Without a Home (Shrike7)

[Shrike7]

Re: Without a Home (Shrike7)

A sensation of panic crossed Alberik's mind as Sera responded. When she first brushed her thoughts against the other woman's, she felt rage more than anything else. Now, the elf felt dull, drained perhaps. The woman had most likely been assaulted again since Alberik had started the silent assault...

She had wasted too much time already, she decided as she stood, her reserves replenished. She took a moment to recast the magical armour on herself. The second spell was recast as well, though this time on Anya instead of Arikur. And finally, she set the illusion about her group once more, covering them in the guise of slaves once more.

Nodding her readiness to the group, she set them out again towards the tower, aiming for the front entrance and giving them what she knew as they went, while it was safe to do so. "We're headed for the third floor of this tower up here, most likely the personal chambers of a Ser Javick. By the accounts I've gotten, he may be a white dragon, so be on you're guard and be ready to scatter, we don't want to be clumped together if we arouse his ire." She explained, waiting for a group of orcs to pass before continuing. "If it does come to a fight, try and keep it bouncing around, don't let it focus too much on any one of us. If you are the focus, just go for cover, don't try and get any hits in."

Once they reach the tower itself, she'd take a look at what sort of guards they had posted. with luck, slaves would be able to slip in and out, but she was already devising a story, just in case...

Spoiler

Arcane armour for 16 resistance to Al, lesser strength for 16 body to Anya, and lesser illusion once more. Can't check at the moment, but pretty sure 4EP each, and no casting checks difficult enough to be worth rolling for. That all done, head for the front door!

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Without a Home (Shrike7)

Spoiler

Alberik: HP = 60, PP = 71, EP = 85/91, Status = Fine, Arcane Shield, +14 Resistance (Arcane Armor), Lesser Strength on Anya

NPC Stats
Anya: HP = 56, PP = 38, EP = 38, Status = Fine, +14 Body (Lesser Strength)
Arikur: HP = 70, PP = 50, EP = 90, Status = Fine
Telvesh: HP = 70, PP = 50, EP = 90, Status = Fine
Professor Greyback: HP = 60, PP = 80, EP = 80, Status = Fine

Rolls

Spoiler

Just to be clear, the white drake was meant to be a symbol, not that the orcs somehow have a pet dragon. Also, it's 2 EP each. Also also, on Alberik's sheet, her sword would get +2 damage courtesy of Duelist, since it's a one handed weapon.
Alberik's Buffs: 7 * 2 = 14 bonus to each. I think I might have miscalced them last time, because 42/6 = 7, not 8. I probably thought that Al had focus in the appropriate elements.

Resistance (Orcs) : Alberik never fails.
Perception (Orcs) : Failure. Telvesh is successful in his attempted murder.

Her energies restored, Alberik cast her spells upon herself and her allies, strengthening Anya and disguising them as slaves once more. With that, they stepped out into the wintry cold of Gods-Reach once more, the light snow falling from the pitch black sky limiting visibility even further. The lightstones that the elves had set up to light their fortress were still in place, leaving the place still well lit enough to get around, but the top of the wall was yet shrouded in darkness high above them as they scurried through the open fortress.

Even though it had been occupied for several months, the elven fortress had lost none of its beauty, the feeling of natural openness a product of the architecture rather than of the people that had lived in it. Even so, a sense of loss was present through the mostly empty streets. Occasionally they passed a patrol of orcs, sometimes with a group of slaves with them. Stragglers were to be found as well, lone orcs or slaves wandering about on their own, and the latter Anya whispered recommendations that they ought to do away with them and leave the body in an alleyway every time unless Alberik was stalwartly against the idea.

The keep stood awash in magical light, looming ahead of them like a titanic headstone, and there were no more buildings between Alberik's group and the monolithic tower. Arikur's voice suddenly appeared within Alberik's mind, the mercenary communicating with her over the mental link; ['We've got a patrol of orcs coming in to investigate why so many have been coming out of here, might have to take 'em out. Will keep you appraised.'] There was a brief silence, and then Telvesh cut in as well; [We see you. We're directly above, along the wall. There are two groups of sharpshooters up here armed with long rifles, one on each side of the wall as it narrows towards the fortress gate. Wait there a moment while we eliminate the one on our side.']

The elf closed his mind to Alberik then, refusing any attempt on her part to dissuade him from such a course. The wall above was pitch black, making it impossible for Alberik to spot the elf and his men, or even the orcs he had said were waiting for them up there. Alberik was left to wait, either advancing towards the front door of the orc infested fortress, staying in place as the elf had asked, or taking a different route in order to get inside. Regardless of her choice, a moment later Telvesh would report; ['They've been taken care of.']

The front door of the tower into Gods-Reach was a humongous construction of solid oak, intricate whirls carved into the front of it that were definitely not the same as they had been when Alberik had first been here. The doors had likely taken damage during the attack, but none of that was present on this one, suggesting that it had either been repaired or replaced by the occupying force. Alberik was free to choose her method of attempting entry. There were no guards outside, but the same could not be guaranteed while she was inside. She could try the knocker, a large brass construction that gleamed even in the dim light, or she could simply have her soldiers try to push it open and head inside as if she owned the place.

Spoiler

Current Party:
Anya, scout
5 CCM scouts


Current Assault Force Numbers:
Telvesh, last of the Falling Leaves, out on patrol
Arikur, leader of the Blue Falcons, guarding the first gate
Professor Greyback, in the cafeteria guarding the second gate
200 Mages, about 40 of whom can cast convincing illusions.
80 Falling Leaves (elves,) including 10 knights, 40 scouts, and 30 soldiers.
150 Blue Falcons, including 20 knights, 40 scouts, and 90 soldiers.
400 CCM troops, including 40 knights, 100 scouts and 260 soldiers.

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Without a Home (Shrike7)

Alberik felt an odd mixture of familiarity and regret as she led her small group of 'slaves' through the nearly empty elven streets. Her first day here, she didn't feel much more welcome than she did now, though a good deal safer. The day after, it seemed like everyone knew her face, and though nobody had cheered her name or tried to fawn over her as she left to bring word to the Acadamy, almost everyone she had passed had given her a repectful nod.

Now, things were much different. Anya received no disagreement from her on the subject of the lone orcs, with the exception of giving her a moment to search the mind of any orc that looked to have any importance about them, something she hadn't the time for with the knight in the cafeteria.

The two contacts nearly overlapped each other, so close was their timing. Alberik mover her group to the lee side of the last building before the keep's courtyard to give Telvesh the time he wanted, as she replied to Arikur. {The Cafeteria portal should be open now, we can afford to cut back on your staging area to avoid suspicion, once you've replaced that patrol. Any idea who's been watching closely enough to notice?}

Once the gunmen had been dealt with, they advanced to the door, and Al silently cursed her lack of preperedness again. Deciding that the respectful option was more in character for slaves, she reached out and gave the knocker two slow but firm hits, stepping back enough to not look imposing if someone opens it and looks out. Silently, she counted in her head, if nobody answered the door in two minutes, she'd motion for them to push the door open so they could come in from the cold.

Spoiler

if they do come across any singular orcs that look important, 8EP each for the second function of Mind Worm. She's looking for eyewitness memories of either the Orc King or whatever passes for a throne/war/meeting room for said individual.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Without a Home (Shrike7)

Spoiler

Alberik: HP = 60, PP = 71, EP = 85/91, Status = Fine, Arcane Shield, +14 Resistance (Arcane Armor), Lesser Strength on Anya

NPC Stats
Anya: HP = 56, PP = 38, EP = 38, Status = Fine, +14 Body (Lesser Strength)
Arikur: HP = 70, PP = 50, EP = 90, Status = Fine
Telvesh: HP = 70, PP = 50, EP = 90, Status = Fine
Professor Greyback: HP = 60, PP = 80, EP = 80, Status = Fine

Rolls

Spoiler

The orcs that Alberik passed didn't look particularly important. Mostly strays or poor bastards out for a walk.

Resistance (Orcs) : Alberik wins.

['Don't know, it's just a nondescript bunch of orcs from here. I'll keep you posted.']

There was a scuffling sound beyond the door after Alberik made use of the knocker, and an orc's face greeted her as it swung open. The woman, clad in a knight's armor and with a greataxe hanging over her back, sized up the group of slaves for a moment before muttering, "Stupid slaves...." She took a step back and pulled it open farther, "C'mon then, out of the way! I've got other weaklings like you to break tonight!" That the knight was allowing them to pass first would have been surprising to Alberik if she hadn't studied orcish culture, which put far more importance on pragmatism than on who got to go through a door first.

Past the knight stood a pair of sentries, spears in hand, but they didn't seem particularly attentive to their task. The elegant archway leading into the inner chambers, the first of which Alberik knew to be the great hall, was cracked down the middle, and the ancient inscriptions that had once stood upon it had been defaced until they were no longer recognizable. Voices and movement could be heard from beyond the doorway, and a portion of the hall was visible to Alberik and her companions, the large room clearly packed with orcs.

Spoiler

Current Party:
Anya, scout
5 CCM scouts


Current Assault Force Numbers:
Telvesh, last of the Falling Leaves, out on patrol
Arikur, leader of the Blue Falcons, guarding the first gate
Professor Greyback, in the cafeteria guarding the second gate
200 Mages, about 40 of whom can cast convincing illusions.
80 Falling Leaves (elves,) including 10 knights, 40 scouts, and 30 soldiers.
150 Blue Falcons, including 20 knights, 40 scouts, and 90 soldiers.
400 CCM troops, including 40 knights, 100 scouts and 260 soldiers.

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Without a Home (Shrike7)

The outsider ushered her squad in at the orc's behest, glancing behind her to see the knight leave and shut the door behind her on the way out. A glance over to the guards told her they had the same uncaring disposition the knight had, and she could see a ways down the hall into the throngs of orcs ahead. She turned to one of the guards, speaking softly. "Can you direct us to Ser Javick's quarters? I haven't been there before..." She asked, looking back over at the archeay for a moment before returning her gaze to the orc in front of her.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Without a Home (Shrike7)

Spoiler

Alberik: HP = 60, PP = 71, EP = 85/91, Status = Fine, Arcane Shield, +14 Resistance (Arcane Armor), Lesser Strength on Anya

NPC Stats
Anya: HP = 56, PP = 38, EP = 38, Status = Fine, +14 Body (Lesser Strength)
Arikur: HP = 70, PP = 50, EP = 90, Status = Fine
Telvesh: HP = 70, PP = 50, EP = 90, Status = Fine
Professor Greyback: HP = 60, PP = 80, EP = 80, Status = Fine

The orc knight stepped past them, and after the doors were shut the two guards began to pay slightly more attention to the group of slaves that had suddenly walked into their midst. They glanced at one another as Alberik spoke, and one of them grunted; “Ser Javick’s at dinner, and the only slaves allowed in there are the ones serving dinner and the ones sucking cock. Unless you lot are supposed to be working, you’ll have to wait here. Course… We could probably use the relief if you’re not doin anything, if yah know what I mean. Whatdya say slave? Hows about you and your pretty blond friend there eh? That lot can sit in the corner.” He gestured towards the men with them while grinning lewdly at Alberik, the illusion she’d cast making her appear entirely human. She knew that orc slaves that had been sufficiently broken were generally given a great deal more leeway than fresh ones, and that was likely what these two guards assumed that they were given their actions so far. The dining hall was as rowdy as ever, and nobody within seemed to be paying any attention to what was going on in the entrance hall.

Spoiler

Current Party:
Anya, scout
5 CCM scouts


Current Assault Force Numbers:
Telvesh, last of the Falling Leaves, out on patrol
Arikur, leader of the Blue Falcons, guarding the first gate
Professor Greyback, in the cafeteria guarding the second gate
200 Mages, about 40 of whom can cast convincing illusions.
80 Falling Leaves (elves,) including 10 knights, 40 scouts, and 30 soldiers.
150 Blue Falcons, including 20 knights, 40 scouts, and 90 soldiers.
400 CCM troops, including 40 knights, 100 scouts and 260 soldiers.

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Without a Home (Shrike7)

Alberik shook her head slowly. "I'm very sorry ser, my directions were quite clear. They must all be in pristine condition for Ser Javick, and I must remain presentable as well, in case he has need of me before I return. Perhaps we can wait for him in his quarters? If you can direct us, I will service you properly after, m'lord." she explained in a docile tone, dipping her head slightly. her mind ran through a few other options they had, glancing back towards the archway deeper inside, to see if anyone else was in position to see them at the entrance.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Without a Home (Shrike7)

Spoiler

Alberik: HP = 60, PP = 71, EP = 85/91, Status = Fine, Arcane Shield, +14 Resistance (Arcane Armor), Lesser Strength on Anya

NPC Stats
Anya: HP = 56, PP = 38, EP = 38, Status = Fine, +14 Body (Lesser Strength)
Arikur: HP = 70, PP = 50, EP = 90, Status = Fine
Telvesh: HP = 70, PP = 50, EP = 90, Status = Fine
Professor Greyback: HP = 60, PP = 80, EP = 80, Status = Fine

"Are you hard of hearing and blind, slave?" the orc guardsman replied irritably, "The only way up to the private quarters that doesn't involve you going back out that door is through the grand hall, and unless you're servicing slaves aren't allowed in the hall right now! Kogar the Black has ordered as much, as he's sick of having you toadies underfoot when he's trying to enjoy himself! If you want up, you'd best go around on the wall or wait. And if you're going to wait, go sit in the corner and get out of our hair!" Glancing beyond the archway, plenty of orcs could potentially see into the narrow hallway that formed the main entrance-way into the tower of Gods-Reach, but none of them were currently doing so. The guards were also mostly hidden by the walls, meaning that anything happening to them stood a good chance of going unnoticed.

Spoiler

Current Party:
Anya, scout
5 CCM scouts


Current Assault Force Numbers:
Telvesh, last of the Falling Leaves, out on patrol
Arikur, leader of the Blue Falcons, guarding the first gate
Professor Greyback, in the cafeteria guarding the second gate
200 Mages, about 40 of whom can cast convincing illusions.
80 Falling Leaves (elves,) including 10 knights, 40 scouts, and 30 soldiers.
150 Blue Falcons, including 20 knights, 40 scouts, and 90 soldiers.
400 CCM troops, including 40 knights, 100 scouts and 260 soldiers.

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Without a Home (Shrike7)

Alberik took the orc's rant without flinching, casting her gaze back in the direction of the hall, then towards the door. As much as she wanted to help Sera, she was just a single person in all this, and so long as her captor remained at the feast...

"Then we will have to wait, slaves aren't allowed on the walls either." She said softly, offering the guard a bow before ushering the group towards a corner near the archway into the hall and getting them to settle in. "This may take a while, alert me if anything happens and I seem unresponsive." She told them softly, sitting down and putting her back against the wall. By all accounts, there should be plenty of ranking orcs inside the feast. she'd have to be careful, but it was entirely possible she could find what she was looking for amongst them without entering the room or alerting someone. Slowly and carefully, she reached her mind out towards the hall, slowly and carefully getting to work...

Spoiler

You know more or less what's up and what she's looking for. Much as I had imagined it to be intrusive, you seem to have indicated otherwise. Still, she's going to ignore anyone she brushes against that feels too similar to herself for fear of alerting someone, much as she had when she first got there. figure it's most likely a combination of telepathy at 2EP and 1 upkeep, and mind worm, at 8EP/use. Go ahead and charge her whatever you feel is appropriate.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Without a Home (Shrike7)

Spoiler

Alberik: HP = 60, PP = 71, EP = 75/91, Status = Fine, Arcane Shield, +14 Resistance (Arcane Armor), Lesser Strength on Anya, Lesser Illusion

NPC Stats
Anya: HP = 56, PP = 38, EP = 38, Status = Fine, +14 Body (Lesser Strength)
Arikur: HP = 70, PP = 50, EP = 90, Status = Fine
Telvesh: HP = 70, PP = 50, EP = 90, Status = Fine
Professor Greyback: HP = 60, PP = 80, EP = 80, Status = Fine

Rolls

Spoiler

Telepathy had its upkeep dropped, so you don't need to worry about that anymore. Telepathy can be done such that the subject doesn't notice so long as Alberik doesn't try to communicate with them, at most they would feel a slight buzzing that would be ignored with all the noise and such going on around them. I'm going to assume that she's looking for data on the orc king, preferably a location, but if there's anything else you wanted I'll go ahead and include that. Oh, and plans. Plans are good, right?

Perception: Immediate success, only 10 EP spent total for telepathy and mind worm.
Resistance: Alberik wins.

The orc guardsman grunted something unintelligible under his breath as Alberik and her comrades moved over to sit along the wall of the entrance hall, settling in comfortably while the sounds of the feast filtered in through the arched gateway. Alberik took a place in which she could see a decent portion of the hall, and her nearest comrades nodded silently to her command to alert her if anything happened. Then, settled and (relatively) safe, Alberik closed her eyes and stretched out her mind to search the orcs in the hall for information.

The sheer quantity of living creatures in the hall produced a great deal of psychic noise, and while that might mask her presence, it also made picking out a target much more difficult. However, as she poked about for an orc of sufficient rank to provide valuable information, Alberik came to recognize a presence hanging over the whole of the hall, just barely perceptible over the chorus of whispered thoughts through which she waded. Whatever it was, it was humongous, too large for her to find the edges of, but it was also unaware of her. Poking at it too insistently might alert it to her presence, but what it was and what it was doing here was impossible to determine without doing so. Of course, leaving it be was also an option, as she certainly had enough on her plate as it was.

The orcs, unaware of her psionic intrusions, gave up few secrets to her initial probings. Many of them seemed to have their minds on what was going on around them and what they intended to do after the feast, the latter running the gamut of emotions from eagerness to return and enjoy a particular slave, grumbling about assorted responsibilities, and simple gratitude at having time to sleep. A few thoughts on the one appointed to control Gods-Reach in the king's absence revealed that he was not a well loved or a well trusted figure among his subjects, and some even regarded him with fear or suspicion. The opinion that she gleaned of their king was much higher, as each orc that thought of him did so with a great deal of respect, often bordering on awe.

Time was imperceptible in that state, but after a time searching Alberik came across a mind that immediately piqued her interest, thoughts of a feast similar to this one but containing a figure clad in black armor, and Alberik ushered herself past the surface thoughts of a female orc knight as delicately as she could in order to search for more useful information...

The room was icy cold despite the fire pits spread throughout the room, as it always was up in the mountains. No place was immune to the chill of their ancestral homeland, but Greeth had long grown accustomed to the cold, and thus paid it little heed. The room was loud and boisterous, filled as it was with orcs, each of them a blooded warrior and of no less than Honored status. Tales of battles won against the humans and elves filtered into her ears, but she left them largely ignored as her eyes settled upon the figure sitting upon the throne at the far end of the room.

The Orc King sat alone, away from the warming flames and the words of his comrades and subjects. His throne, a fairly simple oak chair with minimal padding, was not on any raised dais that would elevate him over the other orcs, and in her mind she recalled the battle that had taken place only hours before, the battle to take Ministrialle, a city just East of the Academy and the last to fall to the orcs before Gods-Reach. She had been one of the first onto the walls, taking a terrified looking human whom Alberik realized couldn't have been older than eighteen by the throat and hurling him bodily off of the walls to his death as she crested the top of a siege ladder. She had been beset from all sides, but her greataxe made short work of those who approached, and she cut a bloody swath towards the gatehouse. The honor of opening the gates to their forces was hers in short order, and she charged down the narrow steps along the wall and down into the streets, leaving her lesser comrades to hold the gatehouse.

Into a crowd of fleeing human and elven bowmen she charged, their munitions bouncing off of her armor or missing her completely, and they scattered like rats after she had cleaved a half dozen of them apart. A glorious cry from the streets ahead signaled the breaking of the defenses, and Greeth's voice joined it in a triumphant roar. She charged towards the sound of battle, intending to flank whatever resistance was left, and a dozen more fell to her greataxe after she flung herself into the carnage. Bloodlust and adrenaline pounded through her, thoughts of glory blinding her to the approach of a half dozen figures clad only in robes until it was far too late to avoid the rain of magical destruction that the mages unleashed.

Greeth was thrown across the street by an explosion, and crashed into the front column of a church to the human's pagan god of thunder. Agony pulsed through her, but strength yet remained, and she tried to force herself to her feet as the mages casually advanced down the street in a line, fire and lightning and cold obliterating swaths of her kin before her helpless eyes. And then, from the smoke of the magical destruction, a single black-clad figure appeared, a greatsword rimmed in emerald flames held loosely in one hand. Magical flames washed over him without leaving any trace of a burn upon his armored form. Lightning lashed out at him, crackling across his armor and discharging harmlessly into the ground. Waves of frost and ice hammered into him, icy spears and winds cold enough to freeze the blood upon the ground doing no more harm than the lightning or the flames had.

The mages halted and began to back away as they called upon more unnatural magics, rays of blinding light and waves of wind and pure force reflecting across his ebony armor without so much as slowing him down. A star as red as blood, a blade of black flame, and a shimmering bolt of blue light all came next, and each proved no more effective against her glorious king as he strode towards them, and the sorcerers panicked and turned to flee. That turned out to not be the wisest of decisions, however, as the very moment that the mages turned to flee, the previously sedate walk of the orc king became a charge. He was upon them before they'd made it twenty feet, crossing the remaining sixty or so foot gap in the span of a few seconds and making a single spinning cut that stole none of his momentum but cut through three of his foes in a single cut.

They scattered, as the archers had before her, and he pursued a pair of them and killed them in the same manner as the first three that he had felled. The last one turned and spoke, the words imperceptible to the still half-stunned Greeth, but she heard her king's answer clearly; "Yes. I can. But you will not live to see it." Another spell lashed out at her king, so potent that Greeth felt it as the sheer power of the magic warped the flow of energies in the air around them, something that Alberik sensed far more acutely than she had even through the lens of the orc's memory, and a bolt of violet light hurled at the orc king. It hammered into the man's armor, and this time it struck hard enough to knock him back a step even as the mage that had unleashed it collapsed to the ground, but the spell that would likely have devastated any other living thing faded, leaving the mighty orc with only a small dent in his black armor. Greeth watched as he strode over, sheathed his sword, and lifted the mage, taking him as a captive, and then he came over to Greeth and reached a hand down, "Stand with me my sister. This battle is not over yet."

Greeth peered at that man, her king, and wondered what granted him such strength. His helmet had been taken off in the dim feasting hall, but his angular features cast much of his face in shadows that the flickering light of the fires were unable to pierce. Though she sat in the orc king's chosen hall in the city that they had just taken, she thought herself unworthy to seat herself near one so mighty. She knew that other opportunities would come for her to prove herself, but tonight she sat in silent recognition of her king's greatness, and of how far she had to go before she could reach anywhere near that level.

There were other, less personal memories that Alberik gleaned from Greeth the orc knight as well, firstly that the orc king had taken Ministrialle as his headquarters after the failed attack on the Academy, and secondly that he had been at Gods-Reach only a few weeks prior to the day that she had ended up staging her recapture. His current whereabouts were unknown, but his temporary capital would be a good place to start looking, and she had a visage to add to her mental image of him even if it lacked the full features of his face. There were no plans to attack anywhere that Alberik could find within the orc's mind. She held little respect for the orc that had been placed in command of Gods-Reach, a warrior apparently named Korvick, but before she could explore that any further Alberik felt her physical body being shaken.

"Wake up.... Looks like the feast is breaking up," said Anya under her breath, and Alberik could see many of the orcs rising from their seats and moving towards the door. The armed and armored beastmen began filtering out, most not offering Alberik and her disguised comrades anything more than a glance. After only a short while, the hall was mostly cleared save for a few guards and the slaves that were busy cleaning the place up, and Alberik was free to take her squad upstairs.

Invasion Stats

Spoiler

Current Party:
Anya, scout
5 CCM scouts


Current Assault Force Numbers:
Telvesh, last of the Falling Leaves, out on patrol
Arikur, leader of the Blue Falcons, guarding the first gate
Professor Greyback, in the cafeteria guarding the second gate
200 Mages, about 40 of whom can cast convincing illusions.
80 Falling Leaves (elves,) including 10 knights, 40 scouts, and 30 soldiers.
150 Blue Falcons, including 20 knights, 40 scouts, and 90 soldiers.
400 CCM troops, including 40 knights, 100 scouts and 260 soldiers.

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Without a Home (Shrike7)

Alberik took her time to commit the memory... to memory, keeping a portion of her attention on the spectacularly large presence hovering over the hall and entry. Her digging into Greeth's mind gained her some of the answer she needed, but raised much more in terms of questions. Anya alerted her and brought her mind back to herself, so she cut her investigation short for the time being, standing in the cubby with the others until the occupants of the hall had filed out around her.

Her gaze tracked back towards the door guards, but decided that it would likely be easier, and almost certainly faster, to find where she was going on her own, or to seek aid from someone else they passed, then it would be to ask them again. Once the outflow of orcs had trickled down, she edged her group into the passage, making her way through the hall. "You know these halls Anya, we're headed to the third floor. I'll know where exactly as we get closer." She said quietly, letting the elf lead them in the proper direction.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Without a Home (Shrike7)

Spoiler

Alberik: HP = 60, PP = 71, EP = 75/91, Status = Fine, Arcane Shield, +14 Resistance (Arcane Armor), Lesser Strength on Anya, Lesser Illusion

NPC Stats
Anya: HP = 56, PP = 38, EP = 38, Status = Fine, +14 Body (Lesser Strength)
Arikur: HP = 70, PP = 50, EP = 90, Status = Fine
Telvesh: HP = 70, PP = 50, EP = 90, Status = Fine
Professor Greyback: HP = 60, PP = 80, EP = 80, Status = Fine

The orcs filed past Alberik and her comrades, completely unaware of the truth of their purpose here. There were a lot of them crammed into the main hall of Gods-Reach, but they turned out to be fairly orderly for a race of brutish warriors, and they were out of the way soon enough. They caught little more than a few curious gazes from the slaves busy cleaning up after the night's festivities, and were through the doors leading up to the ground staircase that could take them all the way up to the top of the tower if they so wished. Many orcs had gone up this way as well, likely those that lived in the tower itself, and the sound of booted feet and the opening and closing of doors filled the halls, accompanied occasionally by snatches of conversation that Alberik couldn't hope to decipher amidst all the chaos.

"Yes ma'am," Anya whispered back when Alberik indicated for the blond human to take point, and she did just that, heading up the stairs just ahead of the others. "Quarters were this way, last time I was here...." she muttered once they reached the third floor, and led them off through the intersecting maze of hallways that made up the tower of Gods-Reach. It only took them a few moments before the door that was their most likely destination came into view, a heavy oak door the a white drake painted onto its surface. The name, Ser Javick, was painted across it in fairly bold letters, strangely enough still using the elvish script rather than the orcish runes.

Invasion Stats

Spoiler

Current Party:
Anya, scout
5 CCM scouts


Current Assault Force Numbers:
Telvesh, last of the Falling Leaves, out on patrol
Arikur, leader of the Blue Falcons, guarding the first gate
Professor Greyback, in the cafeteria guarding the second gate
200 Mages, about 40 of whom can cast convincing illusions.
80 Falling Leaves (elves,) including 10 knights, 40 scouts, and 30 soldiers.
150 Blue Falcons, including 20 knights, 40 scouts, and 90 soldiers.
400 CCM troops, including 40 knights, 100 scouts and 260 soldiers.

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Without a Home (Shrike7)

Alberik stood silent at the door for nearly a full minute, considering her options. Several plans flit through her mind, most of them having been repeated several times on the trip upwards, and even earlier then that. Upon seeing the elven runes adorning the door, however, almost all of those plans were changed or scrapped immediately. Whoever Ser Javick was, it was clear to her that he was not what she was expecting. Deciding that planning too far ahead at this point would be a waste of effort, with how many unknowns she was facing. She considered reaching out to Sera again as well, but the woman sounded like she was barely conscious, and there wouldn't be much more to glean from her that wouldn't be discovered seconds upon entering the room in any case.

Her mind made up, Alberik readied herself, and knocked on the door. If there was no response after a minute or two, she'd set them about making their way in on their own.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Without a Home (Shrike7)

Spoiler

Alberik: HP = 60, PP = 71, EP = 75/91, Status = Fine, Arcane Shield, +14 Resistance (Arcane Armor), Lesser Strength on Anya, Lesser Illusion

NPC Stats
Anya: HP = 56, PP = 38, EP = 38, Status = Fine, +14 Body (Lesser Strength)
Arikur: HP = 70, PP = 50, EP = 90, Status = Fine
Telvesh: HP = 70, PP = 50, EP = 90, Status = Fine
Professor Greyback: HP = 60, PP = 80, EP = 80, Status = Fine

A moment after she knocked on the door, it was pulled open by an orc clad in a pair of brown breaches and nothing else. He was heavily muscled and fairly scarred, and he seemed slightly surprised to have a squad of six slaves knocking on his door. "Yes? Do you need something?" he grunted, albeit in a fairly polite manner and in speech that lacked the accent possessed by many orcs.

Invasion Stats

Spoiler

Current Party:
Anya, scout
5 CCM scouts


Current Assault Force Numbers:
Telvesh, last of the Falling Leaves, out on patrol
Arikur, leader of the Blue Falcons, guarding the first gate
Professor Greyback, in the cafeteria guarding the second gate
200 Mages, about 40 of whom can cast convincing illusions.
80 Falling Leaves (elves,) including 10 knights, 40 scouts, and 30 soldiers.
150 Blue Falcons, including 20 knights, 40 scouts, and 90 soldiers.
400 CCM troops, including 40 knights, 100 scouts and 260 soldiers.

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Without a Home (Shrike7)

"I believe so, yes. You are Ser Javick, correct?" Alberik asked, dipping into a bow as she spoke and using the break of eye contact to look past the orc and see what she could of the room.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Without a Home (Shrike7)

Spoiler

Alberik: HP = 60, PP = 71, EP = 75/91, Status = Fine, Arcane Shield, +14 Resistance (Arcane Armor), Lesser Strength on Anya, Lesser Illusion

NPC Stats
Anya: HP = 56, PP = 38, EP = 38, Status = Fine, +14 Body (Lesser Strength)
Arikur: HP = 70, PP = 50, EP = 90, Status = Fine
Telvesh: HP = 70, PP = 50, EP = 90, Status = Fine
Professor Greyback: HP = 60, PP = 80, EP = 80, Status = Fine

The room was mostly blocked by the orc at first, but at her request to come inside he stepped aside and said; "Of course... No, I am not Ser Javick. My master is at rest after the feast, but I may go and wake her if your business is urgent." The room beyond was richly decorated, mostly with items obviously taken from other parts of Gods-Reach but with a few more exotic trophies as well, including a reptilian hide that was easily thirty feet long that dominated the opposite wall. The scales on it were blue and green, but more than that could not be told about whatever beast it had come from. An elven woman carrying a tray of cups came striding from the right-hand side, coming out of a doorway leading into an adjoining room. Her eyes were gentle and soft, but also fairly empty, and she approached Alberik and her companions as they filtered into the room with a blank smile. "Would you care for refreshments?" she asked, holding her blank smile and offering the tray of drinks.

Alberik's squad of disguised soldiers glanced at their commander and made no reaction, but the orc who had opened the door interjected; "What is your business here, if I may be so bold? It is not common for so many to come bearing a message, and my master will be curious." Turning to him, Alberik spotted a door on the left hand hall, one that was richly decorated in elven runes as the door into the knight's chambers had been. There were no other servants in sight, and no sounds came from either of the adjoining rooms.

Invasion Stats

Spoiler

Current Party:
Anya, scout
5 CCM scouts


Current Assault Force Numbers:
Telvesh, last of the Falling Leaves, out on patrol
Arikur, leader of the Blue Falcons, guarding the first gate
Professor Greyback, in the cafeteria guarding the second gate
200 Mages, about 40 of whom can cast convincing illusions.
80 Falling Leaves (elves,) including 10 knights, 40 scouts, and 30 soldiers.
150 Blue Falcons, including 20 knights, 40 scouts, and 90 soldiers.
400 CCM troops, including 40 knights, 100 scouts and 260 soldiers.

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Without a Home (Shrike7)

"The matter is not too urgent." Alberik replied calmly, folding her hands behind her back as she followed the servant into the room. She used them to tell her team to be ready to attack on her signal.. "My Master has sent me here in the hopes of arranging a trade, of sorts. Apparently on of Ser Javick's servants caught his eye in some way or another." She explained, looking around the room and making note of the doors, and the elf slave walking up.

"No, thank you." She replied softly to the blank-eyed girl, a tremor of fear passing up her spine at the implications. Turning back to the orc, she continued, moving on to his concern of their numbers. "These others are some of my master's best, for Ser Javick's perusal if he is willing to make a trade." She paused here a moment, glancing towards the door more likely to lead towards the servant's quarters, even taking a few steps that way, spreading the group around the room slightly, so the orc could not watch the entire group at once, and had to focus on her. "Hmm... If it is possible, could I take a look for the servant? My Master wishes certain things, and if she is not what he believed when he saw her, then we can simply be on our way, without disturbing Ser Javick more than is necessary to simply pay our respects."

Alberik listened to the orc's response very closely, repeating her slight gesture to the group to wait. If their host decided not to allow what she asked, she would have to be slightly more intrusive and take command of him as she had the knight in the cafeteria. With the serving elf still watching, an order to the group to attack would risk more exposure than she wanted just yet, even as dull as the girl seemed.

Spoiler

Dominate the mild-mannered orc if he insists on rousing Javick, or if he disagrees. Don't have resources to check the power, but if there is an X, 10 should do well enough.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Without a Home (Shrike7)

Spoiler

Alberik: HP = 60, PP = 71, EP = 75/91, Status = Fine, Arcane Shield, +14 Resistance (Arcane Armor), Lesser Strength on Anya, Lesser Illusion

NPC Stats
Anya: HP = 56, PP = 38, EP = 38, Status = Fine, +14 Body (Lesser Strength)
Arikur: HP = 70, PP = 50, EP = 90, Status = Fine
Telvesh: HP = 70, PP = 50, EP = 90, Status = Fine
Professor Greyback: HP = 60, PP = 80, EP = 80, Status = Fine

With her squad spreading out and at the ready, and the orc's attention focused solely on her, Alberik had the situation fairly well under control. The blank-eyed elven slave nodded and stepped back after each of Alberik's squad mimicked her decision, and the orc nodded in response to her request; "Mmmm, of course. Right this way." He turned and strode towards the doorway without a second thought, leaving Alberik with an opening at his back. She hadn't needed to dominate him to do it either.

Following him, Alberik and her squad, assuming she took all of them with her, found themselves moving through a small kitchen that was currently empty, and then into a fairly large room that had likely once been a library, but had been converted into a dormitory by the orc occupants. The bunks were clean and in good condition, as were their occupants. Their were perhaps six slaves in all, not including those that Alberik had already met, four women and two men, in an even mix of elves and humans. Two of the women possessed rounded bellies, one elf and one human, but none of them showed any signs of physical abuse, and all of them were sleeping soundly. Sera, however, was not among those resting here, and the orc turned to her with a patient expression and asked; "Is the one that your master desires among those you see? I know two are in my master's bedchamber at the moment, so the one that you seek might well be there."

Invasion Stats

Spoiler

Current Party:
Anya, scout
5 CCM scouts


Current Assault Force Numbers:
Telvesh, last of the Falling Leaves, out on patrol
Arikur, leader of the Blue Falcons, guarding the first gate
Professor Greyback, in the cafeteria guarding the second gate
200 Mages, about 40 of whom can cast convincing illusions.
80 Falling Leaves (elves,) including 10 knights, 40 scouts, and 30 soldiers.
150 Blue Falcons, including 20 knights, 40 scouts, and 90 soldiers.
400 CCM troops, including 40 knights, 100 scouts and 260 soldiers.

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Without a Home (Shrike7)

Alberik stood silently a moment, her gaze passing over the sleeping figures. "It would appear to be so, I do not recognize any of these from the description I was given." She said softly, dipping her head for a moment and shaking it. "Seems we will have to disturb Ser Javick a little sooner than expected."

 

[Tassadar]

Re: Without a Home (Shrike7)

Spoiler

Alberik: HP = 60, PP = 71, EP = 75/91, Status = Fine, Arcane Shield, +14 Resistance (Arcane Armor), Lesser Strength on Anya, Lesser Illusion

NPC Stats
Anya: HP = 56, PP = 38, EP = 38, Status = Fine, +14 Body (Lesser Strength)
Arikur: HP = 70, PP = 50, EP = 90, Status = Fine
Telvesh: HP = 70, PP = 50, EP = 90, Status = Fine
Professor Greyback: HP = 60, PP = 80, EP = 80, Status = Fine

"Very well," the orc servant said softly, as if trying not to disturb the sleeping slaves, "I will retrieve her, but you must wait out in the hall. She dislikes being disturbed by strangers when in her own rooms, I'm sure you understand." He turned and headed for the door, passing the blank-eyed elven slave on the way, who laid down in one of the empty bunks. Alberik and her squad were thus left alone with the orc servant as they made their way back to the entrance hall, and she felt her troops preparing to spring to the attack as he approached the door. Alberik only had to give the order, and the man would be dead before he could make a sound. If he reached the door, he would turn about and say; "Wait here please." With that, the orc would head into the doorway, leaving them alone in the hallway.

Invasion Stats

Spoiler

Current Party:
Anya, scout
5 CCM scouts


Current Assault Force Numbers:
Telvesh, last of the Falling Leaves, out on patrol
Arikur, leader of the Blue Falcons, guarding the first gate
Professor Greyback, in the cafeteria guarding the second gate
200 Mages, about 40 of whom can cast convincing illusions.
80 Falling Leaves (elves,) including 10 knights, 40 scouts, and 30 soldiers.
150 Blue Falcons, including 20 knights, 40 scouts, and 90 soldiers.
400 CCM troops, including 40 knights, 100 scouts and 260 soldiers.