Silvio's blade ends the hag's life, while the one in the pit continues to screech curses at you.
"err, yes, I see what you mean. I can't just make it go away, but it shouldn't last too long. If you're in a real hurry, I guess I could loan you my slippers to go get her, or even climb around to run after the other one. "
Kyson moves 20'.
"Uhm...do we want to go in that cave and kill the last one? They might have treasure or damsels to save."
"There's your damsel, right there"
Sekathral points at the hag in the pit. "Are we going after her oppo, then, or are we burying dung-arse in the hole first?"
If the others pursue the fleeing hag, Sekathral will come too; if not, he'll stay put and fill in the pit. If someone has a shovel.
"Uhm...Khaz...remember that scarf I returned to you? Can I borrow it for a bit? Just in case?"
If Khaz gives up the scarf, Kyson will tie it around it eyes.
Take that ugly woman!
Wait...not you Khaz! I was talking about the one in the pit!
Sekathral will try to get into a position where he can get at the hag, but won't be first in line for clawing when she surfaces (and is out of her line of sight, too)
Round 5, Init 20
Dargon is, perhaps foolishly so, brave enough face her head on. And so he jump kicks her from above.
"What? Of course you can, Kyson." Sure, because without the slippers, it just looks silly. She hands over the scarf to Kyson, even helping tying it on.
Silvio starts to unlace his boots when he is interrupted by Dargon's dramatic leap into the pit. The chelaxian is neither accustomed or about to be out heroed so he tosses the slippers back to Khazmia, gives the sorceress a wink and dives in after the dwarf.
Landing smoothly (or as smoothly as he is able) he lashes out with a attack.
Kyson stands about 10' from the pit with his eyes covered, afraid of seeing the ugly women again.
"What's going on? Why do I think I just heard the sound of a dwarf falling followed by a human falling?"
Who'd want to jump in a pit with that thing?
Kyson delays, awaiting the end of the spell or an order from a comrade
Round 5, Init 16
"because Dargon and Silvio have jumped into the pit to finish off the hag. Don't get too close to the edge unless you plan on going in. It's easy to fall in." Khaz warns those still still above ground. Grabbing up her rejected slippers, she starts putting them on again.
Antagonist
Dargon
Khazmia
Sekathral
Silvio
Kyson
Zstelian
As Dargon leaps into the pit, the hag glares at him, but her cursed gaze seems to simply have no effect on him this time, as his fist slams into her hideous visage.
Silvio leaps after him, but as the Chelaxian's knees take the brunt of the impact of his leap into the pit, his blade swings wide.
Zstelian's javelin misses badly as he tries to avoid catching the witch's gaze, but Kayle has less problem, her talons raking the monster once again.
The hag, cornered now, claws brutally at Dargon, sharp nails ripping into the dwarf's tough skin and coming away with strips of flesh hanging from them.
Dargon save:
Hag save:
Hag attack:
Hag attack:
Hag: 24
Round 6, Init 27
"They jumped down the pit? Really?" Kyson peeks out from under his blindfold.
Kyson delays.
"Not even when the earth opens up and swallows you are you safe from Silvio, wretched hag!" Silvio says and stabs at the ugly witch.
Round 6, Init 20
Dargon goes deep within himself to bring forth an uncanny quickness , sends out another blow.
Round 6, init 12, AC 19, HP 11/24
Not wanting to be left out, Sekathral slithers down the side of the pit to land behind the hag , stabbing her in a sensitive spot the moment he lands
Round 6, Init 16
The slippers back on her feet, Khaz heads over the edge, staying high enough to keep some space between her and the hag, reaches out, to cast touch of gracelessness but is so distracted by the creatures absolute hideousness, she misses by a large margin.
Antagonist
Dargon
Khazmia
Sekathral
Silvio
Kyson
Zstelian
Before Dargon can prepare himself, the hag slashes him twice more, claws rending the dwarf's tough skin. Despite his growing collection of wounds, the dwarf punches back, landing a solid blow that rocks the hag.
Khazmia misses her target, but as does Sekathral as he dives into the pit behind the creature. Silvio makes it a moot point, though, as his blade catches the woman through the neck, sending blood spurting and ending her life.
Moments later, the pit begins to disappear and you're all returned to the surface.
Victim determination:
Hag attack:
Hag attack:
Silvio dusts of his coat and uses some cloth off one of the hags to clean his mithral sword. "Good and quick work. Well done!" Silvio commends the group then turns to Khazmia. "Lady Khazmia, you are a powerful spell caster of great talent, and one of Silvio's most trusted friends. Silvio recognise that as a member of the fairer sex you might not be as experienced in the art of fighting as Silvio. This is no problem because Silvio is more than willing to help, as are surely Dargon, Sekathral and Zstelian. All great warriors in their turn. Silvio will offer this advice. You must consider the whole battlefield. Next time is it would be more benificial if you could use your powerful spells trap the opponents with Silvio. Sure Silvio is adaptable, as Silvio just demonstrated", the chelaxian gestures to the fallen hag, "but for the benefit of your own education it would be benifitial to use your spells more wisely. Perhaps at foes that Silvio are not fighting at the perticular moment."
The chelaxian sea captian runs his hands through his hansomely ruffled hair. "Now, shall we aquire the ship and set sail?"
"Lady Khazmia, you are a powerful spell caster of great talent, and one of Silvio's most trusted friends. Silvio recognise that as a member of the fairer sex you might not be as experienced in the art of fighting as Silvio"
"Mate, you spend more time preening yourself in the bathroom each morning than any woman I've ever met. Or perhaps preening's the wrong word, and you've got a little problem you might want to talk to young Kyson about instead. Anyways, if she weren't dead, I'd've passed your comments on to my missus. Be interesting to learn if you still held that opinion after five minutes in a room with her and that sodding scarf of hers"
He winces, as if recalling a very painful memory.
"Yeah. Let's get the ship, unless we're going after the remaining beauty queen. Kyson's keen, I can tell."
He makes a careless gesture towards the repeating hag and sniffs loudly.
"Lady Khazmia, you are a powerful spell caster of great talent, and one of Silvio's most trusted friends. Silvio recognise that as a member of the fairer sex you might not be as experienced in the art of fighting as Silvio. This is no problem because Silvio is more than willing to help, as are surely Dargon, Sekathral and Zstelian. All great warriors in their turn. Silvio will offer this advice. You must consider the whole battlefield. Next time is it would be more benificial if you could use your powerful spells trap the opponents with Silvio. Sure Silvio is adaptable, as Silvio just demonstrated", the chelaxian gestures to the fallen hag, "but for the benefit of your own education it would be benifitial to use your spells more wisely. Perhaps at foes that Silvio are not fighting at the perticular moment."
"Why you....." arrogant son of a Llama's hump! Khaz snaps her jaw shut, lest she say something Silvio might regret. She takes a breath, then another, and a third. Suddenly, she smiles and nods.
Her voice drips of honey and arsenic as she answers, "Of *course*, you are correct, Silvio. I will make very *very* certain to aim more carefully in the future. I should have placed it on your big fat head, you asinine buffoon! Head held high, she turns her back to Chelaxian ass hat and stomps towards the ship, quietly berating him in her head, for of course, a princess is never wrong.
Kyson listens to Silvio talk for a bit before lifting his blindfold to confirm that Silvio was, in fact, speaking like that to Lady Khaz.
"Buh...buh...buh..." Kyson says, trying to find the words to express his rage but failing....finally finding his voice as he hands the scarf back to Khaz but realizing he has nothing nice to say.
Kyson instead chooses to give Silvio an unspecified dirty look while kicking sand over the faces of the hags.
You probably think this trip is a good idea too, don't you Silvio!? You and Jerkvina probably think this is a grand plan!
Kyson continues to kick sand over the faces of the hags.
Good job Silvio! Kyson kicks sand for a while longer then remembers how tired he feels.
When Kyson finishes covering up the heads with sand and searching the bodies, he will follow Zstelian inside.
Sekathral follows behind Silvio and Dargon, eyeing the dwarf's wounds with concern.
Shouldn't someone heal him up? He looks frigging awful. Mind you, he's all grown up - he can ask for himself if he's bothered
Round 6, Init 20
Dargon continues fighting with a deep focus on defense , this time extending the base of his huge foot into the hags stomach.
Khaz eventually returns and heads into the cave with the others, though she keeps a worried eye on the dwarf, and a baleful one on Silvio.
Zstelian's easily able to follow the tracks to the back of the cave system, where you found Harliss last time you were here, but then they apparently enter the water, which is as far as he can follow.
"Mate, you spend more time preening yourself in the bathroom each morning than any woman I've ever met. Or perhaps preening's the wrong word, and you've got a little problem you might want to talk to young Kyson about instead. Anyways, if she weren't dead, I'd've passed your comments on to my missus. Be interesting to learn if you still held that opinion after five minutes in a room with her and that sodding scarf of hers"
The words gain Sekathral a puzzled look from Silvio as the chelaxian tries to wrap his head around the meaning. "Physical beauty is not soley the realm of women, although they occupy the majority of it. Just because Silvio is blessed with rugged good looks and handsome features does not mean that Silvio cares not to maintain them", Silvio explains clearly not hearing anything more than Sekahtral's first sentence.
The chelaxian hero picks up on the notion that the group wants to pursue the last hag. "Oh, there is more need for Silvio's heroics. Lady Khazmia, can you grace Silvio with some light please?" he says and strides down the dark cavern.
Zstelian heads to the ship.
Returning outside, you manage to coax the sailors down from their safe perch at the top of the cliffs -- recovering the rope with ease thanks to Khazmia's slippers -- and set sail back to Eleder, charts on the ship letting Amella and her crew safely navigate through the dangerous shoals outside the cove, though she proclaims them "trickier than trying to sneak a quick grin and tickle while the nightwatchman's keeping an eye out!"
Lavinia is thrilled as you return with the ship, clapping her hands in excited glee as she sees the Sea Wyvern. "It should take me about a week to 10 days to have everything ready to sail, if there's anything you want to do before we leave. I don't know when we'll be back in the city again," she says.
Kyson refuses to talk to Jerkvinia upon their return and will go about his own business prepping for the voyage to come.
Dargon spends a significant amount of time buying and selling various trinkets in Eleder's markets. He comes away with a handful of gold pieces, with which he uses to treat his friends to drinks.
About a week after your return with the Sea Wyvern, Lavinia sends invitations to each of you for dinner at her home. After the meal -- technically nice, but seeming to lack the home-cooking feel of Kora's food -- she has a servant come in with six packages.
"I wanted to thank you all for all that you've done for me. I don't know if I'd even be alive without you, much less in position to finish my parents' ... mission. I'm so happy your all joining me in the trip, which I hope will be exciting and beneficial for everyone. I had these things made to express my gratitude. I hope you appreciate them." She's clearly excited, almost bouncing as the servant hands each of you a package.
"Dargon, I wasn't sure what you would like most, but I hope these will fit," she says as you unwrap boots are made of inky black
leather trimmed with a crimson mane of horsehair. They seem to actually occasionally flare and crackle with flames.
Nightmare boots from Ultimate Equipment
When the wearer runs or charges, smoke issues up from the boots, acting as concealment (20% miss chance) when the wearer provokes attacks of opportunity while making those actions. Secondly, three times per day, as a swift action, the wearer can make the boots smoke, which grants her concealment until the end of her turn. Lastly, once per day, when the wearer hits a creature with a melee attack, she can command the boots to ignite. When the boots ignite, all creatures within a 5-foot radius take 2d6 points of fire damage. A DC 13 Reflex saving throw halves the damage.
"Sekathral, we head back to sea, and I hope this helps you help us get to our destination safely." Tearing away the cloth covering reveals a light gray compass made of fine metal, engraved with various depictions of the sun, moon, and clouds.
Wind-caller compass from Ultimate Equipment
It allows a creature to increase or decrease the intensity of the wind four times per day as if using alter winds.
"Silvio, I suspect you may feel you don't need any gifts, but I hope you will accept this anyway. I think it should fit, in more ways than one," she says with a laugh, which you realize is at her small pun as you unwrap a bright red cloak.
Cape of Bravado from Ultimate Equipment
This bright red garment bestows no benefit when worn on the shoulders, but when held in one hand while draped over the arm, the cape obscures its user’s movements in combat. Used this way, the cape bestows a +1 insight bonus to AC and a +5 competence bonus on Bluff checks to feint in combat. Readying the cape in combat is a move action; if the wielder has a base attack bonus of +1 or higher, the wielder can ready the cape as a free action as part of movement.
Once per day as an immediate action, a creature brandishing a cape of bravado may attempt to compel an opponent within 30 feet to attack him on its next turn (Will negates DC 11).
"And Khazmia ... being surrounded by all these men constantly must be difficult, but you of course handle it with grace befitting a princess. I hope you find this Dawnflower diadem as lovely as you are." She hands you a daedal headband set with six small amber gemstones, fashioned to resemble winged insects.
Adapted from a Superstar item
A simple command word transforms the six gems into tiny flecks of light that randomly whirl and dance about the wearer's head.
The flittering lights fade away harmlessly at a rate of one per round, dissipating entirely after six rounds. During this time, if an opponent within 100 feet attempts to cast a spell, all remaining flecks immediately streak forward and burst like tiny fireworks in the caster's face. The enemy caster must make a concentration check (DC 10 + spell level + number of lights) or lose the spell.
Once discharged, a gemstone magically reforms in the headband every hour until the headband is whole again. The headband may not be reactivated until all six gems have reformed.
"And Kyson. I know you're not happy about this trip, my friend, but your abbot thinks it will be good for you and I think you will be good for the people of Farshore. I hope, either way, this gives you some joy." Opening a beautiful, narrow, footlong mahogany box, inside you find a pristine white feather quill.
Metamagic quill from me
The quill lets the user add a single metamagic feat to a spell being scribed onto a scroll. The spell is affected in all ways as if it were normally prepared with the metamagic feat by the caster, including level adjustments.
The metamagic quill only affects one spell at a time; until that scroll is cast or otherwise destroyed, the quill works only as a high quality, but mundane, writing instrument.
The quill does not let the user add Echoing Spell, Quicken Spell, Silent Spell or Still Spell.
"And, finally, Zstelian," she gets up and comes around the table as she addresses the old ranger, her face brightened by a wide smile. Removing the cloth covering, you find a fist-sized ball, made of iron bands, thrumming with energy and trembling in your hand.
Fetching ball from me
When the user speaks the command word, the ball leaps from her hand toward any object within 400 feet that the user has dropped, thrown or fired, retrieving it and returning it to the user. This functions as if the object had the returning quality, though it will be returned to the square the user occupies even if she has moved from where she was when she dropped, threw or fired it. The fetching ball, which has an effective Strength score of 1 (so can only return items up to 10 pounds), will retrieve one item per round in the order that the user chooses as long as the item is not being restrained in some way (i.e. held by another creature, in a container, etc.). It functions until the user speaks the command word again or the user has no more items to be returned within range.
The fetching ball has AC 20, 10 hit points and hardness 10. It avoids threatened areas as it moves to an item but may provoke an attack of opportunity if the item that it is fetching is in a threatened area. If it is damaged, it returns to the user without any object. Any hit that causes it to gain the broken condition or that happens after it has the broken condition causes it to fall to the ground and not function until a user gives it the command word again.
Kyson accepts the quill from Lavinia with only a small measure of shame, still feeling mostly justified for his anger but also somewhat assuaged that she at least acknowledged how stupid it all was.
Turning the quill over in his hands, he examines it slowly.
Spellcraft
"Wow...this is unique. I can't wait to test it out! It's...it's...different."
Kyson bows nicely.
"Thank you, Lavinia."
I'm still going to die, but at least I'll have nice scrolls when I do.
Kyson looks over to the others and helps them with their presents as well, if they want.
"I like your item, Khaz...when it's activated, it lights up your face like the Sarenrae giving tree during the high holidays."
They are both green, pointy, and smell like a forest. You think she would mind if I hung traditional sarenraen sun ornaments from her tusks?
* * *
When the meeting is over, Kyson will run down to town to buy some inks for scribing, anxious to try out his new quill.
Kyson will try out his new quill scribing two scrolls of fireball (lvl 5). (Not using the quill's properties, but only as a writing instrument.)
Holding the scroll up in his hands, Kyson will smile and admire his work. Seeing no one in his quiet scribing spot to show it off to, Kyson will go find Khaz as surely she will appreciate the work.
"Khaz! Check out my new scroll work!"
"Cor - thanks, Chief!"
Sekathral turns over the compass in his hands, standing by the window and plotting imaginary courses.
Later in the day, (or in the week), Sekathral will go downtown and try to find out more about the Isle of Dread, and hopefully pick up some charts as well.
Also, he'll replace his Potion of CMW (-300 gp) and pick up a Potion of Cure Disease (-750gp)
Dargon is clearly overjoyed by the gift. "Thank you, I've always said there's nothing like a new pair of boots to get an adventure started off on the right... foot!", Dargon exclaimes with a chuckle before he puts them on and laces them up.