Silena is indeed perplexed almost stumbling in her now full-sized gait... but hearing Kardwann's yelling in fury are well worth it!
She does not relent figuring her party can handle the enraged... but weaponless warlord for a few moments. She runs full out heading back up the stairs making for the balcony where she first engaged Kardswann. Deciding there is something else or at least someone assisting the warlord with spell cover she is being... cautious.
Just outside the balcony booth . Silena begins to stalk using the leopard innate stealth... as she glides into the booth area keeping to the shadows and looking for the fate of the other Gnoll that was defending him before Silena pushed them both of the balcony.
If Silena sees no opponents hiding... she will stalk over to her discarded clothing and armor... gently setting the Great axe down and with her paw will drag the fringes of her cloak and gear/armor over the great axe to conceal it the pile of her discarded armor clothing and weapons.
Hijiro sneaks up on Kardswann and hopefully attacks him from invisibility, catching him unawares and hence flatfooted.
Bah speed is more important...!
Silena carries the axe up to the balcony... to try to conceal it under her gear. She will make especial care to make sure no edges of the blade or the haft are under some article of clothing and not easily found on a visual inspection...
Seeing he is facing Kardswann alone without any backup except for someone with a bow from range, Hijiro flees (withdraw, so no aoo unless he has reach), following the kitten.
Barezata unleashes a couple more arrows from above, but as Kardswann leaps in alarm at the jab from Hijiro, her arrows go astray.
Seeing that he has at least some time to work with, Samuel casts enlarge person into Spike and sends Spike off to deliver it to Hijiro.
"You planning on jumping down there on him again Silena? Sounds like he has been possessed by something!" Barezata holds off on firing again for the moment to see if someone wants to try to tackle him.
In reply the big she leopard stalks over from her hiding task and with a disturbing poise and sign of intelligence stalks up next to Barezata to peer down on the situation. It is likely Barezata has Never stood this close to such a large and deadly predator of the deserts! She can practically feel the power of the large hunting cat as Silena begins to a deep almost machine-like rumble deep in her chest... goodness.. Leopard 'Silena' is big enough to ride into battle like a mount!
Briefly, The big cat brushes against Barzata... like a house cat might ...in want of a petting... but her mass and power almost tumble Barzata to the side... but it is clear a sign of intelligence understanding and friendship!
Then the great cat a hunting challenge and leaps from the balcony to tackle full force.... into Kardswann!!!
Sonya, who has silently been watching her companions attack with lethal intent. She had hoped to spare Kardswann. With his speech though, she finally acts. "There, is that proof enough that he is being controlled as I told you he was. Now, can we please save him?"
Hijiro stands back from the jumble of Kardswann and cat and watches curiously wondering what has possessed the battlemarket's leader...
Barezata follows Silena's death-defying leap with two more arrows.
"Are you all really so blind with blood lust you can't see that you're fighting an unarmed man who has already surrendered? Stop and tie him up as he himself requested!"
"He has not attacked even once stop this. This is no better than slaying infants."
Silena grapples Kardswann... again her claws retracted.. pinning him to the floor wrapped up in her powerful forelimbs... she will hold him fast...
Then the big predator she-cat shifts her gaze to her fellow mercenaries as if to wait...
Hijiro tries to tie up Kardswann with the rope off his back, but makes a mess of it.
"Can someone else come re-do this... I'm not so good with ropes."
"Binding is not my strength and cutting him within an inch of death was offered as an option. I will keep my distance until he is under control."
Suddenly... the she-cat leopard... changes...
Not shrinking as much be fore but becoming compact ..certainly smaller.. the black fur with silver-white spots shortening and retracting to smooth womanly flesh and longer silver white hair.
Before their very eyes the Leopard transmogrifies back into a frowning petite, VERY Nude, half-elven woman child...
Silena again herself is sitting on Kardswann's chest straddling him... very provocatively.
Taking hold of the ropes.. Silena a skilled torturer binds him fast...
Her voice husky ... getting use to not growling and roaring, "You are soo lucky is my friend you vicious warlord! You have NO idea how many MEN have offered me chests of gold to be where you are Right Now!"
Once Kardswann is bound, she stands stepping away from him... indeed the beauty of her Drow-Blooded elven mother, Duspara - High Priestess of the Demon Lord, has passed on true to her young half human-blooded daughter.
Silena is only slightly changed from her time as a leopard.. her hair is noticeably wilder and longer draping about her shapely shoulders but only a light frosting of white body hair. Clearly she is a beauty.. but not into her full womanhood's blossoming... as yet.
What was taken before as silver fur on the underbelly of the leopard is actually revelad to be a tattoo in her flesh a 'Silver-colored spiked "serrated" dragon on left shoulder & breast, its tail curling around her navel and the tip of the tail pointing suggestively toward her genital regions' The pigment made of a silver based extract...
Her gaze meets Samuel's, the male elven Witch and her cheeks color in a blush... most unusual {an fetching} to her normal bold forwardness and self-confidence. Though she has no similar reaction to Hijiro though male and right next to her, but Sonya knows Silena was always attracted to the elven witch. She turns away to conceal her nakedness slightly.. causing an ornate spiked navel piercing ... that looks like writing tentacles escaping her navel - surrounding a gemstone of a Orange tiger's eye to flicker catching the light as she drapes her hair around her to cover herself a bit more.
The motion only accentuates her slender and shapely body is most appealing to the eye though lightly criss-crossed with old battle scars and tortures inflicted by her troubled life and devotion to the Midnight Lord... but none detracting from her charming beauty.
"Uhm.. Sonya.. may I barrow your outer robes... I need to retrieve my gear from upstairs before we confront this ?"
Seeing a naked girl suddenly before him, Hijiro offers her his tunic, which leaves him only half naked, but at least she will be clothed with some degree of dignity. "Here, girl... Take this til you get your own. And thanks for pouncing him again and taking his axe. I thought for sure he was gonna kill me."
The moment Sonya sees Silena begin to change back, she sets to removing her outer layer. She gracefully approaches the drow draping her in Sarenrae's grace.
"You needn't even ask my friend." Sonya replies in a soft, compassionate voice. Sonya face is shielded by her veil, but she is positively beaming with joy at Silena's choice to spare Kardswann.
Hijiro shrugs and puts his tunic back on.
Sonya's confidence is shaken slightly as she stands before the gathered crowd. Her form is rather exposed by the lightly colored silken garmet hugging her tan flesh. Her brilliantly blue silken gloves stand out compared to the rest of her. Her eyes scan the mob looking for threats as she calls out to them.
Sonya's voice is loud and bold, a surprise from the little girl it comes from.
With the fight seemingly over, Barezata makes her way back down through the battle market to the floor. If she sees no immediate threat, she shoulders her bow and watches as Sonya preaches about the Dawnflower.
Samuel breathes a quiet sigh of relief as the battle ends, relieved that Silena had showed a deeper understanding of tactics than he had previously seen. Without waiting to see the crowd's response, he looks for the bar to order some light drinks for himself and the party.
Hijiro shrugs and puts his tunic back on.
Silena smiles warmly a Hijiro.. and gently caresses his check, "..thank you... friend ... but there is no need for your valorous offer, Sonya's robe will suffice... nicely until I return it, annon."
Then in a lower voice she leans close and whisper only for his keen ears,
Her tone is gentle and friendly.. the scent of her flesh fills his senses, her breath stirring his skin{fur?}.. provocatively.. perhaps... other desires as well...
Silena moves to Sonya's side clutching the outer-robe tightly closed as she suspiciously eyes the departing Bugbears and Gnolls...
Never taking an eye off them she mutters to Sonya softly,
She sighs, "...do not feel slighted near-sister ! I do not begrudge your ZEAL for your ... and I was proud of your boldness... even if I think perhaps keeping the 'vermin' all here thinking they could still be 'business as usual..', until the princess arrives to slap them ALL in irons... was a better option, what's done is done.. and maybe it in the end was for the best. But we will have to be doubly wary until the Royal Army arrives to secure this place."
She smiles warmly at Sonya .. and suddenly throws her arms around her in a hug of heart-felt affection. True to form as is the nature of half-elves.. they feel so very deeply and hate so very viciously.. their mixture of human and elven makeup ... making their passions run hot and near the surface of their personalities.
Silena luxuriates breifly in the soft, warmth of sisterly embrace and says, "No matter! Let me get myself re-clad in iron-skin then we can deal with this . Know you this sweet .. the moment we learned that Kardswann was possessed I never had any intention of seeking his death. I know the evil that possessing spirits can wreak upon the innocent and unwary.. and I'll have no part in aiding the tragedy of their vile EVIL presence!"
Silena turns to head for the stair back up to the balcony and her gear pausing only long enough to say over her shoulder, "...OH... and put in one of those large animal cages! He is still a Genie and can fly you know!"
---
Silena heads quickly up the steps uncomfortable feeling so unarmed... and secretly grateful she controlled the beast that she felt no urges for mayhem and slaughter! Perhaps she dared to hope she WAS master of the Beast?!?! There was so much to do and so little time.. the full moon was tonight.. she must try to resolve all this before it advent rising!
Silena returns to the balcony ignoring the slain gnolls in the room proceeding {C12} and the slain Ugruk, Kardswann's gnoll lieutenant, in the balcony room {C15}
She gets redressed in clothing and armor strapping on her weapons belts and draping her spiked chain around her body like and iron snake belt.
Comfortable .. now, no longer naked as a newborne babe.. she hefts Kardswan's, now HER, Great Axe; feeling it's balance and weight with some degree of admiration...
Silena cast's looking at the axe and finally noting the slain Ugruk.. looking for any magic on the slain lieutenant, on the axe or in the room.
Brave one? he thinks... boy she sure has me wrong. He smiles at her warmly though and half closes his amber eyes a moment as her scent fills his senses.... then sighs. No woman would really give me a moment's notice, not really, he muses, knowing he still looks too young for their honest attentions.
He re-ties his sash around his waist around his tunic, replaces his sword belt as well.
He helps usher Kardswann into one of the cages at Silena's behest and makes sure the cage is well locked.
"Have any of you heard of this Xulthos before now? If he is powerful enough to possess Kardswann, it may be a challenging battle. We had best prepare ourselves. Perhaps we can learn more of what manner of creature or man it is?" Barezata will seek to learn more from the dwindling visitors to the battle market before Sonya drives them all away.
Silena will smile... wickedly hefting the Great Axe in hand...
She mutters,
"I think I will name you and fitting that your first victim shall be this and thus you will be... !"
Silena takes the placing it with a smirk on her left hand... and gathers the potions, and with a shrug the flindbar of some craftsmanship.
Stepping to the edge of the balcony Silena steps off to fall gently to the arena floor below.. like a blackened steel spiked angel of doom.. wicked Great Axe in hand!
Her grin is ...most unsettling in its glee
Silena hands the potion of to Hijiro and the potion of to Barezata.
She turns to Sonya, "We should have the rest of the adventuring party return to Lady to tell her to make for Kalemarane post-haste as the power-base of the Warlord has been broken! We should rest ... to recover out magics and then storm the church crypt.. we will have to wait for the Princess to arrive anyways as she has the key to enter it.. if I recall correctly."
She ponders it for a second.. then says with a nod, "I think it is time we named ourselves as a party.. and I think i'll take the name of the now mostly disbanded group.. we shall be fitting I think!"
"Sounds like a good plan. Not that I need rest, since I have no magics to recover, but good for those who do. Perhaps we can make use of the market here to sell what we don't want and buy things we can use while we're here."
Sonya listen's to Silena's words, taking them in before softly replying. "I can not allow this depravity to continue. Some have accepted her mercy. They stay ready to do business. Knowing they can walk free ensures those who will not repent leave. If Lady Almahs sword came, some would claim false repentance to cling to their lives. They would become a plague in this reborn healthy city. Worse, it could happen that the repentant would die along with the deprave."
Sonya hugs Silena tightly. "I knew you would make the right choice. My faith in you never waivers. You fought with the deadly grace and mercy worth of a cleric of Sarenrae. I hope you know, she would welcome you into her arms. Her flame would cleanse you of any taint you carry from that wicked lord of yours." Sonya speaks, knowing her words will not be headed, but she will plant the seeds, hoping one day to save Silena.
Sonya will follow Silena up to the balcony shielding the half-elf as she redresses. Once the task is finished Sonya will draw the vestments of the High Priest of Sarenrae back upon herself. "Rest well my friend. I am going to tend to the people here, then cloister myself in the temple in preparation of tomorrows battle."
Sonya will move through the market lending healing and aid to any in need. She searches for slaves first, tending to any of the warriors wounds before freeing them of their captivity. She asks nothing in return from anyone she heals.
As the sun begins to set, Sonya will make her way to the temple and enter the ash soaked ruins. Inside, she lays out her holy symbol and prostates herself before her goddess. She prays for the power to protect her allies in the coming battle, the strength of will to shield herself from the devil's controlling power. Sonya is fearful, if a creature can take over a genie, how are her allies to stand against it without the divine on their side. As she prays, her fears are lifted, as a spark of flame appears in her mind, growing as a new spell is burned into Sonya's mind.
The flames in Sonya's mind spark hotter, as she is filled with her goddess's power. The glorious heat is enough to burn her alive from the inside. Sonya rises to her feat needing to expel this wonderful power, and bring the Dawnflower's light to this ruin. She throws her hand forward as a scorching ray fires from her fingertips, its warmth burning the ash before her, and blowing back a healing breeze upon herself.
Tears flow down Sonya's face as she falls back to her knees praising the Everlight for her continued blessings.
Barezata's preparations are simple and private. She finds a quiet place and spends her time sharpening arrow heads and checking that her equipment is all in working order.
Silena responds in kind to Sonya's fierce embrace...
"I know you fear for my soul my friend... but it is not fear alone that holds me to my service to the midnight lord. Myself.. the me inside all that I own that really matters is MY HONOR. In the end all any of us have is our Honor. I swore.. On My Honor long ago to serve the Midnight Lord... if he would grant me his power and save the scare little half-breed girl I was from the terrible things~ my family, my culture, and my heritage... that were all around her. And he did. ZON-KUTHON fulfilled his promise and gave me power to stand on my own to stand up to and fight for my freedom from the wills of others. And what does he require in payment? That I Willingly, inflict and endure pain and suffering in his name; he does not care that I reserve inflicting pain to my personal enemies or those deserving of such punishment.. the wicked, Evil, depraved and guilty... only that I remain faithful to my oath to him! I OWE him for my life. Maybe if I had met your sungoddess.. things would have been different... But MY HONOR demands.. I not break that oath."
"I would not be the woman I am without my honor... I would have been destroyed long ago. I am mildly allergic... on my own due to some fiendish blood in my ancestors... so my silver tattoo my silver jewelry are all ...painful to bear ..all the time... but they are a small part of the suffering in his name that I endure daily. It has been a part of me for so long now I do not know the difference anymore... but I have never been want of protection from harm or power to smite my foes!
I have endured and grown strong from my pains. I NEED my pain!"
She releases her and smiles, "I will rest... but first I will search the Battle Market thoroughly to make sure ALL the loot that is rightfully ours is claimed first and after I rally who may be rallied to defend the city. I will send the off to retrieve and her forces. Don't you stray too far... the city is not entirely without threats. I also need to go speak with .. to inform her. I do not want forces accosting her as per our agreement she helped us with information that was vital to defeating our foe, I'll not see her harmed."
Silena will indeed search the entire building thoroughly... with detect magic running, gathering any and all loot to her horse ... including armor and weapons of slain foes for latter split with the party. She will request that Calain take Dashki with him to the battle market to stand guard over both Dashki and the now caged Kardswann.
She will gather the remaining ... Felliped and Oxvard... and send them off ...properly armed with weapons and armor from the Battle Market spoils to retrieve Lady Almah and her forces to march for reclaiming Kalemarane.
Silena will make her way to Umdrella's alchemical shop and inform the Harpy of the defeat of Kardswann... and warn her of the coming of Lady Almah's forces... reminding her of Silena's own promise to see to her safety.
Then she will return to the battle market to the Throne of Kardswann to begin prayer and devotions to her dark Lord, ZON-KUTHON, for greater power in his name. Silena will claim the nicest sleeping quarters in the battle market {likely Kardswan's}.. and rest for the evening.
After the dust settles, Samuel checks to make sure that the rest of the party is fully healed, and seeing that Silena has the situation under control, wanders around the battlemarket a bit before leaving a finding a quiet spot somewhere in town to commune with Spike, asking to be notified of when Lady Almah arrives.
Silena makes sure Kardswann is kept in one of the animal cages in the battle market guarded at all times usually with a tarp covering the cage to to conceal his presence. Since Sonya is convinced that he is possessed... she gives strict orders that no one talk to him not even look at him...especially Umdrella!
Is there any loot recovered from the search of the battle market? Silena will collect it all and tally it out in written records the value and shares for the ...
Likely it will take at least a couple of days for Lady Almah to arrive with her full force... so the next day Silena is at work furiously trying to make some semblance of Order has been returned to the town with locals conscripted into lookout and guard positions... as the full moon is Tonight! Silena will have that large animal collar with the heavy chain coated in silver if she has to have her own silver pieces melted down to coat the heavy iron collar and chain. That will be the first task she assigns to any with the skill in smithing or goldsmithing left in the town. If all else fails she will see if Umdrella has any skill in such matters.
Then an hour before sunset she will ask Calain to come with her and bring his big sword to the edge of the city.
Silena will bring that large animal collar & attached heavy chain, hopefully silver coated and she will hammer hopefully with Calain's help the attached steel spike securely into the ground. She will then hand Calain her alchemical silver Morning star... and proceed to undress. She will fold her armor and weapons neatly and tell Calain if she is not alive in the morning to give them to Sonya for burial.
Once naked she will squeeze the collar over her head to be around her neck and tell Calain that when the moon is full.. she may change. If she becomes violent and tries to attack him or tries to get free when she changes... he is to kill her with the Morning star!
Silena will not be a curse upon the land and become a savage beast preying upon the innocent. She does not ask or tell Sonya what she's doing... she does not want the gentle sun oracle to she her die if that is what must happen.
Then she sits down and prays for the strength to endure to keep control of the beast, as comfortably as she can the irritant silver chain on her bare skin.
Sonya spends each day before Lady Almah arrives touring the battle market spending all of her spells and time healing the citizens there. She makes it known where she will start her healing the next day, informing anyone who inquires where to go to receive free healing.
Hijiro will spend his time until Lady ALmah's arrival in and around the market, searching stalls for anything interesting to spend his meager coins on... he'll also keep his eyes open for secret places where Kardswann or his minions might have any hidden caches of stuff that might benefit the group.
Barezata will spend her time getting familiar with Kelmarane since she hasn't had as much time in the town as the others. She assumes that once Lady Almah has arrived, we will see about entering the crypt.
OK, it will take a couple of days before the Lady Almah turns up.
And it is indeed full moon tonight. Is it just Calain that you are telling and taking with you, Silena?
Sonya, the temple to Sarenrae feels... uncomfortable. Not the usual warmth you associate with the Dawnflower's shrines. You reckon it needs reconsecration.
Samuel will look for a good place to establish an outpost for the Pathfinder's Society while he waits for Lady Almah to arrive.
Silena is ecstatic!
The dreaded transformation came unbidden as expected.. but she maintained her mind and control over the beast... Once transformed she sat back on her haunches and looked about. Smelling the evening air .. she turned her gaze to Calain's ever watchful combat readiness...
She made no attempt to approach him but sat... and purred loudly.. her tail thumping joyfully in the dirt.
Lifting a paw... she mimed 'waving' at him and then with one claw extended.. scratched a message in the ground dirt in common,
With that Silena hunkered down and 'cat-napped'... a more difficult thing than she's though possible.. she was FULL of wild energy she wanted to run and pounce... stalking the night with glee ...one with the shadows.
But that would be for another night... so the large she-leopard curled up contentedly if a bit restlessly and purred... until the moon set.
At that point Silena flexed her limbs stretching her large predator cat's form and changed back.. to her half-elven petite form.
She smiles at Calain.. gesturing with her finger in a twirling motion for him to give her some privacy while she got dressed again.
Once re-clad in her adventuring gear and weapons she stalked up to him and gave him a sisterly kiss on the cheek, "Thank you, You big lout... it was sweet of you to look over me. I'll not forget it!"