Family Matters (AshPrince) GMed by Hafnium

[Hafnium]

Re: Family Matters (AshPrince) GMed by Hafnium

Spoiler

Elizabeth Silver: HP = 53, PP = 41, EP = 38, Status = Fine.

"If it's of aid to Lord Erhard, then I will gladly take up the mantle," the woman offered. Her pushable buttons were probably quite obvious to the talented rogue. But her adoration was something different, both like and unlike Alice's own. Like the mousy former-maid, the woman obviously felt that Erhard had saved her life. Unlike the maid, she seemed to look at it as a debt to be paid off and loyalty owed. The skinny handmaiden-cum-noblewoman might save Elizabeth's life a hundred times and still feel that she owed the Silver heiress her life. The woman in front of the assassin didn't give off that same vibe.

"As the information comes in, I shall see that it's communicated," she spoke with a nod. By that point, many of the more eager refugees were already off and accomplishing something out of the heiress's requests. There were still some who were a little less motivated, but they would surely be off soon. Elizabeth had also managed to set up a courier who would keep Erhard and her, most likely the latter being the more important of the two, informed of supplies and statuses, and managed to stop the refugees from murdering each other. All in all, not bad for a single speech and a few words, but having a Silver tongue ran in the family. The question, now, was what came next for the rogue?

 

[AshPrince]

Re: Family Matters (AshPrince) GMed by Hafnium

Elizabeth nodded to the women. She could pay her debt to Erhard by helping her. “Though do try not to be too obvious hmm?” Sometimes the best way to conceal something, was to act as though it didn’t need to be concealed. “We don’t want to give the appearance that we’re spying on anyone.” Especially since that was exactly what they were doing. “We just don’t want anyone getting hurt, or doing anything stupid.” That much at least was true.

So, that covered the refugees; there was at least precedent set for them to see her as an authority figure. An important precedent should her cousin meet an untimely end. The guards would be next; Elizabeth figured she had already one some of them over by putting the refugees to work, her fighting the creatures at the front until the lot of them were drawn inside probably hadn’t hurt either, but they had yet to follow any of her orders, and following her orders was a habit she wanted to instill in them. So it was back to the Captain’s office. “I’m going to go talk to the captain of the guard, excuse me.” Elizabeth nodded to the woman, taking the walk back over to and up the stairs as an opportunity to ‘survey the troops’ so to speak, certainly to look like she was surveying the troops. She wanted to inspire as much confidence as possible, and thus she wanted to make sure everyone of her ‘troops’ saw her confidence in them. The smiling was starting to hurt, Karina was far better suited to being ‘one of the people’ than she was.

But Karina was being mopey, hopefully inspiring the refugees to become ‘one Bardaria’ would win her some points with the young spiritist as well. Elizabeth really did want to lead as many people to safety as she could, not for altruistic reasons obviously, but because saving someone’s life was an excellent way to indebt them to you, obviously. Still, at least the local guards should be indebted to her for ‘inspiring’ the refugees to do something other than harasses the guards. That should count for something.

 

[Hafnium]

Re: Family Matters (AshPrince) GMed by Hafnium

Spoiler

Elizabeth Silver: HP = 53, PP = 41, EP = 38, Status = Fine.

(I did not realize it had been a week since I last posted in this thread. This delay was entirely my fault and I'm sorry for that.)

The as-of-yet unnamed woman looked at Elizabeth in a manner not dissimilar to how a wary student might watch an unfamiliar professor after being handed a question that they believed to be a trick question. That reaction eventually gave way to a sense of confusion, as though the heiress was speaking another language. Both finally broke when she clarified as to why and the woman gave a short, if stiff, nod. "I suppose that makes sense, Lady Silver. I'll heed your warning."

With that out of the way, Erhard's ardent supporter gave another, more gracious, nod and allowed the Silver noblewoman to be on her way. Elizabeth's watchful maid-slash-sister followed her - surprisingly silently, as well. The rogue could only barely hear her new sister and might have had some difficulty keeping track of her had she not had so much experience.

That aside, the presence of the valorous woman, or at least the woman who was perceived as valorous, and her new relative, which she had been so careful to let slip into the ears of all who had been listening, did not wound her standing with the refugees. Karina might have sounded, and perhaps been, a bit more genuine about it all, but a fake smile was as good as a real one when it came to dealing with peasants and soldiers who desperately wanted to believe that someone more powerful than them was going to save them. The guards, at the very least, certainly appreciated her breaking things up before violence ensued.

The rogue's return path to the guard was unimpeded and her egress up the stairs was even given a few cheers of approval. "One Badaria!" A man exclaimed, which was picked up by a few others. As she arrived at the captain's door, he had just happened to open it. Though, whether he had simply been preparing to leave the room he had commandeered for elsewhere or was roused by the racket downstairs was difficult to discern from his face. "Ah, Lady Silver, I did not expect to see you return so soon. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?" He sounded slightly more weary than he had only minutes ago, suggesting that his reasons for leaving the room might have been the former. Still, he stood at rapt attention, obviously at least putting forth the effort of remaining civil and disciplined as he awaited the rogue's response.

 

[AshPrince]

Re: Family Matters (AshPrince) GMed by Hafnium

“Captain” Elizabeth bowed her head with the proper amount of measured respect. “I don’t mean to interrupt,” She would’ve actually liked to know where he was going in such a hurry. “However I’ve managed to convince the refugees to work toward escape, they’re gathering supplies and taking stock of our situation. I would like to formally request that some of your men work with them, as well as a few to instruct them in basic military tactics. It could prove beneficial if they could raise spears and pitchforks as a unit rather than as a mob.” She had a vision of the creature pouring in, only to be stopped by a layer of spikes held by a wall of civilians with soldiers intermixed, it could provide an essential amount of time for escape given a pinch.

“If you’re going to see my cousin, I’m heading that way myself.” She still needed to discuss a few things with Erhard, not the least of which was the little speech she’d given the rabble, it would look bad if he tried to pull the ‘I’m a noble so listen to me’ card after her speech. Though that was one of the benefits of being a woman in Badarian society; if someone didn’t hold to what you said, it wasn’t your fault for lying; it was your fault for opening your mouth in the first place. The difference was, subtle, but the important part was that the latter didn’t have people believing you were dishonest.

 

[Hafnium]

Re: Family Matters (AshPrince) GMed by Hafnium

Spoiler

Elizabeth Silver: HP = 53, PP = 41, EP = 38, Status = Fine.

"Is that so?" He asked, carefully. Every word rolled over his tongue uncertainly, as though he wasn't sure whether to be happy that the situation was developing according to his opinion of what should be done or further frustrated that it had happened without Erhard being consulted. "I have precious few men to spare," the captain started, obviously wanting to find some reason to deny her request. Some part of Elizabeth's mental image must have infected him, however, as he reluctantly continued. "But anybody who doesn't know which end of a pike to jab into the enemy will be a liability. It's an important enough task that I can divert a few of my men to see to it."

He shook his head at the mention of Erhard. "No, Lady Silver, I have other tasks to attend to. Unless you particularly wish for me to accompany you to see milord, I can see to it that a guard escorts you to him." The man gave her an odd look, before adding; "I assume you were going to converse with Lord Erhard regarding the turn the refugees have taken?" It was as much a reminder as a question.

 

[AshPrince]

Re: Family Matters (AshPrince) GMed by Hafnium

“Of course.” Elizabeth nodded lightly, hands crossed in front of her. “Though, I don’t want to delay you from your duties any further. Please, if you could just direct me to where I might find my cousin, that will suffice.” The Silver rogue smirked slightly, at least the refugees would be getting some training, it was easy to hate the person who guarded you, but it was harder to detest someone who you knew personally, and had taught you valuable things; like how to defend yourself. Still she did need to speak to Erhard, hopefully he’d see that the cause here was a lost one and support her effort to flee… if not, well, then she’d have to get creative and make her father proud. He’d already shown an interested in Alice’s valley, it could be exploited to get him alone; Alice had come far, but Elizabeth was loath to let her take the responsibility of murdering Erhard by herself. A distraction maybe, but not a murderer.

Of course that was all just assuming that Erhard was uncooperative. Elizabeth still got the sense that something was going on that she wasn’t being told of, and it set an apprehensive tingle at the back of her neck. The sooner they began their exodus the better.

 

[Hafnium]

Re: Family Matters (AshPrince) GMed by Hafnium

Spoiler

Elizabeth Silver: HP = 53, PP = 41, EP = 38, Status = Fine.

"My lord, most likely, will be in the sparring hall right about now," the captain replied in the wording of a man who simply couldn't keep track of his master. He continued by reminding the heiress of the directions to the room, which she had already visited once. After he had concluded, he offered her a polite salute and a farewell.

If she chose to take the trip, she would find herself at the same door that she had arrived at in order to retrieve Alice in a matter of minutes. It was simply a quick walk down the stairs, through the same door as prior, which led to another door, which led to another hallway, which, if she were to follow the sounds of shouts and wood clacking against wood, led to Erhard. The door to the training hall was open and Elizabeth's cousin was alone. He worked through simple sword drills with a steel longsword, slashing and cutting through the air. His back was towards the door as he parried and thrust at an invisible opponent, leaving him completely unaware of Elizabeth or his newest cousin.

 

[AshPrince]

Re: Family Matters (AshPrince) GMed by Hafnium

After the short walk returning to where she had left Erhard before her bath and rousing speech, Elizabeth rapped her knuckles against the doorframe to alert her cousin to his visitors. “Cousin, a word?” She still had that nagging feeling that there was something going on that she wasn’t aware of, despite that she’d found virtually no evidence supporting that theory, and that it was really only her own suspicious that she had to go on. It was possible she was just being paranoid, but she doubted it.

 

[Hafnium]

Re: Family Matters (AshPrince) GMed by Hafnium

Spoiler

Elizabeth Silver: HP = 53, PP = 41, EP = 38, Status = Fine.

"Ah, dear cousin!" Erhard exclaimed in reply, only turning his head to regard her at first. His attention moved back to his sword drill in mere seconds, though, as he made one last deft swing with his sword before bringing it to his center in a salute, ceremonially swinging it to his side, and then sheathing the blade. With the weapon back in its sheath, the nobleman turned and approached the heiress and her trailing sister. "I always have time for our saviors, of course!" He replied, embellishing the word 'saviors' and grinning. Whether he was simply being polite, praising her group, or being sarcastic was difficult to tell from his expression.

Erhard's hands went to his hips and he stood before her, informally, a direct contrast to the stiffness that most of the others had kept up when dealing with her in his home. "What would you speak to me about, cousin? I hope there have been no issues for you here, my home is yours, after all." He added, with genuine concern as he regarded both Elizabeth and Alice.

 

[AshPrince]

Re: Family Matters (AshPrince) GMed by Hafnium

Elizabeth crossed her arms beneath her bust. She guessed she ought to just say it. “I addressed the refugees and wanted to talk to you about the possibility of fleeing the Necropolis.” It was as simply a statement as she’d ever given. “It seems obvious that the supplies here are limited, and with the addition of the refugees one has to question how long we can hold here.” She stepped into the training hall to circle her cousin, keeping him on the edge of her vision as she let her gaze wander over the room, and any assortment of blades it might present. “I had hopes that you would have some means of expedient escape, you’re not my father’s most favored nephew.” She said it off hand, simply curious if Erhard knew of his standing with the master Silver, or if someone else were keeping him ignorant. If so, that would be a someone she’d like to speak with.

“The west seems like the most hospitable range. The east has the jungle, the north Crolia and the south the demons.” She turned back to face her cousin, one hand set against her own hip as she popped it to onside. “The mountains seem the best course; should we need to flee. A need which seems to be pressing us soon.”

 

[Hafnium]

Re: Family Matters (AshPrince) GMed by Hafnium

Spoiler

Elizabeth Silver: HP = 53, PP = 41, EP = 38, Status = Fine.

"Is that so, cousin?" He asked, surprised. Erhard didn't necessarily seem upset or angry at her, just taken aback. It seemed very much as if few under his roof had moved ahead without his direct guidance before. "The supplies are an issue, yes. We were well stocked. thanks to the advice of your father's retainer. The refugees have been taxing, though, and while we took as many supplies as we could when the rescue parties went out, it won't last us as long as we'd like." He frowned before continuing. "Do you really believe we should leave? I felt that we could do much for the surrounding population and help to retaliate when the Lich King's forces mustered a counteroffensive. And there is only one way out if we want to move in any great number, ourselves, down the path. A smaller team might be able to scale their way down the cliffs, though."

He paused, allowing the information to sink in before adding; "Yes, I am well aware that nuncle held little love for me, after I married Alissa. I had hoped that with the arrival of Obnir and his advice that perhaps uncle had put the past behind him. He was the one responsible for the advice to stockpile food, weapons, armor, and increase my guard, after all." The information certainly was not what Elizabeth had heard on her way to the estate originally, of course, and hinted that her intuition on the matter might have been right.

 

[AshPrince]

Re: Family Matters (AshPrince) GMed by Hafnium

“It sounds like you’re very fortunate my father’s retainer, Obnir was it? Came ahead.” That was, interesting information. It was odd, suspicious even, that Robin’s information had been so incorrect. “I don’t believe I’ve met him before.” Elizabeth strolled about the training hall doing her best to seem uninterested in yet another nameless retainer to her father. “Still, even with the supplies you managed to stockpile it’s, unfortunate that the only way out is the front gate” She stepped lightly, musing her hand across the wall.

“I had my hopes you possessed some manner of secret tunnel, for servant deliveries else escapes… They’re all the rage these days. And I must confess, I find myself worrying that the King has not mobilized the armies yet.” She tried to play up the ‘naïve Badarian woman’ though even without a direct order, it seemed odd that no one had mobilized the armies yet. Badaria had numerous soldiers, and numerous generals; she would have thought that someone would have mobilized their regiment. “It’s starting to feel like no one will be coming for us…”

 

[Hafnium]

Re: Family Matters (AshPrince) GMed by Hafnium

Spoiler

Elizabeth Silver: HP = 53, PP = 41, EP = 38, Status = Fine.

"Well, I never quite expected an army to show up on my doorstep, dear cousin, let alone aliens," he replied with a wry smile. Erhard obviously wasn't at a loss for spirit at the lack of reinforcements thus far, at least. "I'll have to remember that should I ever end up with the chance to rebuild. An escape route in every dresser, maybe, won't make this mistake again." He laughed, seeming to grow into higher spirits as the conversation progressed. But his mood abruptly came crashing back down to earth with a sigh, as if he had expelled all the joy from himself. The heiress's cousin graced her with eyes that, when she had the time to really look, appeared every bit as weary as his captain's. "You may be right, they may never come for us."

"But where does that leave the simple folk?" He boldly questioned in an alarming shift from the flighty man who had worshiped Elizabeth as a hero to grimness. "It's been a day since the first invaders landed, which is long enough that every second is another testament that the counteroffensive will never truly come. I've no doubt that most of our fellow nobility have buried themselves in the sand or whatever other nook and cranny they could hide in, or fled when they could. And you would have us... follow them?" The swordsman had cut directly to the point, as surely as any sword might have. He sighed again, as he watched the rogue, she could tell he wasn't buying too much into her naive act at the moment. Erhard had settled into a relaxed stance, legs beneath shoulders; one hand rested atop the other at his front. "I can't doubt your skill and courage, to have flanked and gained us a victory with naught but three followers, but I need a reason if I'm to abandon the commoners and stragglers to these rapists and pillagers."

 

[AshPrince]

Re: Family Matters (AshPrince) GMed by Hafnium

“Than don’t abandon them.” The shift in Erhard was one welcomed by his cousin, and Elizabeth stood tall and firm in the face of his doubt. “You asked if I would have you follow the flight of the other nobles, and to that I say No. I would not have you follow the coward who turn their backs on their very brothers. I would have you lead the sons and daughters of Badaria who have come here, beneath your roof and behind your walls.” It was, refreshing to see Erhard lower his veil of glibness, it exposed him to her will. “You said that there is no exit, save for the cliffs.” She began to circle Earhad, stepping lightly almost as if in combat. “Than we have but two options.” She moved akin to a vulture. “The first; we make our own exit. There are hundreds of able men here, how many I wonder would it take to remodel your home?” She envisioned teams tearing down walls and then escaping through the rear of the fortress. “The second; leave through the gate and as we do we teach those creatures out there what Badarian steel tastes like.”

Elizabeth continued to circle her cousin, eying him carefully, identifying his posture, noting his breathing, questioning everything about him. Was he short of breath, fatigued or perhaps simply tired? Was he slouched? Did he let his vestments weigh upon him or did he wear them with pride. “I ask you to lead us cousin, or if you won’t than give me the right to do so myself.” She slowly drew the Sniffler’s sword, laying it’s blade against the ground as she faced Erhard, challenging him to duel and waiting for him to accept. “Every moment we linger here the guards grow more tired, and the refugees grow more restless. It’s time to act cousin.” Her own mind was whirling with the possibilities of how to leave the fortress with the greatest amount of followers in toe. “The civilians have experience using your firearms now. If we station them in caravans the foot soldiers can encircle them; arm them with spears or pole arms and they can hold the beasts back while the riflemen blast them apart. Depending on how many horses you have, we may even mount the pikemen.” She slowly lifted her blade, drawing a throwing knife with her free hand and raising it beside her as a parrying dagger. “As long as the formation holds, few if any of the creatures should get through.” She had her doubt about how well that formation would hold given long-term travel however. “We could even use the more veteran soldiers as well as myself and my team, to scout along the roads ahead or beside the caravan. We could pick off the more powerful enemy before they even engage the civilians. Or pick off the weaker ones so that the more powerful ones threw themselves against the bulk of our forces without reinforcement.”

“Failing that, we could mobilize our experienced soldiers. Use them to pierce the enemy’s lines” She punctuated her statement with a quick jab, thrusting the Sniffer’s Sword forward as she kept her throwing knife up near her chest ready to deflect the expected retaliation. “With the enemy’s line broken the refugees and the less experienced soldiers make a break through the opening. We could even set the second wave on horseback. They ride through the broken enemy line, pick up the veterans on the ride through, and we all make for the mountains as quickly as we can.” She sidestepped as she spoke. “I might even say ride the horses to death; though we’d need a few to haul the carriages, and we’d need the carriages for the sick and injured.”

 

[Hafnium]

Re: Family Matters (AshPrince) GMed by Hafnium

Spoiler

Elizabeth Silver: HP = 53, PP = 41, EP = 38, Status = Fine.

Erhard held his relaxed stance as the heiress circled him like a lioness searching for weakness. But, while his limbs might not have moved much, his eyes did. He watched her all the way to the corner of his vision and tracked her as soon as she came back into view. Mostly, though, the nobleman simply listened to his cousin. He was patient, and did not speak until she had concluded. Even when she had concluded, he continued to stand in silence for a few moments, diffusing the information in his thoughts. "Sound enough tactical advice," he mentioned in a manner that suspiciously sounded like he was brushing past it, "but it's not the people behind my walls that I worry for."

"We have less than a hundred heads here, and a majority of them are those who already held a residence in my home. Dozens of guards and servants, and a handful of landless knights. Say that your advice is correct and we are able to break free, what happens to the thousands who are entrapped in the city by the aliens?" The flighty man was quickly becoming passionate in his defense of remaining. "They are simply abandoned by even more able bodies who might have had some chance of protecting them?" Erhard eyed the rogue carefully. "Surely you would not lead a hundred out who could do some good in saving thousands?" He heaved another sigh, before adding; "And even if we can't stay her and have no hopes of saving the city, there has to be more that we can do for the commoners out there right now than advise them to run and hope they keep up."

 

[AshPrince]

Re: Family Matters (AshPrince) GMed by Hafnium

“There is.” Bleeding hearts were so annoying, but at least with his aspirations on the table Elizabeth could more aptly direct them. “Say we do say here cousin. For how long do you think the walls will hold? What do you think would have befallen those sheltered here if my allies and I had not happened to arrive when we did? What do you think would have befallen all of us if we had not happened to be capable of killing or driving back those creatures and their aggressions?” Elizabeth swayed her sword slowly. “As it stands we don’t have enough strength mustered here to even strike out into the city for supplies. Our days here are numbered and every one spent is another we’re worse off to leave.” Plus she had sort of rallied the refugees toward leaving. “Those within the city are undoubtedly in the same situation we are.” She looked down lowering her sword and doing her best to feign empathy. “We can’t help them from here, but we can give them something. We can give them a place to escape to.”

“Think of them;” The irony of her asking someone to think of others wasn’t lost on her. “out there, shivering, hiding, helpless. They were relying on the Lich King’s forces to protect them, and they didn’t.” She punctuated with a sweep of her blade. “Now the Necropolis is lost, and they have nowhere to turn, nothing to count on. But if we show them they’re not trapped. If we escape, and bring supplies and fortitude with us? If we prove there’s more to do than lay down and wait. Than they will find us, because they’re just as much Badarian as you or I. Because Badarians would rather die on their feet, than live with their women on their backs.”

 

[Hafnium]

Re: Family Matters (AshPrince) GMed by Hafnium

Spoiler

Elizabeth Silver: HP = 53, PP = 41, EP = 38, Status = Fine.

Erhard frowned at her words. Yet, for all his efforts, he couldn't muster a response. The swordsman looked utterly defeated. "Perhaps you are right," he sighed. "But that doesn't mean I have to like it, cousin." He turned his back on her and slowly paced out of the circle that she had weaved around him, toward a wall with a variety of wooden swords on it.

"Duel me, sweet cousin," he stated more than asked. "Prove this point to me with your fighting prowess and I will make my decision. Live steel or training wood, the choice is yours," he offered, his back still turned toward her.

 

[AshPrince]

Re: Family Matters (AshPrince) GMed by Hafnium

Elizabeth scoffed lightly, turning her side toward her cousin. “I fail to see how a sword fight will change any of the facts.” She raised her sword. “However, if you insist. Live steel is my preference.” She drew a throwing knife from her sheath, holding it beside her chest to be used as a parrying blade. “As are two blades, if you’ve no objection.” It was her nature to strike while he had his back turned to her, but she still needed him, at least for now.

Still, a quick match sounded like a good idea, a chance to flex herself, get some exercise, maybe get her heart pounding in preparation for the coming chaos. She slowly began carefully sidestepping around Erhard. “On your guard cousin.”

 

[Hafnium]

Re: Family Matters (AshPrince) GMed by Hafnium

Spoiler

Elizabeth Silver: HP = 53, PP = 41, EP = 38, Status = Fine.

"It's not about the facts, dear cousin," he said, sounding slightly disappointed. "And that is fine," he added as he retrieved his own blade. It was a fine piece of steel, obviously forged with a nobleman in mind to wield it. He dipped into a duelist's stance, his sword out in front of him and pointed toward the heiress. His weight shifted to his back leg as he presented his side to the Silver noblewoman, giving her less of a target. He moved, slowly, matching her sidesteps and not allowing her to command the area around him as she had earlier. His eyes remained locked on her own, as sought to read her attacks. "Show me the skills that brought down those monstrosities, cousin. Any time you're ready," he concluded, obviously intending to allow her to make the first move while he remained in his defensive posture.

(Note: Elizabeth can choose to either fight safely, which will avoid killing Erhard and cause her attacks to deal half, or fight normally, which causes her to deal normal damage but, of course, runs the "risk" of seriously harming Erhard.)

 

[AshPrince]

Re: Family Matters (AshPrince) GMed by Hafnium

Elizabeth gave a probing strike, a soft jab with the tip of her sword hardly even meant to hit, though it had enough force behind it to be considered a serious attempted. It was a feint really, meant to test her cousin’s defense. She’d not fought him before, and it had been a while since she’d been in any serious one-on-one combat, much less with anyone who actually carried a sword. She’d start off slow; test his skill and then see how best to proceed from there. She didn’t want to kill him, at least not yet, not with Alice watching. She still needed him, to lead the refugees, to manage the guard and do the other things that she couldn’t, not for lack of ability of course, but other reasons.

She continued to slowly sidestep, recalling her formal training and keeping her feet from crossing over one another. The rogue kept her knife up near her shoulder; it wasn’t for offence, it was for blocking parrying or otherwise defending. She had the advantage of having two weapons.

[Fight defensively and try not to kill him]