Fantasy Pieces O' Eight

[solyrflair]

"Oh, I have a Rodriguez to defend my honor. Excellent. And you sir, we need to know your name and sword training heritage. And show some of that bravado and flair that you displayed in the taverna." She already had a member of the Rodriguez family with her. Her appraisal of the woman had been correct.


Now she just wondered if the young man had the bearing that matched his looks, if not his wits. Or if the man were simply a poor stage actor waltzing through his role unaware of whose presence he was offending. "And your sword, sir. Family heirloom, or picked from the body of a vagabond in some back alley?"


And she still had to concern herself with the assassins that had drifted outside to witness the duel. They were certain to take their action once the crowd was focused elsewhere.


[dice]837[/dice]

 

[Silent Wayfarer]

"Aldana!" Sam grins. "Yes, truly you are a swordswoman of the old way. I learned from the masters of the Soldano myself; allow me to show you the fruits of my training."


[dice]892[/dice]


Sam advances, going for a cosmetic injury to Antonia; she had a lithe, dancer's body, and it seemed only right that the world should see more of it, via the strategic removal of a key button...


[dice]894[/dice]

Spoiler

Tagging 1 Finesse 4; Success (he scores a 26) means he gets a bonus drama die.

 

[Mei]

Seeing what the other swordsman was trying to accomplish, Antonia quickly moves to parry the attack. "I see what you tried to do there, good thing I parried. I'd have to kill you if you succeeded."


[dice]895[/dice]

Spoiler

Interrupt action. With that exploding 10, there is no way that I can't block.

 

[hellrazoromega]

Spoiler

Since she is watching closely around her make another wits roll but with a Free Raise

 

[solyrflair]

Celeste saw the first attack coming. She supposed she would have had enough skill to parry the attack. Not by much, the man was quick, but she could have probably slide the attack past her.


But she was less concerned with how she would have faired in the duel that what might happen in a moment, once the duel got more active. The woman was delaying her tactics until she could get a better read of her opponent. Celeste was watching those who had come outside to watch the duel. Most notable were the anxious men she had seen in the bar.


They had come out, implying that they weren't after the bar keeper. So that meant it was one of them, and she was pretty certain it was her. Now she just needed to know if they were Inquisition, Imperial Navy, or a vengeful noble who knew who she really was.


[dice]927[/dice]

 

[hellrazoromega]

On Phase 5 everyone will hear a series of shots, 12 at least, and shouting coming from the direction of the main road that comes into the east end of the town.

 

[Silent Wayfarer]

"But would it truly be so terrible to be felled by a beauty such as yourself?" he smirks, levelling his rapier again and going in for a quick one-two combination. He doesn't want to strike at her body; she'll be on guard for that. Instead, he's going for her scabbard; work the tip into the mouth and jiggle it around.


It would amuse him, if nothing else.


[dice]982[/dice]

 

[Mei]

Antonia sees that the movements were not going to hit her person, so she just lets it happen. The innuendo was lost on her, and she just smirks haughtily. "To waste an action on childish games? You obviously do not take honor seriously. You spent too much time among the Vodacce."


(Barring anything happening on Phase 6)


The sounds of shots would not change the course of the dona's actions, she wants nothing more than to end this little duel. She brings her rapier up and with the twist of her wrist, leaves a small clean cut upon the man's nose. "Dona Antonia Rios de Rodriguez."


[dice]990[/dice]

Spoiler

29

 

[hellrazoromega]

As you each make your moves you can see several people start to move in the direction of the shots. As they do you can see several men remove their overcoats revealing tabards with the symbol of the Inquisition.


A voice from down the street calls out, "This town is now under the jurisdiction of the Inquisition!" First in Castille and then in several other languages.

 

[Silent Wayfarer]

Perhaps he could have defended himself better, but Sam chooses not to resist the inevitable; it's not like he was particularly serious about fighting Antonia, anyway."


"Grazie," Sam says, spreading his arms in supplication. Then the gunshots hit his ears, and he turns to face the incoming members of the inquisition. His tone instantly changes from playful to wary, and he begins slipping his other rapier from its sheath.


"This can't be good. What's the Inquisition doing here? I haven't even bedded anyone yet."

 

[solyrflair]

Celeste would have been happy to draw one arm over the shoulder of the person who won back her honor in the duel. Then offer to buy her a drink as a thank you and get to know each of the two better, but her actions were cut short. The Inquisition had arrived, and in not too subtle a way, announced that they were taking over the town.


Well, it seemed that one of the two duelists were not friends with the Inquisition. She wondered about the other. She also wondered what their purpose was. Perhaps that were not looking for her, as she had expected, but were here for some other reason. But you never could be too careful.


She also had to be careful with her two new acquaintances. She wasn't sure yet if one or both might decide that coin was better than a new friend. She moved in closer so that they could talk in hushed voices and whispers. "The Inquisition is unlikely to be concerned with who you've bedded, unless it was a priest or nun. It might be best to try to find out what their purpose is here and avoid any entanglements."

 

[Mei]

"I'm for that. I'm definitely not a target for the Inquisition, but something bad might go down." Antonia replies to Celeste's suggestion with a slight frown. Not at the plan itself, but in the fact the Inquisition is here and now.

 

[hellrazoromega]

As you look about you can overhear Inquisition troop talking about the town being under their control as officers are moving about announcing that the lawlessness of this place is at an end. everyone will be subject to search and must present their papers. Those found to be in violation of the law will be jailed. You can also hear many of the smugglers in the crowd whispering about the Inquisition's loose definition of who is or is not in violation. Whispers are being passed around that everyone should expected to be arrested for something, whether they are guilty of that particular offense or not. You can also hear a few talking about the troops that have moved in to surround the town and the ship that has anchored in the River.


A large enough crowd has gathered that you could slip away into one of the buildings, but the question would remain....where to go from there?

 

[Mei]

Looking around the crowd, Antonia decides now is the time to move. She motions for the other two to follow her to one of the buildings behind them. At least then they'd be able to speak quietly and avoid the Inquisitors, even if for just a while.


"Should we wait until things blow over?"

 

[hellrazoromega]

You can find a building where you can hole up because most people are out on the streets. You will notice that some people--likely those with the most to lose have taken to doing the same in other buildings. You figure from the activity outside you have perhaps 30 minutes to an hour before the house to house search reaches the building you are in. As you duck into the building you do overhear a group of men through a window ( 6 of them) whispering as they duck around the side of the building, "We need to find Jeanette and have her open a portal to get us out of this mess, if the damnable girl won't we'll run her through. She has a choice now, us or the Inquisition."

 

[solyrflair]

"I - We need to get off the streets. Find out what is going on and who or what the Inquisition is looking for." Papers... Her papers were on a ship in the custody of the Montainge Navy. Now that she was back in Castille, she could probably have a priest at her local church draw up the documents she would need to get new papers. But for now, she would be better off with the fewest explanations needed.


She followed the other two as they slipped into a building. Out of sight of the Inquisition, she felt more relaxed. But the sense of urgency was still there. She would need to get out of town soon, or a series of unfortunate events which she was handsomely paid, might come back to haunt her.


She gave a cursory look around the room they were in. Perhaps there was access to a cellar they could hide in, or perhaps an escape into the sewers. She overheard the men walking by the window, a the first part of a plan came to her. "That could be a way out. Find this Jeanette, give her another option. Get out of town and observe from the outside rather than inside this mess."


Of course, the other option was to get as far away as possible. But situations like this often gave a very good chance to gather a few coins. When need and means were available, it never hurt to profit from someone else's needs.

 

[hellrazoromega]

The building you are in might serve as a good place to hide, if you were able to find a good enough hiding place from the search parties. Otherwise the men who just passed would not be too difficult to follow.

OOC

Just a note, don't feel obligated to take either option. I am not a "lead by the nose GM" take either option or come up with you own--as your characters see fit. I am game either way and not inclined to steer characters to a particular option. In other word just do what your characters would do without feeling obliged to take an option just because the GM presents it--some options I give will be viable and some might be red herrings (though the chances of that this early in the game are slim). Anyway FYI.

 

[solyrflair]

"I suggest we give Jeanette a better option. Those rogues would run her through. I think we could offer better terms." Perhaps watching a kettle boil over would be better when not sitting in the kettle. If they could get away from this town and watch to see what happens, they would be in a better position to decide their better course of action. Inside, they would spend most of their time and focus just avoiding the Inquisition.


Plus, no person under a Montaigne name and practicing magic would have sided with the Inquisition. At least, she would hope not. That was probably the one stranger they could trust at least against the immediate threat. "Shall we follow them?" The question was directed at her two compatriots while she checked to see if the coast was clear.

 

[Mei]

"Well, I can't turn my back on a woman about to be ganged up on by a band of roughnecks, anyway." The woman grins as she adjusts herself in preparation for leaving their hiding place. "A swordsman's honor would be tarnished if they let that happen. I take my honor very seriously."

 

[hellrazoromega]

Following the thugs is easy with everything else going on in town, you see them slip into the cellar of one on the warehouses a couple of streets over, in the direction of the docks.

 

[Mei]

Antonia follows the thugs at a safe distance; but seeing them go into the cellar, she just knows they are close to their own ticket out of the city. "Shall we go in after them?"

 

[solyrflair]

The art of not being seen is more about just not being noticed. Of course, it's much easier to not be noticed if no one sees you.


"Going in is probably the best idea. We need to be ready. We don't know if they have friends in there." Celeste moved with her new acquaintance. "Dona Antonia, I'm not much of a swordsman. If things get crazy in there... I can hold my own against one, sometimes two if they are drunk. The name's Celeste, by the way."

 

[hellrazoromega]

The path into the cellar seems clear and you can hear raised voices coming form down there, even above the commotion going on around you. Fortunately it is loud enough outside that if you were not right next to the cellar door the sound would be downed out, so even if things were to get noisy down there the sound would not travel far.

 

[Mei]

"It is a pleasure, Celeste. And no worries. I can take on many at once." Antonia offers the Montaigne woman a smile before moving to open the cellar. "Let us meet with those ruffians."

 

[solyrflair]

The pistol on her hip wouldn't be much use if they wanted to maintain any stealth. That just left a dagger for her use. She pulled off her coat and folded it over her arm, the dagger in hand and hidden beneath the heavy fabric. "Allow me to get the door. Be ready for anything."


She checked the door to see if it would open easily and pushed it open. "My good folks, it is such a misfortune that we should get to meet under such inauspicious circumstances." The language was of Castille, and mildly accented by her Montaigne background.