\\EMing for player-driven event. Some RP on the forums while we schedule a time for it and see who wants to participate. ;)
Anti-peak drew near as the lobster-red armored soldiers of the Harmonium underwent their routine shift change at the appointed hour. The previous shift shuffled inside the barracks while their replacements took position along the walls and main entrance of the HarmoniumÂ’s main headquarters within the LadyÂ’s Ward.
Two hours into their shift, a notary noticed a sickly looking creature approach them. He watched through the small slit of his visor as the horned human skeleton covered in a bone-tight hide of slimy leather sauntered toward him with a rusted saber in its bony hand. Blood from its sharp finger tips dripped onto the cobblestones, and the air around it smelled rank with bile and decay.
Before the notary could alert his shift mates, the creature charged at him with wild abandon and a wall of fog bled out of its form, shrouding the immediate area in a thick miasma. The notary shouted for aid and his comrades rushed in to assist him. Halberds swung about and cut the creature down. The rusted saber broke on the thick armor of a notaryÂ’s breastplate. When the fog lifted, the creature had been cut to a mess of bloodied ribbons of what it once was.
The guards looked at each other in confusion as they gathered around the demonÂ’s corpse. They shot questioning looks about and scanned their surroundings for any more attackers, yet nothing was in sight.
“Keep sharp,” one of the notaries said. “Something’s not right.”
Another notary prodded the dead creature with the butt-end of his halberd. “Relax. Just some sod. Must have had an empty brain box to pull a stunt like that.” He grinned at his partner. “Think it was a bleaker? Finally wanted to end it all?”
“Don’t care how barmy you are,” his partner replied. “Never seen a berk act like this.”
“You’ve not been in the Cage long then.”
Then the notaryÂ’s eyes were blinded by light and heat washed over his face. He felt the cobblestones thrown up from under him and before he could decide up from down he crashed onto the street several feet away. The entrance of the barracks was lit with alchemistÂ’s fire and smoke poured out from within it like a dragonÂ’s maw at the end of its fiery breath. He heard the sound of a struggle inside and several soldiers running out of the smoke to collapse on the street. They had no wounds, yet they slipped into unconsciousness. When the notary picked himself up and investigated, a whiff of the smoke betrayed what it truly was.
“Sleeping gas?” he wondered and looked to his partner. Then the alarm sounded.
Attack At The Barracks
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*Darkrob
- Posts: 1097
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
From the smoke of the entrance strode Measure One Inodine. His helm firmly on his head, blade in hand. He surveyed the immediate vicinity to get a sense of the situation before deciding a course of action. It was apparent that this was no simple suicide by Harmonium. There was more at work here.
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*LiquidDreamer
- Posts: 419
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
Chari rubs weary eyes as she stacks some papers and organizes the paper mountain on her desk. After stifling a yawn, she crosses the room to pour herself more tea when she hears the explosion and the small shake of the barracks as the explosion rocks the entrance. Her tea cup falls and shatters on the table. She sighs as that cup was her favorite and she collects her helmet and leaves her office as she walks toward the sound of the explosion.
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*3l03
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
A bit shorter and a bit slimmer than average Hardhead equipped with usual helmet, armor and halberd was strolling just a couple dozen feet away from the barracks' entrance. As soon as she saw the demon beginning the strike, she rushed into the fog covered area.
Amidst the surrounding smoke, she slipped into an office, one that dealt with minor incidences of little weight. It took a bit of her precious time, but she found what she needed.
"Phase one went well. Mmm... time for the hard part"- thought Eloe, peering outside through a chink in the door.
Amidst the surrounding smoke, she slipped into an office, one that dealt with minor incidences of little weight. It took a bit of her precious time, but she found what she needed.
"Phase one went well. Mmm... time for the hard part"- thought Eloe, peering outside through a chink in the door.
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*DarkArc
- Posts: 254
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
The halls were filled with the greenish smoke. Harmonium guards lay unconscious on the floor when the smoke started to lift. Those that were still awake were running every which way, trying to figure out if they were under attack or if it was all over.
Eloe got where she needed to go without much issue, but getting out would be a different deal entirely. The Harmonium were now patrolling the halls in force, picking up their comrades and trying to revive them. Others were evacuating their offices and heading outside to get clear of whatever other sabotage might come next.
Inodine and Chari would see the same scene. The greenish smoke was thicker in some hallways than others, making traveling through the barracks hazardous in some places and congested in others. There was still no sign of who was attacking.
Eloe got where she needed to go without much issue, but getting out would be a different deal entirely. The Harmonium were now patrolling the halls in force, picking up their comrades and trying to revive them. Others were evacuating their offices and heading outside to get clear of whatever other sabotage might come next.
Inodine and Chari would see the same scene. The greenish smoke was thicker in some hallways than others, making traveling through the barracks hazardous in some places and congested in others. There was still no sign of who was attacking.
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*Darkrob
- Posts: 1097
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
Shamus takes control of the potential combat situation and leaves the logistics of internal security and damage control to Chari. He begins to order all present officers back to their posts immediately so that no gaps are left in the perimeter of the barracks. He tells them to move quickly and leave the fallen where they are… “That’s why we have medics” he would offer as the only assurance if they would pause. If they hesitated further, he would order them to move.
He puts out a general call for replacement officers to man any gaps left by the fallen. A temporary lockdown is also orderedÂ… no unauthorized personnel in or out until the threat has been determined and neutralized. He also imbues himself with Persistent Clairaudience and blind sight.
He turns to Chari
“I suggest a room by room, passageway by passageway, search of the barracks and a lockdown of all high security areas”.
He puts out a general call for replacement officers to man any gaps left by the fallen. A temporary lockdown is also orderedÂ… no unauthorized personnel in or out until the threat has been determined and neutralized. He also imbues himself with Persistent Clairaudience and blind sight.
He turns to Chari
“I suggest a room by room, passageway by passageway, search of the barracks and a lockdown of all high security areas”.
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*LiquidDreamer
- Posts: 419
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
Chari survey's the damage, letting it register as she sees the unconscious bodies lying the ground. She walks over to the first group she sees and listens to Shamus as he talks and checks the soldiers vitals to make sure they are still alive.
"It will be done." Using a whistle, she summons her subordinates and tells them to have all the injured moved to the infirmary. She instructs anyone present near the blast area to report to the holding cells so their accounts can be written down and so they too can be checked out for injuries or other effects.
Anyone guarding a perimeter that leads outside or in a critical is not to leave their post as per Shamus's orders, their statements will be taken later.
After those orders are given out, she commandeers two other soldiers and starts searching each room one by one. Anyone she passes she, asks their name, rank, and commanding officer. If anyone hesitates to answer this or if they sound unsure, they are to immediately held for questioning until their identity can be verified.
"It will be done." Using a whistle, she summons her subordinates and tells them to have all the injured moved to the infirmary. She instructs anyone present near the blast area to report to the holding cells so their accounts can be written down and so they too can be checked out for injuries or other effects.
Anyone guarding a perimeter that leads outside or in a critical is not to leave their post as per Shamus's orders, their statements will be taken later.
After those orders are given out, she commandeers two other soldiers and starts searching each room one by one. Anyone she passes she, asks their name, rank, and commanding officer. If anyone hesitates to answer this or if they sound unsure, they are to immediately held for questioning until their identity can be verified.
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*3l03
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
The elf watched and listened to background noise, commands uttered around, people moving back and forth...
"Organizing like professionals." - She concluded shortly. Strangely, that brought a slight smirk of satisfaction on her face. - "As expected."
She read the short report she snatched, set it on fire and left the office.
Not far outside one of the notaries was lying on the floor, struggling to breathe. She looked around the corridor, not seeing anyone she inclined and examined him.
"Weh's you's badge, not'ry?" - she asked with a somewhat odd accent - it did resemble that of Hivers' in its harshness, but at the same time was oddly melodic. Her tone was imperative, one that commanders usually use talking to their subordinates. The man coughed and wheezed, his nearly numb hand reached for the badge.
"Good lad. I'll do me best t'get you some 'elp" - She comforted the notary before knocking him out unconscious. She took the badge and left the now numb notary, heading away.
Although putting herself on the line was nothing new to Eloe, it's been some time since she have had a job as high-profile as this, if ever.
"No matter. No mistakes so far" - she dismissed her doubts quickly. She had to stay focused and she knew how to control herself.
Meanwhile, the flame consuming the document she lit up back in the office was just burning out, leaving a portion of the report intact.
"Organizing like professionals." - She concluded shortly. Strangely, that brought a slight smirk of satisfaction on her face. - "As expected."
She read the short report she snatched, set it on fire and left the office.
Not far outside one of the notaries was lying on the floor, struggling to breathe. She looked around the corridor, not seeing anyone she inclined and examined him.
"Weh's you's badge, not'ry?" - she asked with a somewhat odd accent - it did resemble that of Hivers' in its harshness, but at the same time was oddly melodic. Her tone was imperative, one that commanders usually use talking to their subordinates. The man coughed and wheezed, his nearly numb hand reached for the badge.
"Good lad. I'll do me best t'get you some 'elp" - She comforted the notary before knocking him out unconscious. She took the badge and left the now numb notary, heading away.
Although putting herself on the line was nothing new to Eloe, it's been some time since she have had a job as high-profile as this, if ever.
"No matter. No mistakes so far" - she dismissed her doubts quickly. She had to stay focused and she knew how to control herself.
Meanwhile, the flame consuming the document she lit up back in the office was just burning out, leaving a portion of the report intact.
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*3l03
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
(((OOC: Hi! Hope this hasn't died yet! (nor the whole server, for that matter x_x) Guess I'll just add in Eloe's next move.)))
The elf proceeded further. The few nearby patrols were a bother and slowed her down, but with her ability to step in the shadows, she managed to get pass them.
She stopped at a corner. Before her, to her right, was the corridor leading to the upper part of the training grounds. She peeked around the corner to check how heavy the lockdown was.
Having assessed the situation, she set a trip string just behind the corner and then threw a thunderstone nearby. She skipped over the trip line and ran up to the door guards.
"All 'ite? D'yous 'ear that?" - She asked, and before they answered, she added confidently - "I d'n like this, I'm tell'n ya. The front do'oh was stoh'md by a deem'n. I think that was justa diversh'n. What ahll do is ahll check tha portal."
She stepped forward as if she didn't take 'no' for an answer.
(((Her further actions will crucially depend on the door guards' reaction, and I'm guessing that in turn depends on what orders they were given by PC commanders:P)))
The elf proceeded further. The few nearby patrols were a bother and slowed her down, but with her ability to step in the shadows, she managed to get pass them.
She stopped at a corner. Before her, to her right, was the corridor leading to the upper part of the training grounds. She peeked around the corner to check how heavy the lockdown was.
Having assessed the situation, she set a trip string just behind the corner and then threw a thunderstone nearby. She skipped over the trip line and ran up to the door guards.
"All 'ite? D'yous 'ear that?" - She asked, and before they answered, she added confidently - "I d'n like this, I'm tell'n ya. The front do'oh was stoh'md by a deem'n. I think that was justa diversh'n. What ahll do is ahll check tha portal."
She stepped forward as if she didn't take 'no' for an answer.
(((Her further actions will crucially depend on the door guards' reaction, and I'm guessing that in turn depends on what orders they were given by PC commanders:P)))
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*DarkArc
- Posts: 254
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
//Apologies for my slow response time to this. If I miss something, please let me know so I can edit/add the NPC reaction.
As Shamus instructed, Notaries of the Harmonium quickly go about locking down the facility. No one gets in, no one gets out. The only exception are other Harmonium soldiers in the beginnings of the lockdown, each one searched and questioned as is per usual of a lockdown. "This isn't a damned exercise, is it?" one of the soldiers asked, to which he received a snippy reply.
One of the notaries reports to Chari that all the prisoners are accounted for. The explosion and chaos definitely made some of the inmates try, but they were subdued. None of the prisoners appeared to be behind it and no one tried to break in to the detention area. It wasn't a jailbreak?
The wounded are taken to the infirmary and the blast area is swept for any more survivors or casualties. Miraculously, no one is killed, though there are plenty of injuries whether through burns from the explosion or the effects of the gas.
The red-armored soldiers search room by room, looking for any more possible sabotage. The greenish gas that had once filled the hallways was almost completely dissipated, though still lingering in a few of the lower halls.
Not long after, the unconscious Harmonium notary without a badge was discovered, though the medics were more concerned with reviving him and didn't notice his badge was missing.
As the report Eloe burned did not burn all the way, it remains lying on the floor of the office.
Meanwhile, Eloe finds that the door guards stop her. "We're under lockdown, Notary," one of them said. "No one gets in or out, by orders of Measure One Inodine."
As Shamus instructed, Notaries of the Harmonium quickly go about locking down the facility. No one gets in, no one gets out. The only exception are other Harmonium soldiers in the beginnings of the lockdown, each one searched and questioned as is per usual of a lockdown. "This isn't a damned exercise, is it?" one of the soldiers asked, to which he received a snippy reply.
One of the notaries reports to Chari that all the prisoners are accounted for. The explosion and chaos definitely made some of the inmates try, but they were subdued. None of the prisoners appeared to be behind it and no one tried to break in to the detention area. It wasn't a jailbreak?
The wounded are taken to the infirmary and the blast area is swept for any more survivors or casualties. Miraculously, no one is killed, though there are plenty of injuries whether through burns from the explosion or the effects of the gas.
The red-armored soldiers search room by room, looking for any more possible sabotage. The greenish gas that had once filled the hallways was almost completely dissipated, though still lingering in a few of the lower halls.
Not long after, the unconscious Harmonium notary without a badge was discovered, though the medics were more concerned with reviving him and didn't notice his badge was missing.
As the report Eloe burned did not burn all the way, it remains lying on the floor of the office.
Meanwhile, Eloe finds that the door guards stop her. "We're under lockdown, Notary," one of them said. "No one gets in or out, by orders of Measure One Inodine."