Pensive vs. the Brothers, A Touching Family Moment
Subject: Re: I'm back.
In honor of Raja returning, I will get off my fat ass and do some turns today.
From: Mark
Subject: Re: I'm back.
All work and no play makes for a fat lizard. :)
Mark
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Race for Overlook
Pensive says, "That was foolish," and feels the tattoo on the back of his neck begin to burn with power. As always, the heat flows down his arm and into the stonesash clutched there, making the cord and extension of his own body. But even as this happens, his two opponents are shifting into combat stances, weapons ready.
[Initiative rolls Pensive 10, Cale 16, Spurt 13]
Before Pensive can snap the stonesash up and into position, the talkative rogue is already lunging across the five or so feet between them, his long knife slashing at the monk's throat [Attack 24, hit; Damage 4]. Pensive is able to turn the blade with the flat of his left hand, but earns himself a painful cut on the palm.
His silent partner runs past Pensive to block the doorway [Tumble attempt to pass through occupied square without AOO; roll 24 vs DC 25, failed]. The small man is extremely quick, and almost rolls right past Pensive faster than the monk can react. But Pensive is quick as well, and is able to snap one end of the stonesash down as he passes [AOO natural 1, miss]. Unfortunately, the cord strikes only the floor behind his opponents back, and then the grinning murderer is in place between Pensive and the door.
[pausing here so that Scott can change plans based on what happened.]
From: Ty
Subject: Evacuating the city
Garyth has finished speaking, and the assembly breaks up to lead the evacuation. Osred rumbles off, saying to Garyth, "I will take charge of the men at the gate." Captain Bragga begins shouting orders at the guardsmen nearby, and within moments they are running through the streets telling the citizens to gather at the gates.
Melani speaks quietly to Rennik in Halfling, and he nods. "Garyth, we will go back outside the gates and scout for the army's van, or any other threats." Garyth thanks him and sends the halflings off.
He moves out to the town square, and all around he can feel the rising panic as people become aware of the threat moving toward them. We will save some, at least, he thinks. We will lose the weak, the old, the very ill. We will lose the greedy, who can't stand to leave their possessions behind. We will lose the foolishly brave, who will think it's better to stay and fight. But we will save some. Then a thought returns to him. Where was his family?
"You, guardsman." He shouts at a passing soldier. "The Tel'Ardan's, are they here in town?" The soldier nods, "Yes, captain. They're staying Humbolt's Inn, last I knew." Garyth thanks him and lets him return to his duties. He then runs as fast as his legs will carry him to the Inn. He can at least see that his family is saved.
He pushes his way through a gather crowd in front of the inn, a guardsman shouting into the inn to bring out all able bodied men and whatever food stuffs can be carried. Garyth is not surprised to see his oldest brother coming out of the inn, a giant sack of flour over each muscular farmer's shoulder. Giles was always the first to action when something needed done. "Giles!" His brother gives him a nod and a grin, then says to the guardsman, "The others are bringing the rest out through the cellar door. Bring the wagon 'round back, and they'll load it." He then dumps his flour onto the waiting wagon as it pulls away, and grabs his brother in a quick bear hug.
"You know how to make an entrance, Gary. You run off to fight were monsters, and two weeks later you're back and panicking the city."
Garyth grabs his brother's arm, "It's much worse than any of us had thought, Giles. I'll tell you about it later, but we have to get as many people out of this city as we can. Are Philip and Jerod here? Where is your family? Where's mom?"
"Slow down, Gary, everyone's fine. Right after you left, Philip and I sent our families to stay at Nesalin. Mom went with them. We stayed at the farms to keep an eye on them, but didn't feel safe keeping the women and kids there. We just came into town last night for supplies, when news of the army got here. I guess it was just in time."
Garyth breathes a sigh of relief. His mother and his nieces and nephews were safe for now in Nesalin. "Giles, make sure Philip and Jerod are at the town gate before an hour is up. We are marching the whole town to the forest, and we won't be able to stop for stragglers."
Giles straightens up a little. "Will you need men for fighting?"
Garyth looks up at his brother. Giles had always been the biggest of them. His shoulders were half again as broad as Garyth's, and his arms were powerful. But Giles was a farmer. He'd never swung a sword in his life. Garyth got a quick image of his big, gentle brother hacked to bits on the battlefield. He smiles at him, "If we do, we'll know who to ask. But for now, we need men to help keep the people moving, and bring as much food as a strong man can carry."
Giles hugs him again, and then moves off to organize the food carts.
Garyth wanders through the town, helping where he can, shouting at the guardsmen to move faster. He winds up at the gates just a few moments before the scheduled departure. Osred stomps around, organizing the gathered crowd into columns for the march. As a sergeant, he isn't the highest ranking man there, but he is the largest and most heavily scarred. People move quickly to obey him. "Will we be able to move out on time?" Garyth asks. Osred says, "We're ready to move out now. The stragglers will just have to catch up as best they can. We should get the front moving now, to make more room." Garyth nods. "Do it."
A few moments later, Rennik and Melani return. "Anything?" Garyth asks. Rennik shakes his head. "Nothing so far. But they can't be more than a few hours behind."
"The column is starting to move out. Would you two take the lead? No one will be able to find a better path to Kalama territory."
The rest of the Falcon's gather around Garyth, waiting orders and generally looking bloody and dangerous. Garyth turns to Vincy, "Has anyone seen the elf?"
[Pausing for RP or whatever. I need to know the resolution of Pensive's fight before I can wrap this piece up.]
From: Ty
Subject: question for raja and karl
Since you know you will get an audience with Fellus just by asking, what exactly do you say to him?
From: Mark
Subject: stocking up
Ty
Can I assume that Melani was able to stock up on all her needed supplies, like sling bullets and arrows while in town?
Mark
From: Ty
Subject: Re: stocking up
Well, sling stones, but halfling size arrows might be tough to come by.
From: Mark
Subject: Re: stocking up
Not a problem, I don't think I used all that many arrows. My records show 2. However, I would like to get back up to 20 of the sling bullets.
Are half sized sling bullets available here? If not no big deal. I still have 19.
mark
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The Race for Overlook
Pensive bats away the chatty ruffian's sword, but the fellow turns the blade at the last moment, and his palms slides against the edge. At almost the same moment, the other man slips past Pensive to block the doorway. He stands there, grinning.
The last thing Pensive wants is to get trapped in the house with these two. Nor does he want to get flanked by them. If he can, he'll try to spring attack the murderer at the door, then tumble beyond him to the alleyway, where he'll move far enough down the alley so that he can get an AOO if they threaten him. (Dodge point on the guy at the door)
If he can't do a spring attack, he'll just try to tumble past the guy at the door, and get down the alley far enough to get AOO's with the stonesash as a reach weapon.(Dodge point on the guy at the door)
If he can't tumble past the guy at the door, he'll attack whichever of the two is nearer. (Dodge point whichever one is behind him-- and thank goodness for my Mobility feat!)
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Race for Overlook
Pensive yanks back the stonesash after it strikes the floor, and in the same motion, continues spinning until he is facing the ruffian blocking the door. He snaps the sash at the man's face [Attack 15 vs AC19, miss] causing the rogue to jerk his head back. Pensive then drops to the floor and scrambles between the man's legs and out the door [Attempt to pass through occupied square without AOO Tumble roll 26 vs DC25, success]. The surprised rogue spins to stab Pensive in the back, but the fleet monk is already rolling to his feet and cart wheeling down the alley, coming to a stop some twenty feet away.
Pensive stretches the stonesash to its full length, and faces the doorway grimly.
Inside, the two men take one look at each other, then bolt back into the house and around the corner out of sight.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The Race for Overlook
Pensive waits for the two men to charge him-- but they are wiser than that, it would seem. He bites his lip, and when they do not appear from the doorway, he cautiously folds the stonesash to half length.
There was no sense in giving them chase through the house. Pensive makes his way quickly to the end of the alley, stonesash at the ready. What had he revealed to them? Nothing, really-- but they had given him much. The enemy was uncoordinated, blind. They had not known where Mission and the Child were. They expected them to still be with Garyth's troupe.
Blood and stone. Mission had better have left Nesalin. Back in Bannock's Ire, the Kaishin would be safe.
The Path would bend where it willed. Pensive comes to the front of the alley, and searches the streets for sign of the two men who had attacked him.
If he does not see them, he will make his way cautiously back to the gates to find Garyth and let him know of the fight with the two men. He will also ask about Garret's farm.