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Wembly guides Whiskers within 15' of each door Dusk checks, ready to rush to aid if anything should emerge.
Dusk, you are a pro at this. Although you have not found anything...there may not be anything to find. Well, not anything bad at least, we of course want to find something good, but at least no more fire creatures trying to burn us. I mean if you find one, let us know, but I hope we have all that nasty burning business behind us. I am not sure I will get the smell of burn hair out of my noise for weeks!
Countertops line all of the walls of the southwestern room room except in the far corner, where around 10 pounds of lemons and other citrus hang from the ceiling in string bags. The room is currently unoccupied but for the expensive foodstuffs that are arrayed across the counters as if abandoned partway through preparation.
A white chef’s hat, which would fit the head of a small humanoid is lying on the floor. Dusk’s casual examination reveals a few strands of purple hair caught in the lining.
The north-eastern room contains prison cells. All are currently open and vacant, though two shows sign of recent occupation. A few white smocks and checked pants are present in the first, of a size to fit a petite demi-human.
The second has a dark iron ring driven into the wall and is noticeably dirtier and smellier than the first.
The southeastern room houses a deep bath with stepped sides and filled with lukewarm water. A small pitcher nearby contains cool, clean water, and the single counter holds dozens of salts, oils, and perfumes.
So, I am reading you are attempting to open the doors to Room C now, correct?
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Fool, using the wand to heal Toro and Squeeze's wounds.
Toro is at full health
Squeeze is at full health
Patients snake, lets let the bipedal ones talk this through. If they get stuck we will send you in to fix the situation.
But mates, how about we stand here, just in case these things spit out fire. Perhaps there is a status with "less" burn marks on it to suggest the correct one. What do you think Squeeze?
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So, I am reading you are attempting to open the doors to Room C now, correct?[/url]
Yes, but Dusk will again search the door and listen at the door first. Before opening the door, Dusk whispers, "Does anyone have fire resisting magic or other spells you would like to cast to prepare?
After waiting for the party's response and giving them time to cast, Dusk opens the door.
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Wembly gulps hard at the sight of the small white outfit, tears starting to form in his eyes as his mind races back to the prior room.
Wait! I bet that was our gnome chef. I have a bad feeling, a very bad feeling about this. Dusk, didn't you say one of the charred bodies was smaller...I bet that was our gnome friend. I...I...they are dead.
Let me check something quick. I want to see if they left any sort of message before we proceed.
Wembly will rush back to the charred room with the two chained corpses, looking for any clues they may have left.
***
If nothing is found, he returns to Dusk's side with Whiskers and casts protection from evil on himself and his green planar cat.
Ready. I have one haste left, but I want to wait until we are sure before I activate it.
Occasionally, they are interrupted by an imperious woman’s voice inviting them to “Be silent or risk being sent back to your rooms.”
As Dusk opens the door, the sound of crazed laughter greets the Pathfinders’ entry into a magnificent throne room decorated with metallic mosaics that seem to shimmer and glow with their own incandescence.
The throne itself is a large chiseled mass of Dragon Glass, resting upon a solid brass dais shaped like a fiery sun. Standing before it is a haughty female Outsider, resplendent in clothes of scarlet and gold.
The maniacal giggling from a small, green-tinged humanoid with thin, leathery wings, small horns, and a mischievous smile, instantly stops.
Giving you the chance to take in a dishevelled oread and three of the missing Pathfinders standing rigidly before the dais. The remaining male Pathfinder is shackled to the throne in a supine position, dressed in a brown ‘mankini.’
“You shall halt where you stand, Ambassadors of the Human Satrapy! The Court shall now hear your petition to Us.”
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Dusk hesitates briefly.
We had to fight our way here, and now she wants to talk? ... I guess it's worth a try.
Dusk falls to one knee in a gesture of respect.
"Lady Emira, we would petition the Court to return these missing people to their homes. We are prepared to explain how returning the Pathfinders and this oread will benefit you immensely."
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Clad only in a loincloth, the Pathfinder is down on his knees, gritting his teeth and glaring at Tygora. He has a lanky and sunken appearance and he is covered in dried blood and filth and it is clear he was recently seriously burned. You can see he has an upper back tattoo of a city skyline that is engulfed in a firestorm, a partially completed tattoo of what appears to be two stray dogs fighting an eagle on his right arm, and a full color representation of a very lurid and very ugly woman appears to be filling the space needed to finish the piece. He has an out of place stylish but lurid tattoo of a woman on the inside of his left forearm.
"Xing hui, xiao. It's about time you made it here. Pathfinders my ass. More like Naptakers," straining against the chains holding his hands behind his back, "we were about to headbutt these stupid inbred sacks of flame to death, care to join in?"
"Wǒ shì hēilóng. Xúnqiú wèntí, wǒ de mùdì shì wèi liǎo dédào zhège jiéguǒ, suǒyǐ wǒmen kěyǐ huí dào hējiǔ," giving a wink.
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"Oh my, this is a horrid state of affairs... don't despair, little sister... as you said, it wasn't Lhug's fault... in fact I don't think it was anyone's fault... " she pauses, rolling her eyes in Tygora's direction, but since she's facing away from the haughty outsider, it's unlike she sees the gesture, or at least Lore hopes not. She looks back at the party and a light of hope dawns in her eyes... "Are you here to rescue us?" "You look like our redeemers, truly you do, and just in time... I've used up all my special spices, you know, Lhug looks like hell, and Ghaleris needs help, Eadie deserves so much better, and I just want to go home." She stamps her little foot in frustration. "Now! .... um, please?"
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The Varisian archer appears severely beaten and tortured, but not without a hint of rebellion spirit left in his eyes.
Roland calls out to the newcomers from his place near the throne.
Zhere is no fault to assign. Zhis mockery of a court will come to zhe end now. Do not listen to her foul words and empty promises!
He turns to regard his captor and waits for her response and that of the Pathfinders.
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"Lady Emira, we are here to escort these people from your realm. Let us remove them from your presence, and they will trouble you no longer. This oread, too, we will escort home.
I wish to help the people of Crystalcrag. They deserve a ruler that will lead them to greatness. Someone that inspires them. You know that things are not going well in Crystalcrag. We may not be able to solve all the problems here, but we represent an organization with a wide variety of skills. We can put you in contact with people who can solve Crystalcrag's problems. Let us take these people home, and we can help each other."
Take 10 diplomacy = 20
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Wembly joins in the dialog to support Dusk's plea.
These people do not belong here. Please let them go and we can help.
vs DC10
Wembly gets distracted when he sees the group of captured Pathfinders.
Hey, hi guys...and ladies...well, Eadie and Lore. How did you get here anyway? Oh, sorry Dusk...I mean what he said.
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“Well I guess you followed the same path we took to Crystalcrag.”
Eadie looks puzzled. “But as for the night we got captured … it’s all a bit of a haze.”
She holds out her hands palms up in a gesture of helplessness, before clenching both fists.
“I remember a private party, Lore warning me off some ifrit guy dressed as a duck, two bottles of tequila … and the rest is kinda blank.”
You are certain Tygora has noticed – but it’s possible you can convince the Emira it’s not what she thinks it is with a good Bluff roll.
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Well Squeeze, we battled all the way here and now Im not sure if we need to rescue them all. The ladies of course but that strange fellow, I am no sure him. I have a feeling the mistress won't mind losing some captives but isn't going to take kindly to having her rule interrupted.
Snake just stares in response, his tongue flickering a bit.
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As Dusk waits for the Emira's reaction, he scans the room, looking for signs of a trap.
Thinking he knows the answer already, Dusk will pull out his shining wayfinder and use its detect evil function, seeing if the compass needle points to Tygora.
He will also try to use sense motive to gain insight into the Emira.
To the Emira, "Our companion is injured. While we talk, do you mind if we provide some healing to him?"
Dusk's plan is to walk over and give the potion of CSW to Roland.
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"Mistress, as I'm sure you've found, Pathfinders can be difficult. Both to deal with and contain. But the real down side, is there are many of us. And we are stupid and stubbourn. If we fail to gain the release of these fine souls, more will come. And then some more. It will never end. There are more like this Dragon. And worse! (if that is possible.) It might be best for all of you grant our plea, then these bunch will be our irritation and not yours."
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Our companion is injured. While we talk, do you mind if we provide some healing to him?"
However, you notice the purple-haired gnome point directly downwards with her index finger four times.
The Emira addresses the assembly with barely contained rage.
You've got to admit there are serious problems, and your demesne is in peril…
They deserve a ruler that will lead them to greatness.
I have a feeling the mistress won't mind losing some captives but isn't going to take kindly to having her rule interrupted.
Tygora points at Toro with a knitting-needle like finger. "You may be the least foolish of the human spies called 'Pathfinders.'"
"I would release you all in a heartbeat if I thought the Emirate safe from your meddling."
“Mistress, as I'm sure you've found, Pathfinders can be difficult.”
Tygora nods.
“And we are stupid and stubborn.”
And again – more vigorously.
“If we fail to gain the release of these fine souls, more will come. And then some more. It will never end.”
She holds up her hand. “There We disagree, Ser Fool. Your superiors took a long time to respond to their missing agents. And THEN they sent the likes of you!”
“All We need do to eliminate future Pathfinder interference is to ensure you are all never heard from again!”
Tygora turns to her own Court Fool and *snaps* her fingers.
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I knew I had a bad feeling about this....hobbies or no.
QUICKLY Everyone, to arms! Take her down!
Wembly springs into action, casting his final HASTE on the party members, including Whiskers instead of himself.
Hold here for now, Whiskers.
Whiskers will delay until a lane opens up to move into the room.
Tygora takes to the air and launches 3 quickened scorching rays at Sifvery.
The enraged Red Queen follows this up with a second group of 3 scorching rays on Dusk.
Dr Mini-me follows his liege’s lead into the air, before dropping another scorching ray on Hakime.
Sifvery: -4/34 prone, bleeding out
Dusk: 21/58
Hakime: 29/36
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"Can anyone make Toro fly? We need him to grapple Tygora, or we won't survive much longer. Can Squeeze reach her?
Fool, can you put her to sleep? Or blast her when she tries to throw more fire?
Pathfinders, we need your help! Sif needs healing, and so do I. Roland, do you have your bow? If not, take mine! You are a better shot than I am. Even if you can't heal, can one of you Pathfinders bind Sif's wounds?
Dusk drinks the potion of CSW in the hopes of surviving this battle.
Dusk draws and drinks a potion to heal some of the damage inflicted by Tygora’s burning rays.
Fool casts a spell on the Emira, which unfortunately does NOT stop her flying. Interestingly though, two of Hakime’s arrows smash through the flying tyrant’s defences, doing full damage.
Tygora snarls at the monkadin, “Seems we should have targeted YOU with our rays FIRST!”
Sifvery: -4/34 prone, bleeding out
Dusk: /58
Hakime: /36
T: - Emmett - JGeorge
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Ugh, I can't reach the wench and it might take some magical means to get the snake to fly (again). A flying snake is a truly terrifying thing you know...
Toro uses his exposition to complete his spell- suddenly lightning bolts unleash from the middle of the air at Tygora! Hah! I bet you didn't see that coming, did ya!?!
If able, Squeeze will move "under" her and attempt to grapple the evil mistress (if not able he will still move under the mistress and wait for her to come within bite range)
...