Chumani |
As they move away Chumani poses a question to Rennoc. "If the templars catch up with us do we fight?"
Once Chumani is out of sight of the alley they exited he will start manifesting powers in case a fight becomes necessary.
Rahger Grahar |
Stealth: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Rahger decides he best stay hidden as well. Rahger will go in the same direction as Gideon and Lucian but keeping a line of sight distance away from both of them.
Hamailii D´Arquetai |
Stealth: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Well, i am an elf....desert seems like a good idea, but this city is interesting as well.
Hamailii tries to hide in the crowd, ducking her head low.
Daishata Kahira |
Satisfied that she has saved the elf's life she stands and readies to leave swiftly.
Dai will move out with Chumani.
"Meet back by the front gate..."
Disguise: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Cronax |
The templars hustle through the alley. They single out everyone except Lucian, Rahger and Gideon among the crowd and order you to halt. All four men have an imposing posture, dark square-cut hair with ringlets, and square-cut curled beards. Their white cloaks are decorated with one of the city’s many official emblems, the symbol of the Sorcerer-King Hamanu in battle dress. Underneath their cloaks the men wear suits of leather armor, and each carries a decorated wood shield on their left arm. The templars all have one hand on their sheathed scimitars hanging from their belts. Their leader speaks in the characteristic thick Urikite accent. “You have violated Hamanu’s Code. Ignorance of the Code is no excuse. Each of you will pay the necessary fine of compensation of ten silver pieces or be sentenced to life in the slave pens.”
Lucian, Rahger and Gideon, you are effectively hidden if you wish to stick around.
Daishata Kahira |
Daishata is incensed. This has not gone well. And she saved the man's life.
"Not going back to slavery. Not going to listen to men."
Dai whips her gouge into her hands and makes a flourish with it, trying to shift the watching crowd's reaction to spur her on.
Dazzling Display (Intimidate): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21.
Chumani |
"I agree, no more slave pens for me either. However I think paying the 30 silver may better than hav'n the whole dam city after us."
Chumani turns and rests the head of his earth breaker on the ground, with his foot resting on it to keep in contact with it and in easy reach. He then pulls his pouch from his belt.
Rennoc |
Rennoc recognizes that he needs to support his comrade...
There are many varieties of mentalists in the wastes of Athas, some of them develop techniques to stitch ones bones and make one hail and hearty... Others such as myself have developed ways of doing the exact opposite, in recent months I have devised a new technique of the mind which allows me to incinerate the bones of my enemies... I was sadly disappointed to discover little opportunity to use this technique recently, now however this has been remedied...
As he says this Rennoc grins like a wolf...
assist (Intimidate)1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18
Cronax |
“As I stated, ignorance of the code is no excuse.” The templar’s smug demeanor is suddenly replaced by trepidation. ”Y-you dare threaten the Lion’s appointed official?”
They are shaken by the Dazzling Display. We are not yet in rounds again. However, if you decide on hostile action, the initiative DC is 13 and those successfully hidden in the crowd would get a surprise round as well.
Daishata Kahira |
Seeing the Urikite templars shaken revolts Daishata, a nganga of Lalali Puy herself. She settles, realisin Chumani is right - they cannot hope to overpower all of the Lion Hamanu's forces. She sighs, then stares a steely eyed look into the templar's faces, dropping her gouge point doen on the ground, leaning on it for effect - nonchalance and sass in the face of authority.
"Which part of the Lion's Code have we violated? Defending ourselves against wanton criminals? The elf can support me - he tried to graft us, his accomplice likewise attempted to leave after we tried to brig him to your Lion's justice. I saved the elf's life after the halflig unfortunately was overzealous. And yet we are the one's violating the code." Dai speaks to the assembled crowd as much as the shaken templars.
"Moreover, does a payment of fines absolve guilt? If we are guilty then let the Lion deal with us - I myself will face an appointed champion to "absolve" my compatriots of a supposed crime. I took the lead, let me take the blame - and the punishment."
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Hamailii D´Arquetai |
That´s right. Why would we pay for the crimes of others? You should search his accomplice and take him as a slave.
Diplomacy Aid another: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3
Cronax |
“You have been found guilty as an accessory to assault.” The lead templar nods to one of the others who marches back towards the alley. Turning back to you, he gives a leering grin ”Do not worry, justice shall be served upon those two as well.” He then responds to Daishata’s suggestion of trial by combat. ”We are not so barbaric here to settle such manners in your backwards crescent ways. The Lion has decreed certain monetary penalties for certain crimes. However,” disgust fills his expression as he speaks “In the interests of justice, I will accept your plea of responsibility. Only you shall pay the fine. Then, you will assist us in tracking down this halfling criminal.”
Very good Diplomacy roll. Normally, it would be unthinkable for Urik Templars to reduce a fine.
Daishata Kahira |
Dai nods to the templar that spoke.
"A fine judgment. My large companion here holds my silver." Dai indicates Chumani.
"As for the halfling, I am sure he will turn up eventually...As you can see I am fluent in their guttural tongue... Ashkhot harto gukh ud atul bahr, kaneesto fah ko..."
Is actual silver worth more than ceramic? I was assuming it was worth much more. Sorry Chu, Dai has no money, though she did save the group some silver...!?!?
Cronax |
One of the templars snatches the coins from Chumani’s hand with a sneer. The next hour is spent on a wild goose chase looking for Rahger throughout the city. At one point along the way, you notice Nadar and Cratek walking at a brisk pace back south towards the obsidian gate. At the end of the hour, the templar gives up the hunt in disgust and sends you on your way, chastising you for your incompetence in finding the little savage.
Daishata Kahira |
Dai returns to her companions via a most circuitous route - a gambit designed to lose any tail she might have.
Bluff: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
Hamailii D´Arquetai |
At the inn Hamailii suggests:
Perhaps we should find out more about this citycode here. Might make our stay here easier. And if we are only allowed to leave with a caravan, why not find one? We could go search for the people we came here with. I still have that suspicion that our mission with them is not at an end somehow.
Cronax |
You spend an uneventful night at a local inn in the old district. When you show up at the Obsidian Gate the next morning, the guards refuse to let you through once again. Daimon calls out to you from the other side. “I’m sorry. I did what I could, but the caravan master only had room for one of us. I’m sure you’ll find other work. I hear there’s a House Wavir caravan leaving for Balic in a couple of days. Maybe they’ll take on a couple of extra hands. Well, it was nice working with you!” A horn is sounded. The caravan starts to move, the wagon wheels creaking at the sudden pull of the mighty mekillots who start to march forward as the animal handlers prod them with psionic jolting poles. You are left behind.
The inn costs 1 ceramic bit (1/10 of a ceramic piece) each.
Chumani |
As they stand at the gate Chumani curses under his breath and then addresses the others. "Time to see if House Wavir needs some help. I'm not staying in this hole any longer than I have to. Unless one you has a better idea?"
Daishata Kahira |
Dai wartches the departing of the caravan with a sinking heart. She agrees with Chumani.
"I would pay money to leave this place."
Chumani |
Once the caravan has been confirmed Chumani approaches Dai, "Dai, perhaps you can see about securing either jobs, or worse case passage with the caravan so we can get out of here?"
Rahger Grahar |
Rahger is upset by the news. "Rahger needs to go same way as last caravan. Is this Balic place on way to Tyr? I go with if so. "
Hamailii D´Arquetai |
My bag is too heavy, i need to change some of that ceramics we earned into something more easy to transport. I would be happy if Dai could find us work with this caravan though. This city is too strange for me.
Cronax |
House Wavir hires you on and in a couple of days you are off down the road. Unlike your previous trip, there are no raiders this time. In another two days, you make a stop off at an oasis called Silver Spring. It consists of a small walled courtyard surrounding the eponymous well that yields a cloudy foul-tasting water. The stones it is composed of are faded and festooned with flickering lanterns come nightfall. Various tents erected along the inside of the walls provide some protection from heat. A quick questioning of the locals reveals that the road from Silver Spring splits, going south to Altaruk or Southwest to Tyr. The Wavir caravan will be taking the south road in the morning.
Feel free to sell stuff / make purchases / do coinage conversions before you leave Urik.