"Killers, but your point is well taken. Zelda thinks they might be using the riots as cover for more murders? It would be a pretty easy time to get away with a few ritual sacrifices. Any suggestions on where we should start?"
"You ask too many questions Holyman. Find your balls and get out there", the huge ulfen laughs.
Kalam grins and takes a deep drink of his flask, "Some of us are forced to rely on questions in lieu of overwhelming bulk my friend."
He looks to the others, "Well if we must. Lets grab out gear and meet upstairs."
Making his way quickly to his room, Kalam grabs his new armor and other equipment. Jogging to meet the others once they are ready.
Once assembled he strips off his coat and begins strapping himself into his breastplate. He gestures to Ceinwynn, holding a strap "Don't suppose you'd mind giving me a hand my dear?"
As he finishes with his armor, he talks to the others, "So, do we have any thoughts on where to start? I might suggest the Bazzar? Rather not wade into the thick of a riot right off the bat..."
Abramov packs up.Before he goes, he gives all his vials a good shake, checking the level of murkiness to see if there's nothing wrong with them. All seems well and he joins the others.
"The act of killing is almost always a clinical one. The instrument of death, the method of applying the mortal stroke and of course all the other details such as place and time, are all things thought through before the actual event happens. Deducing from the fact these boys and girls are trying to use a runewell, either it is located around the dock area and thus the effect is felt strongest there, or their target is there and they've focused their resources on the dock area. The best disguise for a killer is when everyone around him is just as much of a killer.."
Ceinwynn steps over and assists Kalam with his breastplate, teasing him a bit by pulling the straps extra tight then winking at him. She slides into her armor as well. "Lead the way."
Kalam gives Ceinwynn a smirk as she tightens the straps, Easy now, I'm rather more tender than a hay bale my dear."
Taking a sip of his mead, Kalam set out towards the docks, talking as they go, "Based on the professor's suggestions and our killers general success up to this point I'd say our riot is more side effect than planned. The runewell is probably somewhere nearby. Not to say that they won't take advantage of the distraction. Lets just hope we can avoid the worst of the crowds while we check things out..."
The party arrives on the streets to find the Docks in chaos. Buildings burn and looters pillages storefronts in broad daylight. Small groups of overwhelmed guardsmen can be seen struggling to subdue even a fraction of the troublemakers.
Abramov looks around and momentarily wonders what he could do to subdue the riots. The answer? Little.
Kalam takes in the chaos with a dismal expression, "What a bloody mess..."
Ceinwynn follows the others, keeping an eye out for trouble. Her mind is a little distracted by thoughts of her missing lover though. Has something happened? Did he just take off without a goodbye? Her mind was definitely not as clear as it should have been. Stop this Ceinwynn. You are a professional.
Her thoughts are gladly interrupted by Kalam's words. "What a bunch of idiots..."
Both Halsanna and Kalam notice a beautiful taldan woman standing apart from the crowd, watching the chaos unfold around her. She stands near the entrance to an alley and, though her face is passive, her eyes twinkle with amusement. Hanging from her belt, a pair of long knives clatter against her hips.
Kalam gestures in the woman's direction with his head, "Aside from the Lady Yil I'd not expect many people to find this sort of widespread anarchy funny. We do know one of our friends is rather fond of knives."
He takes a large swig from his flask, gesturing off in a different direction, "I'd rather not simply say hello, lets head past, see if she decides to move on? At least try to get a glimpse down the alley..."
Provided there are no objections, Kalam begins heading down the street, , past the woman, wary to avoid looters, keeping his attention elsewhere until either she moves or they draw level with the alley were he might get a look at anything that might be behind her.
The doctor falls in behind Kalam. Desperately he tries to keep his nerves under control. The urge to sneak around the block and find himself staring at the woman's back, with dagger in hand, throbs like a painful reminder of how vulnerable they are right now - walking past her, possibly straight into a trap. But sometimes you need to do things the wide-eyed stupid way.
Ceinwynn casts message on Halsanna and Kalam then follows them while keeping an eye on the woman. She looks for any distinguishing marks or clues to who she is.
As Kalam heads down the street, the woman excuses herself down the alley. From Ceinwynn's vantage point, it looks like a coincidence - Kalam hasn't been made. Halsanna spots nothing out of the ordinary near the roofs.
A moment later, a pack of rioting sailors come barreling around the corner. With eyes full of madness, they charge toward the party clutching clubs.
Abramov runs forward, grabs a vial and then throws it at a man in the middle of the group. Going by his quick calculations, he should be able to hit at least five of them. A snap of the wrist and the vial was free as a bird, flying towards its destination.
. Took a -6 thanks to range increments.
Splash damage: 3.
Kalam steps up beside the doctor, shouting to the now burned rioters, "Bad decision boys, you'll find more success elsewhere!"
Drawing his Rapier he prepares to stab the first idiot to come within reach.
Ceinwynn moves up next to Kalam and the wall, drawing her elven sword and attempting to block the sailors' flanking options. She speaks out, inspiring her companions. You dare attack me and my companions? We shall bring wrath down upon you. The streets will run red with your blood!
Halsanna's arrows drop one of the rioters and Abramov's vial of acid scalds several of them. Despite their wounds, the survivors press forward.
The doctor reaches for his scalpel and goes to town on one of the unlucky sailors. Abramov does know mercy, but when his life is at stake he somehow has a hard time finding it.
Ceinwynn charges R7 or R3 (whoever is up)
Kalam curses as he takes a solid blow to the ribs, stepping aside to draw the rioters in between him and Abramov, thrusting at the bandit on the outside of the pack.
[dice=Rapier - IC]1d20+5+1
Collectively, the party makes short work of the rioters, breaking bones and inflicting other grievous wounds. When it’s done only one remains but he appears undeterred by the group’s overwhelming prowess.
Suddenly something like a whisper can be heard in the air and a subtle pressure can be felt on everyone’s thoughts.
The surviving sailor charges Abramov.
Kalam shakes his head as the anger attempts to invade his thoughts, pushing it aside he looks at the maddened expressions of his companions uncertainly, Do you...feel that? It seems we were right about the runewell. Fight it! We can't lose ourselves to this!."
Provided he hasn't been savaged by the good doc, Kalam steps up quickly and attempts to put an end to the last of the rioters.
"F*+# you Kalam! You don't tell me what the hell to do! Worry about yourself, you stupid son of a b*$~+!"
Ceinwynn is extremely angry and can't control her tongue. She looks around to see what might be causing her anger.
> Kalam.
The words came first, the dagger came second. "I'm gonna cut you up like the dog you are!" Abramoved snapped at Kalam. The deadly hiss of steel followed as he tried to stab the man.
Halsanna takes the last rioter down. Hard.
A moment later the uncontrollable rage fades away.
Kalam's eyes go wide as he feels the knife kiss him just under the arm. He recoils bringing his shield up and leveling his rapier at Abramov's face, his voice free of it's usual humor, "You'd best get a hold of yourself doc or our little team's going to end up a man short..."
While Abramov is his focus, his eyes keep glancing towards his other two companions, neither of witch seem to be themselves either...
Mid-sentence, halfway in between explaining the various uses of one's mother, Abramov stops moving and cursing. He looks mightily confused, moves his gaze over his own body and shakes his head as if something is stuck in it, then slaps himself repeatedly on the cheek. "Okay, wow, whatever is causing these problems is of quite formidable power .. are you ok, Kalam?"
Ceinwynn shakes her head as the compulsion begins to pass. She walks over to Kalam. "I am sorry about that outburst. I am embarrassed at my lack of will power. The doctor is correct. We are facing a powerful enemy." Turning to Abramov: "May I borrow our new wand Doc? Our friend requires a little love."
Kalam clutches his side while blood soaks around his fingers, his eyes ablaze, "Gee doc, you tell me?!"
Sighing heavily and wincing at the twinge of pain his expression softens, "Nevermind, I nearly did the same thing. I'd say the runewell is definitely around here somewhere..."
He grins as Ceinwynn patches him up, "Much abliged, my dear."
Testing his former injuries, he looks around to relocate the woman with the knives.
"Let's do the obvious thing and check out the alley she disappeared into? I fear we'll encounter more roadblocks on our way to the runewell.."
Abramov checked his gear, tightened the straps of his armor and made sure the potion bottles are where they should be. All ready, he gives his companions a look that screams let's go let's go!
Leaving the wounded and dying looters behind, the party takes off down the alley after the suspiciously interested woman. Following her trail down the damp filthy alley isn’t difficult and it exits back out onto the street roughly a block further north. The riots are intense here and everywhere pockets of rioters can be seen fighting the watch, looting, or even fighting each other. The woman can be seen across the street, casually striding through the bedlam.
Before the party can continue the chase, a trio of guardsmen intercept the party. They’re bloodied and haggard but the familiar gleam of supernatural rage is visible in their eyes.
”That’s far enough. Lay down your arms. You’re all under arrest”, one barks.
Another twitches nervously and levels a crossbow.
Kalam sighs and holds his hands out at his side, glancing at his companions, "Try to keep your own wits about yourselves this time friends..."
Bursting into motion, Kalam charges the guard with the crossbow, drawing his rapier and lunging at the man in one fluid motion.
Seeing Kalam’s refusal to surrender, the guards attacks!
”It looks like we do this the hard way!”
The twitchy one levels his crossbow and fires!
The other two advance with melee weapons.