010 - Bar Exam
Well, this escalated quickly. Still, while she’s waiting, she might as well try and piece together what she knows… So this Kjeld guy, important guy in town, has some kind of personal group taking stuff from people, and either the people who COULD fight back can’t do anything about it, or they don’t know what’s going on. On top of that, whatever is going on with the pillar is still happening, and at this rate even a small force of Bonewalkers could run this whole place down.
The door opens. A woman walks through, standing close to the doorway. “One of the first things you did here was get in a fight. You went right to that pillar and undead are roaming. Now you’re spying around on us. Who are you and what are you doing here?”
Well, when she puts it like THAT, it sounds kind of shady…
Hold on, Solana has some questions of her own first.
The woman pauses. It’s hard to tell if she’s amused by the brazenness. “You’re in no position to be asking things. Make it good”.
Why is Kjeld doing all this? He knows it can’t be good for the town. Maybe she’s not completely in on it, but surely she knows more than just orders, right?
Another pause. A more considered, thoughtful one. “It’s in the name of progress. Breathing new life.”
New life? Okay, one more question: Is it dark in here, or is it just me?
The guard’s confused expression became one that was slack-jawed and with eyes rolled up into her head. Confirmed: it WAS dark in here, especially after a hit to the head like that one.
Crap. Time to go.
Solana dashes outside of her cell to see the second guard: a lightly-armored man. Not being too interested in a sustained fight - that woman might be waking up at any moment - Solana tries a more nuanced approach: feinting him out and pushing him away for a clean escape. This awkward wrestling match was louder than expected: if anyone else is nearby, they surely heard it.
Still, sunlight never seemed nicer. All right, so the clever approach didn’t work. The apparent bad guys already know all about her and the antics she’s gotten up to, so time for the right way, proper way, the Solana way:
Fists flying. She knows where Master Kjeld most likely is. She just has to get to him. She could barge in, look for a way to sneak inside, or, just maybe…
…have urgent news for him about the iron pillar spotted outside of town.
The guard outside considers. “Very well, but two of us are coming with you. Don’t try anything.” So much for an ambush. Down the halls she goes, all too reminded of the spears they’re wielding.
Sitting in an oversized chair is… an oversized man, enjoying far too much to be his share for too long. Solana stands before Master Kjeld. “There you are, finally. Yes, I know it’s you. I have as many reasons to kill you as I do to talk with you, so make it good.”
Well, Solana thinks they can mutually help each other, so let’s at least start with talking? What do you know about the iron pillar?
“We’ve never heard in history of a pillar appearing out of nowhere. I know there’s reports of undead around - plenty of reasons that can happen. A mystic nearby, or the like.”
The local guardsfolk said they’ve never seen or got any reports of Bonewalkers. How do you know about it?
Kjeld pauses, as though he said something he shouldn’t. “The locals are… limited, in their capacity. I, being important to Olgar’s Stand, have loyalists. I’m also aware you’re well and familiar with them.”
Solana finally brings up: If a mystic’s involved, I’m wanting to find and stop them, or whatever’s causing the Bonewalkers. I either need your men, or for you to ease up on taking goods so the locals can help.
Kjeld laughs, loudly. “No, no, I’m afraid I can’t do that. I’m going to need everything these people have, and more, for what comes next.” Comes next? What? “I do have a proposal, though”. He leans forward.
“Forget everything you’ve witnessed here. You’re an outsider, a wanderer, one of those lunatics who roam around trying to do good and swear oaths. This isn’t your business. Don’t MAKE it your business. Leave here, and there’ll be no fight, and I’ll even see to it you’re rested and supplied.”
Mid-Story Commentary
Have you noticed the "sessions" have gotten longer? Clearly I was getting into this part of the story, or at becoming more comfortable with the idea of solo gaming at this point.
So the solution to getting out of the cell was to, first, Compel to try and learn a thing or two. Then an Iron roll to knock out the guard, who literally entered the cell for some reason. Suspension of disbelief, or whatever.
I thought a Compel roll to get escorted inside Kjeld's building was clever. That being said, for throwing Solana into a cell, then Solana breaking out of said cell, Kjeld is oddly willing to talk things out here.
I forget if that "nobody mentioned Bonewalkers" thing was a roll or not. It reads like a weak hit on Compel to me, but it's possible this was just a conversation.