01. "A Gathering Storm" (RP)

And soon his chisel chipped only at the air as Rubicon, completely oblivious to Liar's need to mutilate him, moved to the eladrin paladin, examining his attire. "Do all paladins of Bahamut wear these uniforms, or is it just your group? I say, these look quite durable..." He gently knocked on the eladrin's armor, forgetting about a concept called personal space.

Liar starts to move forward to try another swing but Rune flies into his face, clanking angrily. "Wha'? Get outta me way!" He starts to shove the dragonfly construct away but mechanical familiar dodges his hand and grinds it's gears. "Huh? Oh, well, ya sure?" Buzzing. "Well alright. I guess I wouldn't enjoy a bit of meself taken without me permission. I'll leave him be." He puts the hammer and chisel away. "Fer now."

He turns his attention back to the gryphon and the guardsmen. "I swear I didnae throw the first punch." The captain raises an eyebrow. "I mean, how can I help ye, gentleman? Me name is Sigil and I am a law abiding citizen. I shall help ye along with yer inquiries." He smiles over at the gryphon. And goes pale. "And yer a paladin, aintcha? Fantastic. I like paladins. Salt o' the earth. And let me tell ye, we dwarves know about earth!" He chuckles nervously. Suddenly he gets a curious look on his face. "Wait, why're paladins here? Somethin' goin' on?"

The Cadal Mountains, were treacherous. The elements had taken it's toll upon the minotaur, as well a few goblin hordes whom decided that he was a pin-cushion. Wounded, and starving, he keeps his pace. Slow and steady, for most, it would probably borderline on grueling. He's rushing toward the foot of the mountains, almost there, he can see the grass that isn't covered in snow. Thinking to himself, it seems almost as this is what his blade was trying to show him in his dreams. He finally makes to the foot, and spots a small source of light. He continues leaping and and trudging onward toward it, his condition fueling his strength and will to continue onward, but mostly the thought of going home is his main motivation. He is nearing the village, he can smell what seems like food however strange and unusual it seems. All was going well, until he felt a spear hit him in the back, and let out a thunderous scream into the night storm. They must have been some of the survivors from their village he decimated. When he turned back, he could see their little beady eyes piercing the dark like daggers, and their teeth showing their eagerness for revenge. He couldn't give up yet and absolutely refused to do so. He got back up, and made a break for it as fast has he could, charging right toward the large building he could barely make out from the distance. He let out another tremendous scream as a second spear hit him in the back.

"Did anyone else hear that?" Liar cocked his ear toward the door. Then the second bellow came. "There it is again. Did someone leave a wee dog out in the rain?" Despite his calm demeanor he pulls around his crossbow and grabs a bolt. The crossbow cocks itself and the bolt quickly flies into its ready position.

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OOC: Technically using my gift but I'm just using it as an easy description for the Speed Loader feat. Whenever I actually use my gift I'll be sure to roll from now on. I JUST caught your edit from earlier, Tim.

A battle wark followed the bellow. The paladins raced out into rain, hearing their companion yell to them from without. By the time they could make out where the noises had come from, they could see the dappled gryphon already returning, obviously carrying a heavy load.

"Montiker, what do you have there?" Dahkore demanded as he approached.

"I...I'm not sure, sir. Nothing I've seen before, that's for certain. " Montiker offered his side to those before him, letting them see the creature he carried. The spears that were in his back had been snapped by the gryphons beak, their heads still buried within the flesh.

"Well, whatever it is, it is badly injured." The innkeeper had emerged to see the commotion, and Dahkore addressed him. "Mason, is it? I believe this fellow needs your emergency kit much more than I do, currently. Bring it inside, Montiker, outside of the rain. "

DM:

Okay, here's the thing: Minotaurs do not even exist on this continent. They are creatures of myth and legend, and have never, ever been seen before. They live on an undiscovered continent. So, if you thought the reaction to Dahkore was bad, keep in mind that gryphons at least are recognized as a legitimate race. I repeat, no one present will have ever seen a minotaur before, and should react as such.

AMdG

OOC: Any sort of knowledge check that we can make to see if we've at least heard the legends or whatnot?

OOC: Well, legends of Minotaurs and beast-like people would be as prevalent in Elaria as they are here on Earth, really. Old religious tales, stories, and the like. I'd think probably a History check, or Lore if you aren't trained in History. Keep in mind that using Lore in place of a designated knowledge check raises the DC.

AMdG

Lore Check +8

The member 'Sigil 'Liar' SizzleSpike' has done the following action : Rolls

'd20' :

OOC: I've edited it now, sorry about that....

I would like to roll a history check.

+5

The member 'Dahkore' has done the following action : Rolls

'd20' :

DM:

Sigil, Dahkore, please check your PMs for your check results.

Mason blanches when he sees the injured creature. "A demon!" he gasps, making any number of signs and symbols to protect him against evil. "That beast'll not cross the threshold of my inn!" He turns his attention to Dahkore. "I'm willin' to put yer oddities behind me, 's well as that shiny fella, but I'll let no demon make himself at him under my roof!"

Captain Wilkes, who was peering outside past Mason, pushes past the older man and draws his weapon, a short sword kept sheathed upon his left hip.

"I'm afraid I'm going to have to agree with the good barkeep this time," he says as he points the tip of his blade toward the unconscious creature. "I think 'twould be best if we put an end to this demon now, before he can regain his dark powers and slay us..."

AMdG

History Check +5

The member 'Rubicon' has done the following action : Rolls

'd20' :

DM:

Rubicon, check your PMs for your check results.

AMdG

"What is it? What is it? Lemme see! Lemme through, I might know what it is!" Liar pushes himself through the crowd and sees the creature on the ground. "I have no idea what it is."

Rubicon steps between everyone and the new creature. "Now hold it, hold it! I have heard of a creature such as this! Look closely... the head of a bull... the body of a man... this can only be a minotaur! However, such things supposedly do not exist. Perhaps before we kill it here and now, we should take a moment to study and examine it! For all we know, this creature could turn out to be something we should not fear!" He looked to everyone, his arms spread in a weak attempt to shield the horned creature.

"I agree with the Shardmind. I cannot let you kill a creature without knowing its intentions. If it is indeed an evil entity, my men and I will help you ten fold. But we will not sit by and watch you condemn a creature to death before it has been proven guilty. If you require it, we will stand guard with the creature, outside in the cold and rain, and wait for it to awaken. At that time, we can make our decision on what to do with it. In the meantime, however, if he does not get some assistance, he will die and there will be no debate at all."

With that, he walked to the beast and placed his clawed foot on its back. His beak pointed to the ground, his eyes closed, and as he murmured, the flesh under his touch glowed a bright blue. The creature stirred slightly, its breath became less labored, and the bleeding slowed.

"That will keep him alive until we know more."


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OOC: Used Lay on Hands.

DM:

"Forgive me, Paladin Dahkore, but I'm afraid you just aren't familiar enough with the situation here to be making that sort of decision," Wilkes says through teeth gritted with frustration. "We've had all manner of evil beast come down upon us from the mountains, many creatures which we've never encountered before, and I'll not let a potential threat to this village go unanswered! You and your subordinates claim that you will aid us in destroying this thing if it recovers and is evil, but I ask you: what if it is stronger than all of us combined?"

Mason nods sagely, accepting his crossbow from Lottie, who is still standing just inside the inn.

Wilkes continues. "I'm afraid that in Dyna Village, and in Westenra in general, it is the Westenran military--of which I am a part--who is responsible for the well-being of our people. Now please, stand aside!"

Intimidate Check: +5 vs. Dahkore's Will.

AMdG

The member 'Arius' has done the following action : Rolls

'd20' :

Dahkore frowns and firmly stands his ground. The elf and eldarin come and stand beside the senior paladin, the wall of bodies shielding the beast and the gryphon that carried him. Dahkore, obviously frustrated with the events of the evening in general, raised his voice, and it boomed over the noise the storm was making. "Captain, I understand your concern, but I also have my duties to the church and to my God. I think that, if two spears and a long walk through the rain can take him down, we should not have a problem with it, should it come to that."

Intimidate +9

The member 'Dahkore' has done the following action : Rolls

'd20' :

DM:

Captain Wilkes spits on the ground near Dahkore's feet.

"Then the blood of everyone in the village will be on your hands," he tells the gryphon and his companions. "Do as you will with the beast, but I demand it be taken from the village at once. You may try to nurse the demon back to health if that is what you wish, but you will not do so here."

With that, Wilkes gestures for Mason and his wife, and the other customers of the inn to return to their business as he strides across the small village square, back to the barracks.

AMdG