|
Post by Chimaera on Jul 8, 2016 7:19:23 GMT
The man stood quietly and watched as the kitchen around him was rearranged. His hand rested on his sword pummel while a small migraine began to develop behind his eyes. Captain Bishop Ackles felt that the day would not go by any faster than a slow crawl. Kitchen utensils moved to one side, sat on top of the stove already moved off against the corner. Bishop turned away and oversaw the sewer entrance's extension to allow more than one person at a time down into the chambers below their feet. His attention was drawn to the curious gnome that sat in the center of the kitchen being fed while he explained the reason for his life down in the sewers and the deal brokered between the small group Bishop had sent down to clear the sewer in the first place. He rolled his eyes and allowed one of the other guards to take away his sword as he walked into the mess hall. To those present, the captain cleared his throat.
"Thank you all for gathering here - I am sure you have noticed the refugees from Izmir on the grounds. A few days ago, a small team went into the sewers and found a path through it onto another estate. This estate will be our secondary base, but will house the refugees until they can be taken away to either Osaka or another city." He glanced over his shoulder and back at the kitchen while bringing his hand up to rub at his eyes. "But, apparently this estate is heavily damaged, overgrown and could be a touch cursed. Are there any questions so far?"
|
|
|
Post by Chimaera on Jul 8, 2016 15:41:52 GMT
"That is an excellent question to bring up," Bishop said. He stepped forward and rested his arms behind his back. "Clearly there has been a precaution to alienate these people from our daily activities on the estate. However, with the majority of them being nobility there is a high chance that they know this is the Silverlake vacation estate. While most of us can be passed off as guards and servants to maintain the estate for Lady Silverlake, there would be no easy way to explain the numbers present now." He looked up at Zandack as he continued. "There is a chance that they will tell the Osaka guard that a group outside of Izmir helped them - but we can't know that. At this moment, there is a rumor being spread that all cities have closed their gates pending a review from what happened in Izmir. We can only help that rumor stay alive and start to care and sway these people to us."
He took a deep breath, stepped forward, and regarded the room with a slow gaze. "Ultimately, we are waiting on word from Hiroshi on what to do about them as it was his order that brought them here - I haven't read the full report yet on the incident where a few of us were arrested when we approached the gates of Osaka. And even that sounds a bit off colored to me with my military background. A quarantine, I can believe but outright arresting travelers seems like someone with power is scared. Or stupid."
|
|
|
Post by blithelight on Jul 9, 2016 3:47:13 GMT
Tomond raised his hand after Zandack's question had been addressed.
"Is there something we are to do about the so said, "haunted" nature of the manor? Like is there a ritual, or spell, or herb to use on the structure? What exactly do you wish us to do, escort them first or clean the house from these maladies?"
|
|
|
Post by Chimaera on Jul 9, 2016 5:43:18 GMT
Bishop patiently listened to both Tomond and Zandack - having about to answer. He pressed his palms into one of the mess halls tables while he leaned forward and looked up at everyone. "Zandack is correct, Tomond - after speaking with our informant, this may be the case. He has told us he didn't explore out to through the rest of the manor. Only that he stayed in the kitchen which has an entrance to the sewer. He mainly lived there after the Purge." He paused to catch a breath, "but there may indeed be undead within the house. His mistress, Cendolia A'mere, was a follower of Belvar. As were her children. They all apparently were very cruel and twisted people." His brow rose and he pushed himself from the position he had leaned in to cross his arms over his broad chest. "We will be sending missions out to clear the estate one piece at a time, starting with the manor, before we send the refugees or even begin moving supplies."
"Oh, mistress A'mere will be rolling in her grave!" From the kitchen came a short humanoid, no bigger than a child. His cheeks full of most of the sandwich he held in his left hand. He climbed onto the table in front of Bishop and smiled at the group. His once brightly colored robed dulled with age and the sewer. Left ragged from time. He waved at the others present and beamed brightly at him through the bandages that covered most of his face. Injuries from the fight with the last group that he didn't wish to be mended by magical means. At least divine means. The gnome finished off his sandwich and licked his fingers noisily as he smacked his lips. "What do you cloudheads need to know about the place? I can at least tell you a few things that happened before the Purge - out of respect for Juniper, Zandack and Aiden. The rest of you big fuckers, don't give two shits about if you live or die."
|
|
|
Post by blithelight on Jul 9, 2016 6:05:55 GMT
Tomond raised his hand after the gnome had finished eating, to ask a question. Several questions actually.
"How many people would you say it would take to clear the manor? What are some of the traps, and or secret door ways or passages that you know of? What would you say is the biggest or worst area of population for the undead, and are you going to accompany us?"
|
|
|
Post by Chimaera on Jul 9, 2016 7:28:27 GMT
"What - What - What?" Spricklesprocket blinked owlishly between the two men. He stepped up to the edge of the table and shook his head as he snapped his fingers at Zandack. "SCARS build character, my young long legger! I like to heal naturally for no reason at all!" He pointed his finger at the wizard and winked, "so don't bother asking! I'm honored that the man that sent a hyena to eat me offered to heal the wounds his pet pooch did to me!"
"Giving the gnome supplies can wait," Bishop said and pulled the said gnome back. The two exchanged heated glares until Spricklesporocket shrugged his shoulders and took a seat on top of the table itself. The captain returned his gaze back to the others and focused on the two speaking the most. "There will be a team of four to be sent into the mansion to cleanse it of anything that may be inside - undead, beasts, and the like. Much like the sewer mission, nothing is to be kept alive - and everything undead should be returned to the grave where it belongs. We don't want any -"
"Here now! He asked me!" The gnome turned back to the crowd and grinned widely. "I don't know all of the traps - those that were around the kitchen I disabled myself. Tricky little fuckers they were, but I got 'em. I just sent my pets out into the halls and let them do their thing. I don't know all the passages that are hidden. Mistress was weird about them, kept them warded from us impure folk. As for the undead? Might want to stay away from tight areas. Mistress loved to play with the staff. She even turned on her husband once and made him her little dead . . . or rather undead play thing." He scratched the back of his head, and looked around at Bishop. "Like he said, I didn't leave the kitchen - if you want a complete map of the sewers and a fun place to watch the cubes that jiggle in the water? I can point you straight to that. I think the best option is just to burn it to the ground!"
He tossed his hands up in the air and laughed gleefully. "The fire would be big enough to see for miles! Draw in the undead, slash them down and there you go. Problem solved."
Bishop sighed loudly and rubbed the heel of his palm against one of his eyes with a loud sigh.
|
|
|
Post by Chimaera on Jul 9, 2016 8:45:18 GMT
"Oh, don't think I'm against the gifts of magic! I just don't like strangers getting their magical essences all over me. I save that kind of working over for the brothels - or did before we were all murdered by dipshits that don't know their ass from a hole in the ground." The gnome said as he frowned. After a moment, he glanced up at Zandack and clapped his hands together and pressed the tips to his bottom lip. "Not that I don't trust you, Bighead - I get it, I get it. You're celestial pooch was hungry. You're an A-OKAY human. I'd name you an honorary gnome if it weren't for you being at the appropriate height to actually make me a dickhead."
"From our intel -"
"Oh! Those are in the sewers," the gnome interrupted. He waddled to the edge of the table, crawled off of it and came up to Zandack. He pulled out a stick from his robes and waved it in front of the man. "I poked one with this before and nearly lost my arm. I'm not too knowledgeable about the creatures. The manor is filled with the dead things. I only know a few spells and enchantments. What I did to the mistress' son for example. Animate dead is an interesting spell." He glanced around at the others with a heavy sigh, "he was dead when I found him and well, after being tortured for a while I was still angry and didn't have an outlet."
|
|
|
Post by Chimaera on Jul 9, 2016 9:37:15 GMT
"Of course it is!"
The captain walked to the gnome and pushed him away from Zandack with his knee. Bishop fixed the man with a leer as he shook his head. "I want you to get that sort of thinking out of your head now. More than likely what he's talking about is a gelatinous cube; it would be too danger and a waste of resource to attempt to use them as a weapon." He reached out and patted the wizard's shoulder while he turned away and attempted to lead the gnome away from the gathered audience. He returned to his stance behind the table and regarded all present. "As good of an idea as it is to use against the undead - if they are zombies, like it was said. They lack the ability to think and mindlessly go to an organic matter. Getting them from the sewers would be the problem and would cost many their lives."
"My pets have made the way clear to the A'mere estate through the sewer anyway," the gnome added, "so you shouldn't run into any problems - just, uh, stay away from the water when you're down there. Traps and all that I can remember is that one of the rooms have a ceiling that descends to crush you." He trailed off in thought, snapped his fingers and pointed at the human who had asked the question about the traps. "And there's a couple of poison traps around the manor too. But, I don't know where any of those are. The Mistress was twisted and made it a game of trying to kill her servants. Her living servants anyway."
|
|
|
Post by blithelight on Jul 9, 2016 16:55:42 GMT
Tomond's hand had fallen as everyone spoke, his question slowly being answered.
"Well, this all sounds quiet fun, I'm game and ready to go whenever anyone else is."
He reached a hand over and patted Zandack on the shoulder.
"Does your shop sell any potions for poison, with the few poison traps we might need some, and a few lock picks or at least things to find traps if you have any of those as well."
|
|
mdingus (Markas)
Squire
Posts: 35
Roll20 ID: Michael D.
Skype ID: m.dingus
Characters: Markas
|
Post by mdingus (Markas) on Jul 9, 2016 19:22:23 GMT
Markas through the duration of this conversation had remained quiet and out of the way due to the fact that the entire ordeal was out of his expertise, but and idea had struck him.
"Say, Zandack do you know of anyone in the New Dawn who has a decent knowledge of plants? I have read of certain plants able to reduce the effects of poison perhaps we could locate some."
|
|
|
Post by blithelight on Jul 9, 2016 21:09:52 GMT
Tomond piped up after Zandack had finished speaking. "Juniper might have some knowledge on this as well she's a cleric."
|
|
|
Post by Chimaera on Jul 9, 2016 21:16:34 GMT
Zandack will recall that there are, indeed, a variety of flora and fungi that could be used to slow most basic of poisons. However, these are mostly from natural accruing poisons and not those modified by the hand of men. While these mushrooms, herbs, and other flora could perhaps slow a poison there is no guarantee they would assist with anything man made.
"I can provide a potion or two per person for those that will effectively be the first wave of this clean up," Bishop said. The man rested his hands on his hips, gesturing outward with his hand as he spoke to those that had gathered in the mess hall. "But, these things aren't cheap or easy to come by after Izmir's fall and with Osaka - and just assuming other cities within Alexius - arresting or closing their metaphorical doors to all, supplies are limited. My stockpile will be depleted quickly if I keep giving everyone something." His lips twisted into a slow smile, "the only solace we have is that if this little lockdown in other cities continues, the cities will begin to run low on supplies as well. It will cause a discord if the little brat isn't careful." As an afterthought, Bishop nodded slowly, "asking the clerics we currently have in our ranks is a noble idea soldier. Doctor Dorne should be able to assist as well."
The gnome reached into a oddly designed bag that was at his side. His arm reaching deeper, and deeper into the void of space that seemed to exist within before it finally withdrew and pulled from it a glass flask. He held it up with a proud smile. "I have a few potions and oddities myself, but I'm not as generous, cloudhead. I still have to eat and having a few gold pieces in my pocket when I head up to the New Republic can help a lot." He turned to the room and his grin widened, "full market price of course. Can't go around giving friendly discounts to buddies if I intend to actually eat . . . or survive!"
|
|
keran
Sheet Checker
Posts: 55
Roll20 ID: Bratty Savior
Skype ID: zoombehs
|
Post by keran on Jul 9, 2016 21:49:55 GMT
His pockets certainly felt much lighter after that little shopping spree through the estate’s supplies, but numerous flasks and creations were clipped to his bandoliers as a result. A bit expensive in terms of preparations for his liking, but a pile of money up in the estate wouldn’t do him much good if he was dying in the sewers.
Keran slipped himself into the mess hall quietly, but with so little people around it was inevitable that the captain noticed. He gestured at the fully stocked bandoliers strapped across his chest and said, “Preparations to make, and things to buy. Shame they’re at full market price, but the quartermaster seemed pretty happy.” With that said he looked around and nodded towards the other three members in the room. He was at least familiar with their faces, having worked with all of them at least once. MADE BY VEL OF GS + ADOX 2.0
|
|
|
Post by Chimaera on Jul 9, 2016 22:30:43 GMT
The captain watched as Keran joined the others, and announced his purchases. He shook his head and once more rubbed at his temple in an attempt to dull the on coming headache. "It's good to see that you are well-prepared, Keran but there wasn't need for you to flash off your wares or inform us how jubilant the quartermaster was because you just fed his addiction to the brothel," he said. He looked up at the man with a brow raised. "Is there anything you'd like to ask about the missions to come or insight in any sort of tactics that can be applied in this situation?"
|
|
|
Post by blithelight on Jul 9, 2016 22:34:14 GMT
Tomond let out a soft chuckle, lifting his right hand to give a friendly wave of greeting to Keran. He then turned his attention back to the captain.
"You've got a lot of experience when it comes to fighting so my only question is, what would you suggest as a tactic for fighting in such close quarters?"
|
|
keran
Sheet Checker
Posts: 55
Roll20 ID: Bratty Savior
Skype ID: zoombehs
|
Post by keran on Jul 9, 2016 23:14:27 GMT
“Just letting people know things are in stock. Holy Weapon Balms, Antitoxins to deal with poisons, all that good stuff,” he remarked with a shrug as he took a seat. “I mean there’s supposed to spells that clerics can cast to bless or ward an area against undead right?”
“Zandack, you’ve got the ability to call up creatures right? Could be really useful for setting off traps.” MADE BY VEL OF GS + ADOX 2.0
|
|
mdingus (Markas)
Squire
Posts: 35
Roll20 ID: Michael D.
Skype ID: m.dingus
Characters: Markas
|
Post by mdingus (Markas) on Jul 9, 2016 23:14:54 GMT
Markas gives a nod to Keran and turns to Zandack
"Agreed and if all else fails I can walk up front if needed I'm nimble enough to get out of the way if something was to happen, and I'm sure as a group we will be perceptive enough to notice anything that looks a little off."
|
|
mdingus (Markas)
Squire
Posts: 35
Roll20 ID: Michael D.
Skype ID: m.dingus
Characters: Markas
|
Post by mdingus (Markas) on Jul 9, 2016 23:26:07 GMT
"You're welcome Zandack. I've noticed you have can create hyenas, I'm sure that it should weigh enough. Then again I don't know much about magic."
|
|
|
Post by Chimaera on Jul 9, 2016 23:31:00 GMT
"Wow, you have a crack team here!"
"Shut up," Bishop said. He looked back at the group and took a deep breath as he knocked his knuckles against the table in front of him to get everyone's attention. "If there is nothing else you need to ask me or this one here then I will call this meeting, at least for my part, over."
|
|
mdingus (Markas)
Squire
Posts: 35
Roll20 ID: Michael D.
Skype ID: m.dingus
Characters: Markas
|
Post by mdingus (Markas) on Jul 9, 2016 23:42:34 GMT
Markas gives a nod in agreement to Zandack.
"Well then on that note I believe I am settled, I will start my preparations."
Markas then turns and exits the room.
|
|