"Fine. But while you're at it make yourselves useful. You can carry books around for the redactors, prepare some food, or... whatever else. If you need something, talk to Yilliv. I've been stuck down here since that protest revolt, and I'd like to get out as soon as possible."
"Oh I understand completely."
Tarnagius walks over to the books. Once the group is relatively out of earshot from Nox and the redactors he turns to the others.
"Ok, people. We're going to find ways to contribute. Spread out, find anything that looks useful. Holler if we find anything useful."
"Of course boss."
Bazzle sets to work staying in character with Tarn's subterfuge.
As Bazzle searches the library he becomes keenly interested in locating the mysterious voice known as Yilliv. However, the voice echoes so much that he's having a very hard time locating it.
Rexandi remains very quiet and takes small steps as she remains humble and downcast-looking, as befits her supposed station - someone is always watching, after all. She looks through the library idly for any books that seem promising or particularly out of place.
Tarnagius begins glancing through books as he helpfully categorizes them.
Yilliv... Yilliv...
There aren't very many books remaining, but Rexandi starts flipping through them. None of these books are particularly helpful, nor filled with secrets of the Thrune empire, but still interesting none-the-less. One of the books is called "True Origins of Kintargo", while the other is called "A Time before the Age of Hell". In addition, Rexandi discovers a false back to one of the shelves. As she sneaks a peak, she sees a locked safe made of mithral.
Extraplanar is the origin of the name Yilliv. He is a being from the realm of Axis.
Bazzle needs no bluff to suggest to Tarn and the others seeing as he has failed to find anything. "The redactors have done their work there is little of significance. . . unless one of you have made a discovery."
"Some books about life before the Thrune government. I think we've made as much progress as we can peacefully. Let's find an isolated redactor and make our move."
Rexandi says quietly, "Found a locked safe."
Bazzle smirks and whispers quietly, "A safe and knocking skulls. What gets priority?"
"I would say, secure the area first, then deal with the safe. Otherwise, could be bad if someone walks in while you're trying to open it."
"Exactly. We don't know what this Yilliv is capable of either. Let's get the drop on one of these redactors, then."
Bazzle mentions quietly to Tarn and the others. "Its a big room but unless its a flawless take down either the redactor or the Yilliv will know.'"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Yeah, but it's probably easier than trying to fight them both."
Tarnagius looks closely at the botto of the shelves near the upper redactor, seeing if they could be toppled.
"Yeah, but it's probably easier than trying to fight them both."
Tarnagius looks closely at the botto of the shelves near the upper redactor, seeing if they could be toppled.
Bazzle notes Tarn's gaze. "Nice."
"This is gonna cause a stir. Do we want to wait for a high value target."
"I'm not sure we can kill any of them with enough stealth for that to make a difference. Gotta hit them hard and fast. Take one out quickly."
Tarnagius moves his cloak to pad around his shoulder.
This'll feel good.
He waits for a redactor to move in front of a bookshelf, and slams himself into the shelf as hard as he can.
Bazzle shrugs at the cold logic and adds what little help he can to the shove.
Tarnagius and little Bazzle slam into the bookshelf. At first, it doesn't tip quickly, but with a little time it finally falls. After a loud SLAM, the redactor on the other side is nowhere to be seen. (Rexandi and the others noticed that he was not paying attention, and was indeed slammed to the floor and buried. His CMD was 13.)
The cold, unpassionate voice of Yilliv sounds again. "Tarnagius, what are your intentions? If you or your companions attack anyone else, I will be forced to list you as intruders and alert every humanoid in this monastery."
Bazzle looks up nervous and shocked. "By the forked beard of the Lord of Hell! Is . . . is everyone alright? Tarnagius was leaning on the shelf trying to reach a book over his head. I turned by back and checked something in my shoe . . . a little rock I think." He wipes his brow in horror, "I barely brushed the shelf to keep my balance. I wonder if it might have been sabotaged, trapped or just plain old." His hand rubs his chest over his heart further selling the drama of his mock horror.
Rexandi says, "What just happened? I was looking at this book."
Tarnagius climbs onto the bookshelf, looking around, strapping his shield to his arm.
"You will be forced to? How could you be forced to do otherwise?"
"It is a wonder how the material races manage to survive long enough to reproduce. I have traded my temporary servitude for knowledge, and so I am bound here under strict orders by the one who commands me. Despite the destruction of such worthy (if biased) knowledge, I have no free will to act beyond these orders. If you continue to hurt any redactors or Nox, I be forced to notify all humanoids in this monastery of your intrusion, and I will have to attempt to detain you. Should you resist, I will be forced to kill."
Rexandi raises an eyebrow at Tarnagius, as he's been taking the lead on this show so far.
Tarnagius sighs and stabs the pinned redactor.
"Do what you must, creature. None of you will leave this monastery alive."
Attackers receive a +4 bonus on attack rolls to perform combat maneuvers against a stunned opponent.
Bazzle snaps to it as soon as Tarn drops the con. He nods at Tarn indicating the redactor still moving beneath the book case.
Bazzle hops up onto the book case and moves over to the point where the buried redactor is. Dagger drawn.
Tarnagius stabs downward at the redactor under his feet.
1. Kethaera, Bazzle, Rexandi
2. Enemies
3. Tarnagius, Rexus
A large tome falls out from one of the north-eastern bookshelves and flips open, with pages and velvet bookmarks shooting out of it. The cover of the large book reveals a face that moves according to Yilliv's speech. "Indeed I shall, but know that I do not gain any enjoyment from this fight." The only standing redactor draws his sword from his cane and assumes a defensive guard while calling out for his allies.
Bazzle looks at Tarn seeing they both went for the pinned guy, "I though you were the heavy and I was clean up."
He changes focus moves a few feet closer to the standing redactor. He tosses a dagger hoping to get him out of the coming fight.
Tarnagius stabs at the redactor through an open shelf in the bookcase. He may not be out of the fight, but he will be soon enough. Being under a heavy bookcase and another human really limits his chances.
Bazzle flicks a dagger expertly at the standing redactor and stabs him right in the chest. He gasps and holds his side as it bleeds from the wound. The redactor grimaces, but looks back to Bazzle with vengeance.
As she's out of spells, Rexandi draws her slim mithral dagger and stabs at the wounded redactor.
Kethaera leaps onto the bookcase and weaves light around some of Tarnagius' wounds to heal them.
Rexandi lashes out with her dagger to help kill the Redactor that Bazzle wounded, but is easily parried by the redactor's sword. His holy symbol of Asmodeus begins to glow, and he yells out "By the authority of the Dark Prince I judge you!" Bazzle's dagger pops out of the redactor's side, and his wounds slowly begin to close. Then, he makes a measured slash which catches Rexandi in the shoulder.
The other redactor, though no longer stunned, still struggles to no avail against the bookshelf and the people standing on it. Meanwhile, Yilliv simply floats up the staircase.
Rexus' face burns with the rage of a barbarian as he draws his sword cane and charges the standing redactor. At the top of his lungs he yells "This is for my parents!" Sadly, the redactor effortlessly parries the strike.
Fantastic.
Tarnagius steps off the bookshelf and loops around to attack the redactor engaging Rexandi.
Rexandi flinches as blood is drawn; she knows she is outmatched, but now there's nothing to do for it but fight and hope.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Bazzle draws another dagger and moves to flank.
Tarnagius leaps off the bookcase with his sword raised above his head and delivers an incredibly powerful strike to the redactor that travels through the top of his head, all the way down to his pelvis. After the eruption of blood, Tarnagius forces the carcass off his sword with a push from his boot.
Rexandi and Bazzle circle around to the redactor still stuck under the bookshelf. Bazzle doesn't get much to work with, but with the flank from Rexandi and the prone opponent, Bazzle still manages to slice the man's hamstring. Rexandi however goes right for the jugular. The redactor barely manages to yell out before the sight of his own blood renders him unconscious.
Kethaera draws her sword and hoists it above her head. "Bring it on! A few redactors are no match for us!"
Just ahead, the sound of boots hit the floor hard, swords being drawn, and battlecries sound out.
Tarnagius thinks quickly. We should hide! No, that Yilliv will tell them anyway. Scatter, keep from all being hit together with a single spell.
"Everyone get cover behind shelves! Keep separated!"
He ducks around the nearest shelf away from the door separating the archive from the rest of the monastery.
Though not everyone does as Tarnagius wishes, both Kethaera and Rexus seek some cover. Kethaera moves slightly to the front and prepares to daze the next redactor to show, while Rexus sidesteps to the nearest book case. Seeing Bazzle's dagger embedded in a dead redactor, Rexus lifts it with his mage hand and passes it back to Bazzle. "Here! Do that again!" Rexandi keeps light on her feet to dodge any incoming attacks, while Bazzle gets ready to toss his dagger.
The daze attack barely registers as four redactors run forwards to engage the group. Bazzle's dagger lands cleanly in one's shoulder, through his leather pauldrons.
Each redactor raises their sword and yells out "Judgement!" to the group, surrounding themselves with barely visible auras of protection. Two of the redactors stand on the floor, while two others are still on the steps, which gives them a modicum of cover.
The first two redactors lash out with a wave of fire that engulfs Tarnagius, Rexus, Kethaera, and Bazzle. Cover greatly aids the first three, and Bazzle is nimble enough to dodge out of the way completely!
The two redactors in the back launch firebolts at Bazzle. These burn so hot that armor is completely useless for protection, but Bazzle is incredibly nimble. He dodges both bolts with ease.
Evasion
Rexandi remains huddled under cover behind the bookshelf, waiting for the redactors to get closer so that she can time her attack with the rest of the team.
Bazzle snaps his fingers and opens his hand like he is letting something go. A split second later a bright pop bursts in the face of one of the redactors.
After the burst hits Bazzle moves to hide behind the book cases. He clutches his dagger and gets ready to harass the redactors.
Wish we had time to make a real killbox in the middle there. Oh well, too late now.
Tarnagius steps into melee along the wall and lashes out at the nearest redactor.
I'll pull them back this way.
The redactor resists Bazzle's attempt at trickery, while another redactor points out where the Gnome has fled. Meanwhile, Tarnagius wades up and slashes through the aura of protection, drawing blood down the redactor's shoulder.
Kethaera jumps into the fray with her longsword in both hands. Her attack is spot on, catching the redactor right in the chest. However, the half elf doesn't put nearly enough strength into the slash which results in only a minor wound. A little vial of acid flies overhead to land firmly on the same redactor's hat.
Rexandi waits patiently for the redactors to get closer, and adopts a defensive stance in the meantime.