It is an uneventful night so far, something that in itself can make things feel uneasy. People are going about their business passing from the uppers to the lowers, and there is a general sense of calm for now. You are all here either passing through, as guards at this key gate, or for your own unshared reasons.

The sound of a few insects are your only companions beyond each other, and the two tired guardsmen manning the gate itself.

Reese arrives while adorned in her slivery steel plate. She has a pink sword at one hip and her steel mace at her hip. A pink and black cloak of the iron guard hangs from her shoulders. She seems to be ton duty patrolling.

Merek is on his duties for the time being. It's been said that in the next day or so, it could well be Brand's assault, and the finest hour of Arx not seen since the times of Queen Alarice. But for now, it is just that quiet uneventful night. He has his armour on, clawed gloves shifting about as he watches on into the streets, the few people still travelling drawing his attention, as he looks from beneath his hooded cloak. Black, Gold, Silver, and Crimson seem to be his allies. "Do you think Brand's forces will attack in the next day?" he asks to the Guardsmen still around, including the ones he brought with him.

Orathy is one of those passing between upper and lowers. He's a typical sight to be meandering the path between, using documentation from House Pravus to ensure his continued movement between gates. He's heading down to the Lowers, leather hood up, boots heavy, a bottle of whiskey in his left hand. His function leathers are cleaned up, the road dust off them, his hair groomed, and he actually didn't smell like the sewage of the Lowers.

Silas is around for a variety of reasons, some obvious and others not quite. It doesn't look like he's -patrolling-, per say, but his eyes do dart towards any guardsmen who pass by. He seems to be looking for something or someone in particular with apparently little success. He is easily recognizeable in his maroon rubicund armor and Iron Guard crest and cape.

Rickard makes his way back and forth in front of the gate, lazily "patrolling," for lack of anything better to do. He's no guardsman, but regardless he is armed, if only for his own personal protection: a simple, high-quality dagger that gleams when the light touches it. He yawns, and streeetches luxuriously. He's beginning to lose the stench of forged metals and ore, especially now that he carries a pouch of herbs and things to ward off such smells. He gives a doffish sort of two-finger salute to those gathered.

Silas wields Dirge, an alaricite longsword with a faint crimson sheen.

Thena is recently off duty but sticking around for some reasons of her own that are most likely comprised entirely of shooting the breeze with some of her fellow guards. In her black leather armor, she does not stand out much in the darkness of the streets though she's not making a concerted effort to be stealthy. Hands shoved in her pockets, she gives off an air of complete casualness.

Merek wields Eurusian Nightsong.

Leta isn't quite patrolling. She's in armor, and she's carrying a big ol' weapon over one shoulder, but she's not exactly doing anything patrol-like. She's whistling, and strutting and stopping to chat and to see the sights, though she's familiar enough to people on patrol. Not so much patrol, perhaps, as distracting certain Iron Guardswomen. Woman. Princess.

Leta wields a red steel pollaxe mounted on a solid reinforced ash haft.

Leta checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 12 higher.

Thena checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 4 higher.

Merek checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 2 lower.

Rickard checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 21 higher.

Reese checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 5 higher.

Silas checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 2 lower.

Orathy checked perception + survival at difficulty 15, rolling 12 higher.

Reese smiles over to those she knows who are arriving. "Baron Silas." She says warmly and then she waves to Merek, Rickard and Leta as well. She doesn't seem to notice Orathy yet, but he is much quieter than the steel covered princess.

There is a feeling of oddness that hits everyone. As though the night gasped just a little.

(Rolled 15+) You realize it for what it is, the ground just shook. Not a big tremor, but then there is a second.

(Rickard) With a terrifying certainty you realize the tremors are getting closer and stronger, and will soon reach the gate. Despite that, nothing can be seen approaching nor is there the telltale silence of bringers or screams of emergency.

Reese sucks in a soft breath. She looks to Silas and Merek. "The ground just shook. A little tremor or something." She murmurs, before looking down at the ground close to her booted feet. She seems confused.

Merek looks down and then frowns, "I didn't notice it, but I suppose you must be right," Merek tells Reese, while he reaches to unlatch his kite shield, and pull out his rubicund blade, twirling it a small bit. He then frowns and leans back in thought.

Silas smiles back to Reese and nods. "Princess Reese--" He is cut off when he senses something... off. Reese reveals what it was and Silas blinks in reply. "Huh. I didn't feel it..." He absently looks to the ground beneath him.

"Whatever it is, they're getting closer," Rickard nods to Reese, a look of grim certainty crossing his face.

Reese looks over to Rickard. "Thats not good." She murmurs softly and then moves to draw her silvery pink blade. She seems to have taken the smith's words quite seriously.

Leta's wearing fancy leather boots, so maybe she can feel things shake a little better than if she didn't. She cocks her head and looks down, then looks up again and squints. "Couldn't be like - one of them big ugly digger things, could it, your Highness? Like the - the one at the wedding?" she calls out to Reese, and her tone is actually jovial in spite of the apprehensive frown starting to crease the sellsword's brow. Just in case, she picks up the helmet hanging from her belt and bounces it in one hand before slipping it on.

Another, stronger shake comes. Everyone feels it in their boots. The insects have gone silent. Even the two tired guards at the gate are roused with the realization something isn't right.

Thena cants her head, then looks around to see if anyone else felt anything. Which...it seems at least someone did. Someones. Her hand goes to her hip where her Iron Guard dagger is sheathed. "Yeah, all right, so that wasn't just me." The second tremor comes and she pulls the dagger free.

Orathy stops at the vibration that he feels through his boots. Comically he lifts the whiskey bottle up and gives it a determined look. It was totally to blame. What can you do! Already drunk right! He takes another slug of whiskey. AHHH. Whiskey.

Reese looks over to Leta and her cheeks are a bit pale with nervous concern. She nods in response to her words. "It very well could be." She murmurs. "If it is a giant armored digger, it can't be hurt with bladed weapons unless one gets the eyes. Otherwise it needs blunt weapons." She announces to the group.

"Oh... Well that's perfect," Merek announces upon Reese's words, while he looks to his back and his bow, but then shifts his gaze forward a bit, waiting while he shifts his shield forward, taking a stance. "Whatever it is, we need to be ready," he offers with an exhausted sigh. His glassed visor looks around a bit.

Silas frowns deeply when even he can finally sense something was terribly wrong. He unsheathes his alaricite blade and lets his gaze scan the area, attempting to sense in what direction the threat will come from. "It's -big-, whatever it is. Look out below." Though there isn't much anyone could do about it if it did burst through the ground!

Merek checked stamina + athletics at difficulty 12, rolling 12 higher.

Orathy checked stamina + athletics at difficulty 32, rolling 1 lower.

Silas checked stamina + athletics at difficulty 44, rolling 1 lower.

1 Iron Guardsmen, 2 Iron Guardsmen arrive, following Calaudrin.

1 Iron Guardsmen, 2 Iron Guardsmen leave, following Calaudrin.

Thena checked stamina + athletics at difficulty 15, rolling 2 lower.

Reese checked stamina + athletics at difficulty 45, rolling 2 higher.

Leta checked stamina + athletics at difficulty 39, rolling 7 higher.

"It might not be that. I don't know." Reese says toward Merek. She seems tensely wary and ready to act.

The shaking of the ground has become audible, and more rapid. Bits of roofing fall loose, loose items fall over, and the dust shakes from the very foundations of the gate.

There is stillness, a moment of silence, and then a muffled inhuman roar that echoes up from the ground itself. There is no mistaking it, there is no questioning it, whatever is making that noise is under the street right now.

You have the time to realize the danger, but not the time to act. Part of the street bursts open, shattered rocks peppering the nearby area as a reptilian creature the size of an elephant bursts through the ground. In it's jaws is a badly wounded bringer, the black blood leaking from it's wounds into the giant beast's maw.

Orathy checked stamina + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 10 higher.

Silas checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 15 higher.

Merek checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 4 lower.

Thena checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 2 higher.

Thena checked stamina + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 17 higher.

Reese checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 20, rolling 30 higher.

Leta checked stamina + survival at difficulty 20, rolling 3 lower.

While he is not struck by the creature itself, the sheer force of the ground being thrown around, as well as a rock hitting him, drives him down to the ground. His hands remain on his weapon and shield, although there is a small sound from him, while he looks up. He shifts his sword and presses it to the ground before he uses it to try and regain his balance, "Shards! ANEKA, flank right and get out of its sight!" he calls to his Guard partner.

Sparte has rolled 5 10-sided dice: 5, 5, 6, 7, 10

Merek that is.

Sparte has rolled 1 65-sided dice: 5

Sparte has rolled 1 65-sided dice: 14

And sure enough, it comes from underneath the ground! Silas is quick to leap back and gracefully lands on his feet with his weapon still in hand. He takes a moment to make sure Reese and Merek are unharmed. Deducing they were unscathed, Silas turns to face the monster...

Leta takes minor damage.

Reese is pretty graceful for a woman covered in steel. She darts to the side and keeps from falling. The girl tries to get into position to attack.

Orathy wobbles from the thrumming of the street underneath, his arm giving a flail but he is careful to save the booze. He grumbles, "Oy, wha cha fuckin tryin ta do! Imma drinkin' 'ere!" There's bits of dust and small debris hurled his way, though the roof of the building he had lumbered near protects him for the most part. Determined to give the person responsible a piece of his mind, he turns instead to see the reptilian creature emerging from the street. "Fuckin abyss!" He looks at the bottle of whiskey, then grunts, then chugs the rest of the whiskey and tosses the bottle over his shoulder, "Reckon I ain't mindin lizard fer dinner..." He frees the axe from his belt.

--- Round One ---
Declarations
Silas/Leta/Reese/Thena - Attack Creature
Orathy - Attack Creature
Merek - Recovering

--- Enemy Activity! ---
The Bringer in the creature's jaws attempts to struggle free but seems unable to, being overpowered by the massive beast. Their fate seems sealed when the rubble shifts and out of the same hole the creature created, a second bringer comes into view. Striking at the lizard's left eye and jaw, he injures it enough to force it to drop the wounded bringer. The create gives an intimidating roar of anger at being deprived of their disgusting meal, their own dark green reptilian mixing with that of the bringer.

(Everyone must make a willpower+war or leadership check at 20 or be intimidated, forcing them into defensive stance for combat)

(Those attacking the creature may roll at 50, modified by stance and weapon difficulty mod)

(Those attacking the wounded bringer may roll at 60, modified by stance and weapon difficulty mod)

Orathy checked willpower + leadership at difficulty 20, rolling 6 higher.

Thena checked willpower + leadership at difficulty 20, rolling 9 lower.

Silas checked willpower + leadership at difficulty 20, rolling 11 higher.

Reese checked willpower + leadership at difficulty 15, rolling 24 higher.

Merek checked willpower + leadership at difficulty 20, rolling 22 higher.

Leta checked willpower + war at difficulty 20, rolling 1 higher.

Orathy checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 54, rolling 13 higher.

Reese checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 38, rolling 16 higher.

Thena checked dexterity + small wpn at difficulty 50, rolling 5 lower.

Silas checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 49, rolling 8 higher.

Leta checked dexterity + huge wpn at difficulty 65, rolling 23 higher.

Sparte GM Roll checked stamina(5) + survival(4) at difficulty 20, rolling 38 higher.

Reese strikes at the large beast with her silvery pink sword. The warrior princess is skilled and her blow lands. She seems to be fighting in this rather reckless matter, putting everything into her attacks.

Merek continues to stand up with the use of his blade, while he shakes his head a bit, and moves back into his stance while he looks between all the chaos. It seems he has recovered enough that he can make preperations to move forward as needed. "Lord Commander, we're gonna need more than just blades to finish this fight!"

Orathy stalks over toward the lizard and the Bringer. His footfalls are heavy, he sniffs antagonized by the appearance of the creatures in his part of town, trodding over with a swing of his axe, the red steel glinting as with aggression, he hefts the axe in a practiced and brutal arc, bringing it down with a slide THUNK in the wounded bringer. A double tap will be required, which this time he aims for the Bringer's neck, to severe the head from the body. All in a day's work.

slide=solid*

Thena manages to avoid the initial fallout from the creature bursting forth but her blind swipe at it misses. She turns the momentum of the failed strike into a skitter further out of its path and drops into a defensive crouch, breathing a soft, "Holy fuck."

That must've been a piece of roofing landing atop Leta's recently worn helm, and another across her arm before she stumbles forward, shaking her dazed head a moment. That done, the mercenary wields her pollaxe again with a low "Shit!" then charges forward. Leta does not do heroics, she advances, trying to figure out what's going on, easier said than done in that helmet. "Is that a dragon!?" she yells out in confusion. But look, there's a Bringer, and Bringers are sure to be bad. While Orathy pulls back from the first blow and readies a second, she steps in and thrusts from the side, to skewer the creature with the long sharp spike at the end of her polearm. Prod, prod, prod, then she steps back.

Silas lunges forward to attack the reptilian creature. His blade pierces the creature's skin, though it is not a lethal blow, and he withdraws to reassess the situation as the others go in. His gaze goes to the second Bringer and he grunts. Merek is given a flicker of his attention, but the Lord Commander's focus was on the immediate threats. "If you have magic water, Merek, use it! Otherwise blades are what we have!" He fixates his gaze on the second bringer. "Thena, get -him- if you can! Reese and I can handle the big guy!"


**********************************************************************
As the Siege has gone on, frequent gossip has arisen at court about the odd feud between a well known merchant Lazarus Mercier and House Grayson. Most assumed nothing much would arise from it, that seemed to come from some dispute about grain and alcohol or... something? It's a little fuzzy, and most are unconcerned, but then two days pass with no sign of Lazarus Mercier, until his body is found in the Lower Boroughs near the dockside warehouses, with his throat cut. No witnesses of the murder have yet been found by the Inquisition, but they are hoping some will come forward.
**********************************************************************


--- Round Two ---

Declarations


Silas - Attacking Creature (Difficulty 49)

Leta - Attacking Healthy Bringer (Difficulty 65)

Reese - Attacking Creature (Difficulty 38)

Thena - Attacking Wounded Bringer (Guarded! Difficulty 70)

Orathy - Attacking Wounded Bringer (Guarded! Difficulty 54)

Merek - Attacking Healthy Bringer (Difficulty 59)

NPC Gate Guards - Attempting to seal the gate


--- Enemy Activity! ---

The creature is angry and is lashing out at anything nearby. A blow meant for the wounded bringer instead finds the healthy one acting to guard them, while a second goes towards Silas.

The wounded bringer uses claws speckled in black and red and green blood to kick up loose rocks to help shield them as they use the guard of their fellow to get around the creature, putting it between them and the guard.

The healthy bringer doesn't strike anyone, but the lights in the area seem dimmer and the sounds slowly die in your throats and from your weapons.

--- Environmental Modifiers ---

Bringer silence has set over the battlefield. Unless somehow broken, you will not be able to relay commands or advice to one another.
The street is in shambles, and the creature is making it worse the longer it fights in the same spot. Already parts of the road are crumbling into the forgotten tunnel below.

Merek checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 59, rolling 19 lower.

Silas checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 49, rolling 22 higher.

Orathy checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 54, rolling 12 higher.

Thena has rolled a critical success!
Thena checked dexterity + small wpn at difficulty 70, rolling 24 higher.

Sparte GM Roll checked strength(6) + brawl(4) at difficulty 50, rolling 16 higher.

Sparte GM Roll checked strength(6) + brawl(4) at difficulty 70, rolling 24 lower.

Leta checked dexterity + huge wpn at difficulty 65, rolling 11 lower.

Reese checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 38, rolling 33 higher.

Merek takes a moment to charge forward with his sword, and swings it, which is met with a swipe of the weapon from the Bringer. He then reels back a bit and hefts up his shield, while he looks around and tries to prepare for the combat. The silence, he can feel it, it seems to be throwing him off a little, and he can't really shout out to his companions.

Silas spots the Bringer approaching as he moves to attack the reptile again. He pauses to parry the incoming blow and gets shoved away. He grunts, but no sound actually leaves him due to the creature's bringer friend enveloping the surrounding area with a cone of silence. He leaves the bringer to be attacked by the others, bringing his blade down on the creature again. He's success in harming it, but not in any significant manner. He backs away momentarily, attempting to find the squishier bits...

Reese continues hacking at the large beast. Her word is good, but the creature is quite tough! She looks toward the bringer that approaches Silas, sucking in a soft breath of concern. The girl is once again fighting in this rather reckless way in the way that heavily armored tanks sometimes do.

One Bringer's down, or close enough it seemed, so Leta leaves it to Orathy and moves on to the next, stepping around it, pollaxe held at ready in both hands. She grunts as she moves in on the unnatural thing, but the sound dies in her throat as it invokes whatever demonic sorcery draws silence upon the battlefield, and the sellsword hesitates a moment, brow furrowing in discomfort at the quiet. She steels herself and advances, aiming a careful chop with the axe end at the enemy, but between the loose rocks flying around and the monster's claws swinging overhead, the axe goes wide, and she stomps a foot in noiseless frustration.

One bringer looks like another bringer to Orathy. The axe is swing, if it connects, well that's fine with him! The bite of the axe draws black blood and thus, it wasn't wasted effort. The unusual silence to a drunkard working alone or at least simultaneously with someone he doesn't know... is that he really doesn't seem to react to it. Things stopped being weird a long time ago! This is the daily life of those under siege of a magical blighted army! Really, he just seems incensed, wants to kill things, so the axe is swung again with an intended target of whoever or whatever is in front of him.

Thena takes a fraction of a moment to compose herself, then springs out of her crouch and rushes the wounded Bringer...perhaps not the Bringer indicated, but this is her first rodeo with the uncanny creatures and her nerves are perhaps not entirely on point. The slender guard in leather armor is able to get a solid hit on the thing and duck out of the way before someone else takes a turn. The silence is unaccustomed and unnerving. Her fingers, covered in black gore, realign themselves on the hilt of her dagger.

Whisper the Snowy Owl arrives, delivering a message to Silas before departing.

--- Round Three ---

Declarations


Silas - Look for Weak Spots (Perception+Investigation at 30)

Leta - Attacking Bringer (Difficulty 65)

Reese - Attacking Creature (Difficulty 38)

Thena [Fatigued] - Attacking Bringer (Difficulty 75)

Orathy - Attacking Bringer (Critical Attempt) (Difficulty 64)

Merek - Secret (But roll Mana+Theology at 50 anyway)

NPC Gate Guards - Gate is starting to close


--- Enemy Activity! ---

The wounded bringer has fled in the chaos, down into the tunnels the create carried it up from.

The creature strikes at Silas again, and Reese as well. It is lashing out wildly, the tail striking a nearby building and causing part of it to collapse into the ruined street.

The Bringer who had been on the defensive is now using the distraction of the beast with others to advantage as well, distancing itself from it to swipe at Orathy.

And there is an Owl here to deliver a message for someone. Owls arn't known to be bright birds, but it drops the letter and gets the heck out.

--- Environmental Modifiers ---

Bringer silence has set over the battlefield. Unless somehow broken, you will not be able to relay commands or advice to one another.
The damage to the street is so bad that the beast isn't standing as tall as it was. Who knows what another round of carnage will do.

Merek checked mana + theology at difficulty 50, rolling 20 lower.

Reese checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 38, rolling 21 higher.

Silas checked perception + investigation at difficulty 30, rolling 0 higher.

Orathy checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 64, rolling 9 lower.

Thena checked dexterity + small wpn at difficulty 75, rolling 17 lower.

Leta checked dexterity + huge wpn at difficulty 65, rolling 1 higher.

Sparte GM Roll checked strength(6) + brawl(4) at difficulty 70, rolling 4 lower.

Sparte GM Roll checked strength(6) + brawl(4) at difficulty 59, rolling 5 higher.

Sparte GM Roll checked strength(5) + brawl(5) at difficulty 70, rolling 17 lower.

Reese takes serious damage.

Merek can't speak well in the silence, but his lips move as if in a quiet supplication, his sword shifted towards the direction forward, shield arched to his back while he seems to be in concentration. Who knows what he is thinking? But there is a look of frustration. He then shakes his head and swishes his sword to the side, while he moves forward...

Reese cries out with pain as the creature connects with her and even with all the steel that encases her body she likely was quite seriously hurt. Her cheeks are pale and her breathing is elevated, but she tries to control to fight and she tries to ignore the pain of her broken ribs. Wince..wince.

Orathy dances back on his feet, daaannncing yahhhh...! He's quick when he wants to be and when the critically injured Bringer has life enough left in him to attack, Orathy connects and then disengages enough to dodge, looking at the creature with a slow meaningful shake of his head. There's something he mutters, but no one can hear him, the look says it enough: You shouldn't have done that!

Thena is panting a little as she whiffs her next attempt, and backs off to catch her breath.

Silas chews into the inside of his cheek and darts out of the way of the incoming tail. His eyes scan the creature and his brows furrow in consternation, then he decides he's looked long enough and encircles the creature. Their staring contest is interrupted when Silas leaps and makes a stab for it's slightly wounded eye! The rest of the chaos going on around them is ignored, for now, as he dearly hopes the others are faring better against their opponents than he was against his.

Leta demonstrates why she makes the big silver, such as it is, by doggedly yet methodically pursuing this one Bringer. It's disturbing, to fight in the silence like this, and her eyes are narrowed into thin slits behind the steel of her helm framing that narrow section of her face. But she remains untiring, and after seeking an opening she moves into range of the Bringer, twirling the pollaxe around and lifting it above her head, bringing it down in a jarring blow with the hammer end. It doesn't connect as solidly as she might like, perhaps, but there's more than enough strength behind it.

--- TILT ---

Declarations


NPC Gate Guards - Nope. Nope nope nope. Gates slam SHUT.


--- Sudden Development ---

The gates slamming shut between the uppers and the lowers is a rare thing. Something that almost never happens, in fact, and has never happened when the structural integrity of the nearby area was in such disarray. The shattered street can't take it. Bringer, Creature, and Heroes alike see the nearby damaged building shudder in the shake of the gate closing, then tilts towards the street. At the same time more of the street collapses, the creature's hind legs falling out of view.

--- Environmental Modifiers ---

Bringer silence has set over the battlefield. Unless somehow broken, you will not be able to relay commands or advice to one another.
The building is falling! This is not a drill, GET OUT OF THE WAY.

(Everyone must either declare they're not retreating, or make a dexterity/stamina+athletics/survival (Choose best) at difficulty 30.

Orathy checked stamina + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 3 higher.

Thena checked dexterity + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 5 lower.

Reese checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 8 higher.

Merek checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 12 lower.

Orathy... was feinting around the Bringer in attempts to get around the critically mangled beast. There was only split seconds when he saw the ... shit falling from the sky! He leaps down the hole, into the depths, where that first wounded bringer escaped to. He's done worse! Maybe. Maybe not. His form disappears into the canverous opening behind where the lizard's hindquarters are!

Leta checked dexterity + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 3 higher.

Silas checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 40, rolling 24 higher.

Merek seems to notice the building and its lean. It will hit the creature, and them it seems. He takes his time to turn and try to move, but all he manages to do is roll along with the street that is falling in a bit, not making it too far as he struggles and holds his shield above him.

Thena takes moderate damage.

Merek takes serious damage.

Sparte GM Roll checked stamina(5) + athletics(3) at difficulty 30, rolling 18 higher.

Sparte GM Roll checked stamina(6) + survival(5) at difficulty 30, rolling 32 higher.

The downside to having tunnel vision? You ignore everything around you! Silas's focus remains on the creature while the road beneath them and the nearby building tilts in their direction and collapses! He'll likely get hurt, but... at least the baddie will come out of it worse!?

Thena seems distracted by something...many things...and doesn't notice the bulding coming down until it's almost too late. She's able to avoid the worst of the crush, but yelps in pain as a chunk of masonry hits her shoulder hard, and another gouges her at the hairline.

Reese darts to the side, avoiding the falling building as she continues to attack the large creature.

Leta's not going to stick around under a building again, and when it seems there are things falling, she hastily darts out of the way, leaping over some fallen debris for good measure, as stone and roofing crash onto the street right behind her, in the spot she previously occupied. The sellsword leans on her pollaxe a moment to catch her breath and looks quickly around, trying to keep track of the whole mess.

--- Collapse ---

It is an eerie thing to have a building fall in complete silence. It is even stranger to have the sound suddenly return while the rubble is still unsettled. All at once the silence put forth by the bringer is gone, in it's place a cloud of dust from the settling debris.

You all can hear the creature retreat, even if you can't see what happened. The ground shakes, softer and softer, as it goes back into whatever depths spawned it.

Meanwhile you are left with other troubles. Several people can't be seen when the dust starts to settle. Where is Silas, Merek, and Orathy? Where is the Bringer?

Leta, Reese, Thena, and Rickard are left standing in the street to determine what to do next.

Reese is still injured and she also is very confused and concerned. "Silas! Merek!" She calls out now that she can. She even calls for Orathy. "Orathy!" She says, hoping that one of the will call back. She tries to look around the area, searching for them or any foes.

Merek seems to not be able to defend himself even with his shield. As soon as the whole torrent comes down, one rocks slams into his cheek, another against his stomach pinning him, and a jagged edge tears into him splattering some blood, "Tell my sister goodbye for me!" he can be heard shouting, just as the silence is broken, and then he is gone, down into wherever Silas and Orathy were taken as well.

As the building comes down, Rickard reaches and calls out for his companions, silent as the grave. When the dust springs up, and sound returns to the scene, he blinks, and begins coughing to clear the dust from his lungs, tucking into the crook of his elbow in an attempt to clear his airway until the dust passes. As the creature disappears back from whence it came, Rickard exhales. An eyebrow shoots up in alarm as Merek's cry goes up.. and then Rickard realizes Silas, Merek, and Orathy are gone.

Thena chokes on a mouthful of dust and indulges herself in a painful coughing fit before gingerly hauling herself to her feet. "Fuck, where..." Startled by the sudden return of sound, she wipes at a rill of blood oozing down her face and then totters towards Reese. Following her lead, she tries shouting as well, though her voice is harsh from the coughing.

Leta dusts herself off and looks around, confused, rubbing at her nose with a finger of her gauntlet. Drawing a few breaths, she turns her eyes towards the shouting Reese. "I'd - well, they got to be down there, right?" she leans on her polearm a moment longer, and with the other hand gestures towards the ground where the creature came from, and likely vanished into. "That's a - that's a cave dragon, right? No wings. Got to be something like that, so - they couldn't have flown up." she helpfully points out, "You hurt, your Highness?" the sellsword asks of Reese and, very, very carefully, steps forward, poking at the ground with the spiked butt of her weapon.

Reese heads in the direction of Merek's voice with the intention of going to help him. "Merek, I'm coming for you!" She calls. She looks over to Rickard, Leta and Thena. "I'm going that way, If you want to follow." She then turns to Leta, nodding. "Yeah, I will be okay though."

Rickard nods, tightening his grip on his blade as he lifts his free hand in acknowledgement of Reese's words, standing ready to move on.. Reese's? Someone's, at least, orders. He glances around the room, taking in as much as he can, committing it to memory.

"I'm coming too," Thena says thickly to Reese because she's not going to sit out here. Even if it's a pretty good idea, all told.

The rubble has had quite the collapse. One side, the side heading towards the uppers, is completely sealed off. What you can see of the passage heading further south suggests it was man made, but there is no sign of the missing people. What you do find is a trail of black blood.

Reese sucks in a soft breath of concern. "Well, the best I got is following that trail. Unless anyone has any better ideas?" She murmurs and takes a step forward along the path. She seems very detrimined to find her missing friends.

There, Leta stands on the edge of the rubble, peering to the passage, and leans on her polearm again. "Anyone got any torches or something like it? I got a flint and all, but that's it." she comments, then stops and adds, "And I need two hands to fight too, if you don't mind. Or we can just go into the dark, that's fine. What's the worst we'll find there? Rats?" the brawny blonde shrugs her shoulders and steps forward.

Rickard steps up with Reese, weapon at the ready. "Agreed. We should follow the trail.." And yes, someone should probably bring a torch or something. If only he had one. Bah.

"I can carry a torch. If we have a torch." Thena doesn't have a torch. Leta gets an odd look for her offhand rat remark, and the guard murmurs, "You might be surprised by some of the rats around here."

Reese doesn't have a torch either. She does't even have flint. She continues along the trail, because would possibly go wrong!

After a brief exploration without the help of a light source you learn just how dark the passage gets after only a short distance. Returning by the only light you can see you are met by other guardsmen who came to investigate the matter. Torches, lanterns, and other equipment are being brought in to address the collapse. While you may have been alone during he incident, it is a reminder that there are others in the city able and willing to help.

Unfortunately most of the heavier equipment is to the north of the gate, and they havn't managed to get it open again because of a jam.

With the help of the other guards, your numbers are easily tripled and there is ample light to investigate. The passage is indeed man made, only wide enough for one person to walk it in most point. It comes to an end under a building in the lowers that may have had a different purpose in an earlier era, but is now dilapitated and run down. The trail of blood ends there, with a pile of rags and decaying flesh that must've been the bringer. It must have, right?

Reese seems confused when the trail comes to an end, confused and still troubled. She glances over the area searching for any signs of those missing. "Merek?" She calls out, heaving remembered his last words that sounded rather troubling. She looks for any possible open or way to continue to look for her friends.

Leta prods the rags with the pointy end of the pollaxe, then looks around, "Got to be - some way to." she remarks, torchless, but working by the light others bear. She tags along for the exploration, eventually looking at some of the bookshelves. "Secret passage, aye? Like in that story with the murderer and the palace and - anyway, got to be. Bet you pull on a book or a sconce or something, and it just opens right up!"

Reese hmms softly and looks around, searching for any possible clues.

When a building falls nearby it can be terrifying, particularly a large one. Being under one is a different level of experience. Merek almost makes it away, being caught and swallowed up as the debris settles. Silas is lost from sight. Orathy willingly threw himself to the depths. But what is their fate?

Not as bad as it looked, as fortune has it. The building's damage to the near wall and the bulk of the creature shielding them meant that the collapse was a survivable one. Orathy managed to outrun it down the tunnel, Merek while trapped was still alive, and Silas had taken a most dangerous tactic of attacking and blinding the creature - the single largest and most stable thing nearby. When the building hit the creature was Silas' shield, and afterwards the blinded creature fled - presumably to where it had come from.

There is just one lingering problem. The bringer's silence still fell over the tunnel. They were not yet alone.

Merek checked strength + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 21 lower.

Merek blinks a few times, and reaches to try and push the rock off him, then he lets out a small sound as blood rolls down the side of his leather armours. His hands slide to his sides, as he shakes his head a bit, he reaches to find his sword and shield if he can.

Silas checked dexterity + stealth at difficulty 30, rolling 11 lower.

Silas checked strength + athletics at difficulty 30, rolling 13 higher.

Coughing from the dust that kicks up from the rubble and the collapse of the building, Orathy is left to feel his way along the tunnel. Somehow he didn't break a leg or an arm this time, jumping into the pit. He meanders blindly.

Meanwhile... Leta's the ideas woman, but after looking around for sconces and pulling out a few books from the shelves, she stops and tries to make out what the texts are about, though she's not a very fast reader, and it takes more concentration that she has to get through more than the front pages of a few of the tomes. The sellsword removes her helmet and rubs a sleeve back across her wild, messy hair. "Best we split up." she suggests, while Reese searches for clues.

Silas is miraculously unharmed in spite of his complete and utter recklessness. The giant creature acts as his shield as they go under, and somehow doesn't turn him into paste underneath it's girth. The Lord Commander is profoundly confused when his world suddenly turns upside down -- almost literally - and he finds himself colliding harshly with the cold earth. The debris falls around him, but he avoids that for the most part, too! He climbs to his feet, his dry cough muted by the silence spell, and peers at his surroundings. He immediately attempts to climb through the rubble in his way, but dislodges a particularly large rock and it falls on top of him. Thankfully, after some muted cursing, he manages to heave it off himself. He attempts to shout, but it immediately becomes clear -that- wasn't going to work either. To him, there was only way he could get out of this... and it was by going forward.

Reese seems to feel really helpless about what to do here from here. She starts to feel along the floor searching for any loose stones, floor boards, openings or so forth. She peeks up to Leta, giving her a nod. She winces as her ribs are still broken.

Merek takes a moment to pull the lantern from his pack, able to find it with some searching, and strikes some of the flint in it to light the blue alchemic chemical flame on it. He then holds it up, while it flickers a fair bit and casts a light around. The quality of the lantern is past normal quality so the light is illuminating.

The tunnel and debris illuminated by the lantern is a mess. The dust kicked up on the surface is just as bad here, but it is settling in part because of the sucking of air through the tunnel. Something that saves Orathy from blundering into a rather awful mistake. The tunnel is shattered, the floor having been torn through. The damage below suggests that the creature went through multiple layers of the city's forgotten ways, catacombs, and smuggling routes. For the damage it did the first time, the damage it did the second time is perhaps worse.

The two bringers you faced were apparently not the only things the creature came across. There is more black blood, green and red as well. Whatever the Bringers thought they were doing, they made a costly mistake crossing this reptile. It is while struck with that view that Orathy feels the chilling approach of the Bringer, Silas and Merek able to witness it but unable to warn the other man.

Orathy has rolled a critical success!
Orathy checked perception + survival at difficulty 30, rolling 19 higher.

Orathy checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 16 higher.

Sparte GM Roll checked stamina(5) + survival(3) at difficulty 40, rolling 12 higher.

Sparte GM Roll checked dexterity(5) + brawl(4) at difficulty 45, rolling 4 higher.

Orathy takes moderate damage.

Orathy starts kicking up debris with his slow moving steps, feeling that the tunnel where he was meandering through suffered some catastrophic damage as well. The more and more debris he comes along, the slower he is able to progress. Blinded still in the darkness, the light source from the way he came gave a dim glow against the roiling dust clouds. It was then that he felt the chilling tell tale sign of a Bringer nearing. His senses tingle. Sliding low with a gathering bulk of rock and rubble, he waits, until he sees something of a figure coming down the tunnel. Wordlessly, he bounds over the rubble with a dare devil attack, all aggression and reckless determination, his growling lost in the silence that the Bringer's create. Red steel flashes in the dim light as he hacks at the Bringer, back and forth, slashing and cleaving. Black blood splays and in turn, so does red. His own form is rent by the attack of the Bringer, arm, torso, and leg taking a hit from Bringer claws, ripping through his leathers easily.

Merek checked mana + theology at difficulty 30, rolling 17 higher.

Merek takes a moment to look up and then closes both eyes for a moment. He then takes his blade and can't angle it well, bit it is lifted up a small bit. He whispers a silent prayer, inaudible to all. Last time he just looked silly, this time he might as well. However he then reaches for the boulder and trails his fingers down it, as tears from the pain fill his gaze. Whatever words he states are unheard of for the moment, taking his time to remember all the special prayers from the uncommon books, reciting them in mind and quiet repose, one that might work the situation, however then there is a movement as he shifts his hand and slams his fist into the rock. And that's when it happens. A silent clink of the rock. "... Shards!"

Silas checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 50, rolling 17 higher.

Sparte GM Roll checked stamina(5) + survival(3) at difficulty 70, rolling 2 higher.

Sparte GM Roll checked dexterity(5) + brawl(4) at difficulty 50, rolling 4 higher.

Orathy checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 40, rolling 6 higher.

Sparte GM Roll checked stamina(5) + survival(3) at difficulty 80, rolling 8 lower.

Orathy takes moderate damage.

Silas finally gets out of the rubble, but before he can go help Merek, he spots the Bringer approaching Orathy. He curses under his breath, torn in between helping his guardsman and coming to the aid of someone he didn't really like, but when it becomes apparent that Orathy will need more immediate help Silas stalks in that direction. He brings up his blade and slashes it downward at the Bringer's head. He misses his initial target, but the alaricite manages to cleave into its shoulder. He then yanks it free and withdraws a step.

Deterred from the reckless abandoned of his initial attack, Orathy regains whatever purchase he can in the confines of the tunnel, turning the back of the Bringer toward Silas so that the Iron Guard can come up behind and offer his assistance. Though it was Orathy's axe that would cleave the damn Bringer's head off the creature's shoulders, with one last gruesome duel between the monster and the man. While there's a sickening rent of flesh, both Bringer made and man made. The axe slices through as do Bringer claws. However, only one crumbles. That would be the Bringer, headless, as it detaches and rolls as the Bringer's body flops.

Merek leans back, once he has helped break the silence that the Bringer had upon them. He looks over as the exchanges are made to finish off the hurt creature. He then calls out, "I didn't... Expect that to work, who'd have thought?" Beat, "Don't..." Cough, "Forget I'm still here," he manages, while he leans back, and lets out a groan, moving his hand as much as he can to cover where a rock cut into him. "Thank the Gods..."

Silas chuffs a sigh of relief when the Bringer is easily incapacitated by Orathy's axe. He doesn't linger to inspect the rolling head or gloat, and instead goes back to Merek. After giving the man's injuries a quick once over, he determines nothing needs immediate patching and helps the man get back to his feet. Unless he has protestations against that! "Lets get out of here. Quickly."


The rescue efforts of the guardsmen on the surface find the three, though it takes over an hour of shuffling things around and potentially awkward company for them to get free. While the damaged road will be repaired, that is fortunately none of your problems. You've survived a terrible encounter, and are reunited on the surface with the others who experienced it. The beast, whatever it was, is gone. For now.