Spasi stands still, does nothing except listen for danger.
Spasi waits to follow Clem. It seems like the man has a good plan.
Opening the door results in another rustle of bones from the foyer and reveals a storage room. It is filled with crates and bins filled with bolts, cogs, cahins, tubes, bricks of clay and other supplies seemingly suited for n artist of mechanic. On a stable in the middle of the room lies a pile of three round, eyeball-shaped constructs with spindly arms, all of the broken and battered.
A quick survey of the room turns up an adamantine dagger, a mithral chain shirt and three vials clearly labeled "universal solvent".
"Hey Spasi, reckon this stuff is good for you yeah? Anyway, where is this guy?"
Bibic examines the broken pile, somewhat frustrated that it's not a troll.
He runs his hand through the debris. "Dunno what this is, but it's not a troll that's for sure. Let's press on. What's that noise in the foyer?" he whispers to the group.
Clement pauses to examine the dagger.
"Hey, sometimes these can be good against certain golems. Cut right through whatever they're made from."
Clement considers stealing while they're on a rescue mission.
"Maybe we can borrow it for a little while?"
Clement tucks the dagger in his belt, trusting Rhesus to swing hard enough that he'd still probably prefer his hammer over the tiny weapon regardless of its composition.
Stepping back into the open area, Clement jerks a thumb at the stairs.
"Up?"
Know (Planes)
"Oh yeah, inevitables!" Spasi says. "Outsider types. Usually not so bad as long as you don't break the rules. But wingless, huh? Weird...did we see any BBQ sauce in the kitchen? Hmmphf."
Spasi is ready to follow Clem up.
Rhesus shrugs and moves up the stairs.
"Let's do it."
Going up to the second floor, you find a short hallway with three doors opening off of it. The hallway continues onto a catwalk that slopes upwards towards the a closed door on the buildings other tower. Flickers of coloured light can be seen dancing behind that tower's windows.
Spasi tries to move quietly up the stairs. He looks around for Bibic, but can't see him and shrugs, which no one can see either.
"That door first?" Spasi points at A17.
Bibic follows, ready for action and rather surprised they hadn't been detected already.
Where is everyone?
Opening the door you sing a small room with a small shrine made out of interlocking gears topped with an artistic mask of a female face formed from metal plates. The two walls to either side hold long tapestries, one of a naked clockwork woman reaching down from a cloud to lift up a young man in robes, and another showing the same man standing triumphantly on the shoulders of an enormous humanoid maiching as it stomps across a crowded marketplace. A mat sits on the floor before the shrine, a bowl of incense overturned in front of it. Both the tapestries are ripped and askew, and the shrine itself is dented.
"Ok...anybody else got a bad feeling about this?"
Rhesus looks around nervously for the source of the damage.
Bibic shrugs invisibly and says, quietly, "I wonder why this stuff is askew?"
He grips his bow all the tighter and looks around the room.
"Right. Bright, of course. Goddess of constructs and golems."
Clement pauses as he observes the damage and disarray.
"Looks like something got angry here?"
"Right. Bright, of course. Goddess of constructs and golems."
"Bright? I thought her name was Bree, like the cheese?" Spasi asks, concerned. "Have I been saying it wrong all this time?" Spasi asks looking around.
"That explains some of the looks I get with the Calistrians when I ask for the machines...you know, the ones that do that stuff, and I've been calling them the 'Bree' machines and they have put me into the foodie fun room. I shoulda been asking for the Bright machines, clearly. Oh. Oh yeah..." Spasi rubs the back of his neck, figuring things out and wondering if he can show his face again in the Calistrian Temples.
Spasi casts Detect Magic and looks around, then is ready to move to the next room.
Perception
The air in the next room is a heavy mix of perfume and animal stink. In one corner lies a mass of fine blankets and pillows that have been slashed and raked into a crude nest. In another stands a vanity with a tall mirror and an impressive array of crystal perfume bottles. Between the two, a wooden trunk sits against the wall (locked DC30). Feathers and streaks of white litter the floor.
Bibic is ready to move on, seeing no troll here.
"The troll's not hidden in this chest that's for sure, let's leave it for now." he whispers
"I hear someone outside," Spasi whispers. "Let's go check it out." Spasi leaves the chest...but he does pinch the incense of mediation as it's small and fits easily into his haversack.
Spasi follows Rhesus and Clem outside and towards the noise.
Bibic readies his bow and follows back into the hall.
Clement pauses.
"This isn't normal, do you think? For Berkanain's home? To have something... nesting in his fineries? Or do you think the troll's here willingly and lives like this?"
Clement keeps his eyes focused on the "nest".
"Do trolls make nests?"
He looks at Bibic and Spasi for some indication of what might live in a manor like this, but nonetheless continues towards the noise along with his friends.
"Interesting? ... Do trolls make nests?"
Spasi shrugs, not that he remembers that no one can see him shrug.
"I dunno. I've slept in a nest before...but that was different. The Temple had these strange Priestesses from Tengu in...but that was completely different, totally," Spasi notes. "Their pecks really hurt. Yeah, not doing that again."
Poking an invisible head out the door, you see an unusual sight. A armed and armoured harpy walks towards you across the catwalk. From beneath her armour, you can see a patchwork of colourful clothing poking out and a large plumed and pointed hat tops her head.
Know (Arcana/Nature)
Spasi gives the she-bird a good leer.
"Oh yeah, that's one of them battle harpies. Been meaning to get myself tickled by one of them sometime. Bibic, you should come with me. They say the feathers go everywhere, if you know what I mean."
Spasi reaches into his 'sack and puts in his earplugs.
"You guys ready get things on? We move up together and jump her? Rhesus?"
"Don't seem sportin' but sure."
Rhesus waits until the bird has her back turned before slipping in and putting the hammer down.
Clement considers one of his scrolls that will make their efforts against the birdwoman more quiet, but invisibly shrugs when he heads Rhesus trodding ahead.
Bibic digs in his pack, pushing aside the piles of neatly wrapped arrows, moving over the rations, the alchemy fires, the multitude of scrolls and potions. Near the bottom he gets to the twine and even a stubby piece of chalk.
No earplugs.
He shrugs and inspires courage as Rhesus attacks!
And Spasi fires his new wand of Magic Missile at the bird hag, just to add to the fun.
force damage
Combat
23 Harpy
16 Spasi
8 Bibic
5 Rhesus
5 Clement.
37/82
Viciously attacked, the harpy lets out a cry of pain and surprise. Seeing stranger appear from the either and greviously wounded, she unfurls her wings and withdraws, swooping off the walkway and into the air above the manor.
"Kanya, we are under attack! Warn Berkanin."
Round 1, Initiative: 8
Weapon Equipped = Bow
Cold Iron Arrows = 21/25
Silver Blunt Arrows = 10/10
Adamantium Salted Arrows = 10/10
Ghost Salted Arrows = 10/10
Reptile Bane Arrows = 5/5
Bardic Performance = 18/20 (+2 round lingering)
Boots of Speed = 9/10 (+1 attack, +1 bonus on attack rolls, and a +1 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves)
Shard Major Image = 1/1
Bow Attack Mods: BAB +6/1, Dex +4, Weapon Focus +1, Bow +1, (Rapid Shot -2), (Deadly Aim -2)
Bow Damage Mods: Composite Bow +3, Bow +1, (Deadly Aim +4)
Bard Spells: (First: 5/5)(Second: 2/4)(CL 8, Con: +11, SR +10, DC: 13+)
0) Detect Magic, Light, Mending, Prestidigitation, Read Magic, Spark
1) Cure Light Wounds, Feather Fall, Grease, Unseen Servant
2) Calm Emotions, Cure Moderate Wounds, Glitterdust, Heroism
Bibic continues to inspire courage, trying to help the party reach new heights of ability now that they were in the thick of it. He taps his boots together (boots of speed) for an extra attack, and brings his bow to bear.
"Damn dirty bird!"
Round 1, Init 16
"I got this. Stand aside," Spasi fires his wand at the birdie to allow Bibic to help take it out.
Clement pauses as he observes Bibic and Spasi's ranged strikes impact the flying bird-woman.
Round 1
Rhesus waits for the reinforcements and/or drops his hammer and draws his bow to shoot the harpy, depending on/in addition to the stellar archery and magic/abysmal shooting and hedge wizardry of his companions.
The harpy does little more than take wing before she is pierced by arrows and pummeled by magic. She tumbles from the sky crashing with a terrible crunch to the ground below.
Bibic looks at the downed bird, "I hate those things. Just rats with wings I tell you. Rats with wings..."
He looks for the next threat to come now that their cover is blown. "Spasi, is this a good spot to hold our ground or should we pick another?"
Spasi looks around, wondering why Bibic isn't asking Rhesus that question.
"Uh, yeah, sure. Looks fine to me, I suppose," Spasi says, not really knowing and finally seeing himself and others again. He realizes that invisibility does nothing to cover Rhesus' smell.
Spasi listens for trouble, Perception, and if none is coming, he moves closer to the body of the birdwoman.
"Yeah, let's stick here to see if anyone comes up from her call. Watch m' back."
Spasi goes to check on the harpy body, quickly taking any magic gear
Clement calls out.
"I'm still here guys. Nice work taking that bird-woman down quick."
Clement keeps his eyes open, waiting in case the harpy's cries did in fact bring something else to the battle.
Clement mutters a few words, guiding Bibic's attempts to coax the lock into revealing its secrets.
Bibic saunters over to the look and gives it a close look. He takes out his tools, "Cover me, this might take a while." and sits down to work. He plans to try a few times, then really settle in and work it.
(+2 shard of pride, +2 heroism, +2 MW thieves tools, +1 guidance)
As the lock pops open under his fingers he's surprised. "Got it." he says as he puts his tools away and takes his bow back out falling into position.
Spasi keeps watch while Bibic does what elves do. He feels more comfortable now that he can see most of his companions, only wishing he could switch Clem and Rhesus in the seen/unseen categories.
"Yeah, yeah, Bibs, take your time and get it right."
Rhesus nods as the harpy is shot down and scratches his butt as Spasi is questioned about tactics.
"Sure, we could hold here I suppose. Prefer something it's easier to retreat from."
He watches the gardens while the lock is picked, standing 15' back from the door.
"Hope this doesn't take too long. Oh."
Nobody interrupts the attempt to unlock the door.
Muffled bellows seem to vibrate through the very stones of the tower.
Spasi waits for the door to be opened, feeling a bit naked exposed and waiting.
"C'mon Bibs, use them long elfy fingers to get in there," Spasi urges.
Once the lock is picked Rhesus waits for Bibic to get into position with his bow, and opens the door.
Clement takes a deep breath, assuming there will be a troll in the room beyond.