First Adventure 05: Licking Wounds Amongst Party & Allies

Upon prompting, Zeiss carefully navigates his way down the staircase. On his way he finds no less than 5 traps, most of which seem like higher quality than the kind he's used to seeing, and would have either sliced the hamstring of anyone going by them or sent them into the Ravine. He very very carefully disarms each one, nearly tripping up the last one but barely manages to disarm it before it hurtles him to his death (spent 1 Action Point to succeed).

"Good work, Zeiss. Is the area completely clear? Was there a makers mark on those traps or can you tell through your experience?"

Whis Kor lowers his bow that he had aimed at the last pressure plate.

Zeiss frowns, in thought as he considers before answering. "No, they weren't mass produced like most traps are, those were custom designed. I could only begin to guess at who made them. They were very well made though, I can tell you that."

"I don't get it. We got trashed as it is. We would've gotten slaughtered if we'd gone through the stairs. Why did Harkun hire us at all when he's got access to this kind of muscle?"

*he feels like he just answered his own question*


"Maybe... he doesn't?"

Higaide wrote:*he feels like he just answered his own question*


"Maybe... he doesn't?"

"Maybe we've been had," Rory suggests, walking up beside him. "We weren't just a loose end, but maybe fall guys?"

Caladrius replies “First rule of assignation, kill the assassins. My guess is that the Centaurs were sent to keep us silent, after all we were asking a bunch of questions”

"Now that's a scary thought, Higaide. Who else would want to get rid of us? The mayor? I did tell him that Oakheart hired us."

"that is a good question sir, ied like to as the matriarch if she knows of any centaurs in the area"

Rory shook his head. Loose ends upon loose ends. If only it had been as simple as that. Or maybe it was; maybe Harkun had been on to them the entire time. He swore softly to himself.

Kolson Wezrae wrote:"Now that's a scary thought, Higaide. Who else would want to get rid of us? The mayor? I did tell him that Oakheart hired us."

"The mayor doesn't know what we know yet," Rory mentioned. "Until we make sure he does, we can't say for certain that Zigund is in on this as well."

"Speculation will go nowhere fast. Although Oakheart certainly raises suspicions, don't rule anything else out. There are those other than Oakheart who have interests in this area."

Rory Vallon wrote:

Higaide wrote:*he feels like he just answered his own question*


"Maybe... he doesn't?"

"Maybe we've been had," Rory suggests, walking up beside him. "We weren't just a loose end, but maybe fall guys?"

"I want to get the bosses' opinions on this. The stairs are clear, right?"

"Supposedly, although there should not be more than one descending at this point."

He looks at Higaide, considering something.

Spoiler:

"so if were thinking scary thought's what if the Guild representative is in on this i mean 9k gold is a lot of gold"

Whis Kor wrote:"Supposedly, although there should not be more than one descending at this point."

He looks at Higaide, considering something.

Spoiler:

"I hurt all over, but i'm moving. I'll go down."

"These Centaurs definately acted... Independantly. It's just impossible for anyone in Al-Erat to hire Centaurs. That includes the Guardian." Interrupted the wolf.

"They wanted to kill us simply because we're 'civilized'. And they found that opportunity when they heard about us being here... Somehow." Raver crosses his arms and kept staring at the red sky.

"It's clear since this... Leader tried to needlessly kill himself. No one can be loyal enough to willfully surrender their lives for killing simple bounty hunters. Especially from Centaurs. And especially for Harkun."

Caladrius "You are assuming that Leader was in control. What if someone was mind controlling him?"

Caladrius wrote:Caladrius "You are assuming that Leader was in control. What if someone was mind controlling him?"

"You think someone was assuming control of the general?"

"You are assuming that Leader was in control. What if someone was mind controlling him?

"Is there such a powerful enough magic here? In Al-Erat? ON Centaurs?" Raver became very curious. If there was such magic, this region is more interesting than it looked to be.

"Well, time's a-wasting"

*moves down the stairs*

Caladrius "This is just speculation, but it seems to fit with the fact at hand"

Ashakel's waiting for Higaide to walk down the stairs then follows in his path. "No theories until we get rested. Now move along."

"If one powerful enough to mind control a being is behind this, I doubt he would waste his effort controlling a random Centaur unless he had some political gain. They could have just as easily been hired by someone with the same intentions. Either way, it doesn't matter how they were coerced to come here, but rather what role they played in accomplishing an objective. They could simply have been enemies of the inhabitants of this ravine stronghold as well; not connected to this grand 'conspiracy' in any way. Now, perhaps it would be pertinent to leave the battlefield and seek shelter". Whis Kor looks very tired, leaning on his shield which he has planted in the ground.

*Tabran waits for the rest to go down there stairs then follows*