1st Adventure: The Fallout (Archive)

Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17

Zeiss wrote:: Fedler, Mihai, Yen and Breeze, who is sitting on the little girl's shoulder, arrive soon after the end of Konrad's discussion with Blackcliff. Fedler and Yen will get on the cart and sit down beside Velstar, worriedly looking at Saemon. Steve will join the group soon after, and this is when he will first notice that the warden is indeed coming with the party. She gives Steve a comprehensive nod, which should tell him everything he needs to know about Saemon's condition.

Blackcliff and his men mount their own horses. The commander turns towards the party and tells them, "We're going directly to Highwind, so be prepared; this is going to be a long journey."

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Rory wrote:: Konrad passes a side glance at Fedler and her niece from atop his horse before responding. "We're ready, sir."

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Kolson wrote:: Steve's countenance falls as comprehension dawns. He gives Vel a nod, confirming that he understands. The young man looks upon the unconscious man, wondering what could have been or should have been but above all burning the image into his mind. He was determined to never forget the price of victory.

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K wrote:: Mihai will get on his horse last.

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Zeiss wrote:: The trip back to Highwind would usually be uneventful, but Blackcliff indirectly decided otherwise; as soon as the group had left Waterglass, he told Breeze that she could come out. Velstar voices her disagreement over this decision, but the commander calmly replies that it was now the fairy's decision to make, not theirs. Breeze is quite happy to finally be able to fly around in the open.

Yen takes out a cheap looking book out of her bag and asks Fedler to read it for Saemon, to which she agrees with a sad smile. The hunter then starts to recite a story about a young boy who one day decided to leave his village and embark on a grand adventure to explore the world. That quickly catches Breeze's attention, and she goes back on Yen's shoulder to listen to it.

Your group comes across many travelers who often stop in their tracks when they see the little fairy wave at them. A few do try to follow you and ask some questions, but Blackcliff's subordinates make sure to suppress any kind of interest into the fairy. That doesn't stop Breeze from waving at them while yelling "Goodbye!".

The sun has already set below the horizon once your group pass through Highwind's walls. Except the party-goers, few people still walk the streets of the city, and very few of them notice Breeze. If they do, Blackcliff's men do the same routine as earlier today.

Once your group reaches the stables, a stableman bring the horses indoors, and the commander turns towards the party members.

"Fedler Melan, and Breeze the Fairy, I want you to report to your new handler, Sonlake Dermold. Tonight in fact. I'll send word ahead to wake him up, and he will prepare a contract for each one of you."

"Tonight?" asks the hunter, a little hesitant.

"Well..." he continues, almost sounding apologetic. "I know he will be more than displeased that we've hidden some facts from him, so I believe it is better than I explain everything to him as soon as possible. For now, there is an inn two blocks away, and I suggest you all get a room there."

Blackcliff's men suddenly appear with a stretcher. Velstar nods with gratitude at the commander, and she helps his subordinates place Saemon on it.

"Go meet Sonlake in two hours, at his office. That includes you too," he says while looking at the current members of the 113th Adjunct. "For now, I have to help the warden with the delicate task of bringing this young man to the asylum's caretakers."

Velstar, who is looking down at an unconscious Saemon, says with reticence, "I'm sorry, but it must be done immediately. Where I'm going, I... I don't think you should follow me." She can't find anything else to say, and silence hangs in the air.

Blackcliff and his men look at you, curious of what your group will choose to do. Uneasiness appears on Yen's face.

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K wrote:: Mihai approaches Velstar - "This happened on my watch. It's on me too.". His voice is grim, but resolute.

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Kolson wrote:: "And me." Says Steve, stepping forward in solidarity. He gives a little nod to Mihai.

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Rory wrote:: Of course they feel some obligation toward the poor lad, Konrad thinks to himself. She can handle it, and it's really none of their business. Won't they be intruding? Can they even help?

Placing his hands on Mihai and Steve's shoulders for emphasis, Konrad chimes, "We're the last ones who were with him when it happened. It's only right that we see him off properly."

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Zeiss wrote:

With one hand on Yen's shoulder, Fedler apologetically says, "I'm sorry, but I have to look after her."

"Don't worry about it," retorts Velstar. "We'll see you later."

The hunter nods at the old woman, then urges the little girl to walk towards the inn. Yen looks back one last time at Saemon, and obediently do as her aunt asks. Breeze, who seemed to have been on the fence during this whole conversation, finally decide to go with Fedler and Yen.

"See you later guys," says the fairy.

Velstar nods at all of you, then gives a sign to Blackcliff and his men. "Let's go," she somberly declares.

Your group walks for twenty minutes in the near-empty streets of Highwind, and you realize that your Coins colleagues are purposefully choosing streets less frequented than others. However, you don't have much time to reflect on this since you soon arrive at the asylum; a large building made of brick and stone which looks more like a prison than anything else.

Image:

Two black mages, as indicated by the armband their wear, are guarding the entrance. Also quite unusual, they are wearing breastplate armor and are both armed with an ax which hangs from their belt. They gauge the party and let their eyes wander on Saemon for a noticeable moment; they appear to understand the situation. Nevertheless, they still ask their next question as it must be part of a strict protocol.

"State your business," asks the taller guard.

"My name is Velstar Rosewoods, warden of Waterglass," she replies with an almost mechanical tone. "I am here to bring this young man under the care of Highwind's asylum; he suffers from madness, type V."

The guard looks at the rest of the group.

"I am sorry," he starts, uncertain of how best to phrase the news he has to share. "But only the warden and her patient can enter the asylum."

Velstar frowns. "Why?"

"Five months ago, there was an... accident." Both guards now look uncomfortable. "Two visitors died, and additional security measures have been put in place to prevent this from happening again. My apologies, but your escort won't be allowed within these walls. Not without proper procedures anyway, and that would take days before the paperwork can be approved."

The warden looks back at Saemon, who is lying down on the stretcher held by two of Blackcliff's men. The sorrow on her face is new for all of you, but it doesn't stop her from softly telling the rest of the group, "I'm sorry, but I have to go on alone."

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Rory wrote:: "We understand. Will you be traveling with the girl as well, warden?"

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Kolson wrote:: Steve will politely wait for Velstar to answer Konrad's question(s) and then say, "Take care Vel. We'll be here when you are done."

(OOC: I'm assuming as her escort we'll be expected to wait at the gate until she is finished.)

Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17

Zeiss wrote:

OOC:

"I'll be taking Yen to the Citadel myself," replies Velstar.

She nods at Blackcliff's men, who then approach the two armored mages to let them carry Saemon into the facility.

"Open up!" yells one of them.

The portcullis slowly rises. The warden softly smiles at Steve, and says, "Don't wait for me; I will be gone for a few hours, and you still have your handler to meet."

She looks at Saemon being taken into the asylum, then follows after him. The portcullis closes on her, leaving you with Blackcliff and his men.

"Well," starts the commander, uneasy after witnessing this scene. "I have to meet Sonlake Dermold. As I said, get a room at the inn and go meet him in one hour and a half at his office."

His gaze lingers on the three of you for a moment.

"It is unlikely that we meet again anytime soon."

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K wrote:: "Commander, i still have questions i can't ask in the open."

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Zeiss wrote:: The commander gauges the rest of you.

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Kolson wrote:

OOC:

Steve shrugs. He doesn't have anything particular to say to Blackcliff.

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Zeiss wrote:

OOC:

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Rory wrote:: Konrad also shrugs.

[OOC She never asked for an escort or said she needed one, so no worries. Let's get those rooms.]

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Zeiss wrote:: Blackcliff points at a backstreet not far from where the party is standing, and with a casual glance at Steve and Konrad, he implies that they don't have to come if they don't want to. Once he reaches the backstreet, his subordinates take position to assure that no one disturbs the following conversation.

"What is it?" he asks.

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Rory wrote:: "Come on Steve, let's go see that inn."

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Kolson wrote:: "Yeah." Steve walks with Konrad to find the inn. "What was the address again?"

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Rory wrote:: He looks around, and sighs with irritation. "Two blocks from where we were, I remember that much. Come on."

They go to the inn, bam.

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Mihai seeks answers from Blackcliff. Blackcliff tells Mihai what he will need to give up to have them. They part ways without making this exchange.

Answers Unbought (Mihai, Blackcliff):

Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17

Zeiss wrote:: Konrad and Steve have some difficulty finding their bearings, but it doesn't take long before they manage to track their steps back to the stables. From there, it's quite easy to locate the inn Blackcliff suggested. Once they get there, the innkeeper -a charming woman in her fifties- welcomes the two men and shows them to their respective rooms. A young woman named Fedler told her that they would be coming and to prepare accordingly. She and her daughter are in the room next to theirs.

Mihai will arrive 15 minutes later, and he will be told the same thing by the innkeeper. He has his own separate room, just next to his colleagues.

Fedler will stay in her room with Yen until it is time to leave for the meeting with Sonlake Dermold, the 113th Adjunct's handler. If they so desire, the other party members can take other actions before they have to leave in approximately 40 minutes.

Posts : 7109 Join date : 2017-05-17

Kolson wrote:: Steve will go check on the girls. If they let him in, he'll ask how they are doing.

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Rory wrote:: "So Mihai, was your quiet discussion in the ally an enlightening one?"

Konrad opens an ale and scans the patrons for someone pretty.

Spellcraft
Detect magic

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