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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2015 0:41:24 GMT -7
(Ideally open to the GM and the party involved in the Barnyard Blitz session, but others can join)
The candlelight in the window of the floor above this quaint home flickered, showing signs of peace in the middle of the night. It was contrary to the scene outside, for a ragtag gathering of rookie adventurers bickered and discussed with the proprietor about the fate of the young woman in Arlen's arms, as well as the situation of their pay and workload.
It was here in the present situation that Arlen felt a conflict of moral interests; while on one hand Mr Turner seemed cold, on the other he could only try to understand why. On one side of the coin, the group needed pay to keep their livelihoods, but on the other side harassing this man would get them nowhere. Mr. Turner and his daughter both seem equally troubled, and the mention of a dark cult that twisted the mind of the young woman he was carrying seemed distressing. It was agreed that she would be taken to the guards, but Arlen wanted to hold onto a lofty ideal that someone like her could change."Excuse me Sir... I know not whether I am overstepping my boundaries or sticking my nose in things where it belongs, but can I speak to you? It won't take too long I promise, but I think you and your daughter should talk. Friends, feel free to stay or feel free to head into Rook and rest, but I will bring her to the guards once I'm done."
Gently and respectfully as possible (if permitted), he steps into the abode and places the woman on a nearby chair, with her hands bound behind her to the furniture. Arlen has a worried look on his face, but feels that the confrontation to ensue is but one test of many he will eventually take. His posture shifted and adjusted uncomfortably, but he made him as friendly and approachable as possible. Only a little tired from a good day's work, he felt a flash of inspiration to go a step above-and-beyond. Good people like him are supposed to help others, right? Arlen found it a little difficult to form the words in his head, but he was adamant in his decisions at this current moment. He waited to see if the man would invite him to sit, or turn him and his daughter away.
"Mr. Turner, are you okay?"
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rocshaajenkins
Approvals
Actually, I'll just take my Fighter to go, thanks :D
Posts: 271 
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Post by rocshaajenkins on Dec 3, 2015 0:54:52 GMT -7
Angry tears continue to stream from Ron Turner's eyes as he carries his daughter Tina into his shop/home. He carries his unconscious daughter to a seat and places her in a more redeeming position, sitting asleep on one of the chairs in the storefront.
"..."
...
"I'm... I'm sorry Tina. Sir, I... apologize for my uh..." *sobs* "I just... some of my family is such a mess. My eldest son... hospitalized. My only daughter duped and controlled by some cult. My two younger sons are basically each half a man. I don't know where... how... I went wrong."
He punches a bookcase and leaves a hole in the bookcase and the wall behind.
"You know... your friend out there, the one with the strange gourd. He's right. I am a terrible father. Why would I just... leave my daughter to suffer in prison?"
About half of his forearm is stuck in the wall. Closer inspection shows his arm is bleeding.
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Post by spacemanspoof on Dec 3, 2015 6:16:54 GMT -7
Adris, thinking of his own father, decides to follow Arlen inside.
"Calm down, sir", he says gently, putting a hand on Ron's shoulder. "During my time in the Guard, I saw many criminals come through our doors. Some were truly rotten to the core, but many were just good kids who fell in with a bad crowd. Despite whatever mistakes she - and you - have made in the past, her best hope for redemption now is to know that you still love her and stand by her side, even as she faces the consequences of her choices."
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2015 16:46:32 GMT -7
Surprised by the man's emotional turnover, he attempts to help Adris calm Ron Turner down. Seeing to his splintered and bleeding arm, Arlen nods in agreement with the culmination of Adris' pep-talk. Confused by the father's emotional outlook, he is nonetheless genuinely empathetic towards his feelings. For reasons unbeknownst to his company, Arlen has developed a vested interest in reforging Ron and Tina's relationship, know all-too-well that it could end in failure like the many times that Ron has claimed.
"Fortunately for you, and for Tina..."
He takes a look back at the sleeping woman, then sits beside Mr. Turner.
"... You are still around to do something about her behaviour. Some children out there don't have a chance to reconcile with their fathers and that is the sad truth. Though, in a greater truth, it's fair to say none of us individuals here would be able to get where we are now without support. I'm hoping that you and your daughter can talk to each other, heart-to-heart, so you can help her take comfort and accept what she's done... In fact... Maybe it would be less about talking, more about you listening."
Running his fingers through his hair, he wipes it away from his face. He made sure to wipe his face before entering, but finds a few blood specks left; which he then proceeds to lick his thumb and wipe off vigorously. It dawns on him that he had little time to clean himself up after the afternoon's culling.
"Oh, oh dear. I am sorry Sir that I'm trailing a mess, l-let me clean this up."
Saying so, he looks around for any sort of cleaning materials with which to begin scrubbing.
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rocshaajenkins
Approvals
Actually, I'll just take my Fighter to go, thanks :D
Posts: 271
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Post by rocshaajenkins on Dec 3, 2015 23:07:05 GMT -7
*sigh* "It's quite alright." Ron pulls his arm out of the wall with help from Adris. "Not the first time I had bloodied up adventurers in my storefront."
Ron shuffles around various standing positions and paces around the room frantically for a moment before he calms down a bit. Several minutes of this goes by.
"I want to thank you, from deep down in my heart, for bringing my baby girl back to me. I know I seem a bit... er... jumbled right now. I'm clearly in a poor state of mind right now. I know my daughter is a criminal and deserves to be brought to justice, at least for a little while. But you're right, a real father can't just abandon their child like that. Not when... she felt abandoned before."
Ron stumbles over these last few words with great difficulty. He barely finishes his sentence before he begins to bawl his eyes out, almost uncontrollably so. He loses his ability to stand and slumps down to the ground, leaning against the base of the counter. He looks weak and terrified.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2015 6:08:38 GMT -7
Without much of a second thought, Arlen walks towards the man, picking him up from the floor and seating him next to his daughter as gently as possible. At this point, he couldn't judge him anymore; instead feeling great empathy for a man who felt he lost someone, his happiness being taken away. As ridiculous as it sounded in regard to the fact that Arlen only knew the man for a short amount of time, he couldn't help but feel his own sense of loss that weighs on him every day... His own demons that mock him, just like the demons that mock this man inside his head. Arlen smiled to himself, recognizing that it was silly that he felt so strongly in such a brief amount of time, but he was also smiling for something else. As lofty as it sounded, he still considered the chance that things could change for them; that it wasn't too late, that as long as they both live it will never be too late. Nobody will understand why this brash. young man is so pretentious and naive, but Arlen prides himself on helping those with a smile on his face and never expecting a reward in return.
"I was told something once, by a wise and humble person: A man faces his fears and hardships, no matter how painful they may be. Great things come in simple ways, Sir. You do not need to thank me, I and my friend are here to help."
Looking towards Adris and noticing that the rest of the party seemed to have left, he closes the door then goes to sit on a nearby chair. Not once did his smile disappear from his expression. Underneath, he knew what he didn't know, and what he didn't know was how the guardsmen would deal with Tina. He had no idea how long n'or severe the punishment would be, but Arlen would make sure to do his best to help them comes to terms with what would happen. Before all that though, an evening of tenderness was needed... Oh so desperately. For a long time, Arlen would not speak or utter a sound; he simply let himself relax and let Mr. Turner have this moment with his daughter. It was a relief to have Adris stick around for a while, as it seemed he shared several views with the man and it made this whole evening go a little smoother. It was something about this tender moment between a parent and child, that touched Arlen deep in his core.
"We had several hours to travel back and she's had a chance to rest. If you want Sir, we can give you a few minutes... Then we can wake her up."
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rocshaajenkins
Approvals
Actually, I'll just take my Fighter to go, thanks :D
Posts: 271
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Post by rocshaajenkins on Dec 6, 2015 1:22:23 GMT -7
"Whenever you want to wake her up, you can. I'm just... I don't know how to feel anymore.
"Anger."
"Sadness."
"Joy."
"Emptiness..."
He leans over Tina's unconscious body and gives her a hug, his tears soaking into Tina's cloak.
A long time goes by. Silence interrupted only by the occasional clinking of armor and Ron's sniffels and stuttering crying. Eventually, Ron comes back to his senses and becomes aware of the world around him once again.
"Well, I've decided I'm going to hold off on taking her to the guards. For now. At least... if she is willing to listen to me. Or just talk to me. Would you stay here for that? I'll provide you with lodging here for the night. That way Tina can have a full night's sleep and I'll have the opportunity to sleep as well."
*yawns*
"Gosh, I didn't realize just how tired I am. I have some extra cots in the back. I kinda run an unofficial BnB out of my store, as well as live here. Which you both know. I need... to sleep on this."
Ron awaits the response from his two guests.
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Post by spacemanspoof on Dec 6, 2015 17:56:59 GMT -7
Like Arlen, Adris also feels an unusual sense of kinship with Ron. Perhaps it was the sense of duty and justice that had been drilled into him by his father, which clearly seemed to be missing from this family. The girl does have crimes that she must answer for, but true justice is more than simply punishment. Sending her to jail without a chance to reconcile with her father, and he with her, would be no better than returning her to the cultists.
"Very well, sir. Let's continue this in the morning."
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2015 21:03:42 GMT -7
He gives a mock salute and a bow to Ron Turner, nodding afterwards. Seeing a plan of action well underway, Arlen sets his pack behind the counter. No matter the amount of blood that is spilt, it simply cannot compare to the emotional turmoil that a man like Ron Turner is experiencing. The weight of this hits the young man pretty hard, but he endures; with that same smile on his face, so as not to falter when someone else needs his help.
"Of course I will stay, so thank you for the generosity Sir."
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rocshaajenkins
Approvals
Actually, I'll just take my Fighter to go, thanks :D
Posts: 271
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Post by rocshaajenkins on Dec 7, 2015 23:53:31 GMT -7
Ron smiles and takes his daughter in his arms. The pair of them go upstairs for a few long minutes before Ron returns on his own. He provides basic cots and pillows to sleep on, which are surprisingly more comfortable than they look. The room directly behind the storefront has many boxes and crates stacked floor-to-ceiling with various labels on them all containing shipping details and notes and addresses. The two men can find separate spreads of floor just about the right size for the average burly man to sleep in with a cot nicely.
Through the night, the two stranger men sleep soundly.
When morning arrives, or at least when Ron wakes up well before most sane people would, he simply sits and watches his daughter as she lies in a makeshift bed. Hours go by, feeling like days, before the sun cracks the horizon. Shortly after, Tina begins to stir in hir slumber. She had been mumbling all night long about nothing, though restful and somehow relaxed.
When she comes to...
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
A scream rings out from Tina, loud enough for anyone in the neighborhood to hear this blood curdling, sound defying scream.
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Post by spacemanspoof on Dec 8, 2015 18:31:01 GMT -7
Adris rises early, thanks to years of combat training. The house is still dark and quiet as he sits and meditates, steeling his mind for what will surely be a challenging day. The line leading to a positive resolution of this situation is very fine indeed, and even the smallest mistake could jeopardize it. How are he and Arlen going to--
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
Adris instinctively rushes toward the source of the scream.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2015 0:44:55 GMT -7
Upon hearing the scream, Arlen is jolted awake; suddenly alert by the situation as he grabs his sword and rushes in to find the source of the scream. He bounds up the stairs as quickly as possible, alarmed by the pitch and worried that it will cause a disturbance in the neighborhood. It is safe to assume that the scream came from Tina.
"What's going on?"
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rocshaajenkins
Approvals
Actually, I'll just take my Fighter to go, thanks :D
Posts: 271
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Post by rocshaajenkins on Dec 9, 2015 11:36:48 GMT -7
The two men find Tina trying to push herself into a corner, screaming her head off, clearly terrified of something. She is fixated on Ron, who is trying to console her. Ron's wife is scared deathless in the opposite side of the upstairs room, as she was not aware that her daughter had come home.
"AHHHHHHHH! GET AWAY FROM ME!" Tina cries out. She sees two familiar faces. Her expression becomes that of bleak despair and she begins to cast a spell. (Adris will need to make a Fortitude save vs Blindness/Deafness to not be blind. This doesn't actually affect your character for DG, it's just for roleplay).
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Post by spacemanspoof on Dec 9, 2015 21:17:01 GMT -7
Hope this works...
feBzZMPE
(Not that it probably matters at this point, but I have a +2 against mind-affecting effects. I would also get a +3 from Unbreakable Gambit, but I didn't declare that, so... PM me with the save result and I'll flavor my next post accordingly.)
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2015 10:40:53 GMT -7
Arlen loosens his grip on his sword; allowing it to clatter to the floor as a hand stretches outward to Tina and Ron. Concerned for the safety of the family, while attempting to pick up the signs that the young girl is showing, he attempts to implore the young woman to calm down.
"Please, Miss! We're not here to hurt you. Nobody is here to kill or hurt anyone, and we want to apologize."
Whether it is successful or not, Arlen seems to get the vibe that Mr. Turner did something drastically horrible for his daughter to be so afraid of him. The young mage makes it apparent; the feeling of dread. Typical smiling and nice behaviour won't cut it in this situation, but Arlen himself isn't much of a stern person. Wearing nothing but a simple shirt and some breeches, he walks slowly towards Tina and Ron, who wrestle in the opposite corner of the room. Turning to face the terrified mother, he gives her a forlorn look before continuing to step forward, ever so slowly.
"We didn't bring you here to fight... We came to talk and we all want to apologize."
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rocshaajenkins
Approvals
Actually, I'll just take my Fighter to go, thanks :D
Posts: 271
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Post by rocshaajenkins on Dec 11, 2015 22:28:37 GMT -7
"Tina, I'm not trying to hurt you, you need to calm down! Tina, please."
"Get away from me! I don't love you anymore, daddy!"
Ron is several feet away from Tina, just trying to calm her down with words. She is clearly having none of it, but she is trying to fit herself into a space in the corner that doesn't exist. Despite readily attacking a strange person, she seems... incapable of hurting her father. She's clearly focused on him, but is obviously avoiding eye contact.
"Tina, you're safe now. You don't need to feel threatened. We're here for you, honey."
When Tina finishes casting her spell against Adris, he reacts in a particular way. She continues to shrink away from her father.
She begins to speak in a tongue that Ron doesn't understand (Abyssal) and hisses and spits at him angrily and afraid.
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Post by spacemanspoof on Dec 12, 2015 12:14:18 GMT -7
Suddenly the room goes dark. Adris realizes that he's been blinded by Tina's spell, but he doesn't want her to know it. Having just entered the room, he knows that there is a wall behind him. He leans against the wall, crosses his arms, closes his eyes, and takes a deep breath, as he attempts to project a generally relaxed and non-threatening demeanor.
Bluff check, if I need one:
fcN_EdCy
"Take it easy, miss. We didn't bring you all the way here from the farm just to start another fight. Let's all take a moment to catch our breath and talk about what's happening here, shall we?"
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2015 13:01:43 GMT -7
After a pause of silence, Arlen sighs then proceeds to chuckle. Approaching slowly, he sits besides the frightened woman (even ignoring potential slaps and scratches) then places a hand on top of her head to ruffle her hair. He acts a gentle as he can, appears as non-threatening as possible and talks with a softspoken voice.
"Now now, that's enough Miss. Hoo boy, you've caused quite the distress, little troublemaker. Any more of this and your father might ground you."
Perhaps it is a good idea that he act in opposition to the distressed family, similar to Adris, and play it off cool. It seems she hasn't tried to hurt him (yet) and no matter how violently she acts towards him, Arlen knows better than to lash out. Surely women weren't ALWAYS this much trouble, he thought to himself. Scratching his head, he ponders what to say next, but instead has a better idea. A nod and a thumbs up in Ron's direction is a sign he's giving to assure he won't hurt her. He stretches his arms, lets out a yawn and places his hands back upon his lap, turning back to Tina; who undoubtedly harbors aggressive or dark thoughts in her head, yet addled by fear and helplessness.
"Mr. Turner, take a seat on the bed and let's allow her to let it out... And talk."
Wiping away the blood from several cuts, he looks into the eyes of this terrified young woman and offers nothing but a friendly smile. They say that the eyes of the window to the soul, and if Tina was to take a peek, then it would look inviting.
"It's okay Miss, there is no need for violence... But if you still feel the desire to hurt someone, then let it out of your system and give me a good hook to the chin. Surely you have some things you want to say and I'm all ears."
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rocshaajenkins
Approvals
Actually, I'll just take my Fighter to go, thanks :D
Posts: 271
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Post by rocshaajenkins on Dec 12, 2015 13:21:24 GMT -7
Gaston, make a grapple check.
Tina struggles to escape from Arlen, finding it almost impossible to get away from him without running into her father.
Ron's wife gets out from the corner and grabs a small sack. She approaches Adris with a worried expression; calm, yet urgent.
"Son, I know what my step-daughter's done to you. Let me heal you, stand still."
With a few waves of her hands, a bit of chanting, Adris' condition is cured. She whispers to him:
"Now, that Tina's a troubled girl. She hasn't liked me or her father since we got together. She's had a rough life and doesn't know how to handle it."
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2015 15:01:03 GMT -7
zExwGlYS +6
Well he never expected it to be easy, as many challenges in life aren't; from the high-action to the mentally-arduous. Arlen takes several scratches as he tries to calm Tina down and he attempts to calm her down and stop her as gently as possible; refusing to strike her or use excessive force. All he can do is simply keep trying and hope that Tina wears out from all her aggression.
"It's okay, Miss... It's alright."
As he finishes such, blood trickles down his face and over his right eye, as Arlen realized he has a deep cut that Tina dug in with her nails just above his brow. As if it isn't affecting him, he resumes his efforts to make Tina feel relaxed, but is unsure how well it is working... or failing.
"How did such a young woman like yourself come to be so hurt? Lashing out and causing harm to people who do not wish to do so against you. Try to calm down Miss, we can see that you're in pain, but we can't help if all you want to do is inflict that pain on others."
Continuing to act unaffected by the cuts and scratches, he tries one more time for a smile, typical that you would see from a big brother. He scratches the back of his head and simply sits there; waiting. Suppose he is worn himself from yesterday's ordeals and lacking the right amount of sleep, Arlen leans back against the wall.
"You can talk to me... To us."
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Post by spacemanspoof on Dec 12, 2015 18:51:08 GMT -7
Seeing that Tina is currently occupied with Arlen and not wishing to agitate her further, Adris remains where he is and turns his attention to Ron's wife. He smiles at her and speaks quietly.
"Thank you ma'am. I suppose you're rather confused about what's going on here." He briefly explains about their trip to the farm, the diseased animals, Tina's capture and homecoming, and her involvement with the cultists. "I've seen many troubled youths in my time, and Tina's case is definitely among the worst. Still, my friend and I believe that she has a chance at redemption. It certainly would help us, though, if we understood more about what has brought her to this point."
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Post by spacemanspoof on Dec 13, 2015 23:42:04 GMT -7
(Post-session followup)
After some discussion, Adris and Arlen have managed to start Ron, Barbara, and Tina down the path to recovery. They decided that Tina had suffered enough, and it would not be in anyone's best interest to take her to the guards. Ron then offered to pay a hefty sum to deliver vengeance upon the cult that had brainwashed their daughter. After spending several days tracking down the cult's hideout, they recruited some additional adventurers in the Plow and headed off to pay them a visit. It was a tough battle, but the party was victorious. Arlen personally delivered the final blow to the cult's leader, slicing her head clean off in a fit of righteous fury just before her goons managed to cut him down. After the battle was over, Adris delivered the leader's head to Ron and suggested that he not mention it to Tina until her psyche was a bit less fragile. He told them the location of his shop and invited them to stop by anytime.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2015 9:52:15 GMT -7
When Arlen woke in a stupor, he was surrounded by unfamiliar faces; all giving him gentle but pitied looks. As it turns out, he was brought back from the dead and such an ordeal should be exhausting for any mortal... Indeed it was so, as Arlen could do nothing else except sit there as they weaved their energy into his wounds. He felt the warmth of his soul return to him, bit by bit, even though his body took more time to catch up with the rest of him. Having been told by the priests to rest up for a few days, he spent much of his time wandering the streets of Rook until he decided to pay a visit to the Turner family.
Hesitantly, Arlen took determined steps up to the house and with a few raspy knocks, he waited. This time however, he was not armed, n'or was he armored; all he had were simple clothes and a symbol of divinity hanging from his neck. Running his fingers through his hair, Arlen let the afternoon breeze catch him as he waited for a response.
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