Unsurprisingly the mad alchemist does not surrender and Varda hits him with two arrows. He flies towards the dorfadin and tosses a bomb at her.
Aenthurien shuffles away as the bomb drops, then activates his armor, rising into the air, to the same level as the mad man.
The diminutive woman's eyes narrow as she loads another arrow and quickly takes aim. "I thought not. Tell Pharasma that mercy and redemption were offered you!"
The alchemist just laughs insanely, clearly too far gone even as he is peppered with arrows.
Gorn-Rel flies up to beat him back to the earth.
Gorn flies up hitting once, his fist hitting the alchemist's thorny body.
The crazy insectoid alchemist floats back and throws a rapid series of bombs at the party.
Aenthurien charges toward the alchemist, swinging as he goes by, then circles to be opposite of Gorn in order to possibly flank and swings again.
Aen charges in and with two quick swipes, the alchemist stops buzzing and falls to the ground.
And the fall breaks his neck.
Stockman's Formula Book*
Headband of Int +4(Heal, Use Magic Device)
+2 Mithral Shirt
Potion of CMW(CL11) x6
Potion of CLW(CL11) x2
Potion of Barkskin(CL11) x2
Boro Bead(Type 2) x2
Boro Bead(Type 1)
1st Level: Anticipate Peril, Crafter's Fortune, Disguise Self, Endure Elements, Monkey Fish, Keen Senses, Savage Maw, Shield, True Strike
2nd Level: Acute Senses, Aid, Animal Aspect, Bull's Strength, Cat's Grace
False Life, Owl's Wisdom, Restoration, Lesser, Spider Climb
3rd Level: Amplify Elixir, Beast Shape 1, Bloodhound, Displacement, Orchid's Drop, Thorn Body
4th Level: Beast Shape 2, Fire Shield, Mutagenic Touch, Restoration, Universal Formula.
Special: While in possession of this book, you can make a mutated mutagen. When you imbibe such a mutagen, you can gain an attribute from the list of either Beast shape 2 or Vermin shape 2, and your body changes in an appropriate way.
Varda moves quickly to Gorn's side, reaching down to touch his shoulder.
The party heals the prince and collects all the animals while making their way back to the city. Prince Gorn is easily able to negotiate new trade agreements with the farmers.
The very next day, while taking a walk through the marketplace, a young girl runs up to you. "Are you Miss Barda?" She asks, showing a gap between her teeth. "Can you help me, pwease?"
Aenthurien greedily looks over the formula book, and appraise the beads and headband.
[spoiler=DM]Varda stops in surprise. Due to her height (or lack thereof), she doesn't have to look around for more than a few instants before seeing the speaker. I suppose my personal drills can wait... it's a good thing I normally do them separate from the group drills.
Inclining her head in assent at the identification, Varda studies the child. "I can try... what do you need?"
Looking down, you can see her eyes are red from crying. "Somebody took Mister Needles. Can you help me find him?" She says sniffling.
This could take a while...
"What does he look like?" asks Varda. "And why do you say someone took him?"
"He's this small and fuzzy. And he wouldn't run away like everyone says. He loves me and I loves him." Her hand gestures indicate that Mr. Needles is very small, roughly the size of a non-dire rodent.
"We were playing and I put him down so I can have some juice and then he was gone! We were over there." She says point to one of the less seedy inns. You sense that she firmly believes her story and due to her age of 10, she may let her emotions get the best of her.
"Well, alright, let's go have a look and see if anyone has seen anything."
Wonder why she chose to ask me for help... thinks Varda as she follows the girl to the "crime scene" and begins looking around.
Varda and the small girl walk to the crime scene and all seems normal.
Varda decides to start by asking around, hoping someone saw something.
You ask around and someone tells you that someone carrying an unusual pet headed to an inn called The Hutt.
"There, see?" comments Varda as the two head for The Hutt.
You head to The Hutt, and there seems to be a bouncer standing guard. He looks the the two of you over and shakes his head no.
"I'll take responsibility for her," replies Varda to the guard's unspoken skepticism. "We're here on business."
The bouncer lets you in, and it is the seediest of bars. People are gambling, drinking, and other vices not meant for the eyes of children.
Varda purses her lips as she looks around the establishment. I could send her home... but I wouldn't recognize 'Mister Needles' if he bit me. She'll have to stay.
Varda sees a man holding something small in his hand suspiciously go into a back room.
"Stay close," whispers Varda, one hand going to her bow as the other moves to her dagger. She does not draw either, of course, since doing so in the middle of a crowded bar would be a horrible idea.
Glancing around to see that no one else is paying attention, she moves to follow the man.
The diminutive woman practices what she's learned on the field of battle to whisper instructions to the child with her, then strides confidently toward the back room.
Through your extensive combat experience you are able to shuttle yourself and the small child to the back room of the seedy inn. The back room actually leads to a stairway heading down, which then leads to another room. The door to this room is cracked open and you see a rather crowded room. In the back of said room you see the man you were following and he handing over the small animal to another man, this one being rather large in girth and stature. The larger man holds it up for the crowd to see and you see a hedgepeeg. "It's Mr. Needles." The little girl whispers.
"A fine gift you have given me, Smythe." The robust man says loudly to the room.
"Wait here," whispers Varda, stepping into the room. Taking a deep breath, she slides her bow from its customary place on her shoulder and tries to decide the best way of dealing with this situation.
The large man puts the hedgepeeg down on his lap, reaching for a small brush to comb the small spiny animal.
"A gift which was not his to give," says Varda loudly, keeping her back to the wall and fixing the crime boss with a stern (but not challenging) gaze.
The crowd gasps in unison, though the crime boss laughs deeply. "I admire your courage and boldness. Who might you be?"
"I am Varda, daughter of Thoric Noblehammer and Dobar Quartzbreaker of the Blacklocks clan. I have come on behalf of one who has been harmed by the actions of your Smythe."
"And who would that be? Our little Smythe couldn't hurt a fly. And you look a little tall to be a dwarf's daughter." He laughs again.
"I'm human by blood. As to your Smythe, perhaps he'd tell you how he acquired the creature."
Smythe gets very nervous. "Uh, I found it. It was by itself so i thought I'd give it a home." He says very obviously lying.
"See? He's a downright animal activist, saving poor animals from death." His boss says.
"He lies poorly," replies Varda. "What do you do to underlings who can't be trusted? In the army I command they don't fare so well... but maybe things are different here?" she asks casually.
"Are you calling him a liar?" The large man asks standing at the slackusation. "Either way I'm keeping my new pet. And there isn't anything you can do about it."
"Come now," replies Varda, a slight edge entering her voice. "Surely you'd rather obtain your own such creature... you are capable of finding one, aren't you? I'd rather resolve this peacefully, but I tell you now that I am not leaving without the creature."
Someone in the crowd runs up to the wouldbe kingpin and whispers in his ear. "Alright, I do not need any unneccesary enemies today. You may take the pet and leave."
"Thank you."
Varda moves quickly to the front of the room, her bow still held in one hand. The other she holds out to receive the creature.
Smythe hands Mr Needles to you in humility.
Varda takes the hedgepeeg gently and turns to go, though she keeps her eyes and ears open for any sign of betrayal.
You sense no inclinations of betrayal and the crowds gives you a wide berth as you leave. The little girl is very excited to have her pet back. "Mister Needles! Thank you, Miss Barda!"
"You're welcome, child. Now, next time you go get a drink, take him with you, okay?"
"Okay, I will. I promise. Everyone says you're the nice one and they're right." She gives you a hug and Mr. Needles snuggles you as well before they both head home.