Reynaldo steps up into the room and deals a severe blow to the woman, though, oddly, she doesn't seem impressed. Hissing in pain, she takes a step back and drinks and extract from a flask!
Rey clearly isn't accustomed to not impressing women.
Ares will step to get a clear shot and fire a pair of cold iron arrows
for
for
Reynaldo follows the woman, making her pay for drinking during combat!
Ares fires two arrows, landing one!
Hammer follows up to behind Rey and takes a swing with his hammer.
Lia moves up and fires an arrow at the woman.
Hammer swingsa at the woman, but misses!
Lia fires an arrow, but the cover of her allies stymies her shot!
Maffei moves up the stairs, but can't see anything!
The woman tries to avoid another attack from Rey as she backpeddles and then throws a bomb.
The bomb smashes on Rey, burning him, and splashing Hammer!
Rey continues to press the assault!
Reynaldo stabs at the woman as she moves away, but a shield od force delfects the blow!
He then moves up and stabs her with his blade!
Nimble little minx, isn't she? Rey quips.
"Indeed she is! ."
Ares fires again...
for
for
Hammer huffs and he puffs as the chase is on.
Ares weaves an arrow past the huge bell, striking the woman!
Hammer chuffs forward, but misses!
Lia delays, not having a clear view!
Maffei climbs the stairs and evokes a shadowy ray, hitting the woman!
The woman falls to ground, unmoving!
Searching the woman, you find two potions of gaseous form, +1 chain shirt, +1 flail, cloak of the bat, and 92 gp.
Rey passes out the valuables even as he looks at the woman closely. Who was she...? he asks as he cradles her chin in his hand. She was lovely, if unpleasant. And somewhat difficult to impress.
" Dunno. Was she one of the dragons minions or just a lady mixed up in dark arts she should not have been?."
Hammerfist grumbles.
You are fairly sure the woman matches the description of the alchemist, the druid told you about.
"Everyone ready to continue?
Ares will gather up any gear left behind and look around for anything we missed.
With a sigh of finality, Rey straightens and nods to Ares. Agreed. Let's move on. Back downstairs, I suppose.
Hammerfist grumbles and nods.
Moving to another section of the monastery, you enter a chamber with a wooden veranda runs around the edges of an atrium. A large planter, overgrown with various shrubberies and plants, grows in the center of the area under the open sky. As you enter the room, you see a serpentine creature, with the head of a humanoid woman, dozing in the sun. She awakens she and reacts to your presence with shock, saying in Common, “Oh! Pardon me, but have you heard word from Szangi? He’s not emerged from his lair since his last visit to that little human village, and I worry for the dear!”
Ares does not like the looks of the creature nor trust her.
"We have not heard from Szangi. Were you expecting him soon?"
She looks at Ares with a confused look, then her eyes widen. "“No! I mean Mighty Aeteperax! Don’t tell him I said that!”
"Fear not, we shall not mention it."
Ares looks to his companions on how to parley with the snake woman.
Reynaldo, predictably, steps forward confidently to speak with the woman. Oh, is Szangi a pet name for mighty Aeteperax? Rey is careful to pronounce it exactly as the woman has to make sure he has it correct. He continues with his customary smile. We are visitors to Szangi -- excuse me, mighty Aeteperax -- to present him with gifts from his cousin Kyrzian -- sorry, I mean great Charlemagne.
Ares would have tapped Rey back for a few.
"Rey, hope that helps. Anyone else? "
Hammerfist grumbles
The woman's eyes narrow at Reynaldo. "I asked that you do not say that name! As I said, he is not here, nor has been here for a some time." Her mein quickly dissolves to concern, as her tail vibrates. "I do hope the dear is ok...."
"I am sure he is fine. You know how time can fly when he is absorbed with his work. You say he has not visited in awhile. How long has it been since you visited him?"
The woman thinks for a moment. "Oh, like I said, since he last visited that village." Blinking, she peers at you. "Who are you anyways?"
Ares responds to the creature's question with a question of his own.
"Who are we? Seriously, wou do not know? So he has told you nothing of us? Interesting."
Lia stifles a chuckle at the whole exchange, unable to keep her composure.
Hammerfist grumbles some more.
Reynaldo shakes his head. As I said, we are visitors to mighty Aeteperax to present him with gifts from his cousin, great Charlemagne. He looks squarely at the woman with the beginnings of a frown. Great Charlemagne said nothing of you, however. Who are YOU?
If the snake woman starts to act suspicious towards them, Ares will put a blessing on his bow.
"Now that we have stated our business, it seems only appropriate for our host to respond in kind."
The woman seems quite flustered and confused. "No..no I do not know who you are. I have not seen Aeteperex for quite some time as I mentioned. If you are bringing him gifts, I suggest you seek him out in the cave. As for myself, I am Thaena, one of Sza...Aeteperex's advisors. We share a deep interest in stargazing, and he questions me on areas he is unfamiliar."
"Very good. The cave it will be. Is there anything you would like us to pass on to him while we are there?"
Ares is expecting her to Whig out at any moment...he smiles, waiting.
I am not sure about this one...I think it is time to leave unless we can get anything more from her.
If there is nothing else then, we will see you on the way back from our visit to...him."
The addled woman nods. "Ok. Due send my regards to the old dear." Returning the way you came, you find another set of stairs and ascend it. Tall bookcases fill this impressive chamber. The elaborate fresco on the ceiling depicts devotees of Irori in meditation. Wisps of incense wind through the scene like a fanciful ribbon of smoke.
Lia moves towards the door to prevent any further giggles from slipping out and ruining the ruse.
*cough* This stuff is kinda harsh!
Ares cannot make the perception either, so follows with the others.
"Indeed"
Maffei peers around the room, then points. "I believe there is a concealed door in the corner...."
Surprised at Maffei's comment, Ares waits to respond.
Once they are out of her line-of-sight, Ares finally comments.
We should check out that door...could she be hiding something we may need for the visit with 'him'
"I don't know, but if she doesn't want us poking around in there, all that wonderful fibbery was for nothing."
Hammerfist grumbles "Idinnae 'een a 'orr."