Lucius Cypher

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

It was the afternoon now. While the sun was still up it was heading towards the horizon, but that hasn't put a stop to the general hustle and bustle around the market area. It would seem like business would still continue for quite some time, allowing the party time to do some shopping or looking around. "Should we rent another room at the Silver Stag?" Pylia suggested. Shortfang climbed up Buddy so he could look at you. "Or or or! Stay at Dragonwatch! Good food, for free, kobolds keep you safe!" Pylia made a forced smile at Shortfang's suggestion. "Not having to pay for a room is nice... It's just... Sewers... Again..." Buddy wrote out another note for the group with his thoughts. "We could try other inns. The Bloated Float is an inn with that other adventurer with Jackson." Buddy seemed to have already forgotten Domic's name but remembered his hound, Jackson. That's also when Shortfang remembered something. "Oh, before inn, how about shopping? We got lotta money now! We go buy stuff from Ferric, or other places!"

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

Aisha looked at the books and nods grimly. "Lightning Company huh? Bunch of lazy cunts... But if they're on the move, then something is bothering them." Aisha takes the books and puts them on her desk, thinking about something. Once she finishes her thought she looks to you. "You and your friends should lay low for a while now. Once Shor and the others come back I've had finished reading the ledger and we could get to work on finding out what is going on and who to go after next. You've all been a big help for our team. Frankly, if I was a captain I'd hire you all on permanently as guards, or at least official investigators." Aisha says with a smile. Taking out a small purse she puts it on the table for you. "It's not much, but consider it something for helping us out. I'd recommend you keep an eye out for the Lightning Company, but avoid them if possible. We don't want to rouse their suspicion and I'd hate to have them harass you if they think you're their enemy. I don't doubt you and your friends can handle them in a fight, but despite their laziness they're still guardsmen, and I'm sure they'll abuse that authority to gain an edge against you."

Pylia just scoffed. "How is it that people like the Lightning Company are even operating? Yorik told us there's only four members, yet we ran into eight of them leaving the docks." Aisha sighed and laced her fingers together, looking at your party. "You have the deputy badge from Shor, yes? Essentially, that's how the Lightning Company operates as well. Despite what Yorik might've told you, the actual members of the Lightning Company are powerful warriors... But terrible guardsmen, and don't bother to do their jobs unless there is a threat big enough to warrant their services. So they deputize others to do their work for them. Naturally, you should only deputize those who'd you trust and you are personally responsible for their actions. If you all had harmed any civilians or committed any crimes while you had Shor's badge, it would be as bad as if he did it himself. Of course... When you're a guardsmen, or at least have the authority of one, it shouldn't come to a surprise when that power can be abused. Many of the people the Lightning Company deputize are no different than the criminals you just brought in. Some might have high hopes as an official guard, which is the original intention of deputizing, but under the Lightning Company it's a glass ceiling."

Aisha put her hands down and had a heavy sigh. "In short, the actual elite warriors hire lower level muscle to do the boring work of patrolling and such, and only come around during a true threat to gain all of the glory. That's not what Deputizing is for, but it's what it's used for a lot, and most captains don't speak out against it enough for the system to be replaced. Even Shor is supportive of it, but that's because he uses it responsibly." Looking tired and annoyed, Aisha waves you off. "Anyways that's all I have to say. Stay out of trouble, come back tomorrow, I'm sure we'll have something for you to do."

Keratia: Story of the Surf, Tales of the Deep

Yeah the world map I have, but technically the world map isn't something the players would "know", what with the counties having difficulties creating an geographically accurate map without the use of airships and stuff. Butt yeah, the battle maps I have a program for. It's not really as robust as I'd like it to be as far as objects and obstacles go; I pretty much use it to make a basic layout and grid system. A lotta everything else I improvise.

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

The guardman wrote his notes before closing it. "Alright. I guess that's all for now. Stay out of trouble." The man says before he follows his fellows into the docks. Again, a strange thing since you were told before that normally there isn't much guard patrols on the dockside. Something must have stirred them up. Out of the corner of your eye you see Syfr landing on a barrel, cooing for you so he can lead you back to the others. Fortunately since you were able to distract the guards, they were able to get the criminals away from them and continue on their path unabated. It was tense moving through the crowds with the criminals in tow but everyone gave you a wide birth while Buddy and Shortfang kept a close eye on them. Eventually you'd arrive to Shor's barracks. It was rather small, only a single story building with a prison, desk, and seats. The door was of solid metal and the windows had iron bars. The entire building itself was also made of brick and stone, making it quite sturdy. Aisha was inside writing something into books when she'd notice the party, and she'd help you all put the prisoners inside when you arrive.

"Quite a bounty. Wasn't too difficult was it?"

Keratia: Story of the Surf, Tales of the Deep

I have no idea. The map I use right now is from an old campaign that I was in twelve years ago by a different GM I'm no longer with. But I sure wish I knew. I think he might've gotten it commissioned.

Or do you mean my combat maps? If so, I have a program called Dungeon Painter Studio I brought off steam. I make the layout with that, then save it as a PNG and load it into my paint program to add characters and enemies.

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

The guard sighed and waved off the rest of the others. He took out a notepad and a small charcoal pencil. “Alrighty then. First, I’d like to get your name and occupation, and then I’d like you to tell me everything you saw before and up to the Mimic attack...” The guardsman would interview you about the Mimic Attack for the next few minutes, then ask you about any suspicious activities such as kobold sighting or strange characters, up to and including foreign adventurers. He also asked where you came from and what your business here is, as he can tell you’re obviously a foreigner.

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

Hmm hmm hmm roll me a persuasion check please~

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

“Ah, so you saw that? We’ve been getting a lot of reports about that too. Do you mind coming with us to our station so we can get a witness statement?” The guard said in a calm tone. The other two seemed to be looking around as the other guards started to approach, having finished their questioning. “We have reason to believe these kobold sightings and the Mimic Attack might be related, so we’re gathering all the information we can get.”

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

You make your group turn back around, though the prisoners obviously weren't too cooperative. They started making demands about where you were taking them and generally being difficult. They were causing a bit of a disturbance, forcing Buddy to grab on by the face to silence him, dragging him and the others into an alleyway while Pylia and Shortfang did their best to keep them from getting away. However the guards noticed this ruckus and came over to investigate. Your friends moved quickly to get the gangsters somewhere away from prying eyes but before you could follow them one of the guards shouts towards you. "Oi! You there, the lass in red! Wait one moment, we have questions for you!" Three of the guardsmen came over, nonthreateningly but they still outnumbered you and hand their hands resting on the hilt of their short swords. "We've received word of kobold activity in the market, causing a bit of a disturbance. They've been attacking shops and other places, often ones visited by a kobold disguised as a small child or person. Have you seen anyone like that?"

Keratia: Tales of the Arisen One

Ooooh nuts. Well this’ll be interesting. Btw, happy Thanksgiving if that’s a thing ya do! Post up eventually.