The Shattered City: Chapter Five

[Cronax]

Move: Shift Back to I20
Minor: Drawing a healing potion
Standard: Dishearten centered on L23
Thug 2: Hits: 8 psychic damage and he takes a -2 to hit until the end of Agale's next turn.
AM: Misses

[The Whistler]

"Begging your pardon, Miss Viardot."

"Oh!" Celeste turned around, finally noticing the man who had tried to murder her four times in the space of thirty seconds. She pouted slightly at the knife in his back.

"Very efficient, M. Prescott! I might have been somewhat less severe, though I applaud your valorous intentions--to say nothing of your marksmanship! In these desperate times, the effort necessary to reform such an unfortunate character--rather than to incapacitate him--might well be proffered in vain!"

The Gods of Irony, if there were any, might have chosen this moment to have an aneurysm as well.

Moving to L30 and flubbing a Thunder Bomb to the extent that it's not really worth rerolling all those burst attacks.

[NeoTiamat]

Chateau Malchance, Quartier-Marchand, Early Morning of June 8th, 770
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PC Actions
Nerit bleeds.
Kerrian runs to help.
Mercator hits AM for 14 damage.
Lia misses AM, crawls off.
Rex finishes off S3 with 23 damage.
Celeste misses, mostly.
Nicolas heals Nerit for a surge.
Agale hits T2 for 8 Psychic, draws a healing potion.

Nerit laughed, an echoey yet muffled sound in the space of her head, or the Mists, or Nowhere. "I appreciate your sentiment and generosity--and the lust in your eyes, Man of the Mordent, but I wait for another."

"I fear you mistake my intent," Thierri replied, giving a dark smile back and raising his hand. "My eyes are only for another, as well."

A moment after Nerit woke in Nicolas' arms, she felt a small, glowing bird alight on her shoulder, her wounds closing slightly at the touch.

[Another surge of hp regained, and a free save vs. slow.]

"Go on then, bite me you bastard! What are you bloody waiting for!"

Nicolas' imminent mauling was rudely interrupted by a silver longsword sweeping past him, and cutting across the darkhound's jaw. Richard, having been flung from his previous quarry, now turned his attentions to protecting his fellow clergywoman, yelling to Alice for aid. Alice hesitated, her desire for vengeance not so easily overcome, but eventually her friend's welfare won out. The Mordentishwoman retreated, flinging all her considerable rancor towards the offending darkhound.

The cutthroat by Mr. Agale, having seen the messy fate of his fellow hireling, came to the conclusion he was not being paid enough for this. He bolted, rudely shoving the tollare out of his way back into the room. None to gently, he slammed open the window, climbing through it to make his escape. Several noises from Kerrian's room led to the conclusion the other thug was following suit.

The Assassin Mage did likewise, deflecting Lia's spell with a ring on his finger, then retreating further down the stairs. He had reached the first landing when he whirled, suddenly aware of someone behind him. It was not Petrik - nor was it Lemercier, nor anyone you would have expected in your house. Most of you had only ever seen him once before: the Hunter that had been out in the King's Woods. His axe and sword were coated in blood, and you didn't think it was his.

And he bolted at the mage with a ferocity that outclassed the monstrous darkhounds. The mage froze in place, not even lifting a hand in his defense, though he barely had time to. In the blink of an eye, the Hunter slammed his axe into the mage's skull, the force of the blow slamming the mage into the banister. The Hunter didn't slow for a second, raising the pistol-hilt of a Parthian rapier. There was a crack, and the darkhound Katja was fighting exploded backward, caught through the jaw by a pistol shot.

Guy Benoit began to advance up the stairs, unplacated, as he ripped his axe from the mage's corpse. "More..." he growled out. It was only then that you could hear the pent up emotion in his voice. "Are there any more? Remy! Where are you?"

[Nathan of the FoS]

The astral-Mercator gives this new arrival a long, considering look; then, apparently deciding he is, if not exactly harmless, at least unlikely to start chopping up the residence of the chateau, he gives a small bow to Guy and retreats to his room, emerging a few moments later looking decidedly more human--well, as much as a half-elf can--and wearing a dressing gown over his nightshirt.

Giving Benoit a rather quizzical look, he waits for someone--Remy?--to perform the introductions.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"It is good to see you," Lia says as she comes staggering out of her hiding place. The Mage is using one hand to keep her night robe closed, while the other is leaning rather heavily on her staff. The bloodstains drawing a red map of some alien nation on her clothes should be explanation enough for that. Lia's white hair hangs down over her face like a thin veil. "I do believe that was the lot, unless any more are hiding under our beds. You find me a tad underdressed, however. A moment."

Lia limps into her room, then comes out a few moments later, dressed in her more usual garb. "You come to us at a good time, old friend," she says, inclining her head to Benoit. "Thank you. What - or who? - tipped you off that we needed help? And not to be crass, but what died downstairs?"

Without waiting for an answer, Lia limps over to the assassin-mage, squats down and starts to search the corpse.

[Kaitou Kage]

"Very efficient, M. Prescott! I might have been somewhat less severe, though I applaud your valorous intentions--to say nothing of your marksmanship! In these desperate times, the effort necessary to reform such an unfortunate character--rather than to incapacitate him--might well be proffered in vain!"

"If only it were that easy," Rex replied quietly, though the smile was evident in his voice. Then he closed his door.

A few moments later, the door opened again. A well-dressed, unruffled Rex slipped out and shut it behind him. He tilted his head at the new arrival and at Lia's familiarity and paused, uncertain if this was good or bad for his reputation.

I rolled a Streetwise to see if Rex recognizes this newcomer but I got like a 13 so probably not.

[NeoTiamat]

Chateau Malchance, Quartier-Marchand, Early Morning of June 8th, 770
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"It is good to see you," Lia says as she comes staggering out of her hiding place. "You come to us at a good time, old friend," she says, inclining her head to Benoit. "Thank you. What - or who? - tipped you off that we needed help?

"Lia," Benoit growled. He paused on the stair case as she dressed herself, then nodded brusquely to her when she returned. It was only now that he paused to catch his breath, leaning an arm against the banister.

"Some sort of magic alarm. I don't know a whole lot more than that. Devereux and Remy set it up, I think, though Remy didn't... exactly know I'd be in on it." Guy shifted his eyes slightly to the side. "I was out in the woods when I got the alarm that Andre's place, Devereux's manor, and the Chateau were all under attack. The Chateau was closest. Sent some men to Devereux's, I ran here."

And not to be crass, but what died downstairs?"

"Another mage. Not sure what the other thing was. Not natural, certainly," Guy replied, with a twisted sneer.

Without waiting for an answer, Lia limps over to the assassin-mage, squats down and starts to search the corpse.

It was a messy corpse. Guy’s axe had split the front of his face open in a mess of gore, and with it went virtually any chance of identifying the man for certain. At least, not without invoking certain spells and rituals which the Dementlieuse Gendarmerie tended to frown upon.

Nevertheless, a quick search of the body revealed a fair amount of information, primarily in the form of what Lia did not find. The assassin-mage was a young man, probably in his late twenties or early thirties, dressed entirely in a black suit, to which ensemble had been added a travelling cloak with a cowl. His pockets contained nothing personal, only some money and a map with the Chateau’s location marked. Quite obviously, the man had been a professional, quite likely with a certain amount of skill at his work, although not enough skill to survive a meeting with Guy Benoit.

The presence of an onyx ring on his finger, like a serpent biting its tail, went a long way towards explaining his skill.

[yalenusveler]

"Anything to identify him, besides...that?" Kerrian asked, making his way over to the corpse of the assassin Magus, the that in question being the ring on the young man's finger. Although moments earlier Kerrian had been far more in touch with his feral ancestry, it seemed now to more just be that he simply needed to shave, and perhaps trim his fingernails. Ah, the joy of having lycanthropic ancestry.

[The Whistler]

"Good morning, Sir!" Celeste curtseyed politely to the most wanted rebel in the country, her normal demeanor cut only slightly by the sobering presence of Deceased Malefactors in the hall. Murderous or not, suitable respect had to be paid: Celeste had been a touch late to the conversation because she had been busy covering her thug with a spare sheet. He looked surprisingly decent in lace.

While she shied away from a close examination of the assassin-mage's body, she did make a decent attempt at pondering Benoit's report. "One must wonder why dear Professor Theroux was targeted as well as ourselves... I must admit, we of the Chateau have become embroiled in rather more than our share of misadventure, as of late, but he has not been quite so...ah! Perhaps his provision of that lovely box, the which we made use of these several months hence, has been discovered by our mysterious opponent!"

[Cronax]

"Our thanks for your timely arrival Sir." Mr Agale skirted mentioning the woodsman's name, as though its mere invocation would summon the constabulary and necessitate some messy explanations. He Took a moment to analyze the facts so far, then spoke "We should waste no time in reconnoitering the abodes of our eccentric landlord and the Professor Theroux in case they fared less well."

Agale notes the ring Lia procures from the corpse. "It seems your cautioning was mark on madam, How many more of them can we expect and what do you know of their strategies?" Despite the blood and carnage, Agale kept a calm tone, like a chess master focused upon the board. With that, he gave a brief bow to those in the hall and retreated once more into his quarters to properly dress.

[lostboy]

At the sight of Nerit's eyes opening again Nicolas forgets the teeth bearing down on his arm, he barely notices Richard blocking off said attack and Alice cursing the thing into non-existence. No his attention is focussed on Nerit alone.

"Welcome back Cherie" he says softly his eyes rimmed with red, although Nicolas eyes were always rimmed with red from the alcohol, right now they were even more so. "You have no idea how I ...." For once the poet was at a loss for words and confines himself to gently kissing her hand as it strokes his face whilst continuing to hold her tightly, as if letting go would mean losing her again.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"No telling how many more may come," Lia says as she rises. "They favour illusions and creatures of darkness, in my experience. Expect as many as you fear - and more - if it is the Brotherhood after us."

The Mage frowns. "But this does not feel right. Death and necromancy are anathema to them. Why would they involve themselves in such works...? The cat may be trying to trick us."

Lia pockets the ring, then turns to the others. "We must see about Andre and Charles. Old friend" - she turns to Benoit - "do you think your men equal to a challenge such as we faced here? If so, then we must see to the one who has not received the aid you provide. Charles has a family to protect, but I would be loathe to leave Andre completely alone in a time like this, especially if the Brotherhood is upon us - or if that filthy beast has trickery enough to mimic their works."

[Kaitou Kage]

"Brotherhood?" Rex spoke up. The pharmacist rarely spoke unless something interested him. And mention of a 'Brotherhood' seemed to pique his interest.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Never mention them to anyone not currently here," Lia says in clipped tones. "Be aware that they know who we are. Recognize them by these rings" - she holds up the ring before slipping it back into her pocket - "and know almost all of them to be evil. To date, I have met only one of them who is not. They are scholars of the arcane, who believe the world is an illusion, and so they strive to master illusions so they may become gods of this world. They detest necromancy. They are the Brotherhood, and they are best avoided and never mentioned. And right now, ladies and gentlemen, they may be undergoing just as much turmoil as the rest of Dementlieu. It is not a happy combination."

[Kaitou Kage]

Rex said nothing. He just raised his eyebrow and smiled faintly.