her ears are decorated with silver stud earrings and small black hoops. Her silver eyes shine with joy almost as much as the smile that's always on her face. Her torso bears a light tan colored tunic with a chain shirt underneath. She carries her satchel over her right shoulder, and wears short black trousers for easier travel, as well as a pair of black ankle boots.
Contrary to her innocuous clothing, she wears a huge blade on her back, and she moves as though she is used to its presence. Whenever she is headed out on some adventure or another, she straps a dagger to her thigh for good measure.
Skielstregar
This tarnished bronze scaled Sith-Makar stands at an imposing seven foot two and three hundred and thirty pounds. He stares down at most with a slight squint, the narrowed silver eyes lacking the luster of life that most have. Some fangs poke out from his maw, a sight he tends to hide behind too long talons. His scales fight to overlap each other, with some patches missing in seemingly random spots. He walks wide and heavy, felt before heard. And something feels off around him.
A large quiver rests on his back with a few spear heads poking out over his shoulder, with a halberd crossed over the other side in its frog. With him being so large, a heavy shield is attached to his hip with a long bandolier of daggers and handaxes. Well worn and dented armor covers his torso, legs, and tail, with a large faded pendant of a dragon's profile dangling on his neck with simple cloth clothes under it all. However, his arms are left unarmored, bite marks of a large maw present all along both. Scarred and recent. Though, all of this- save the weapons- is usually hidden by a brown poncho.
Vaera
Vaera is quite tall even for a sith-makar, and her scales are a dark red, with bright yellow eyes. There are frills on the sides of her face, and several spines facing backwards to the back of her head.
In most situations, she wears a a long, heavy coat of a dark gray with a navy undershirt that obscures most of her legs, and conceals numerous pockets filled with herbs, and ammunition. A pair of trousers accompany the outfit, though the right leg is cut off for obvious reasons when not obscured by the coat. Their entire right leg from the knee down is missing, and in its place is fitted a hardwood prosthetic. Hinged in several places, it is carved expertly to mimic the shape of a natural leg and foot down to the claw, though the base of the clawed foot is flat to facilitate ease of movement. Even the scales were carved into place, with several patterns inscribed as well, clearly something to which a large amount of work had been put into.
Jinks
Jinks carries himself with a sense of smug self-importance, wrapped in bright, tailored clothing that flatters his slight frame. The gnome is an average height for his people (standing closer to three-feet tall than four) but manages to look down his nose at even the tallest giantborn. He slinks with an easy grace through crowds forever endeavoring to avoid contact with the common man.
His eyes are large, solid black orbs twinkling with mischief and his thin lips are almost perpetually set into a lopsided smirk framed by an immaculately-trimmed goatee. The hair on his head is shock-white, shoulder-length, and worn pulled back into a short ponytail. He's also quite oviously fond of jewelry as assorted baubles and trinkets glitter about his face, top, and hands.