Sigil

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Weather: The rain lightened but remains steady. The wind has picked up, pushing wet air into damp clothes, but otherwise the overall ambient temperature hasn't changed much. Cool but not overly cold, colored sharply with the breeze. The weather is incrementally more comfortable than an hour ago though you would be hard-pressed to believe it, conditions being what they are.

Time: Mid-afternoon, as the only time that has passed was the amount needed to drive off Cavendish and his pals.

Ambience: Rainfall, once faded into the background of perception in favor of the more urgent noises battle, came back to the ears with encompassing distinctness. Yet still, over this sound the tinier movements of shutters cracking open nearby could be detected. The clash of magic and steel now over, the braver of the commonfolk risked a glance outside to see the particulars of the commotion. One couldn't get into a pitched skirmish in the Township's main streets without attracting attention. A big question might be - were these worried citizens of the realm, or were these others part of the potential moonrise threat? A not-too-distant peal fo thunder rolled across the sky as an ominous trumpet to the darker of those possibilities. Off in the distance, a hissing sort of laughter could be heard to the south, seeming to move away from the scene.

*****

Outside Silversmith

The moments following and accompanying cooling of blood allowed those present greater awareness of injuries suffered; spots and rivulets of spilled crimson were swiftly carried away from those venting it, finding its way down the street and into the storm drains nearby. It might even be pretty in its own right were it not the arterial paints of the fellowship of adventurers. Mostly. There was yet one Guard remaining, crumpled in a heap with his arms at an odd angle. Body broken in a few places, he too added his redness to the passing rainwater, face partially submerged in the clear, cold stream that was once only a cobblestone street, in a way that was not healthy. His spear lay beside him - a reliable if not quite decorative piece - as a sign of involuntary submission.

The door to the Silversmith's shop cracked open just a little, though the view from the inside was mostly of Marita's back. The door was allowed to swing open a little more freely, as if a staying hand was removed from it for easier access. "Come in, come in," half-whispered Jacques, "Safer in here, for now." A little paranoia tinged his voice as it had at their first meeting, though his words carried a greater implication of trust for the party.

Jacques Mallard, Silversmith

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Guard 1

Location: Just Off The Map, West

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This Guard lay in the standing water of the cobblestone thoroughfare like a sack of inanimate meat, face partly submerged and limbs bent in angles that were at best uncomfortable, at worst arduous were it not for the apparent lack of awareness of his own situation. In short, it sucks to be him.

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Guard 2

Location: Q4 -> Off The Map, South

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It turned out that the Guard had indeed slowed down just enough, took the turn around the building wide enough to get attention. More than that, someone to follow. Bright smiles indeed. He didn't quite count on the Dragonborn with the gigantic, glowing arms to be able to move quite that fast. Giving his scaly opponent credit, he was damn near able to down him, but his slippery, wily nature overcame the physical training of the Monk.

The Guard gave a wicked smile as he saw the tall woman in rusty armor round the corner. He was still in motion when he echoed Kathryn's words of "Yeah. Not worth it," with a laugh. The laugh continued for a little longer as he poured on the speed, initially in erratic movements to better disengage with the potential continuation of direct hostilities. His sprint took him south, down a side street in the general direction of residences.

@Arty Fox Baronfjord is good to go next. Again, if you're still going for combat, do your thing. Otherwise, post per regular while keeping in mind that we are still technically in initiative order.

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Victoria Belmont Half-Elf, Bard, Level 3 HP: 23 / 23 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: K14 Action: Skill Check, Arcana Bonus Action: Morty Reaction: N/A

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The fight was turning in their favor - or at least it appeared to be. Victoria did not like the way that Cavendish poofed out of sight in a cloud of white vapor and paid it a piece of attention, attempting to figure out exactly what happened with him. That he had used magic was obvious, but whether it was from an item or personal ability to wield arcane forces was beyond her. She let the note she was playing on her violin carry for a moment before quieting, twirling slowly one last time before coming to a stop. The fact that the Constable had magic at his disposal altered her perception of the situation slightly and raised more questions than not.

Victoria gave a tiny mental impression in the metaphysical direction of her quadrupedal meat-servant, Morty, and drew it back a little closer to the building they were both next to. The only attacker that she could see was laying prone after having been blasted by Kosara but she didn't want to take chances, making sure that her Morty was actively playing the defensive for herself and covering the nearest blind corner, among its usual standing orders. She couldn't see where the Dragonborn had gotten off to except in pursuit of one of the retreating guards. Deep down, she hoped that whatever happened came up positive for the Monk but had no desire to follow and find out.

"We should get out of the open," she said to no one in particular. Her voice was not overly loud but clear enough to be understood over the white noise of rain hitting rooftop and cobblestone for those nearby. "This tale's antagonists know who we are now, and some of you are hurt." Victoria remained tensed, things expected or unexpected braced for as best she was able. Blood was still hot, breath was still heavy, and there was more that needed to be done. All this seriousness was not her forte, if she was honest with herself. But dying or being turned into a slavish rat-beast was far less so.

@rivaan Kosara has a regular turn in Initiative now.

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Battle Map

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Cavendish

Location: ?

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Having just stepped into a convenient and spontaneously appearing swirl of white mist in the middle of an open, rainy cobblestone street and disappearing instantly along with said mist (leaving no trace of himself behind), Cavendish was likely somewhere laughing his ass off.

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Guard 4

Location: B17 -> ?

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Let it never be said that getting stabbed in the gut with a magical floaty dagger wasn't a painful experience. However, it might be said that going through that mush pain under circumstances such as this can change a person. Yes, as his life's blood flowed from his abdomen, darkening his tunic and coloring the floor with vivid red splotches, he had what might be referred to as a moment of clarity. he was a legitimate town guard once, just two towns over from the place he grew up. It wasn't the most glamorous life, but it was honest and he had the respect of the locals. Discounts at bakeries. The occasional free ale. When he was younger and impressionable, this wasn't the career path he envisioned. Barely even Human anymore, beholden to an authority figure that likely didn't have his best interests in mind, and firing an issued crossbow at people defending a citizen that he was once sworn to protect from ...things like him... Perhaps it was time to stop all of this. He had been dirty for a while now. It was time to get clean.

Then his brain recollected from the wooziness that oft accompanied a sudden change in blood pressure when someone gets gutshanked. He had no idea why he had those mind-bogglingly stupid ideas in the first place and cursed the moment of goofiness that clouded his intentions. Clasping one hand over his wound, he heeded the order of the Constable and followed his fellow crossbowman's example, traveling away from the great stabbing implement composed of divine energy. Gathering up his weapon, the Guard retreated to the back of the room and toward whatever lay beyond, staying to the command to scatter. Continue the plan as ordered. Facepalm later for his journey into the asinine and NEVER TELL A SOUL ABOUT IT.




@rivaan Kosara had an End Of Round action coming. Now's the time, you are up.

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Guard 3

Location: D12 -> ?

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The screams of his fellow crossbowman on the other side of the room wound its way into his ears with sharp notes, commanding his attention away from the target of his next attack. This was immediately followed by alarm. Their vantage point gave them some protection from magics which may have originated from outside of the building, but this? One of them (probably the relatively shorter one with the shield) had conjured up something that could most definitely hurt them inside of their defenses. The fact that this dagger-shaped force had just shanked his associate and looked like it was deciding who it was going to stab next did NOT boost his confidence, either.

The idea to retreat to the back of the bailey and away from partial line of sight from the people below was a good one. This was reinforced by two things which happened from below: Firstly, their boss commanded them to scatter. Second, his half of his access to natural light just got cut off by the sudden appearance of a stone wall covering his window. It was time to move.

In the next second or two, just long enough to make the split decision to do so, Guard 3 scrambled northward for the back of the room and whatever lay beyond its confines as fast as he could scurry.

@Dragoknighte Marita is up next. Huzzah.

THE POSTING TIMER IS STILL PAUSED UNTIL MONDAY THE 28TH. Don't have to if you don't want to. Enjoy the holiday.

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Guard 1

Location: J12 -> Off The Map, West

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Fun, so much fun to be had later. This was not exactly part of it. A fair fight was to be avoided if at all possible and this exchange of hurt wasn't the ambush/quick kidnapping that they had expected. The order came from the Constable, who so far had kept their loyalty well enough by various means and, most importantly, it make sense. There was a good chance, in Guard 1's estimation (despite the harm that had come to him so far), that they could still pull a win out of this. The cost might have been too high, factors considered. So he did as ordered.

A hissing sound escaped his lips as his features shifted slightly. Still grasping his spear with one hand, his fingers elongated slightly and came to end in short, wicked claws. Eyes became beady and reflective of a distinct redness common to rodentkind, and he bent lower to the ground. These changes were in detail purely; the Guard did not fully take a different form. But he did use his newfound low center of gravity to scramble backward, carefully but quickly, as he roguishly Disengaged from the fight in front of him. When out of immediate striking range, he burst away into a dead run, Dashing as fast as his feet would carry him. He ran to the west, along the main road as he looked for a good evasion spot.

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Guard 2

Location: K12 -> Q4

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Guard 2 went through a similar transformation, slight but easily notable from this close distance. Rodent-y features scrawled themselves across his previously sneering but otherwise average looking face. Between the three-armed Dragonborn and whatever the hell was staring at him beneath its burlap armor that followed the violinist, he wholeheartedly agreed with the order to scatter. Also as with his colleague, he took part in a very roguish Disengage before sprinting away in a different direction than Guard 1 - hence the command of scatter - at a Dash.

Right as he rounded the corner of the building nearest him with the intent of heading south, his slowed just enough to look back at the rest of the people in front of the silversmith's place. Guard 2 even seemed to intentionally take the turn wide, as if to telegraph his intended destination. A ploy or a just the consequences of taking one last look back was open to debate, but he wasted no further time, pouring on the speed after.




@Arty Fox Baronfjord is up next.

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Victoria Belmont Half-Elf, Bard, Level 3 HP: 23 / 23 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: M15 -> K14 Action: Casting Minor Illusion Bonus Action: Morty Reaction: N/A

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Victoria's song continued to play, with those around to hear it making interesting and unexpected moves. This was not exactly the grand and sweeping circular movements of a formal ball, complete with curtsies and bows to accentuate the occasion before one sets off, but the end result of those feeling the melody of her music was sweet enough to count as a rousing success around the comparative peerage of this Township. Music amid blood and magic, Victoria had to admit, was exhilarating. A singular feeling she so rarely experienced unless something tragically eventful was afoot. In this way, the adventuring life had been good to her.

The abrupt exit of Cavendish took her by surprise. This probably did would not bode well in the coming future, but precious time might have been brought if only they could capitalize upon it. Along with this assumption, another came in the form of the flash of magic coming from the window above thanks to Marita. Was this an all-out attack, or a means of interrupting the sniper shots coming at them? If it was the latter, she intended to help. If it was the former, she might owe the Cleric an apology later.

A swift mental command changed the standing orders of her meaty bodyguard, Morty, who began to move toward its master with its uneven gait. Victoria let the music take her into graceful, dancing steps into the rain, immersing herself into the melody as it opened her to temporarily rewrite the complexities of the Weave around her (and closing distance to spell range). In this instance, the image of a brick wall formed over the window which Guard 3 was standing behind, cutting off his line of sight. Merely buying time, if this was the goal. Hopefully it would make the man behind the crossbow think hard if he intended to loose his weapon one last time before following the Constable's orders. At the very least he would have to waste time puzzling out if it was a solid conjuration or the illusion that it really was.

Diligently, Morty placed itself between Victoria and Guard 2 (at K13) to prevent an immediate attack on her person and potentially flank for her allies. The expression on the poor, dead beast was unreadable, thanks to the layers of burlap wrapped about it. And the fact that it was a mindless slab of animated meat.

@rivaan Kosara is up next. TAG!

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Battle Map

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Cavendish

Location: L16 -> H22 -> ?

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Hoarse laughter followed the tall woman's plea for their surrender. It was damn near adorable if it wasn't such a pitiful attempt at appealing to some sense of something that likely wasn't ever in his character int he first place. Such a naive young warrior. No, Cavendish was going to be quite content to insert his very painful looking shortsword into various places of her anatomy until any concept of mercy or goodwill in combat was cut out in the same manner as a novice butcher might hack apart his first lamb - messily and without any particular plan.

Maybe it was a joke. Yes that must be it. No one would actually spout that nonsense seriously in the middle of mortal combat in a rainy street. The Constable eyed Kathryn and opened his mouth to speak, a sneer forming on his lips, but he paused. The sound of one of the guards in their makeshift murder-hole above calling out gave him a split second to think. A quick glance around gave him as much of an assessment as he wanted. Then he spoke. "Nothing changes! SCATTER!" It was apparent that he was speaking to his Guards at that moment, but the next words were for Kathryn alone, "I'll have that hammer back soon enough." It carried the weight of a promise from a dedicated man. Something which bothered him in this moment was that Kathryn would probably believe that his coming course of action had something to do with her speech about surrendering.

He sidestepped and broke into a run with remarkable agility, tearing off in a generally northeastern direction toward a side street. A mist, thick as any fog that ever was, formed around him and dissipated in an instant, leaving nothing of itself nor Cavendish remaining.

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Guard 4

Location: D17 -> B17

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Oh, that woman who stepped out of the silversmith's place had royally screwed up now. She was manifesting something that was obviously magical, and that was Guard 4's cue to insert a crossbow bolt into one part of her skull or another. This was coming. She had to realize this by now. He took careful aim and exhaled slowly. This was going to hurt.

It turned out, it did hurt. Very, very much. The Guard hadn't quite noticed that a painful looking dagger comprised of spiritual energy had manifested right next to him until it sank heavily into his gut. This was the opposite of what he intended to happen over the course of the next few moments. Pure, dogged determination saw him squeezing the release mechanism and firing off his weapon in Marita's direction, but the shock and pain of the attack saw the bolt fly wide.

"Back! Back!" exclaimed the Guard to his companion in the raised bailey, as he himself scrambled out of sight of the fighting below. The hope was that the weapon needed to be guided by an unbroken view and was not fully autonomous. It had been a while since he had been hurt like this.