Wizard's First Rule (Part 6)
You've managed to successfully infiltrate the house and found unpleasant evidence awaiting you within. Evidence that Iolaire's words to Kol's father were not enough to stop the man from punishing his son for the crimes of allowing you entry to their home. Among whatever other charges had come to the man's mind. You are invisible for the moment, unable to be seen thanks to the magic provided to you by Mikilos. The house is quiet, not so much as a mouse stirs here.
GAME: Erendriel rolls perception: (17)+17: 34
Erendriel steps out of the invisibility after some careful thought, magic on the mind. But... well... things don't go as planned. She comes back to where she knows the party is, and looks at them. "He's not here, but I've found a .. dead wolf," she murmurs. Keeping her voice quiet, she adds "Is it possible... no way right?"
"Is it possible that the father was a lycanthrope or other shapeshifters? Verna muses aloud with the news. "Could the boy have inherited similar traits? I may be able to determine one or the other."
Erendriel shrugs. "I don't know, Kol saw me of course."
GAME: Erendriel rolls knowledge/arcana: (9)+10: 19 GAME: Morgan rolls knowledge/arcana: (20)+22: 42
Morgan shakes her head "No werewolves become human when they die. What we have to deal with is a psychopath most likely." said as she shimmers out of invisiblty "But lets talk to Kol and see what he can tell us."
"I'll stay back then," says Iolaire, "in case the father comes barging in demanding to know what's happening. But please, do see if something can be done for the boy's feet, if nothing else?"
The boy meanwhile has gotten to his feet and is limping toward you on his own two feet quite determinedly. It's clear that he's in pain, but he stubbornly bears it with a small smile on his face. "What I can tell you about what? What are you doing back here? He will not like that you are here again." He's looking mostly at Iolaire, but surprisingly doesn't seem that concerned with upsetting his father. "If you are talking about the wolf, it attacked Vater earlier and he killed it."
"Was it the wolf that injured you? What happened?" Verna asks of the boy. "I can tend your wounds. Your father should not be ired by those providing for your safety.
"....That wolf was supposed to protect you," Iolaire says quietly, crouching to look Kol at eye level. "Master Mikilos had called it from the heavens to be your guard. If your father killed it... He is truly a bad man, Kol. We came back because we're scared for you, and we want to help."
Erendriel lets them speak, standing near them though. She smiles to Kol, doing her best to look up beat. "We're here to help you, and to help your sister. Before we go home, we want to know you two will be okay."
"Vater was hitting my feet with his belt and the wolf attacked him so he killed it." The boy glances toward where the wolf's corpse lays. "He said he had to leave because he was going to set up a fight with my friend." Kol's green eyes fall on Iolaire. "He meant you. He said that he was going to make sure you get what you deserve for insulting him."
Morgan looks to the boy and says "Listen my young friend he is no roll model or a person to aspire to. Something my adoptive father said is to become better then the one that raised you." she looks softly as she adds "You can strive for greatness." with that said she slinks back to let others to talk to him but she then remembers "where is the baby?"
"Your father seems to solve all of his problems with his fists," Iolaire says, disgust heavy in her voice. "I never accepted his ridiculous challenge, but it appears he's giving me little choice." Closing her eyes, she draws in a deep breath. "Your sister, yes... Is she all right?"
Kol motions to the crib and then hesitantly stumbles over to it. He quickly checks on the infant who in spite of your conversation seems quite asleep. The boy returns his attention to the rest of you. "She is sleeping."
Erendriel bites her lip and looks to the others. "Let's heal him now. I have a potion if necessary, if nobody has a spell they can cast."
"Please, thank you," Iolaire says, bobbing her head at Erendriel. "One of the few things I didn't think to bring... Kol? Is there anything we can do to help? Do you know anyone in town who isn't nearly as mean as your father?"
Morgan looks to her belt pouch "only one I have left is a mead one.... I so need to buy more of them."
GAME: Erendriel used a Nuts'n'Bolts Potion (CLW).
Erendriel steps up, pulling a potion from her backpack. IT's... weird.... from some gobbers, but she smiles to Kol. "Please drink this. It should heal your feet."
Kol stares at Iolaire as if she might have a third head that he might find if he tries hard enough to locate it "I am not allowed to go to town." He accepts Erendriel's potion cautiously, but takes it and shivers as it heals his wounds. Then stares at his feet curiously as uncertain what had happened to them.
"Do you have any extended family in the area, Kol" Verna inquires, a theory beginning to form.
"I only know my Vater, my Nalla, and my Amme." The last word is clearly elvish for mother, his accent hitting the word and making his voice sound exotic. He has a unique accent. Something elvish, something far-away human, and occasionally guttural. Oruch perhaps. Kol rubs his foot with one hand and then peers up at you all.
"Of course you're not," the warrior sighs resignedly. "How silly of me. Kol... If there was one thing you wanted more than anything else in the whole world... What would it be?"
"Food!" Kol says his answer immediately, not even having to think about it. "I want to make it, and eat it!" He grins broadly at his own answer.
Morgan sighs "I said that to my parents when I was your age, so they taught me how to farm.... To bad we do not know of a farm around here to take you in."
Erendriel takes a slow, deep breath, doing her best t keep that happy face on even as that makes her very sad to hear. "What about hunting?"
"All right," Iolaire says, straightening and nodding firmly at Morgan. "Then I know what to do. Did you get food for the children when you all were in town, by the by?"
Morgan says, "We have some but it wont last for long sadly."
Kol perks up even more at the inclination that you have brought food yourselves. "I have never been hunting, but I would go hunting for food." Not that a boy his age and size could bring down very much in the winter-time.
Erendriel nods. "Let's wait for Vater to return then? Settle that argument, then figure out a way to get you some food?"
"All right," says the mother-hen, "so here's what we'll do. Kol, there's not much any of us can teach you about hunting... but we'll see if a farmer needs an apprentice pair of hands. It'll be hard, dirty work, no mistake. And before you say your father would never allow it... my hope is that this stupid duel of his is a good place to force him to agree otherwise. But for now, there's food for you and your sister. Eat what you can, hide the rest; this food is for you and Nalla only."
Rising back to her feet, she shoots a weary look at the assembled scholars. "It appears I've a duel to attend."
Morgan nods "Farm life is very hard, I did it growing up. But now I am a city woman I really miss it."
It's a long night, but as the day rolls in it sees you back in Alexandria looking for the location where you are supposed to meet up with Kol's 'Vater'. Thankfully he finds you from across the courtyard, hailing you and motioning you toward him. He doesn't wait, pulling you to the edge of a bar where he's clearly been drinking. He gives all of you a short look, clearly not pleased that Iolaire has brought company with her. "What say you that we finish our business out back? I don't trust your /friends/ to not interfere."
If 'Vater' had been a pile of horse apples Iolaire had trod in, it's entirely possible the warrior could look more disgusted. Possible, but not worth testing.
"You started this," she says, peering up at the hung-over Guard. "You don't *get* to set further terms. You're so eager to fight, we'll do this in the middle of town. In public, where *no one* can interfere."
Her eyes look the man up and down, and the only reason she doesn't sneer is because beaks don't move like that, yet she manages to give the impression of one all the same. "You're man enough to fall on your ass in public, I hope?"
Erendriel folds her arms. She wants to interfere, but she will respect Iolaire.
Vater makes a disgusted noise at Iolaire and calls out loudly. "Marcus, Donnilly, you guys have my back if her friends step in yea? I don't trust the lot of them." He picks up a roll of metal off of his chair and pulls it on over his clothes. It's some kind of oddly forged armor, but it looks serious enough, as serious as the heavy flail that he picks up off the ground beside his chair. He hefts it and motions for Iolaire to lead the way out onto the battlefield. Or more accurately a clear space in the courtyard.
GAME: Iolaire rolls cmb: (14)+13: 27
"Just remember," Iolaire says over her shoulder as she unfolds her wings, drawing her own heavy flail and letting the glowing, sparking steel ball fall over her shoulder. "Cry 'yield' at any point, and be assured I'll stop."
With all the dignity the Eagle-kin can muster, she leads the way to the courtyard. When the fight is called, her first move is a low, circular sweep meant to knock the man's legs out from under him. That it fails to do so, doesn't seem to faze her any at the moment.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+13: (16)+13: 29 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+9: (18)+9: 27 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d10+8: (7)+8: 15 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d10+8: (8)+8: 16
The man takes a small hop backwards, neatly evading Iolaire's attack before letting loose with two massive attacks that spray blood across the courtyard. The heavy blows make harsh sounds. Flesh and bone and blood. He brings himself close to his foe, frowning down at her. "All your pretty talk and you're already swaying. Big bark. Little..."
GAME: Erendriel casts Grease. Caster Level: 9 DC: 16
Erendriel takes a seat a good 50 feet from the fight. She just watches for now, but she's making sure to be in range to interfere. She holds up her hands, making it clear to Vater's friends she has no weapons out of any kind. Except for Flint and Steel, of course. But then Iolaire is hit, hard. Her eyes narrow, and she quietly speaks, her hands gesticulating before she flings... Grease a the ground directly around Vater. "Trip him again" she yells out afterward.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+9: (17)+9: 26
The blows were heavy and ringing, and once again Iolaire is left spitting out bits of beak. Likewise, she's about to strike back, but the moment the slick spreads out beneath Vater, she raises her hands, stepping back. "Not until the ground is clear," she says, her voice gaining an odd whistle as air finds new ways to pass her beak. "This is a stupid fight, but a fair one." Glaring up at the sorceress, she raises her crest. "WOULD YOU LIKE TO PUT THAT AWAY, FIRST?!"
'Vater' seems surprised, both by the sudden grease beneath his feet and the fact that Iolaire is actually backing off. One of his companions has his sword out and aimed at Erendriel, already menacing toward the mage. "Get rid of the grease, or I'll turn /you/ into a grease smear." The man - Marcus as he was identified - threatens Erendriel. Meanwhile Vater is waiting impatiently.
Erendriel gets up, and backs up. She points a finger at the one who's pointing a sword at her. "Put that down or I'll cook you." she says, but she waves off the grease.
GAME: Iolaire rolls finesse+1+3: (19)+14+1+3: 37 GAME: Iolaire rolls finesse+1+3-5: (12)+14+1+3+-5: 25 GAME: Iolaire rolls 1d10+1+3+1d6: (1)+1+3+(6): 11 GAME: Iolaire rolls 1d10+1+3+1d6: (5)+1+3+(6): 15 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+12: (2)+12: 14 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+7: (5)+7: 12
Verna agrees with Iolaire that this challenge is foolish, and totally unnecessary, but also shares in the her belief that it be impartial. It may well be that halting the father on his own terms is the only way to effect any proper change, at least without extended potential consequences.
As soon as the grease is banished, Iolaire nods to herself. "There you are, then." The flail is hefted, and looped around into a pair of bone-crushing swings, the glowing steel ball leaving distracting after-images and the faint scent of ozone in its wake. "What was that about my bark?"
"You’re a..." The words that come out of his mouth after that aren't the sort that you want to hear even in the middle of a knock-down drag-out fight like the one that Iolaire and the man she's at war with are fighting. He swings wildly at her, but nothing connects. Clearly reason has left him at least for the moment.
Erendriel sighs and shakes her head, finding a seat closer to the others now, and clapping when Iolaire gets her hits in.
GAME: Iolaire rolls cmb+1+3+2: (7)+13+1+3+2: 26 GAME: Iolaire rolls finesse+1+3-5: (1)+14+1+3+-5: 14 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+13: (12)+13: 25
Though she may have halted the fight's momentum for a moment, the gods seem to have deemed it a slugfest; Iolaire's canny tactics seem to be failing, one after another.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+8: (15)+8: 23 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d10+8: (2)+8: 10
Meanwhile the man's more brutal and straightforward tactics seem to be working well for him. He neatly evades Iolaire's effort to disarm him and swings his weapon back around to bat at her hand for her efforts. There's a grim silence in the air and you're beginning to draw something of a crowd.
GAME: Iolaire rolls finesse+1+3: (19)+14+1+3: 37 GAME: Iolaire rolls finesse+1+3-5: (16)+14+1+3+-5: 29 GAME: Iolaire rolls finesse+1+3-5: (15)+14+1+3+-5: 28 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+8: (10)+8: 18 GAME: Iolaire rolls 1d10+1d10+2+6+1d6: (4)+(8)+2+6+(5): 25 GAME: Iolaire rolls 1d10+1+3+1d6: (9)+1+3+(2): 15 GAME: Iolaire rolls 1d100: (56): 56
"This is how you foster kindness?!" Iolaire roars, wings mantling as she launches off the ground toward her foul-mouthed. "YOUR SON found LOST TRAVELLERS and invited them in for warmth! HIS KINDNESS WAS PAID IN KIND, YOU RAPACIOUS SACK OF HARPY LEAVINGS! AND ALL YOU COULD DO WAS BEAT HIM BLOODY AND CHALLENGE ME TO THIS IDIOTIC FIGHT?! You don't deserve your son, you *don't* deserve a daughter you couldn't bother to name, AND YOU DON'T DESERVE TO CALL YOURSELF THE LAW."
While she had been swinging with ever greater fury to match her indignation, she pulls back at the last second, and a blow that would have caved in his skull only cracks it.
'Only.'
Breathing heavily, she looks up to her companions, eyes narrowing briefly. "He needs healing, quickly."
Verna nods as she looks to the bleeding man. "I concur." She makes no motion to move for several breaths, before stepping forward.
Verna crouches next to the man who she will not deign to refer to as a father. In contrast, his actions bring to mind some of the very few redeeming qualities she found in her own parents. "You will not expire from the wounds of battle, though I expect your arrival before Her Scales of Judgement may not be far distant."
GAME: Verna casts Stabilize. Caster Level: 15 DC: 15
The crowd is quickly clearing, and the man's companions have faded into those people leaving effortlessly. Leaving him alone. Alone to be delt with by you. You heal him enough to make sure he doesn't die, but he's not going anywhere anytime soon.
Morgan says, "Now I wonder if the jerk will talk to us about being a better man."
Leaning down, Iolaire picks up 'Vater's' weapon, coiling it up with brisk efficiency, and settling down in front of the man's prone form, resting it in her lap. "We can't talk to a slumbering, broken husk," she points out. "But a bit more healing, and perhaps we can have a civilized conversation."
-TBC