As Slumper swings away, the derro dances out of range, taunting the fighter with a sing-song "You is all so stupid! Vreeg make meat puppets of you dead corps..." CRUNCH!
The derro goes down under the heavy fist of the earth elemental, crushed to the ground and bleeding profusely.
On the stone slab, the arm and torso still feebly paw at you, animated by dark magic still.
After the whipping the little fiend just gave him, Slumper sighs at his luck before stopping the bleeding of the little blue fellow.
Ruperta feels her joins stiffen, and in that fraction of a second she feels happy it was her, and not her companions, the one attacked. She wishes she would have the time to make a prayer for Desna, but she has not.
She manages to beat the effect, but she falls to her knees while tears form in her eyes.
"That was horrible. I felt like my heart would stop as well as all my body."
The fiend is soon stabilized and secured using the wire previously found.
"Dont heal it too well. I don't want that thing beating us up again! Slumper, can you still carry the remainder of the Shoanti, or do we need to split up the responsibility?" On the bright side, this is the whole of the warrior, as far as I can tell."
Pai enhances her vision looking for magic in the room. She is sure to strip the Derro of his magic while the others tie him up.
Corbyn puts away his swords then leans against the wall to watch the show.
Ruperta tries to grab or contain the animated Shoanti body part.
"I'll manage it won't be as easy that derro fight has left me weaker than normal.""
"Speaking of which, iit seems we have found what we are looking for...is it time to us to go back up to the city, and take a respite from fighting for a time while everyone heals?"
While she keeps trying to take hold of the Shoanti body part, Ruperta agrees:
"Yes, I miss the sun. Just don't forget to grab anything that can give us an insight about this place. An that includes our small blue prisoner."
The animated arm and torso are easy enough to grab, but they do feebly slap at you as you grab them, giving you a very uneasy feeling.
Searching the derro gives you a wand of ghoul touch (43 charges), 5 doses of blue whinnis poison, a masterwork dagger, a robe of bones with two patches remaining, ring of protection +1 and a spellbook full of nasty necromantic spells. The library yields several volumes on necromancy and a surprising number on diseases and disease vectors. You also discover a scroll of identify and a scroll of command undead.
Growing tired of the slapping arm and torso, Ruperta casts stabilize on it, and sure enough even the smallest application of positive energy is enough to cause it to grow still and dead once more.
The derro awakens halfway back to the surface and begins to howl with rage and anger. "LET VREEG GO! VREEG HATE YOU HATE HATEHATEHATE YOU!"
3rd - fly, vampiric touch
2nd - blindness/deafness, scorching ray, spectral hand
1st - cause fear, chill touch, shield, false life, magic missile, ray of enfeeblement, sleep
As well as command undead, darkness, feather fall, gentle repose, scare, sleep, and water breathing.
Unless you guys have any objections, I'm going to handwave and narrate the next few days. In addition, level up to level 4!
Dragging back the ogrekin and the screaming derro (who is rapidly gagged by an old rag found in a corner and best left unspoken of), the party heads back to the Marshall's office. She is roused and comes in, bleary eyed. She listens to your story, slightly disturbed that a necromancer and a derro to boot are operating under Korvosa, but she sighs and states that the vaults beneath the city are likely home to much worse. The derro and ogrekin are taken away to cells to await questioning and trial, and the butchered body of Gaekhan, the young Shoanti man, is taken to a cold room to await Thousand Bones' return to take it home for burial.
"You've done well, as well as anyone could hope. The streets are beginning to quiet and the Queen has announced that she will address the City tomorrow at sunset. I'd like you lot to come along, in case anything gets out of hand. I hope it won't, but.... I'm far too much of a realist to rely on hope alone."
The next day comes too soon and around mid-afternoon you join the Guard in heading over to the courtyard of Castle Korvosa. A stage has been set with a royal throne and a large crowd has already gathered. You see nobles and peasants, commoners and businessmen rubbing shoulders, and the mood is troubled. Everyone is holding their breath waiting to see what the Queen will announce. There is definitely an undercurrent of dissatisfaction here, and you sense that Field Marshall Kroft's caution is well placed.
As sunset approaches, the crowd quiets as the gates open and a legion of Castle guards troop out to take up a position between the crowd and the stage. Queen Ileosa follows, wearing a beautiful green gown and jewels worth more than most noble families. Drums and trumpets play a fanfare, and she is accompanied by Sabina Merrin, her ever-watchful bodyguard. The last member of her procession is an executioner, carrying a large headsman's axe.
The drums change from fanfare to somber beats and two guards appear dragging a hooded figure between them: Trinia Sabor, the artist you attempted to save earlier. A large block is placed on the edge of the stage and the girl is made to kneel over it before her hood is removed. She blinks against the sudden light and her pretty face is puffy and red, as if she's been crying.
The queen stands, and the crowd goes silent. “Fellow Korvosans! You have suffered greatly these past few weeks. Homes have burned, family members have died, fortunes have been lost. I feel your suffering, for not only have I lost a beloved husband, but with each riot, each burning home, each act of anarchy, my heart bleeds a little more. This has been a trying time for us, yet the torment is at an end. Before you is the face of your anguish and pain. Do not be deceived by this murderer’s timid nature—she is a black-hearted assassin, a seductress and sinner, a viper amidst us all. I offer you all her death as a salve against the hatred and hurt you have suffered. Her death will not rebuild Korvosa, nor will it bring back the king, yet tomorrow will be a new dawn—a dawn over a city ready to rise from the edge of anarchy to become stronger than ever before!"
“And so, without further delay, let us usher in this new dawn with justice! OFF WITH HER HEAD!”
As the headsman hefts his axe, the already silent crowd freezes in anticipation. Yet just before he swings, the headsman gives a strange little grunt and staggers. His raised axe falters as he reaches with one hand to the small of his back and then brings it to his face, the fingers dripping with blood. An instant later, he cries out in pain and drops the axe as a dagger embeds itself in the back of his other hand. The axe sinks itself in the block inches from Trinia’s head, and the headsman doubles over in pain, revealing a second dagger that’s already embedded in the small of his back. Trinia rises to her knees, glancing up at the executioner in shock as a scream echoes through the crowded courtyard: “By the gods! It’s Blackjack!”
An instant later, a man dressed in a hooded cloak and leather armor springs onto the executioner’s block. He wields a rapier in one hand and a dagger in the other. Blackjack cuts the bonds on Trinia’s wrists and then throws the dagger down to pin the executioner’s left foot to the wood below. He quickly helps Trinia to her feet and then briefly turns to address the shocked crowd.
“Yes indeed, my queen! Let us usher in justice, but let that be justice for Korvosa, not this shambles you petulantly call a monarchy! Long live Korvosa! Down with the Queen!”
Blackjack’s words spread like fire, causing the crowd to erupt into a frenzy of activity. Some demand that he release the assassin while others call for the queen to step down from the Crimson Throne. Queen Ileosa stands stunned for a few moments, whispers something to Sabina, and then quickly turns to flee into Castle Korvosa, Sabina and a dozen guards behind her to cover her retreat. The remaining guards in the courtyard move to apprehend Blackjack, but the gathered nobles, thirsty for blood, make it difficult to move. At the same time, the executioner recovers from his wounds and lifts his axe once again over Blackjack, who seems to have momentarily forgotten the man in his apparent delight at having forced the queen to flee.
Paxs is stunned at the display and looks at Thrak.
"I am not sure, I know what to believe. Do we go with the Queen or the people?"
Pai has never been too fond of the guards and didn't intend to allow them to kill this dashing stranger and the young girl. Fr those observing the gnome, they see her shimmer and vanish. She turns to her fierce dragon friend, and hands a small feather to him. "Could you deliver this to the swordsman and inform him it will allow him to take flight?"
Corbyn palms a dagger, pulls his cloak tight around him, blends into the crowd, then watches the proceedings from him concealed position.
As Ruperta sees how Trinia is going to get murdered, her face turn ashen and sad, ad feels like she is sinking into the earth, as she will see the murder of an innocent and it's not going to do anything about it. She feels her heart heavy with shame, and raises a prayer to Desna to her the young girl in her travel.
But then she is saved!
Ruperta feels the shame turn into courage, and decides this day she will become what she has always wanted to be: A Hero for the people. Or she will die trying!
She casts Tap Inner Beauty and Guidance on herself, so Desna can help her in this hour of truth, and then, using Clarion Call, she calls to the crowd:
"People of Korvosa! Hear me! Don't let the powerful murder the innocent! Trinia didn't murder your king! Blackjack is not your enemy! He is one of you! Help her! Help him! Justice for Trinia! Long live Korvosa! Down with the Queen!"
She turns towards her companions, with a supplicating glance. She needs them. She begs for their help, with her eyes. And then she is off!
She casts Hold Person on the executioner, to try and paralize him. After that she quickly (40' speed) moves towards Blackjack and Trinia, and will try to help them escape. All the way she keeps trying to arouse and motivate the crowd.
"Justice for Trinia! Long live Korvosa! Down with the Queen!"
It's time for liberation.
Shaking his head at his companions he starts making his way to the stage to assist. He thinks to himself well at least if we apprehend Trinia we won't have completely failed at that mission, just committed treason.
"Guards! Don't fight the people! Join and protect them as it is your duty! Will you stand for law, or will you stand for Justice! Justice for the murdered king! Justice for Trinia! Long live Korvosa! Down with the Queen!"
And, to make it more cinematic, if she finds a Korvosian flag, she will grab it and carry it as a banner.
All hell breaks loose in the square as Pai and Corbyn vanish and Ruperta casts her spell of paralysis on the headsman just as the axe begins to fall. He stiffens and Blackjack is able to grab Trinia and spin out of the way. He turns to the crowd, makes eye contact with Ruperta and winks.
As Pai and Slumper head to the stage (and Majenko flys away with the feather), they're able to "accidentally" bump into two guards who are raising their crossbows to fire, causing their aim to go off significantly. Taking advantage of the distraction, Blackjack, dragging Trinia, leaps from the stage and begins to climb up a large hanging banner on the wall with Trinia close behind.
Ruperta's words boom out, and the guards and crowd turn to look at her with a mix of agreement and disgust. The crowd begins to riot, knocking guards to the ground and stopping them from acting to halt the masked Blackjack. Blackjack and Trinia find themselves atop the wall, flanked on either side by guards advancing with swords drawn. Suddenly the little dragon is beside the masked man, and Blackjack plucks the feather from his talons. He snaps it and giant wings appear on Blackjack's back. He grabs Trinia, gives the party a salute and leaps from the battlements, flying over the crowd into the setting sun.
In the chaos that follows, the Guard is able to get the mob out of the courtyard with minimal violence. Even the Guards seem troubled by the sudden appearance of the noted hero Blackjack and his opposition to the Queen and seem reluctant to cause any more harm on her behalf.
Field Marshall Kroft is even more troubled, and she seems grey-faced when you next see her. "Blackjack is a respected hero in Korvosa; his opposition to the Queen will polarize the City. I'll need your aid now more than ever, I fear." She produces a sack of platinum coins that clink and clang. "I'd like to offer you a retainer of 500 platinum for your services. Are you up for it?"
"While you don't ask me to attack the people or defend the so called queen, I will."
The Marshall smiles. "The Queen has her own guard. I just want a presence on the streets to keep peace and calm and ensure that nothing gets out of hand. The last thing Korvosa needs is more rioting."
"Well cold hard cash I can get behind, and it does look like the right thing to do to boot."
The little gnome pops back into view and strokes the pseudo dragon as it lands beside her. "You did so well, Majenko! You even have made yourself a famous friend now! You should probably stay mostly invisible for a little while, until everything dies down though," she thinks, communicating with him telepathically.
"Wow...I've never seen that much platinum," she exclaims. "Im happy to continue to defend this place. Im not sure if the Queen is as bad as Ruperta makes her out to be, but the city needs peace and I'll do my best to help ensure it."
"Anyone that orders the murder of an innocent is evil. And a queen that orders the murder of an innocent is an evil tirant to boot."
Ruperta kneels in front of Pai.
"Sorry I didn't thank you for helping Tricia, and myself."
She kisses the small gnome on the cheek.
"I thank all of you. I know I did something rash, am I thank you for standing with me there. I will be forever in your debt. But I don't regret it, it had to be done. We need to stand for justice and the innocent."
"I'm in for that kind of money as well. Well Ruperta you've pulled me through a few bad places so happy to stand with you."
Ruperta grabs Slumper hand.
"Thank you, it's great to have someone stand by me."
"Well, Majenko and I have your back as well, Ruperta. Hopefully we are able to avoid the Queen's wrath, however. I've got a feeling she might have noticed us. Tats probably not good."
"The Queen should notice her people's wrath, and she should fear it. And while I have all of you standing by me, I don't fear her."
Slumper glances at Pai after Ruperta's speech trying to convey the message that if we see serious trouble we each grab an elbow and run.
"This is going to get very ugly before it gets better."
Ladies and Gentlemen, thus ends Chapter 1. The Thread for Chapter 2 is here.
DM, your link isn't working for me.
Do you want the ten magical +1 arrows?