Rp - Gavel's Darkest Hour- Act Two Begins [7/7]

”Well guarded. Better wait them to come out.”
I go further out into a safe, cooler place.
Then I put my backpack as a pillow, then go to sleep

 

You walk back towards Rodoroc for a bit until the temperature becomes more tolerable, settling on the slopes of a dormant volcano. While the rocky surface is far from comfortable, all the walking and climbing of the day has left you very tired and you quickly fall asleep.

You drift into a dream...

You're back in the Gerten lands you grew up in, standing on a crude wooden tower with a longbow. Gerten armies are stationed all around the perimeter of the town - it looks like an attack is imminent. Looking out across the Lake for the enemy, you notice with horror that Cinfras is in flames. You look around the town - everyone is silent. The sound of marching approaches, some steps considerably heavier than that of a villager. As they get closer you see it's greenskins - Orcs charging en masse, accompanied Ogres with heavy clubs and a green and brown banner that you don't entirely recognise. "For Karoc!", they chant as they hurl flaming barrels over the walls. The tents catch fire, and orcs charge at the fences, overrunning the lower levels. You draw your bow, pointing it at the leader. She wears golden armour and what looks like a crown-helmet hybrid. You release - it soars through the air and hits her in the face. She falls to the ground. "Dugg'r is down! Retreat!", an Ogre yells. They rout and flee to the ruins of Cinfras, a Gert severs the Queen's head and parades it round town. The Gerts turn to the next tower, and take its occupant down as a hero. "All Hail Rohuk, Slayer of Dugg'r", they chant, leaving you in the tower, fuming with anger and jealousy. The fire consumes the town amongst the celebrations, and the tower collapses, and with it you fall.

 

Right! Welcome to a new day in the Province of Gavel, all!

@Kylin&Kyubi
@Kyubi & Kylin
You wake up in each others' arms to the sound of a heated argument in the inn below between the innkeeper and some villagers you don't recognise.
"I'm not having you harass my patrons. Now get out of here."
"Sir, we have authorisation to use lethal force should we meet resistance."
"Authorisation from whom? Your boss is dead!"
"Authorisation from Elimut, who has assumed the throne until a successor can be determined."
"What if I don't recognise his rule?"
"Then we will be forced to attack. All we need is for you to show us the room."
"I have a reputation to protect! I can't have paying clients dragged out in chains!"

@Bluescreen
You're lying on the side of a volcano, the sun low in the ash-filled sky. Remfir, the Dwarven soldier from the bar, is walking by below, whistling a warlike tune to herself. She looks up at you.
"Gert?", she calls. "How's the search going?"

@WynnChairman
Opening your eyes you see Bantira sitting on the bed beside you, smiling at you and stroking your hand. Excited discussion can be heard downstairs.
"I was wondering when you'd wake up. Good morning, Chunchunmaru."

@BlueSlimerino
You find yourself on a hard wood floor with someone frantically shaking you by the shoulders. As you open your eyes you see the morning light streaming through the bedroom, and Esmé kneeling over you in a state of undress, a look of panic in her face.
"It's Togak! He's coming back! We need to get out of here!", she whispers, trying to drag you towards the window.
There's a pounding on the door, and the voice of a villager is heard on the other side.
"Who the fuck's in there? Open up!"

@H0Y0Y0Y0Y0B0Y
You wake up in your tent, the morning sunlight dimmed by the ash clouds above. The area seems to be clear, but a note has been posted on the front of the tent. It's written in slightly crude villager script with some resemblance to Dwarven runes:

"To the Ahmsian treasure hunter,
Due to your unforgivable actions last night in Upper Rodoroc, we have found it necessary to permanently ban you from the Rodoroc Kingdom. The confrontation between a Dogun scout unit and the citizenry of the Surface resulted in two Dwarven casualties, including a young girl, and could have provoked a war. We cannot risk this happening again. You are to leave the Kingdom without delay upon reading this declaration, or face violence. This is your only warning.
Thank you in advance for your compliance,
Kerol, Upper Rodoroc's representative of King Rogdon"​

 

Wake up startled by the conversation, calming down at the sight of Rin.
Caress her hair a bit and try to get up without bothering her much.

 

"Your mom"
I'll get up and walk to the window

 

Esmé quickly drops you and gestures you to go out of the window alone. Looking down, you can see it's right above a sloping roof, below which is a steepdrop to the river gorge below. "Quickly! Out!", she whispers, barely audible over the knocking, as she walks towards the door, keys in hand.

 

Welp, time to leave.

 

I'll jump out then casting air prison before I hit the roof

 

You pack up your tent and leave for the North, not quite sure where the border is but wanting to be sure. You pass several Dogun settlements that are definitely within the Kingdom, weaving around several lava rivers and lakes. There seems to be an enormous nest of dragons ahead. You remember that you have the atlas - it's severely out of date, but it might provide some insight into where you are.

(to be clear, it isn't a drop - if you did that you'd be suspended in front of the window)

 

"Hey, good morning," I say as I get up, "How did you sleep?"

 

Oh then I just climb out the window and hide

 

"Given the circumstances, it was wonderful," she says. "It has been a stressful few days. I'm glad you seem to be coping well, at least."

You slide the window open and onto the roof, taking great care not to fall and step out of view of the window. You hear the villager continue.
"Right, that's it. I'm going to- wait, I swear this was locked!" You hear the door creak open and soft footsteps around the room. "Did I just- well this is fucking embarrassing", he mutters to himself as he leaves and closes the door behind him. Esmé quickly joins you outside the window. You realise she's wearing a lot less than she was when you fell asleep. "Sorry about that. I thought we'd be safe there," she says, nudging you onward.

 

"haha, yea, i guess..." I think back to my dream and shiver and blush a little at the same time (can doguns blush?)
"Well do you know whats going on downstairs?"

 

"Where did your clothes go?"

 

”Ugh. Trying get in. Dogun hail accomplice as hero. Guards trough, need wait accomplice come out or find excuse get in. Truth useless.”

 

I realize that you will die soon because of the lack of treasure you can give to Ozoth. Best to make a grave near Bantisu. Might as well head there. Go in that direction

 

"They're discussing the rally. Torl is going to be arriving any minute. They don't quite know when we're supposed to be going up, it wasn't planned."

"I see. Well, perhaps a distraction can be arranged? Something that would send the guards away from the town?"

One problem - there's no way to Bantisu from the Upper Heights and there are only two ways to leave - through Rodoroc, where you're banned from, and down the Dogun staircase.

 

"well, are you ready for your speech? sorry that you have to do it yourself..."

 

She grimaces. "It won't be the most popular speech at a Torl rally ever, but I think it's the one they need to hear."

 

So how do I leave molten