Sol Grim

Kings and Killers: A Classical Fantasy Adventure (Chapter 1)

When Cicero asked what the plan was, Dalious used hand gestures to describe what he and Fyr were about to do. They were to gather the rest of the prisoners and clear out the guards, he motioned to him and Fyr and then created what he was trying to tell Cicero with theatrical motions. Then he hushed at Cicero with a finger to his nose and a shhh so they would be unheard, tapped Fyr on his shoulder, and then motioned for the two of them to back up and reassemble with the other former prisoners.

His motions seemed to be clear as he tiptoed backwards toward his destination. Once he and Fyr were out of hearing distance from the two guards they just encountered he told the large man, "Phew, that was close. Didn't expect guards so soon...the others will be fine I'm certain. Let's gather the others and come back and murder every one of these bastards, what do you say? They'll clear the up ahead, we take out the back stragglers. That way we don't get overwhelmed by surprise numbers. Sound good?

Kings and Killers: A Classical Fantasy Adventure (Chapter 1)

Dalious

Dalious listened to them all speak. Fyr talked something about becoming friends and he rose an eyebrow. "... awkward," he whispered toward Cicero as Gwyn finished up healing his foot.

The pirate stretched the foot, felt it and smiled. It was as if it had never happened, simply amazing in his mind. He was one to hate magic, mostly in terms of combat, but he fully appreciated healing powers. "Gwyn...you heal almost as good as you look... Anyways, I think we need to go that way though I'm not exactly sure. Only way I've never been...

As his foot felt better he started limping toward the direction he thought they should all go. His mind went back to what the newcomer in the mask, Ashe, had said. Something about Manzur taking money in advance for training then ditching them. He remembered Cicero claiming the knocked out guy, who he took the spear he was currently carrying, was named Manzur. It all connected somewhat in his mind. Except that the spear spoke...

"Hmmm...some people are just shit outta luck," he spoke to Ashe. "But not you...this was his spear. And...since we're all...friends... I'll take up Manzur's claim since his spear belongs to me now. I will train you young one in anything you do desire. Though, I don't think you'll need a mask for such training. Also...thank you for not killing me. You've passed my first lesson....which is...you know, exactly that."

Kings and Killers: A Classical Fantasy Adventure (Chapter 1)

When he felt the cold blade reach his throat, Dalious knew either his life was over in this instance or it would soon be over. He was too wounded to fight back.

Gwyn saved his throat being slit, having spoken up for him. When he heard Gwyn's description of their friendly encounters he huffed. "Yes, we are the best of friends!!! She helped me defeat negligent pirates...the sailing off part was me being kidnapped. I ...".

"I ended up here through slave work... he informed. "Cicero. He's probably dead..." Then he heard him call out. "Uhh, just kidding that's totally him!'

He listened to Cicero tell him that he didn't look so good and responded,", I'm in my prime sir."

Dalious gave an over exaggerated bow to Fyr upon introduction, half because he had never fully met the man and half because he already knew him in a sense. Then Cicero spoke of healing his ribs, so Dalious pointed a finger at him. "First come first serve!! he exclaimed!

Kings and Killers: A Classical Fantasy Adventure (Chapter 1)

The spear wasn't talking. He was sure now...was he? Yes. Maybe. Pull it together. It feels wrong...but it's reality. Dalious sat at the beginning of these stairs and rested in thought. He brought himself back to reality then... some characters were atop the stairs in the light. A soft voice spoke his name, her face disguised by the darkness and the light.

The pirate squinted up at her, he just stared until her face came clearer and clearer. It was Gwyn, and if Cicero hadn't told him earlier that she was here he might've mistaken her for an angel. Not that he believed in such a thing anyway.

"Gwyn!!! Seventeen hells it's good to see a pretty face amongst the muck I've been left in for the past while! I mean, these bastards don't even have mirrors here. How am I to look presentable in such times?" he shouted, some of his tone sounded as if he were in agony. "Listen love, there's a few things we need to discuss quickly...most importantly you look great. Have you changed your hair? My gods you've been blessed. Are you single still or...oh gods is...he...a thing?? Hymmn. Fuck, damns it this is not the time for small talk Gwyn. My gods I need you to focus. So, I just escaped those bastards but Cicero was with me, I think he died. Anyway, my foot landed on a spike and I'm literally dying right now, do you still do that thing you do with magic healing?? If not, I'm going to die. And if I do, please tell your children about me. With Cicero...your Cicero children..maybe name a few after me. Maybe.."

He laughed, but the pain he was in cut it short. It was then he realized that there was another. He squinted a few moments until he realized Gwyn was actually being held captive by a guard. Dalious gripped the spear tightly and pointed it forward.

"You!!he shouted at the other. "You shall not pass!. He tried to look tough enough but his pain was evident, and all he could do was point his weapon forward as menacingly as he had the stamina in him to project.

...how he hadn't noticed the guard before...he was slipping. He was...dying, he thought. Everything felt surreal...

Kings and Killers: A Classical Fantasy Adventure (Chapter 1)

Dalious was dragging his hurt foot, he used the spear as a cane and kept moving forward. It hurt... Looking behind him, he saw a trail of his own blood.. His mind was moving, hallucinating possibly. Everything felt surreal.

"Why do you keep going?" the spear suddenly spoke. Dalious furrowed his brows, unsure if that had actually happened or not. He kept slowly trudging on..."What's the point?" the spear seemed to ask.

"I'm in my prime spear, at least until you started talking! Also you have a literal point! Dalious took a pause and stared at the weapon. "Anything else on your mind?" he asked.

...Nothing. As if it never happened.

"Well, good conversation I suppose...you did f*ck me over on that jump. It...it really hurt landing on that spike."

As he reached some stairs he could do nothing but look intently at the light coming from above. "Am I dead?" he wondered.

Kings and Killers: A Classical Fantasy Adventure (Chapter 1)

Dalious

Athletics roll

1d20+1=15, success

Dalious didn't even feel the pain upon impact, his adrenaline enough for him to hoist himself up on the other side of the spear trap. Then it hit hard. A sheering pain in his right foot, looking down at it he could see it was covered in his blood. The pain became so overwhelming that he just stayed there for the moment, listening to the four guards laughing and making fun of him. After all, he was supposed to distract as many of them as he could to let Cicero do his thing. This wasn't how he foresaw it going down but nonetheless it was kind of working.

The pirate just sat there holding his foot and started yelling, "WHYY!? WHYYYY!!?? F@#$ING HELL, SON OF A B/+#$, MOTHER &$$&&#¥€√, SEVEN F&$##--&$ HELLS. SO STUPID!! IM SO F$#@&ING STUPID! SON OF A &$@$&!!! @$&&$#_$#@#_&&$##_--++-$-(+&$$_-!!!!!!"

+1 bonus action

Movement

Spear possession

1d2=1, heads=success

He was then able to get up, using the spear he somehow still held as a cane. He began simply limping away, still swearing at himself under his breath.

Gear

Clothing: Prisoner garb
Weapon(s): Manzur's spear

Kings and Killers: A Classical Fantasy Adventure (Chapter 1)

Dalious

Dalious pointed out Fyr to Cicero. "That one, the large bald one...Fyr I believe they called him. He doesn't much talk but I've heard stories from the others that he once killed two guys with his thumbs. His f*ckin' thumbs, can you believe that sh*t!? I believe the stories cause I also heard them from the guards. Man's built like a bull. Anyway they didn't scold the lad cause he works so good. I've spoken to him once or twice and he gives me vibes that he'll help us out. One time I think he even laughed at one of my jokes...or at least he chuckled...eh, it was a sly grin but who's judging?"

When he and Fyr looked right at one another, Dalious gave a soft and polite wave. He tried to give a hand signal to the worker but his gaze ventured off. "He saw us right?? He's not ignoring me or something!?"

As Fyr tossed a mushroom closer toward them and began blinking as he went to pick it back up, Dalious raised a brow. "What's he...? Does he have a fly in his eyes or something, the hell!?" It took a moment longer but Dalious just then figured out he was trying to tell them something though he didn't know what. Dalious turned back to Cicero and took a deep breath. "I have a terrible plan. See that hallway over there? There's a spike trap in there, a relatively newly built one thanks to Finny. I'll distract them all and run in there, hopefully some chase me. I'll leap over the trap with this spear, giving you time to kill as many as you can from behind. Try to work your way to Fyr and the others, I'll double back and we take out what's left. Sound good?"

Dalious didn't even wait for a response, he simply rushed out and made his way toward the hallway yelling and singing an old pirate shanty as he went, "What would you do with a drunken sailor, what would you do with a drunken sailor, oh what would you do with a drunken sailor early in the morning? Put 'em in the brig until he's sober, puttem in the brig until he's sober, oh put him in the brig until he's sober early in the morn." He had reached the tunnel hallway and ran in, not knowing if any were giving him chase but it sure felt like they were on his heels. "Way, hay and up she rises! Way hay up she rises, way hay up she rises early in the..." Dalious reached the spike trap, dug the spear head deep into the dirt before him, and attempted to pole vault over while screaming "morninnn ahgghhh!!"

Kings and Killers: A Classical Fantasy Adventure (Chapter 1)

Dalious knew how to talk to these ruffians, tell them what they want to hear but not enough to be overtaken by them. He'd already seen to many stand up to their kind and get beaten down.

"Come on Finny," Dalious said, walking toward their given destination. He had secretly been plotting an escape plan since he got to this place, but had never quite found the right moment. This might be it, he thought. Cicero was in the shadows with his man and there were only four of these ruffians around. He also took note of the rope tied around the pickaxe given to them, something that could be used to climb up that trap hole.

Dalious gave Finny some signals with his hand as they began working, noticing the group guarding them began to pay less and less attention to them the further they worked on. He motioned his fingers to tell Finny that they would take one each, Cicero would take one...then together they take the last. To Finny it looked like a bunch of finger's dancing and a lot of slit throat references. Finny shrugged, not knowing what he was trying to say.

Dalious huffed. He may need to take them all out by himself, he just hoped Cicero was nearby. Dalious clenched the pickaxe, almost ready to strike one of them. Then...Finny grabbed at his chest and shrieked, he fell to the floor on his own and began shaking as if having a seizure.

"He's... he's having a stroke!" Dalious yelled. "Please....let me help him!"

Kings and Killers: A Classical Fantasy Adventure (Chapter 1)

Regardless of the insults, Dalious was pleased to hear that he was called 'captain'. It almost made him appreciate these thugs moreso, however he knew it was a ruse.

Once Sharpwit got into his face, shovel in hand, he listened closely to what the man had to say. "It depends how you define a rat," Dalious replied, though their attention shifted to a sword they had found in the sand... Cicero's.

"You'll not here a word from us," Dalious said in response to the sword. "In fact I'm quite certain one of those demonfolk must of accidentally lost it. Not a peep from me though, all yours..."

Dalious turned away to his duties, muttering under his breath so none could hear, " I'm going to slit your throat with it, fare I get the chance..."

Kings and Killers: A Classical Fantasy Adventure (Chapter 1)

Dalious buried the newcomer well, leaving the man room to breathe. He looked dead to the pirate, but Cicero said otherwise. Even though Dalious had known Cicero and Gwyn for a very short time, what they represented to him was a new change of life he desperately needed. Seeing Cicero once again had sparked a fire of freedom to him that he had felt long been diminished.

As the gang entered the area, Dalious finished up covering the newcomer while his group covered for him by standing up together in a line.
"Just some rats," Dalious replied to the gang member. It wasn't the first time one of their traps was set off by them.

roll, deception

1d20+3=7 fail

One of them faked a punch at Finny's gut, not connecting but enough to make the elder man think it would. Finny fell back on his own, in pain from his old body, and the gang all simply laughed at the outcome. Dalious clenched his fists but did nothing, moving on to his daily work.