Legends of Aestlyn (D&D 5e) - IC

[WlfSamurai]

Chapter 1

The throne room is still, but tense. A quiet settles again after the King's tirade about attacks in the south. Torchlight flickers through the chamber, turning the blue banners of the kingdom to a deep copper. King Joran sits atop his throne bent forward, anger in his eyes.

"I'll not let brigands drive the peasants from their homes and farms!" he says, his knuckles turning white from gripping the throne's arms. The King's eyes dart between you all. He had summoned you to speak of this very matter. "We need this harvest if we're going to make this Gods-forsaken—"

The doors to the throne room are flung open. Tychis and his men stride in armed and armored. He has a wild look in his eyes and a smirk creeps to his lips.

The King stands and grits his teeth. "What is the meaning of this!"

"King Joran Richter the Third," Tychis says. "You are hereby stripped of your crown and lands. Step down from the throne now and you will be shown mercy."

The six Kingsguard draw swords and stand in front of the throne.

You stand between them and Tychis.



Game threads:
OOC thread
Character thread
Chapter 1

 

[JayTee]

Kyros' hand was on his spear the moment he saw that Tychis' escort was bearing steel. With a shift in his weight, he moved next to the Kingsguard where he belonged. This was what he was training for, and he would be damned if he wasn't willing to step up and do his duty as Heir to Nobility.

At his motion, an almost imperceptible change came over Kyros, and his skin became sharper and more defined.

Spoiler: OOC

Spending 2 Psi points on Internal Armor, bringing my AC up to 16
Making Iron Durability my Psionic Focus, increasing my AC by +1, for 17 total
12/14 PP left.

 

[Lexielai]

Rina'hlia

Rina paused as Tychis' entrance interrupted her hushed conversation with one of the many nobles, who she was so close to persuading to part with his prized ruby. "Tch, what a pleasant surprise," she muttered under her breath.

Her first instinct was to duck out. Tychis was a jerk, but he wasn't worth risking her skin for. However, she thought as her eyes rested on Kyros, she couldn't just leave her childhood friend behind. That would be bad for her reputation.

Sighing, Rina sauntered over beside Kyros, fire lighting upon her palm as she prepared a firebolt. "I expect great compensation for this later, Kyros. Very great."

WlfSamurai JayTee

Spoiler: OOC

Rina prepares a fire bolt attack as a reaction if Kyros attacks or is attacked

 

[jaydude]

Marko turned around when he heard Tychis and his men enter the throne room. When their intent became clear, he drew his sword and got his shield from his back, and moved to stand with the Kingsguard, next to Kyros and Rina.

"For what reason are you and your men committing high treason, Tychis?" Marko asked sternly, whilst looking at the men of Tychis and trying to gauge their number.
WlfSamurai JayTee Lexielai

 

[Crocodile]

Alesso watched the event with a thoughtful frown. The tiefling jester was as usual clad in his black and silver regalia that contrast well with his skin and hair. His eyes resting upon Tychis with concern, wondering how he'd worked up the nerve to do this. Finally he just steps forward with a calm smile.

"Now, now, no need to push this to violence. Tychis, you might be offered the same mercy now before this gets out of hand. Just as Marko said, perhaps you'd like to explain what possible reason you have for even attempting this?" Alesso asked as he indeed stood between both parties. He'd left his rapier sheathed for now, his lute as his side and out of hand. His hands for the moment splayed to show his unarmed nature right now. Nevermind the dagger he kept hidden in a sheath under his jacket.

Better to look the voice of reason before everything went to hell. More so he was interested in finding out who could have talked Tychis into this along with who might be backing him. Alesso did favor being the King's more discreet problem solver.

Spoiler: OOC

http://www.coyotecode.net/roll/lookup.php?rollid=162230
1D20+7 = [5]+7 = 12

 

[Umbrie]

Umbrie, the apparent young girl in the room, seeming to be some kind of student, possibly arcane gave a short prayer to the goddess of the night, the goddess who redeemed her mother's people from the clutches of darkness. "Nightmother, Protect me.' she acted nervous as a cover, as a squire seeking to become a covert operative on the king's behalf, and as a lord's niece. it was her duty to protect the king from undesired or undesirable harm. her saber at the ready, the moment the king or a higher ranked knight gave the signal.

though frail. she would do her best to serve her liege.

Spoiler: OOC

cast mage armor on self as an action, increasing armor class to 16, ready move action to move into flanking position and draw saber on the move when the king or one of his higher ranked men gives the command to fend off the traitor. even if an attack can't be directly made this turn, an attack of opportunity or riposte of some kind as some would call it still can. the goal would preferably to deal nonlethal damage with an opportunity attack if permitted and apprehend the unconscious targets if possible on the king's orders.

 

[WlfSamurai]

Tychis smirks, his hand still resting on his sheathed longsword. He throws a glance over his should at his seven men and shakes his head. “My goodness,” he says, his voice has a mocking edge. “Didn’t think I’d find you all here at this hour. Your Highness, this is what’s known as a coup. High treason, Marko? Doubtful. Was it high treason when your King let half the villages on the southern marches get razed? No, I think not. They were left to die. He is no King. You all should listen to your friend, Alesso. There’s no need for more violence."

He looks at the Tiefling and crosses his arms. “Say your piece, Alesso. Quickly. I don’t have all night.”

Behind Tychis is six armored men all complete with shields and longswords. The seventh is a woman. A witch. She has simple robes and raven black hair.

 

[jaydude]

Marko gave a little snort at Tychis's denial of his crime. "You owe loyalty to our king as a citizen of this kingdom. I fail to see how instigating a coup doesn't count as high treason." He said.

"Nevertheless, we were just discussing the actions of the brigands in question. Were you not pulling a stunt like this, we would have no qualms about hearing your views on the matter. That said, I would ask you on what basis do you make these claims against the king?"

Marko wasn't entirely sure of the circumstances surrounding the destruction of the villages on the southern marches, though he very much doubted that Joran would have deliberately left them to burn.

Looking at his allies, Marko observed that a number of them seemed to be getting ready to fight. He too doubted that anyone would be able to talk their way out of this, but until Joran ordered otherwise, he was definitely going to try.

 

[Umbrie]

the little girl seemed to put up a seemingly nervous and unsure face as part of her innocent persona. she was but a squire at the moment, seeking her title of knighthood, her specialty was covert operations, unknown to most except the king and the other knights, and she sought to join the king's secret police. whom she recognized as an organization called the Spellcloaks. she was itching to earn an Invite and what better way than to nip an act of high treason in the bud. as part of her childish persona, she faked a stutter. "you..... you wouldn't kill a young girl? would you? i just turned 13 last month and am not the most proficient of combatants. i'm still smalll and........." "frail."

Umbrie put up the child act. seeming to draw on any sense of honor or chivalry her opponents might have had,well, technically 16 in half elf years. but masquerading as a 13 year old human. though her mother was a pale drow. drow weren't seen in a pleasant light. including the sect of pale drow that were redeemed by the nightmother.

 

[Crocodile]

Alesso quirked an eyebrow. He'd know and served Joran long enough to not trust this kind of claim from Tychis. The man's actions and sneer spoke more of looking for an excuse to seize power. He looks at the men with him and then saw the curious woman in the back as if an after thought and frowned more. A spellcaster of some sort from the look of it.

"This doesn't look like some act of charity, Tychis. This looks very planned. You look too hungry and eager to do it. Even took the time to bring some sort of arcanist with you," Alesso said with a tutting sound. "For your information, as Marko pointed out, the issue of the village was being discussed. How timely for you to strike. Its as if you knew it might happen" Alesso said darkly as his eyes narrowed to regard Tychis. He was no good at reading people, but he was wily and understood the greed of men too well. Power was hard to resist.

"What do you say to that, oh 'People's Champion'?" asked the jester with a cold smile.

 

[JayTee]

"A coup is bloody, messy, and leave the country in doubt and fear." Kyros said."If you truly valued the people of this nation, you would leverage your own resources towards bettering their lives, rather than simply tying to take more." He gave Tychis a dismissive look. "I see no altruism here, no desire for things to be better. I see a man who would exploit the situation for his own gain. Nothing more."

 

[Umbrie]

the little girl did a frown and upset expression as part of her timid child act. "if i helped you with your Coup de Taut, my Uncle would disown me within the day and i would likely be another starving child on the streets, unable to start or complete an apprenticeship from the stigma, unable to achieve her Aspirations of knighthood with the intent to do good. please, put down your weapon and don't tell a child to damn herself to a life of disease, abuse, and starvation. i cannot afford to nor would i even consider something so dishonest as a coup. "

 

[OceanBunny]

Zilyana lifted the chain around her neck, pressing her lips to the holy symbol of Selune it held. She sent a silent prayer of protection to the moon goddess as she backed up to stand alongside the Kingsguard. Releasing the symbol to fall back against her chest, she drew her bow and notched an arrow. Positioning herself so her back was to the wall, she trained her eyes on traitors, watching for any aggressive move on their part.

 

[Lexielai]

"Seriously. Stop," Rina added. "If you try anything you're going to be really, really dead. And I don't want to have to clean your blood out of my dress, so just play nice."

Her expression was one of confidence, and her tone derisive. Flames licked the sides of her face yet her own magic did not harm her, instead casting an eerie and dangerous glow. She smirked, raising the left side of her smile higher than the right. Though she wasn't quite as intimidating as, say, an actual dragon, Rina knew that she could be very persuasive. She really didn't want to have to fight though. Though she was confident she'd come out on top, it was better to not risk it. Rina would only ever join the engagement if Kyros happened to be in danger, who she would definitely charge for every spell she had to use. At a premium.

Spoiler: OOC

Rina still holds her turn, waiting to use a firebolt if Kyros attacks or is attacked. Also she would like to intimidate Tychis into doubting his ability to take on everyone on the King's side.

 

[WlfSamurai]

Tychis shrugs. “Your threats are useless, girl,” he says to you, Rina, with a sigh. “I’ve faced down worse than you and asked for more.”

He shoots you an angered look, Umbrie. “I didn’t ask, little girl. Kindly move out of the way before you get hurt.”

Tychis waves a hand to the whole of the chamber. “To the rest of you mongrels: this is not charity or moral or even justice. I’m not here to be a hero. I’m here to exact revenge. My people were offered to the raids like sacrificial lambs. Nothing was done with the information that was passed to this so-called king about the attacks that would come. The scouts knew and brought the information here. And you did nothing!” The last is directed at the King.

King Joran makes no move. He sits and listens.

Tychis points to you all. “Now, I will say one last time, move aside and you will not be harmed. I have no quarrel with you. Do not make me add you to the mix.”

 

[jaydude]

WlfSamurai
Marko merely shook his head in response to Tychis's warning. "If what happened could truly have been prevented, then I am sorry for your losses. However, overthrowing the king will not bring back those who were killed, or restore the villages that were destroyed. Not only that, but many people in the kingdom - my family included - would take up arms against you. It would be civil war, and there would be nothing but more ruin for the Kingdom as a result. You would be far better off taking the fight to the brigands who carried out these crimes. My family's forces might even be willing to help you, if you were to back down now."

"But if you intend to go through with this... then I am afraid that I cannot willingly stand aside for you." He concluded, levelling his sword at Tychis.

Spoiler: OOC

Rolling charisma check with persuasion bonus.

 

[JayTee]

With Marko having stolen the words out of his mouth, Kyros watched Tychis' reaction carefully, judging the man's words and actions to determine the truth.

Spoiler: OOC

Rolling Insight to determine how much of his story is true/false, or how much he believes it to be true 1d20+2 nets me a total of 9. Shame.

 

[Umbrie]

Umbrie seemed timid, her hand at the saber on her hip. she examined Tychis closely, an innocent look of fear she struggled to keep upon her face. she as an apprentice spellcloak, was rather amused by the man's foolishness. a smile on her face as she tried to explain things. "if the king was working with the brigands who accosted your people, he would have sent something far worse than a mere lowly band of brigands, that alone is proof he is not the one responsible."

"please tell us why you are truly here."

Spoiler: OOC

insight check with a bit of childish snark

20 insight. 14, +2 from Wis, +2 from proficiency +2 from expertise via rogue

_: 1D20+6 = [14]+6 = 20


http://www.coyotecode.net/roll/lookup.php?rollid=162956

 

[Lexielai]

Rina's rolled her eyes dismissively at Tychis, instead electing to turn her attention to the woman behind him. She was casting some sort of spell which Rina was unfamiliar with, and that irked her. Though Rina was confident enough in the king's guard and uninterested enough in the negotiations to standby instead of intervene, she still preferred to exercise caution with spellcasters. Especially dangerous ones; herself being a prime example.

So, one hand holding onto the dragon tooth necklace that acted as her arcane focus, she quickly grabbed one Kyros' arms to catch his attention while her eyes turned to another of the king's men. Marko, if she recalled correctly. Rina subtly pointed her finger at Marko as she whispered into Kyros' ear for the both of them to hear. "Kyros, Marko...that witch is the dangerous one. If this all blows up, go after her first, okay? I'll have your back."

JayTee jaydude

Spoiler: OOC

Rina'hlia casts the cantrip Message on Marko while simultaneously whispering in Kyros' ear. She attempts to do so stealthily, using a sleight of hand roll. Sleight of Hand/Stealth: 1D20 + 4 = [12]+4 = 16

Message

You point your finger toward a creature within range and whisper a message. The target (and only the target) hears the message and can reply in a whisper that only you can hear. You can cast this spell through solid objects if you are familiar with the target and know it is beyond the barrier. Magical silence. 1 foot o f stone, 1 inch of common metal, a thin sheet of lead, or 3 feet of wood blocks the spell. The spell doesn’t have to follow a straight line and can travel freely around corners or through openings.

 

[WlfSamurai]

Umbrie, you observe Tychis closely. He believes in what he’s saying and it may be true that those were his people. But something about his tensing jaw and neck muscles and occasional sporadic eye movements tells you he’s not here by choice, exactly. Like he’s being influenced, by…something.

Marko’s words seem to have an effect on Tychis. He stops and looks down for a long while. “I hadn’t thought of it—“

“Don’t let them sweet-talk you, Lord!” says the Witch, interrupting. “They are the criminals, here. The King and these mongrels. They’re inhuman. They care nothing for the lives below them.”

Tychis holds up a hand to quiet the Witch and looks over his shoulder. “I have this, Hely.” He looks back at you all. “I’ve lost family and friends in these raids. I cannot simply let that go. I cannot simply…walk away. Something must be done.” He looks at you, Kyros. “You speak of bettering people’s lives. What about the dead ones?”

 

[JayTee]

"The dead are gone, and we cannot make things better for them other than to honor their memory." Kyros said flatly. "You can honor them by finding a way to make the lives of those who remain easier. And you can honor them by making sure they are the last people in the ground, rather than the first."

 

[WlfSamurai]

Tychis throws his hand across the air in a cutting motion. "That's not good enough! If those that sentenced them to die don't pay for their sins then it will happen again! How many more communities and families and people have to lose everything—or their lives—before something is done!?" He gestures to you all. "Tell me! Do you know the number!? How many!?"

 

[jaydude]

WlfSamurai Lexielai
Marko gave a small nod as he heard Rina's message. Even if he didn't notice any magic at work from the witch, he had gotten a feeling that she was one of Tychis's main accomplices, based on her earlier words. He then turned to address Tychis.

"The people responsible for these murders were the brigands who cut them down. And like I said just now, we were discussing what to do about them before you entered the room. And again, my family and I might have been willing to aid you, if only for the sake of justice and order, rather than revenge."

His gaze then turned to the witch. "My lady, why have you gotten yourself involved in this affair? What exactly is in it for you?" He asked.

 

[WlfSamurai]

The witch shoulders past Tychis to stand out in front the group. She clenches her fists and grits her teeth. “Involved? I’ve been forced into this. The second I watched my friends and family put to the torch. No, there was no choice here.” She puts her hands together. “Now, it’s time to end this.”

She begins casting a new spell.

Those who readied an action can take a reaction now, if they’d like.

Everyone roll initiative.

Also, Intelligence check DC 20 to see what spell the witch is casting. If you have arcana, use that instead.

 

[Umbrie]

Umbrie was a bit puzzled by the nature of the new spell. or at least the unique method. it seemed the witch had pulled a fast one on the small girl, and well, her overdedication to failing analysis slowed her ability to react and slowed her ability to engage, so she couldn't act just yet, her reaction lost to the fumbled initiative roll. the small girl seeming too nervous to draw close to the fight at the moment. well, good thing for the nervous and timid child act. it would be easy for her to pretend to be shaken and surprised, a cover she adopted while awaiting her chance to act.

Spoiler: OOC

initiative: 1D20+3 = [1]+3 = 4


4 initiative

reactive arcana check to identify spell: 1D20+2 = [4]+2 = 6


6 Arcana Check

not an action post, just an OOC post with a bit of description to reduce derailing.