Kyrax takes the young ladies hand and leads her out onto the dance floor. But he cannot help but wonder why the ebony beauty he originally approached was denied him. A natural dancer, Kyrax enjoys the dance and tries not to show off to much but cannot help himself. Still he tries to use his skill to show off his partner and to make the dance memorable for her. At least once he glades back to look at the woman he had originally asked to dance to see if she was watching him.
"Јас сум Тринаесет. Едноставно Тринаесет.," the Hellknight rumbles as he and Arma shuffle awkwardly around the dance floor; it appears neither one of them is all that skilled at dancing.
To your surprise, you find you understand the Hellknight's words without any effort, although you might swear you had never even heard this language before...
"I am Thirteen. SimplyThirteen."
The Hellknight does not try to stop you when you leave, but he does rumble more of those odd words at you as you go -- and for a moment, his hand lingers on yours.
"Пазете се ирационалност."
"Beware irrationality."
As Arma and Bydar join Valeria at the drinks table and Arma interposes herself between the young Chelish woman - noblewoman no more - the servant with the whip smilingly takes a step back and looks on, its expression perfectly placid.
For a moment, Valeria's shoulders sag as Arma and Bydar both offer her their support, but then she straightens her shoulders and turns to face the both of you.
"I thank you for your concern," she whispers as she removes the cloak and hands it back to Arma, "but I beg you not to go further than to stand between me and the whip. For both our sakes."
Valeria's features screw up in disbelief when Bydar makes his remark and she shakes her head.
"My faith has not wavered, priest. But it lies not with... the one you name. My faith lies with Nethys - and no amount of foul tattoos can change that. But you must not heal me. Not here. Once the Welcoming is completed, I will be glad of it, but to cure these wounds now would be a slap in the face of Queen Abrogail. As outsiders you would not know this, but this is her Majextrix' mercy. I failed a diplomatic assignment; she could have had me torn apart by oxen."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The Paravicar's gentle smile deepens when he sees Pontia approach, and he makes a gesture of blessing in her direction.
"Ah, here is a true daughter of Cheliax," he says, the lines at his eyes deepening due to his smile. "Lord Titus' apprentice, yes? Please feel free to join us, child. It is always heartening to speak with someone who epitomizes the virtues of Cheliax: ambition tempered by the discipline to follow the laws."
The old man jokingly elbows Mirandix in the side.
"Had you any idea how formidable a young woman you travel with, my boy?" he asks. "This young lady paid her own way through her apprenticeship with a well-known Wizard - a friend of mine. Lord Titus will surely be proud to learn that his prodigy has come so far in the world as to be a guest at a Welcoming."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The Contessa chortles at both Zhu's questions and his flattery - and leans her head forward to whisper directly in his ear. This close, the odd scents that surround her become even more pronounced, and Zhu can smell more. A smell akin to wet soot, the fetid grease of pidgeon wings, more of that musk.
"The girl is suffering a little hurt, but not punishment,," the erinyes whispers, her breath unreasonably hot on Zhu's ear. "She is a skilled Wizard's apprentice, with an interest in Enchantment. Her Majestrix is disappointed that the girl did not turn the situation to her own favour to better results than bare-bones survival, and for that she is receiving chastisement.
In truth, her Majestrix has saved the little fool's life; she has made it clear she wants to study her markings again. This will discourage those who might otherwise have killed her or put her to use to shame the Jeggare further. Without the word of her Majextrix, your little friend would be dead or a prisoner in someone's private dungeon before the week was out. You heard that the Jeggare have disowned her to distance themselves from the failure of the marriage-clause of the treaty with Andor. Where else would she find protection?"
* * * * * * * * * * * *
As Noya stands waiting, she suddenly feels a... pressure. Not a physical one, but a spiritual one. At the same time, she feels as if a hot wind is blowing against her skin and as though she were standing on the precipice of a cold and dark abyss.
Looking up, she finds the dark gentleman who was at Queen Abrogail's side but a moment ago suddenly standing nearby. Arms crossed and eyebrows lowered, the gentleman looks upon Noya... and then smiles. There is something hideous about that smile, but it is difficult to say why that should be.
The gentleman uncrosses his arms and, still smiling, extends a strong, well-manicured hand towards Noya. He then speaks words in a beautiful, elegant language that somehow conjures images of red suns over blazing desert skies in Noya's mind - deserts with convicted prisoners staked out in their depths.
"Would the lady care to dance?"
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Robert and Mirandix find the two young women to be excellent dancers, although Kyrax' partner has an unfortunate tendency of trying to lead whenever he lets his guard down. She also frowns and pouts a lot whenever she thinks her lady mistress isn't watching her - especially when she can't lead.
Kyrax notices the dusky-skinned beauty looking at her lady mistress while she dances - and then she glances at him and flashes him a short, but extremely sultry smile. An anomalous breeze seems to carry a hint of the lady's perfume to his nostrils...!
Arma looking to him with a slightly shocked look upon her face for but a second, she thinks for a moment as they dance before responding carefully.
"Много добре... Тринадесет... За мен е удоволствие..."
She says the words with a slightly confused smile but seems earnest though her thoughts do not allow her much else.
As they both shuffle around the room, for the brief time they have to dance she finds herself quietly enjoying the event. She looks to her partners eyes when she is not glancing about trying to distract her mind and simply have the respectful pleasure of the dance.
She hopes that his silence during is not a measure of his displeasure and she happily waits to respond to him. She hopes this is appropriate for the setting as she has never actually been at such a function despite her friendship to Doritian.
But as things change and she moves to leave she looks to the hellknight who holds her hand in his and listens again as he speaks. Her reply while still halting is still pleasant and confident. Her smile and appreciation show to the man through her focus for the time.
"Не ирационалност... Обещание... мой дълг... И честта ми... Благодаря ви, Тринадесет... аз се ползват нашия танц."
Still as she moves away, she lets her smile fade to her look of focused concern again as she crossed the room.
Still when Valeria speaks she takes the cloak back with only the smallest of frowns. At the mention of her continued if surprising faith and that this punishment was a mercy her eyes widen some, but she calms and then changes her gaze to a look of stoic pride for the girls own convictions as she responds.
"I understand... I will stand with you Lady Valeria. Whatever burden you carry, though I find it unfair to you I respect your dedication. I would however take any part of it to spare you if you will allow me. I also appreciate your concern as well. If you will let me defend you then I will do so. Know that I will not leave you to harm for as long as you require. I swear it my Lady."
Arma's voice a measured tone of quiet whisper to the girl carries her firm intent and she smiles and tries to clear away her own concerns again for the young woman who still remains her concern. She stands firmly between the Lady Valeria replacing her cloak on her own shoulders and taking care to remain between her and the whips. She does not leave her side and should she be allowed, she will continue to follow her until she is dismissed by Valeria.
From then on she minds only what concerns the Lady she has sworn to protect. She would worry about the strangeness of the night and how to manage such and her other duties as well when she could.
Pontia can't resist standing a little straighter at the Paravicar's words of praise, though his oblique reference to her past did not pass unnoticed. "Thank you. I certainly hope Master Titus will be proud, as is fitting after all he did for me.
"Sir, do you recognize the symbols tattooed on Valeria? The Pharasmin only knew the one belonging to the Vudrani destroyer, and I suspect that the others may be significant as well. There was far too much hieratic power in that place."
Noya politely turns down the Darkman's offer for a dance.
Mirnadix nods at the Paravicar's comment, "Indeed I do. She acquitted herself quite well."
Zhu smiles despite himself. "That is very interesting, Contessa. I clearly have much to learn about politics and matters of court. Thank you. May I call upon you in my time here if I need... additional help in this area?"
The erinyes chortles, her eyes briefly blazing with hungry fire.
"Mortal, I doubt you have the means to pay for a contract with me -- not to mention the fact that I am already under contract. Find the means to pay the Queen to release me first, and then we'll talk."
Laughing softly, the devil-woman whirls Zhu around with effortless ease. Not too far away, the Tien Sorcerer can see Kyrax and Robert, spinning around and around with their own partners...
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The 'darkman' smirks at Noya's refusal, but does not appear to be angry. He purrs at her in that beautiful, singsong language, which somehow sounds so vile when it falls from his lips.
The darkman pours two glasses of wine, so deep red that it appears almost black, and holds one out to Noya.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The Paravicar's kindly smile shifts into an expression of grim displeasure.
"Indeed I did, although I had to check some of the more esoteric volumes in my library," the elderly Cleric says, his voice steely. "Ahriman, lord of the Div; Dahak the Destroyer; Dhalavei, schemer for Oblivion. Treacherous beings all, even if Dhalavei is a resident of Asmodeus' realm. Possibly he wishes to keep an eye on her because she is the most dangerous of the three; Dahak is a savage who exists for nothing but the thrill of the hunt, and Ahriman is a twisted nihilist who creates for the purpose of destruction. He may well be insane. In contrast, Dhalavei is as capable of organized thought and long-term planning as any devil. No doubt she would reign supreme in any operation that involved all three those powers. A most distasteful thought, such a union..."
Pontia makes a mental note of the deities mentioned, for further research. "Thank you. There's one other thing--in that place, the goblins had a shrine to Lamashtu. I trusted to discipline and drank a potion there. It carried a bidirectional commune spell effect...I was forced to answer a question from the goddess--'Will you stand against the end of all things?'--before asking my own question. I learned that we wouldn't need to enter Dhalavei's shrine to rescue Valeria, and so we didn't (unlike Lady Secunda, who was marked by the experience so that she couldn't even say the Order of the Ninth). Was I, also, marked in any way?"
You're sure the Paravicar didn't nip out to check his books since Valeria walked into the room, so he must have known about the three unholy symbols before you all arrived in the city...
The Paravicar frowns as he looks at Pontia, and he mutters a couple of spells in quick succession, then presses his thumb against Pontia's forehead.
"It is... faint," he says, his frown growing darker. "But yes, there is a sign of... something on you. But you say that Lamashtu asked you to 'stand against the end of all things'?"
The Paravicar's frown dissolves into an expression of confusion. "This is unheard of! I must consult my library -- but to answer your question, I do not think you have been bound to behave in any way contrary to your will. I would need to research the matter at greater length and with tools I do not have at my disposal here. Come with me after the Welcoming is completed, and I will do for you what I can."
Pontia nods. "Thank you again, and I will do so."
Mirandix does not react to the Paravicar's knowledge of the symbols. Either he didn't notice anything strange about it or is unsurprised by it. He does look at Pontia curiously when the Paravicar confirms that she is marked somehow.
"I thank you for your concern," she whispers as she removes the cloak and hands it back to Arma, "but I beg you not to go further than to stand between me and the whip. For both our sakes."
"As you like," Bydar says, and takes a swig of his drink.
"My faith has not wavered, priest. But it lies not with... the one you name. My faith lies with Nethys - and no amount of foul tattoos can change that. But you must not heal me. Not here. Once the Welcoming is completed, I will be glad of it, but to cure these wounds now would be a slap in the face of Queen Abrogail. As outsiders you would not know this, but this is her Majextrix' mercy. I failed a diplomatic assignment; she could have had me torn apart by oxen"
"Ah, Cheliaxian mercy....ranks right up there with military intelligence," Bydar shakes his head softly but keeps his voice low, "I'll respect your wishes, lady. I hope things get better for you."
After the dance Kyrax returns his partner to her starting place and thanks her for the dance. He ponders her desire to lead, especially since he knows how well he can dance and wonders if she might be not be what she seems. But the thought is lost as he once again approaches the dark beauty. Pardon for the delay my lady. I would still very much enjoy a dance with you, if you would join me? He extends a hand.
"I will keep that in mind," says Zhu, struggling to keep his breath and balance in check on the dance floor. "It is the nature of power that intrigues me. You possess it... yet you are bound by it. I possess a small amount, yet I too am bound -- by blood, not contract." He adds with a smile, "I appreciate a challenge. Perhaps there is a way I can aid you. I shall give it some thought..."
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Robert whirls around with the pale blonde, leading the dance but without making it too obvious and trying to make the most of the conversation:
I see My Lady that you are well versed in parties. I love them as well, although they have as much of entertainment as of jungle fighting. But I am glad that the fortunes of Hisvin have increased, and allowed such a beauty to be now within my arms. Tell me, Lady, what do you seek in parties? And who are your companions? What sort of entertainment are you after?
The sound of a gong interrupts your discussions. It is a silvery sound, but it penetrates all chatter and silences the instruments in the galleries. Looking around, you see that one of the pale, identical servants stands at the foot of the dais on which rests Queen Abrogail's throne, holding up the very instrument you heard. The server's empty smile widens a little as it announces: "Her Majestrix, Queen Abrogail II, has made a decision with regards to the interruption of the marriage proposed between the young knight of Andor and the former daughter of House Jeggare. The rejected child shall approach. His holiness the Paravicar shall approach."
Valeria, the contessa and the old Paravicar excuse themselves and approach the throne. The servant with the whip follows the young woman, lashing her back bloody at every second step. While the Contessa ascends the steps to exchange whispered words with the Queen, the Paravicar stops on the bottom step of the dais and Valeria waits two paces behind him.
"Her Majestrix," the erinyes finally says, "recalls that some trifling person interfered with the mission." The devilish creature affects a bored drawl. "What was his name...?"
Valeria sinks to her knees, crosses her arms before her chest and lowers her head. For a wonder, the servant with the whip refrains from lashing her.
"If it pleases Her Majestrix," Valeria says, the softness of her voice unable to completely hide the hatred in her words, "the name of the man is Xorshak. He is a Wizard of some power, but not a match for the might of Her Majestrix and Imperial Cheliax."
"That much is obvious," the Contessa drawls.
Two more pale servants come through the throng. Between them, they carry a basin of something that might be water, but which shimmers darkly and spreads a faint odour of ... of something undescribably. Zhu may recognize the scent; it hung around his recent dance partner. With exaggerated care, the servants set the stone basin down at the Paravicar's side, then casually seize Valeria under the arms and drag her away from the throne and towards the ballroom's doors.
"Of your courtesy, Lord Paravicar," the Contessa says. "You, who are secure in the favour of Imperial Cheliax's great patron, who draw strength and magic from your faith - will you view into the holy water and find this man, this 'Xorshak', so that the wrath of Imperial Cheliax may befall him?"
"It shall be my pleasure and my privilege to do so," the aged priest says, and there is steel in his voice.
All around you, the nobles draw back as the Paravicar presents his unholy symbol over the unholy water and starts to chant.
Energies weird and great gather around the basin. The water turns inky black, then clear as glass, and the Paravicar bends low over it, an intense expression on his face.
"I... Yes, I see him!" the old man says. "He is... he is... He... smiles?"
A hollow reverberates through the grand hall where you have danced and talked. Again, a hollow , as though a Titan were pounding on the building. For a third time, the Titan strikes - and the air behind the Paravicar is torn asunder, unleashing something horrible from Beyond.
The 7-ft. tall, bloated, toad-faced beast has wings as wide as sails, and they carry it forward with a terrifying speed. It wields a morningstar fitted to its size, and it wields it well. With four terrific blows, it smashes the basin - and it smashes the Paravicar's head against the floor!
Before the first noble can scream, the monstrosity raises itself to its full length and casts a gaze at Queen Abrogail. Although 'gaze' is the wrong word, because the creature has no eyes. Steel nails with little gems on the heads have been pounded into its head in a rigid grid-pattern, and they have obliterated the creature's sight among other things. Black blood constantly oozes from the spots where the nails have penetrated both flesh and bone, and more blood gushes from its jaws when it opens its mouth to speak:
This sort of thing is one of the 'treatments' provided by the church of Zon-Kuthon for favourite servants and slaves. To the Kuthites, it is both beautification and a permanent reminder of the price of failure, both a delight and a way of focusing the slave's attention. The nails now enable the monster to 'see', at the price of constant pain.
"Little child-queen," the monster says, its voice see-sawing between bass croaking and high-pitched screeching, "Master Xorshak does not appreciate your poking your nose into his affairs. You should have kept playing with your dollies instead of meddling in the affairs of the mighty!"
At Queen Abrogail's side, the darkman - and roaring, he grows and changes. Flame-touched wings snap like sails as they open, and deep-set eyes glow like embers. Red skin stretches over muscles upon muscles as the truly massive devil steps forward, putting itself between the Queen and the toad-faced horror with the nails in its head.
All around you, the nobles begin to scream and flee, and the servants in the galleries are likewise choosing the better part of valour. And you...? What will you do?
Bydar admits to allies nearby, "I don't know half of what's going on here, but that first thing's nails in the head? That's a technique used by the church of Zon-Kuthon for favored servants or slaves. The nails allow it to see, though it's hurting as payment for it."
As it stands, Bydar moves to Valeria, "Lady Valeria, you might want to get out of the way of those two ."
Looking around, Bydar can just barely see Lady Valeria being dragged out of the room by those pale servants - well ahead of the stampede of nobility just now starting up.
Mirandix knows that he is watching what may be a fight between fiends, and he is unarmed. He also knows that these creatures are likely far out of his weight class. And he is unarmed. However, though he can likely do little to help, being seen to try to help the Queen's forces cannot be a bad thing, should he survive.
Mirandix looks around for something he can use as a weapon. Preferably something with reach.
Well, there the tables. And all the plates and platters thereon.
Kyrax recognizes the spell being cast and says in a low voice Oh my, a scrying. That is not a good idea. When the first creature appears Kyrax tries to take the hand of his desired dance partner and his previous danced partner and lead them towards a convenient doorway or balcony. If they will not come, he retreats without them but encourage them to flee. I fear the party is over. If you wish to live I recommend you depart quickly. When the second creature reveals himself Kyrax will step from the room and Vanish. He will then look for a good vantage point to safely watch the show.
Seeing Valeria appears to be safe, or at least safer than he himself is, Bydar moves towards Mirandax, and notes the look in his eye, "You actually want to fight that thing?"
Well, there the tables. And all the plates and platters thereon.
Seeing nothing that could serve as a weapon, Mirandix looks for a place to conceal himself nearby in case an opportunity presents itself.
Seeing Valeria appears to be safe, or at least safer than he himself is, Bydar moves towards Mirandax, and notes the look in his eye, "You actually want to fight that thing?"
Mirandix speaks quietly to Bydar, "Want to, not really. But when under the eyes of the Queen, appearing unwilling to do so is a bad idea. The idea is moot, regardless as I have no weapons."
Baffled for the moment, Pontia retreats, observing dryly to Bydar, "I suspect that Nidal just earned a considerable share of Imperial displeasure."
The wizard looks around for anything sharp in the way of silverware.
Having watched the scene play out with little true understanding and forced restraint as she is prevented from protecting Valeria during the proceedings Arma watches with care for when she can resume her protection of the girl.
Of course when all the chaos erupts about them her first thought is to move to protect her once more. She starts to move directly to Valeria to attempt to guide her to safety but notices her being escorted by the pale servants safely she hopes from the room. So moving around as she does she places herself between the monstrous fiendish beings now before them and those fleeing the room.
She readies herself and considers her next action carefully as looks around to defend who she can should the creatures move to any other beings.
Arma will move to block the doorway until it is closed and then should the queen or any others remain while combat is joined she will move to defend them by interposing herself between them and the fiends. She does not however move too close to any of the fiends nor the throne. She will strike out against the offending fiend that appeared however if it should get close to her having readied herself to attack it if the need arises.
Mirandix speaks quietly to Bydar, "Want to, not really. But when under the eyes of the Queen, appearing unwilling to do so is a bad idea. The idea is moot, regardless as I have no weapons."
Baffled for the moment, Pontia retreats, observing dryly to Bydar, "I suspect that Nidal just earned a considerable share of Imperial displeasure."
The wizard looks around for anything sharp in the way of silverware.
"Well, they aren't the only ones that follow that particular god, but yes. As for helping, I suppose I could cast a bulls strength on the thing protecting the queen, assuming it didn't rip me in half for trying."
Zhu is taken aback by the appearance of Xorshak's demon -- and then the Queen's own demon! "This is insanity!" he says, quickly coming over to join Bydar and Pontia. "And I truly wish for Xorshak and his minion to be quiet!" His anger making him a bit reckless, Zhu directs an invisible spell at the toad-faced beast.
"And now you've got its attention." He mutters.
"Bydar, see if the Paravicar is still alive."
Robert is surprised by the appearance of the first demon, but not so much by the Pit-Fiend. He'd expect this sort of thing to be around, but nevertheless he is not in a good position to play any part in this fight.
Having no illusions about their power, and that it would be insolent of him to offer his protection to the Queen, as if no other more powerful servants were around her, he proceeds as Kyrax, calling to the women around him
"Quick, move away while we can. "
However, he will be content leading them to the door if they can reach it ahead of the other nobles. Then he will try to stay in a wide radius away from the fight to avoid potentially dangerous explosions and other area spells, but from where he can watch all the action.
Kyrax looks on from the edge of a balcony and wonders briefly what items the dead cleric might have on his body. How many in this room would see through my invisibility if I were to be so bold as to try to help myself? he wonders as he casts Detect Magic to check the man's body.
Goddess, what fate have you thrown me into? Here I am, an Isger boy, in the royal court of its Cheliax oppressors, being asked to help a cleric of Asmoedeus no less. Are you laughing up there? despite his dark amusement at this deadly situation, the cleric rushes towards the fallen Paravicar and casts Stabilize on him first, then checks to see if he's dead after.
As Mirandix casts about for a spot to hide from the rampaging behemoths, his eye falls on... the dinner plates. These are big, solid things, most of them made of solid precious metals. They may not be ideally balanced for throwing, but their weight would make them fairly decent...
Barring that, the tables seem like the most immediate shelter. The more efficient shelter would be the servants' galleries.
Pontia, seeking silver weaponry, does spot the silver cutlery. It is definitely silver - but unfortunately, it isn't sharp. Then again, there is a LOT of it! It might not take too much time to snap some of the gaudy stuff in two and create a sharp edge, but it'd take a bit of strength to do it...
Arma starts to cautiously edge around the titanic battle erupting in the middle of the floor. For the moment, neither fiend seems to be at all interested in her right now. As she reaches the throne platform, the erinyes - trains her bow on Arma.
"So sorry," she says with a venomous smile, "but commoners are not allowed to approach the royal person any further than this without invitation."
Zhu casts a spell at the shaggy demodand, hoping to enforce silence -- and feels his spell fall apart before it reaches the mutilated Outsider!
Robert tries to get past the nobles, but these are Chelish nobles. Even at their exalted rank, they are highly aware of their mortality, and they are all rushing for the only exit. For a moment, he can see the pale features of the girl Hisvet, as she half-turns - and blows him a kiss before disappearing in the eerily quiet, highly intent multitude.
Safely hidden on the servants' galleries, Kyrax looks out with the eyes of magic. There is indeed an aura about the Paravicar's body, concentrated around his neck and the cane he was using to aid him in walking.
In contrast, the Queen and the erinyes standing before her blaze with magical auras. Virtually everything they're wearing is enchanted in one way or another - and so is the terrible sword being wielded by the pit fiend, not to mention the grid of nails in the shaggy demodand's skull! There is so much power there, the glow is almost blinding...!
Bydar scuttles forward, hoping against hopes that the evil titans will not spot him, in an effort to save the Paravicar's life. Unfortunately as he comes closer, he is reasonably certain the man is dead. If he isn't, then he is undoubtedly not happy; living people usually have more of a head than this! The Paravicar's head is a puddle of gory mush...
* * * * * * * * * * * *
On the floor, the pit fiend lashes out with its terrible blade. At the same time, a bead of flame goes hurtling away from it. As it impacts with the demodand, it erupts into roaring flame -- and the demodand laughs shrilly.
"Foolish!" it screams as it raises one pudgy hand and points at the pit fiend. "So foolish!"
A ray of coruscating energy shoots from the demodand's pudgy finger - and narrowly misses the growling pit fiend. Behind the red-scaled monstrosity, however, the air darkens, swirls, and a second demodand leaps out onto the pit fiend's back. Lithe and covered in black ooze, the beast lashes out at the pit fiend, but misses on its first attack. The stench of tar fills the air...
- 262-25
"Wonderful," Bydar notes the condition of the Asmodean cleric's body... that is, headlessness, "I can't cure that." He calls back to Pontia, "He's not only really dead, he's really most sincerely dead."
Arma hears the words and stops. She does not approach any further but turns and steps a step toward the battle to guard against any further advancement by any fiend letting the erinyes do as she wishes.
"Understood. Then I will stand my ground here. I only wish to help defend the Queen against our common foe."
Arma leaves her back to the royal Lady and the bow wielding devil she keeps herself braced for battle. She speaks with no malice or notice at all of the devilish guardians threatening tone only giving a measure of courteous respect to her voice. All the while that she speaks though her gaze remains on the monstrous fiends that battle before them.
Mirandix picks up one of the silver trays and tries to time his throw with the Pit Fiend's next attack, launching the tray disc-like into the Demodand's back.
Kyrax makes his move. Standing in the shadows he first vanishes (swift action) and then moves to where the the Paravicar's body lays. He uses a Ki point to increase his move if he needs to to reach it this round. Using the body partly as cover he quickly removes the necklace as he watches the scene play out in front of him. This one is no longer in need of this item and perhaps is has some ability to help in this fight. he thinks, justifying his action to himself.
"Well, I think we're spectators for the most part, unless anyone else has any ideas?" He asks his compatriots. If he's noticed the theft of the items from the dead man before him, he hasn't said anything about it.
"Not much, I fear, Bydar," Zhu says. "The creature shrugged off my spell like drops of summer rain. Still... I cannot stand by quietly while Xorshak seeks yet another victory."
He takes a few steps away from Bydar and Pontia to find partial cover behind a column, and then he releases a ray of sickly green energy at the first demodand.
Robert smirks at the vanity (in the sense of vain, pointless) of opposing three creatures so powerful, and in the presence of the Queen of Cheliax and her personal bodyguard.
"What am I doing here, at all?"
All he has learnt since his childhood tells him to just ignore the fight and dash to safety.
"I'm not in their league, and it is presumption to feign I am." he says to himself. He looks at the gallery above him, and tries to find a way to climb to there, while hopelessly casting a glance at the vanishing beauty.
"Surely I am doing no worse than all these nobles here...".
OOC:
Also, he has a rope, it that is useful.
"I'm inclined to agree with the nimble fellow there," Bydar says, "Fate will unfold. It always does."