Arty Fox

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Baronfjørd "Blackberry" Chedgusah Dragon Born, Monk (Astral self), Level 03 HP: 14 / 24 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: H11 -> G13 Action: Shortsword (hit: 10, dmg: N/A ) Bonus Action: Reaction: Unarmed Strike (hit: 21, dmg: 7) Ki: 2/3

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Kathryns warning of possible other Guards in the trees rang in his ears.

BlackBerry saw the attack coming from the beast, its grotesque tree trunk of arm twisting his way. He braced himself ready to lunge out the way or brace hard against it. The Beasts swing came hard and faster, faster than he expected. Blackberry felt his teeth rattle when the massive fist slammed through his defence and almost sent him sprawling. For a moment, his vision went dark.

Blinking furiously, the world came back to him as blurry shapes, dulled colour, and muted words of someone behind him. He saw fire reflecting off the metal in front of him from the now familiar form of Lady Kathryn’s armour. Beyond her, he saw a large shape in front of him, turning and lumbering away. The Beast! BlackBerry snapped one of his Astral limbs out at the creature, and again he felt the blow strike true and hard but the beast didn’t even flinch.

Maritas suggestion to use blades made him pause for a brief moment. As he remembered, using a blade hadn’t served him well in the previous fight. While the others had outfitted themselves with silvered weapons he was still using his own standard short sword from when he arrived. The horrid beast certainly looked rat-like but who was to say that meant they were.

“If you are certain.” He replied, already withdrawing his own blade, dull metal barely reflecting the plume of bright fire behind him. “Lady Kathryn, help Kosara. Marita, Lets us target the other.”

The beast that had struck him had already moved over to the cage furthest away from him, with Kosara already hammering it with her magic. BlackBerry turned to focus on the other beast attacking the other cage of hostages. Drawing up to the beast he tried to through a reassuring grin to the captives but didn’t spare more than that. A jolt of pain shot through his arm as he went to strike the beast, the blow from before had done more damage than he had thought, but the blade still hit and sunk into the beast. For a second BlackBerry hoped that luck was on his side, but those hopes were dashed when he pulled the sword and saw that there was no lasting wound.

BlackBerry swore. He should’ve known, he called over to the others. “The Beasts are charmed also, my blade is useless.”

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@Sigil Back to Guard 1!!

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Baronfjørd "Blackberry" Chedgusah Dragon Born, Monk (Astral self), Level 03 HP: 24 / 24 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: L15 -> H11 Action: Unarmed Strike (11. DMG: 5) Bonus Action: Summon Astral Arms (DC: 12. DMG: 4) Reaction: N/A Ki: 2/3

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His gaze spun backwards to see one of the barrels behind them all collapse and unleash a wall of fire, blocked off the road they had arrived through. Their escape, and for the hostages as well, had been cut off. BlackBerry swore. Another commotion, this time from the fountain, demanded his attention just in time to see two disgusting forms pull themselves out of the fountain. It was almost hilarious to see their grate forms emerge from the relatively medium sized fountain. Water dripped off the beasts disgusting forms as they rose out of the fountain.

What obscene acts had Cavendish been doing to produce such creatures?

Instinct blared warning bells in his mind, demanding he turn and flee from the putrid smell rolling off the beast. Instead, he took hold of that fear, that frantic energy burning through his veins, and pushing himself forward. He slipped between Marita and Morty, charging forwards to put himself next to Kosara and between the creatures and the Hostages. His back to Cavendish and his guards.

“Stay back!” He snarled at the beast.

Mid-step, he tapped into the familiar feeling of churning power at his core. He pulled and pushed that power out across his shoulders where fire bloomed into loose, wreathing columns sculpting themselves into shape. A force flung out towards the vile beasts but only one seemed to be hit, the force passing harmlessly through the other. Without a second to waste he continued his surge forward, right foot cracking down on the cobbles, using the momentum from his mad dash, twisting at the hips to drive a fiery fist into the beast.

The limb connected with the beast with a satisfying thud, but devoid of any reaction from the beast. More warning bells rang in his mind. BlackBerry snatched back the limb, right foot snapping back half a step also, and looked up into the eyes of the beast. It’s eyes were entirely red and gazing down at him without thought. The beast had been hit and he was certain he had left a mark on it as well. But the beast in front of him simply did not care.

“What is this thing?” He asked, casting a look to Kosara for an answer or at least some support. His confident snarl wavering.

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@Sigil guard 1's turn!!

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Baronfjørd "Blackberry" Chedgusah Dragon Born, Monk (Astral self), Level 03 HP: 24 / 24 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: Town Center Action: N/A Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A Ki: 3/3

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Despite not being what BlackBerry had imagined a Soldiers March to sound like, not that he had ever heard one before, Victorias music did wonders for his mood and bolstered his confidence. He would have to ask Lady Kathryn or Marita about it later once this horrid business had been taken care of. But the music still did its job of bolstering his confidence and he tried not to put on his best guess to a Soldiers March, but it was hard not to with Lady Kathryn and Marita nearby as the pair made a fine display in their armour marching ahead of him down the empty streets.

But all too soon they arrived and Victoria brought her song to an end, leaving only the flickering of the flames and the cries from the hostages to fill in the space.

He took position to the outer left of the group, hovering by Maritas shoulder, and cast his eyes and head about in quick, sharp movements trying to get a better lay of the land as Lady Kathryn and Kosara spoke their piece up at Cavendish. The latter somehow being much louder than usual.

BlackBerry wouldn’t describe himself as a strategist by any stretch, but he knew his strengths as a close range fighter, even when going against beings immune to being stabbed through the gut and so had no desire to fight any bowmen again anytime soon. To him the best course of action would be to rush Cavendish, put him down quickly like the rat he was, and take care of his followers if needs be. The barrels of fire caused him the most worry if they were to be knocked over, the fire could spread to either the cages or to the surrounding trees. Beyond that though he couldn’t see much else beside the two pairs of eyes glowing, glaring at them all from behind the barrels Cavendish had stood in front of.

“No other souls about. Just the two ruffians hiding behind him.” He muttered out the side of his mouth to the others. “I think this is all he has.”

He sunk down slightly on his hips, preparing himself for the inevitable fight, and locked his gaze squarely on the pair hiding behind the flames.

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Baronfjørd "Blackberry" Chedgusah Dragon Born, Monk (Astral self), Level 03 HP: 24 / 24 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: outside Bed & Breakfast -> following Kosara Action: N/A Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A Ki: 3/3

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BlackBerry chewed his cheek and listened to the others discuss their next steps. Frustratingly, it seemed that it wasn't even their choice at this point with their enemies holding all the cards; dictating the time, place, and even now the manner of their arrival. He adjusted his robes in thought, and then rested on the pommel of his sword. They had collectively missed a prime opportunity somewhere along the way, and he personally missed one to properly prepare himself, and now here it was now, metaphorically and physically, biting them in the backside.

He listened to Maritas explanation of the situation which did fill in a few more details than Kosaras had done. The fact there was some sort of bargain on the table had been completely missed before, and revealed a whole new angle to consider. But Maritas talk of previous training did assure him somewhat. But with Lady Kathryn pointing out the possibility of more archers than last time he found himself feeling just the same; being more suited to close quarter fighting than anything.

"Sometimes the simplest solution is the best."

Despite the dire and very real danger of the circumstances, despite the looking dread twisting his stomach into a frenzy, BlackBerry found a wicked grin splitting his face with Kosaras giddy, vengeful glee infecting him as well. The remaining calm parts of him quickly pointed out Kosaras plan to go marching through the town with a glowing sword and music would only point an even larger target on their backs, and their current target was already large enough if they were getting letters. Their current plan sounded daring, exciting, and full of opportunities to give those ruffians a damn good taste of their own medicine. He turned to face Marita, at this point seeing her as leading the party in this endeavor.

"As stealth seems out of the question, perhaps a March playing would be suitable, like the heroes and armies of old going off to battle? Show the ruffians that despite it all we shall not bow beneath them." The idea was as absurd as it was dangerous, but he let the thought go with a shrug and then pointed to the darkness where the Rat had scurried off to. "And at this point I fail to see how it would make our location any less known."

He took a few steps after Kosara so he was no longer under the swing and what little safety it may have offered against the darkness. However, he would wait for the others to make their move as well before heading after Kosara, not wanting to leave her or he himself be left entirely exposed and alone.

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Baronfjørd "Blackberry" Chedgusah Dragon Born, Monk (Astral self), Level 03 HP: 24 / 24 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: outside Bed & Breakfast Action: N/A Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A Ki: 3/3

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“Oh.”

Madame Cicily L’Rose; Aunt Ceecee. His fears had been confirmed. He looked back into the gloom of the B&B, and then shooting a glance upwards through the awning, hoping that Lizbeth wasn’t listening in from some unseen corner.

There wasn’t anything else BlackBerry could say when Victoria explained the meaning behind the axe. But still he tried to hunt for the right words to say, something he could do to at least ease their fears a bit if not rid them entirely, he opened his mouth a few times but without any luck of finding the magic words.. He took a quick step back to allow Lady Kathryn to rip the axe from the wood. It was an awful thing to watch, even from behind the closed helmet BlackBerry had no doubt of the expression of anguish and fury written on her face.

His own looming sense of dread was not helped in the slightly by Kosara seemingly losing the plot as she descended into giggles, which then morphed into a concerning hysterical laughing fit. BlackBerry had turned, at Victorias direction, just in time to see a rat scamper into the shadows. He managed to restrain a flinch when Kosara came skipping over to them all, still wearing a giddy grin as if she had won a prize, and handing a note to Marita.

“Is she quite all there?” He whispered, leaning to the side closer to Lady Kathryn. “I know some diseases could cause hysteria, if she had been bitten, but to happen this fast…”

BlackBerry tried to lock eyes with the rest of the party for their reactions to see if this was just a ‘normal’ Kosara occurrence or something else entirely. He had already gathered that the woman wasn’t entirely…there, or at least she was just very excitable at every opportunity to cause violence and chaos. He wasn’t sure which he preferred. Admittedly though, he was also excited by the prospect of a fight, of the opportunity to get his revenge on those ruffians who had managed to beat them all earlier and get away with it.

He quickly gave Kosara a visual once over and couldn’t see any fresh bites, plus he hadn’t heard her cry out in pain at all. So decided that she likely hadn’t been bitten.

“The middle of town. That would be by the fountain would it not?” Jabbing a thumb in his best guess-timate of the firection. “If we head now we can get these quickly, and in good time too.”

He let the words hold for a moment, and then in a much quieter voice, trying hard to make sure only the party around him could hear he said. “If we are to try anything else I suggest we keep our voices down.” He cocked his head to the side at the sound of scuffling from outside their meager circle of light beneath the awning. “Im certain our Audience is still about. Call me paranoid but I suggest we follow Mr Mallards advice and be wary of any prying eyes or ears in the shadows.”

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Baronfjørd "Blackberry" Chedgusah Dragon Born, Monk (Astral self), Level 03 HP: 24 / 24 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: outside Bed & Breakfast Action: N/A Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A Ki: 3/3

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BlackBerry waited. He waited some more, hearing his heart pounding furiously in his chest. And yet, nothing happened. It became apparent to him that nothing was going to happen, at least not yet anyway. He let his arm fall from his cheek, and pulled up from his slight slouch he had curled up into in preparation for the absent fight. He looked to the others with a frown and expecting similar looks of confusion.

Once again, it was Kosara who was the first one to act. BlackBerry sucked on his teeth as she damn near bounced out the door, with the loud warning outside still ringing in the air. But at the very least, he felt a little safer not being out in the middle of the street just that moment. His limbs were tense and he felt like a spring coiled far too tight, he needed something to punch, something to do to get all this frantic energy out of him.

“Kosara, please wait a moment for the rest of us.”

He hurried over and out of the door, but something embedded in the door frame caught his wandering eyes . Not getting past the porch he spun to a stop to investigate the what had caught his gaze. It was an axe embedded in the wood of the door frame.

“Well…Someone was definitely here.” Tentatively he reached out a hand to the axe handle, but then quickly pulled it back. Instead choosing to look back into the room around the door frame. “An axe has been buried in the door frame. What are the odds, do we suppose, it is a warning from our Audience?”

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Baronfjørd "Blackberry" Chedgusah Dragon Born, Monk (Astral self), Level 03 HP: 24 / 24 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: Inside Bed & Breakfast Action: Insight (22) Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A Ki: 3/3

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“Ah, of course not. My mistake.” The ridges of his brow rose with the animated apology to Lizbeths response, and he mentally crossed out that idea. Turning to Lady Kathryn he added. “Made of some pretty stern stuff, is she not?”

BlackBerry was glad to see Lizbeth managing to hold firm against the situation, but understandably still distressed. Momentarily BlackBerry wondered if she had gone through something similar before, his smile tightening a little at the thought. He watched her red eyes, clearly still raw from crying earlier dart between the three of them who had come to reassure her. It was heartwarming to see the party come to the childs aid. With the other two now chiming in with their own reassurances he took a step back from Lizbeth hoping to not overwhelm her any further. It looked to him that Marita was currently having the best luck with the child, in any case.

“Silver?” He repeated the word. Then realisation smacked him harder than any blow before. “oh…yes.”

Were-rats and Were-wolves…the two were similar in nature and clearly that also meant their weaknesses and possibly even their strength as well. BlackBerry covered his mouth and let out a long, drawn out breath through his nose as the five stages of grief rolled through him. Did that mean werewolves were also resistant to being stabbed? He stashed the question away for later.

The boom at the door hooked and drew his gaze. His heart nearly stopped with fright, his nerves were well and truly being tested this evening. Kosara was the first to react and lead the charge to the door, meanwhile BlackBerry snapped his attention back to Lizbeth. If there really were more of those ruffians outside trying to break in then he didn’t want the child to be anywhere near the oncoming fight.

“Upstairs. Now.” He barked at Lizbeth, grabbing and spinning her around by the arm, urging the child towards the stair banister he could see looming in the darkness. “Under no circumstance do you come down till sunlight. Understand?”

The last part wasn’t much of a question, and BlackBerry didn’t wait for an answer or to see if Lizbeth had in fact gone upstairs. Instead he turned back to face the door and took the moment Kosara offered to re-wrap his scarf back tightly into place around his neck; he didn’t need the loose fabric either restricting his movements or becoming something to snatch. Finally, with a nod to Kosara, he was ready.

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Baronfjørd "Blackberry" Chedgusah Dragon Born, Monk (Astral self), Level 03 HP: x / 24 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: Inside Bed & Breakfast Action: Attempting to Calm Lizbeth Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A Ki: 3/3

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Victoria’s answer gave him some relief and BlackBerry visibly relaxed a little in the shoulders; wandering into a lodging house filled with rodent-thropes or were-rats or whatever was the last thing they needed tonight. Granted it was one of many things they didn’t need tonight.

But it was the conversation drifting over from Kathryn and child, Lizbeth, that held his attention. Casting rapid glances at the others he could see they were connecting a few dots, a few pieces of the puzzle as well. The picture it was painting was not a good one, he chewed his cheek with worry. Were-rats becoming more active, people going missing, screams echoing around the town, and a hoard of rats following them. A worrying fear that they had all just put a big target on this place and everyone in it suddenly came to mind.

“I think that would be the best idea.” Whispering a reply to Victoria. He turned round to cast an eye at the door almost expecting it to be broken open right that second. “If you have any spare silver or any weapon at all to give her. Let us take a moment to reassure her though.”

BlackBerry stepped forwards gently towards Kathryn and Lizbeth, hoping he wouldn’t scare the poor child any further. He had to keep calm, or at least keep an air of calm about him in case Lizbeth picked up on the worry and fear currently ruling his thoughts. The best thing to do, in his mind, was to find something to keep her occupied and safe inside for a while. Or at the very least away from their following conversation. Maybe he could ask her to check on the other guests?

“Hello there, Lizbeth? My Name is BlackBerry. I must say it does sound like you have had a scary evening. Were you scared?” BlackBerry asked, looking to watch how Lizbeth reacted and figure out the best way to keep her calm. He continued, in a stage whisper like it were a big secret he was about to say. “You can tell me, I shan’t tell anyone If you were.”

“But.” He raised a finger to emphasise his next very important point. “You did the right thing keeping the door closed until someone you knew came along.” He gestured to Lady Kathryn, and then back to the other party members who had entered. “And I bet your guests would think so too. In fact, I wonder if they might be a little bit scared. Perhaps you could check on them and make sure they are doing alright as well, in a bit?”

A thought came to him in that moment. He paused for a moment and tapped his finger tips with his thumb as he wondered whether he should ask his next question, knowing it could cause the poor girl even more worry if he didn’t smooth out the thought fast enough.

“The note your Aunt left…does it appear to be her hand writing?” He tried to keep his voice calm, make the question sound innocent with a small smile, as if the answer wouldn’t hold a terrifying thought. Hurriedly, he lay down a little lie for the girl to hide in “Or perhaps one of her friends wrote it for her when they came to fetch her?”

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Baronfjørd "Blackberry" Chedgusah Dragon Born, Monk (Astral self), Level 03 HP: x / 24 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: Outside Silversmith -> Bed & Breakfast Action: N/A Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A Ki: 3/3

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Blackberry followed after the group without stopping. He no longer needed, or wanted, to guess that the noises he still heard surrounding them belonged to the rats scuttling outside the party’s zone of light.

Marita confirmed what he had feared; the ‘Camp’ was now completely out of the question.

“Then just where could we go?” He moved alongside Marita and matched her strides. “Wandering the streets all night is hardly a sound idea, even without our…audience. I worry a decision may be made for us before too long.”

The scream splintered the nigh. BlackBerry nearly jumped out of his scales, the unease churning in his stomach boiled into a moment of panic. His gaze snapped towards it, somewhere further down the road and out of sight. He took a few steps forward, past the sliver o flight coming from the openening door, and past the party before he checked himself just at the edge of the party’s circle of light. He wanted to help. His fingers began tap, tap, tapping upon the hilt of his sword betraying the churning anxiety he was trying to hide. Two other scream quickly went up from another direction, he couldn’t pinpoint it even as he turned his head this way and that.

Kathryn slipped into the building, pushing past the child that had opened it. From what he had overheard the child was possibly all alone at the moment. He pushed down the flabbergasted anger that rose in him; someone had left the poor child alone on a night like this? In a town filled with were-rats? Whomever her guardian was had better have a bloody good reason for wandering off. Through the open door he could hear Kathryn trying to console the child. She sounded young, and it made his heart twist at the thought of her all alone, in a place like this.

Following the example of the others, he slipped into the building, and let out a breath at the relief now being awayy from their unwanted audience. At least for now.

“Guests?” He had caught the Victoria's comment just as he came in. “Guests as in…” He gestured with his chin towards the door, hoping she understood what he left unsaid.

Guests like our audience outside?

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Baronfjørd "Blackberry" Chedgusah Dragon Born, Monk (Astral self), Level 03 HP: x / 24 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: Outside Silversmith Action: Checking if Rats are likely to to attack (nature): 19 Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A Ki: 3/3

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Nature, see if they’re looking to attack or just following: 19
The rats are massing in the open, which isn't normal under usual circumstances. Many of them appear to be very curious about you guys, but they don't seem to be massing to attack, so far as you are aware.

“Hm, wonderful.” Victoria confirmed his worst fears and BlackBerry near chewed upon his feigned happiness, dripping with sarcasm. “Always a pleasure to have happy guests dropping in unannounced.”

He let Kosara to do her work to apply the spell; twisting around slightly to avoid being in the way of her movements. This time, he learned not to look at the object as the light burst from it. Staring down at it he couldn’t help but think to himself, with a small smile.

I have a magic weapon. How delightful. The others will be so pleased to hear of this back home.

BlackBerry knew the effect was temporary but while it lasted it did make him a little be happy nonetheless. He just didn’t realise how temporary it would be as he watched, feeling somewhat disappointed, Kosara quickly move the magical light over to Maritas shield. The light disappearing from his shortsword as it bloomed from the shield. It made more sense though as Marita could still wield the shield for light and defence in a fight, which would be a darn-sight more useful that he could have done with the sword against their foes.

Wanting to stay useful he turned back again towards the fog behind the group to where Lady Kathryns thrown torch had landed, loudly, a few moments ago. His stomach dropped in time with his jaw. That was a lot of rats. In the spluttering torch light there was no where for them to hide. No Mercy from the sight of their writhing, scurrying, bodies crashing over each other.

A strained whisper escaped. “Oh no.” He dropped into his usual fighting stance and grabbed his shortsword ready to fight.

But when nothing more came from the rats, aside from the panicked squeaks or argumentative squeals to each other, they hopped in and out of the circle of light from the torch he came to realise something.

“I…I would wager they’re not here to attack us. At least, not yet anyway.” BlackBerry locked eyes with one, that squealed and then ran back into the darkness. Repressing a shiver he continued. “Rather more likely keeping an eye on us, for now. Reporting back to their masters, no doubt.”