07.02a: Sufficiently Advanced (Scorched Landing)

[Sadie]

"What I'd like to know is, when and where does this Mosh expect you to summon him with the tribute? How much time do we have before he's likely to get impatient and come looking?"

She then turns to Oberon, "Oberon, I need you to find me a ballista, and roughly five bolt shafts and see how long it will take to fashion some heads that are barbed to fit the shafts. I'll also need some tools to alter this ballista with, I'm making me a BFC*. I'm also going to need two Voulge-Guisarmes modified to have a steel shaft for the two of you. In addition I'll need a steel lance, a tower shield that's primarily made of steel that sports a hook or grove to help support the lance, and a very large cloth that closely resembles the ground of those mountains in hue."

She then turns to Solten, "I need you to visit the bakery, get as much pepper as you can and put it in fragile pouches that after being tightened will break easily on impact. Make them something easily held in the hand. Also get something to comfortably wrap around our mouths and nose as well as some goggles."

Not really speaking to anyone now more thinking, "I suppose we could all use some sickles as well in case the pole-arms are lost."

She then looks to both Solten and Oberon. "Don't hesitate to grab anything else you think we might need. Also if either of you can find out exactly where this dragon is other than, in those mountains over there somewhere, there's a big kiss in it for you."

She helps the orcs up.** "I'm afraid you both are left with two options. I give you back some weapons and I kill you in honorable battle, or you honorably surrender to this villages judicial system." If they choose to fight, she makes it quick, if they choose to surrender (which I doubt) she'll bind their hands and turn them in to the sheriff or whatever this town has that should be arriving... roughly... now!

* If anyone asks about BFC, assume she answers with a quick, "Big Fucking Crossbow" and continue on.
** This occurs after whenever they answer her question. Her hope is that they have a good amount of time before the dragon is expecting his tribute as the orcs likely have a lot of ground to cover and places/people to collect from.

[Joshua]

"The village..." Both orcs insist, "Yes, the village justice."

This reaction may seem odd, until the sheriff arrives. He's a dark-red-skinned orc, wearing a vest with a star, arrives. He looks at the carnage and just kind of blinks. "What the hell?"
He is followed by perhaps 30 dark-blue orcs who all just kind of stare at the scene. It's likely none of them have seen black orcs ripped apart so efficiently before.

One of the black orcs says something in orcish. (Translation: Crazy b*tch thinks we're doing something illegal. DON'T fight her.) (You can't tell what he's saying, but there is a vague impression of it.)

The red orc shakes his head. He looks at Sadie, "So, uh... Is this an act of war, raiding or recruitment?"

[Sadie]

Her eyes narrow. "It's an act. What exactly this act is will have to wait til after we go have a conversation with Mosh. Hope you don't mind being a dear and waiting til then. After all, we might just get ourselves killed and you'll have nothing to worry about. Then again..." leaving the last part unsaid.

"You boys go get our supplies." she says to Oberon and Solten. "The sheriff, his boys and I are going to have a private little conversation in the tavern here until you get back. Does that sound agreeable to you sheriff?"

Assuming they agree, the start of the conversation as they disappear into the tavern will be, "So in your town is attempted murder at the drop of a perceived insult legal? Really I'd love to learn what is and is not the law here. As we can see my "sad lot" comment..." and the conversation trails off into the distance.

[Joshua]

Oberon shrugs with a "I'm not arguing with her today." and heads off to scavenge, starting with the scorched weapons and armor.

the sheriff politely escorts everyone staying into the building... the innkeep almost has a heart attack, but produces a decent stew and morning ale...

the red orc explains things. Orcs are the law and enforcers for the dragon. this seems to devolve into small-talk. When a high level orc says "she's out of our legue" you listen.

[coldcandor]

If Sadie wants to take charge, things could well get interesting, so Solten decides to play up the role he's pretended. "Your wish is my command," he says in a very matter of fact tone, gives a quick grin, and trots off to find the nearest source of pepper.

Pepper and cloth are easy enough to find, but not actually knowing what goggles are, it takes some extra time to find a tinker's shop and acquire some. Satisfied he's got the raw materials, he heads back to the inn to begin preparing.

[Joshua]

None of the items are that hard to find. The town is fairly rundown, beaten by the oppression of the orcs running it. Still, they are faring well, the place isn't Mordor or similar, closer to a town that's constantly besieged by raiders. Most are depressed, yet defiant. Some feel a sense of hope in what you're doing, but none dare speak it.

Oberon finds what is requested in the stack, and within an hour or so has it repaired enough for use.

The red orc will explain where the dragon lives. He will offer to announce you formally.

[Sadie]

"This is a slaying not a challenge. If I choose do anything else involving this village afterwards it is a separate issue." She explains, taking the ballista bolts from Oberon as well as tools. "In fact I would prefer if you all remain as far from point zero as possible." Attaching some kind of small thin vials behind both sides of the bolt head. "It will be just me and my boys." She then gets up, grabbing the ballista. "Not bad Oberon, it looks almost complete. A couple alterations and it should be perfect." She says as she she starts making the alterations.

"Say sheriff mind if I have and modify that vest of yours?" She says.

"Uh, sure..." Responds the sheriff, taking off the badge and reluctantly handing over his vest, which, to his horror is promptly grabbed, torn in half and modified into a shoulder pad. "I actually liked that vest..." he mutters quietly to himself.

She then, once she finishes up her modifications, cranks the string back turning the crank like it's a jack in the box, and proceeds to heft the BFC like a bazooka taking test aim around the room with about the same amount of effort one might have wielding a standard heavy crossbow. This causes the sheriff's eyes to widen, then look to one of the black orcs she defeated earlier, who mouths back to him in orcish, "Told you so."

She turns to Solten, "Good job on the supplies." Then turning to the orcs. "Boys, I've got work for you to do. Take these cloths, fill them with pepper and tie them as tightly as you can." Which they do looking at each other like they can't believe they are actually doing this. "Oh stop looking like that. These are weapons believe it or not. Making a good weapon is men's work is it not?" Still grumbling they get back to work.

Once things are done and everything is prepared. "Well we're good to go. You boys stay out of trouble until we return. I expect there to be no unnatural deaths until we return or the dragon appears victorious."

She then turns back to and walks up to Solten. "Well, it seems I found out the information I needed on my own. Which means I get to choose who I get a kiss from, and I choose you. So..." blushing and looking down and away slightly, brushing her hair out of her face with one hand.

[Sadie]

After whatever Solten's response is. Likely kissing her.

She decides to test a pepper bomb by throwing it at a wall. It hits with a thump, a slight bounce, falls to the ground, and the pepper slowly pours out a hole in the cloth bag. "Oh..." she says blushing slightly from embarrassment. "Well that didn't work as intended... I guess... Um... Apothecary, put in something glass. And if not that some ceramic bottles or something. Well come on boys." she says to Oberon and Solten. "Time to get moving and pick up a couple things on the way. Also why didn't anyone tell me this wouldn't work?" And the journey plus a couple stops begins.

[Joshua]

The trip there is fairly uneventful. The cave in the mountains the red orc suggests you head to is centrally located, easy to find and only about a days travel by foot. Assuming you borrow horses, they can get you to the steep part by early afternoon, so you can get there before nightfall. The cave itself overlooks a valley with a difficult climb up. Not terrible for 1 or 2 by themselves, but no horses and no armies.

[coldcandor]

((Apologies for the delay. Holiday time can do that...))

When Sadie approaches Solten, he starts grinning wider. When she reaches him and offers the kiss, he reaches out and places a hand on each shoulder, grins wider still, and says in her head "See, I knew you could take charge." Then he moves his hands to the sides of her head and moves in for a somewhat awkward but tender kiss. His passion builds fairly quickly, especially if she is responsive, but he pulls back shortly after, breathing heavier. "That was nice." He says simply, blushing a bit himself.