CH. 11: The Show Must Go On

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Kendra, Tulbas and Gobax (Grand Market)
The soldiers jump in cheering at Haahqae's encouragement, and soon the entire square is doing so. This is summarily interrupted by a loud roar and the flapping of wings overhead. A massive red dragon--the largest one in the city, sets down in the square, sending multiple people running to avoid getting squashed. Sitting atop the dragon is none other than the prefect himself, the bozak draconian, Tethys.

Tethys hops off of the dragon, gliding down to the stage with his wings. "It seems I have arrived too late," he comments, dusting himself off. "Does someone wish to explain what happened? I heard there was an attack."

The soldiers are quick to explain the appearance of the strange elemental and Kendra's bravery in defeating it. "Is that so? Well, I knew there was something special about you, my dear," he says to her, beckoning her to the stage. "Come, say a few words to the peoples' who lives you just saved."

Arulia Seroth (Thoron's Blacksmithy)
Camilla, overly excited, launches into an explanation at rapid speed. "It was amazing! We were watching this show, and there was this lady soldier there, and she said she'd train me so I could be a warrior, and then this monster appeared and it was made of fire and it started attacking the soldiers, and she bravely jumped forward and started attacking it, and she killed it, and everyone is saying she's a hero!" she says in a single, rambling run-on sentence while jumping up and down.

Felran, Ne-Chanz, and Shima (North Haven Sewers)
"Pull my weight?" replies Felran. "I think you forgot that I was the one who got us this job in the first place." He shakes his head. "The only reason you're even here is I was nice enough to invite you. Don't forget that, dwarf."

[Chris1234]

"No problem. I'll leave then," and Shima heads for the exit.

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra stares at the gnome before her attention is drawn to her boss and his red dragon landing in the middle of the square. Her eyes were wide, as if she was a deer caught in headlights. Though, it wasn't really clear if it was because she was staring at a red dragon, or if it was because she was being beckoned to address the people on the stage. She clears her throat, and cautiously walks up on the stage (after picking up her sword which has now cooled off). "Um," she stammers. "I'm not really much of a speaker. I just...did what needed to be done to protect the people of this city."

[TristenC]

Grubnick stagger-steps backwards at the sight of the massive reptilian beast of legend. His own natural dexterity and mental faculties failing him as he half falls/half sits backwards onto the hard stone. God of fire protect me! his only frantic thought at first. it was one thing to see auch a creature flying hundreds of feet in the air, quite another to feel it shake the very earth beneath your feet. He gaped without reservation, light, there's no way those things could be anything but evil... what was I thinking... it is a concentrated effort to steal glances at the Prefect himself, marking his features. Grubnick's gaze went back warily to the dragon, but he strained to focus long enough to hear the conversation...

[Haahque]

And just when Haahqae thinks it's time to continue his show... a freaking dragon shows up! Like really, is the universe just conspiring to try and stop his show? It was bad enough when it was just people backstabbing him, but now there's a giant-fire-death creature attacking his show with no warning or reason, and then a freaking dragon shows up!

However, arguing with a dragon isn't much of an argument, so Haahqae makes sure to clear enough of the stage so that he doesn't get squashed.

From his spot on the floor of the stage, Haahqae looks up at Kendra "Yes exactly! You did what needed to be done to protect the people and the city. An honorable act, and bravely done too. The city would do well with a few more soldiers like you."

[djhyland]

Once it becomes apparent that Camilla is not hurt, just still excited, Arulia relaxes a bit and looks back to the furnace. But her sister's excitement brings its own worries. "Lady soldier?" she asks in concern. "This lady soldier wouldn't happen to be Kendra, would it? And she defeated this...creature?"

[BishGada]

Tulbas mentally pulls every thread of thought to keep his sanity and any bit of self control and will to keep himself from running. he tries not to look at the dragon, the prefect or Kendra, and tries to shut off all bad memories he had from the Red Army, some returned while he was tortured by the Belzorites not so long ago. With great effort he keeps close to hear the conversation and support Kendra if the need arises. Surely enough it doesn't so he stays close until the commotion ends to replace few words with Kendra, Gobax and Haaque as to their plans for the near future.

=========================================================
(OOC: Plans for the near future with the group: 1. Keep Gregeddin alive and try to free the trade guild. 2. Find some lead on true cleric of evil god and tell the priestess about it. 3. Check what happened with Ferlan Ne-Chaz and Shima.
Plans without the group: Keep the training.
)

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Kendra, Tulbas and Gobax (Grand Market)
"Precisely, precisely," Tethys says, putting his arm around Kendra. "She is just a citizen doing her duty to help protect the people from danger." He nods to Haahqae, "And we could indeed use more soldiers like her. If you would like to step up and help protect this city from threats, as Kendra here does, we will be accepting recruits. Who knows? Maybe you'll even be assigned to work with Kendra herself!"

A number of the citizens talk among themselves at this. A few even seem excited by the idea.

"This is the exact kind of thing the army is here to protect you from," Tethys continues. "Remember, before we arrived, the mad cults running around? Starting fires and riots, kidnapping and killing innocent civilians? Who can say how much damage might have been done, how many more lives might have been lost had we not been here to protect you all?"

The soldiers and the citizens applaud in response.

Arulia Seroth (Thoron's Blacksmithy)
"Kendra?" Camilla repeats, tilting her head. "Uhhh...now that you mention it, she never told me her name. But the gnome guy did call her that. Did you know gnomes were real? I thought they were just made up kender tales." She shrugs. "Anyway, yeah, she destroyed the monster by herself! She probably saved a lot of lives, even mine!"

"Huh, I knew a Kendra once," the customer mutters. "Wasn't a soldier, though."

Shima Longfoot (North Haven Sewers)
Shima makes his way, alone, back toward the entrance of the sewer. It was around Twelfth Watch now, meaning there were roughly two hours before curfew began. He was now free to do whatever he wished, at least until then.

[Chris1234]

{OOC: @Jaded - Sorry but I just got too fed up in a group of 3 PCs where I'm the only one actually posting.}

Leaving the weapons behind, Shima wanders off to look for Haahqae to finally see the fellow's juggling skills.

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra looks up to Tethys for a moment before she offers a somewhat forced smile towards the crowd. This was probably the best way to earn the trust of the prefect, but she didn't really want to help the army in the process. ~Whoever did this just helped the army more,~ she thought to herself.

[BishGada]

Tulbas narrows his eyes at Thetys proclaims, 'Ahhmm... I think you forgot to mention the genocide you did in the elves, all the people you murdered, the lands you have torched and all those you enslaved...' he thinks to himself full of hate. But he dare say nothing loud. What good will that bring?

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Kendra, Tulbas and Gobax (Grand Market)
"Now then," Tethys continues, "I suggest you all get back to your homes. Although the evil here was vanquished, those responsible are still out there and may have additional attacks in place." He gestures to his soldiers. "Clean up the remains and return them to the barracks." Then to Kendra, he says, "I will still need your report. Shall I offer you a ride back to the mansion?" and gestures to his dragon.

Shima Longfoot (Grand Market)
Shima makes his way to the grand market. He finds that the checkpoint leading into the market takes longer than normal, and he gets the impression security is heightened for some reason. Eventually he is let through, glad he left those weapons behind or he'd be in real trouble now.

The first thing he notices is the massive red dragon sitting in the middle of the square. It is a little over a hundred feet long, not including its tail.

The dragon watches some figures on a stage. A large number of baaz and Haven citizens stand around it, listening to three figures. One is Haahqae. He is not juggling, though, or performing in any capacity. Another is a human woman. She is blonde and fair and is wearing the uniform of an elite soldier in the dragonarmy. The third is a bozak draconian. Bozaks are much smarter than the more usual baaz, generally being made leaders and generals in the army. They are also often spellcasters.

Shim also notices signs of a recent battle. There are a handful of petrified baaz, including a few that were shattered. There is also a large scorch mark on the ground near the stage.

Looking around further, he notices that among the people in the crowd listening are Tulbas, the preteen elf and Gobax the ugly goblin, both of whom he met before.

[Chris1234]

Shima tries to approach Tulbas and Gobax, and enquire, "I know I've been underground with Ne-Chanz all day, but what in all the hells has been going on? It was bad enough with Gregeddin disappearing and some bugger nicking all my weapons!"

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra looks to the dragon, once again, with wide eyes. "Uh," she stammered. "It will probably be better than being mobbed in the streets," she admits.

[djhyland]

Arulia pushes down the urge to forbid Camilla from becoming a soldier, having no desire to repeat her fight with Niniva. And at least if Kendra is willing to train her or at least look out for her, she'll be in good hands. "Kendra and I served in the Seeker Guard together," she explains. "She's a good soldier and a good person, and if you really want to become a soldier, learning from her is probably the best way to do so if she's willing to teach you." She frowns at the mention of the gnome, though. "You met a gnome, too? Did you happen to get his name?"