Still invisible, Lantressa casts another spell and continues moving, as she does she retrieves a wand from her bag with her tail as she now flies closer to the woman the Gray Maidens are collecting.
Cast fly and go 10 feet above the ground, I end up just above the woman with her between me and the Grey Maidens and the wand of dim door held in my tail. I plan, on my next chance to act, to touch the woman and use the wand to move us both back to the party easily in range even when there are two of us going. I have my figure moved where I am.
Male human bloodrager 7 | HP 58/74 | AC 21 | T 13 | FF n/a | CMB+10 | CMD 23 | Fort +9 | Ref +7 | Will +7 | Perc +11
DM medlii wrote:
One Gray Maiden moves to intercept Cephelo. She does not draw her sword, but she stands between him and the fallen woman. The other two ignore him, continuing to bind their prize. "Return to your home, sir. We need to take this woman back to our headquarters for interrogation. I mean, an investigation. By Queen Ileosa's decree. Move along, or I will arrest you for obstructing official business," she orders harshly.
sense motive:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
He shook his head, "Uh, uh. That's Maria there and you're not taking my cousin anywhere. She's the kindest person I know. She takes care of all the children in this here street so you must be mistaken."
He looked about, "Lots of people live here... I suggest you leave my cousin here and move along before I start yelling. Everyone in the neighborhood will be very upset to know that you have just hurt one of the nicest persons in town."
Ty will lay on the floor near Cephelo, and tinker with the box from Vencarlo's. He will take as much time as needed to open it, making sure not to break it or damage anything.
Hearing Cephelo's hiss to stay hidden, Ty slinks back around the corner and draws the two newest daggers in his collection.
stealth:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17 has a +1 dagger in each hand,
After taking his time to carefully open the lock, Typhon finds a simple leather bag inside the box (bag of holding type ii). Within are a black hooded cloak of elvenkind, several black masks, a +2 dagger, a dozen masterwork daggers with a stylized "B" engraved in their pommels, a black leather suit of +2 shadow leather armor, a pair of black leather boots of speed, an amulet of proof against detection and location, a pair of black leather gloves of dexterity +2, and an exquisite mithral +2 keen rapier. Typhon recognizes the clothes immediately as Blackjack's signature armor and weaponry.
A worn scrap of paper is also tucked into the bag. It reads:
Age, gender, or fighting technique matter not. I have learned that my role, and my successor's role requires only these three things: a love for Korvosa; a vow to protect her downtrodden; and never becoming a blind slave to the law.
I failed to shape and groom two for the role. He fit the physical description to the letter, but it was too late that I realized he would put his duty to the law before his duty do the city, and would never understand the difference between the two. She is a fighter of unmatched prowess, yet her personal pride makes her impossible to sway down this path. The best candidate must already hold these values. Now I believe I have found the one! I only hope that I have the time to train him.
The Gray Maiden growls "Yell all you'd like. Maria's kindness matters not in the eyes of the law! Sisters, arrest this man for obstructing our business and take him back with the others who are to be rehabilitated." It seems she took Cephelo's words at face value and let slip some information about 'Maria's' fate.
The other two Gray Maidens abandon Maria. One passes just below Lantressa, but does not notice her. One mutters "We'll need to tie him up too, there's no way in hell the hand cuffs will fit him." Reaching Cephelo, they demand "You are under arrest. Surrender your weapon and come peacefully, or we will be forced to knock you out and cart you back with Maria."
Yet it seems Cephelo's exchange already attracted a few people. A shuttered window opens and an elderly woman peers out. A man and his five year old daughter listen from the second floor balcony of their own apartment.
Lantressa lands next to Maria and touches her shoulder, "I'm getting us to safety, come with me." Activating the wand, Lantressa teleports the both of them to the balcony with the man and daughter.
Activate the wand of dim door and take Maria with me, I'll stay in the same relative position height wise to her. That shouldn't end invisibility since I am not attacking or making an enemy make a save.
If Maria doesn't consent to dim door:
Lantressa tells Maria quietly, "Get to safety now." She flies up ways and drops grease underneath the top two Grey Maidens (dc 16 reflex) end up 15 feet up.
Male human bloodrager 7 | HP 58/74 | AC 21 | T 13 | FF n/a | CMB+10 | CMD 23 | Fort +9 | Ref +7 | Will +7 | Perc +11
DM medlii wrote:
The other two Gray Maidens abandon Maria. One passes just below Lantressa, but does not notice her. One mutters "We'll need to tie him up too, there's no way in hell the hand cuffs will fit him." Reaching Cephelo, they demand "You are under arrest. Surrender your weapon and come peacefully, or we will be forced to knock you out and cart you back with Maria.
Cephelo scratched his head, "What are you arresting me for? For telling you about Maria being nice?" He looked at the people already taking an interest, "They already know that."
He palmed his axe, "This is not a weapon. I'm a logger and am gonna cut me some dead wood." He smiled but it was more like a grin, "I suggest you all just keep on minding your own business and leave these nice people alone."
After reverently taking all the items out, Ty carefully tucks them all back in with the letter on top.
Wow. Vencarlo is Blackjack? My childhood hero? Wonder of wonders. It is more important than ever that we find him!
Changing his mind, he pulls out the +2 dagger and slips it into one of his wrist sheathes.
might need that. I'll return it when we find him.
Uh oh. Doesn't sound like it's going well.
Dropping both his packs on the ground, Ty dumps one out, and swings the feathered cloak around his shoulders, leaving the owl bear skull helm on the ground for the moment.
distract em for a moment or two more Cephelo....
Lantressa finds Maria is unconcious, so she has no trouble transporting her to safety. Back out of sight of the Gray Maidens, Trey points out that the woman will likely have a bruise and a headache when she wakes up, but will otherwise be alright. "Once we know Cephelo is safe, I can rouse her, she whispers.
The little girl gasps and points at the spot where Maria vanished. One of the Gray Maidens turns around to see. All three look identical in their gleaming plate armor, shields, and red capes. "Where is she? What have you done with Maria? She would be safer off of the street where brutes like you would not be able use your sorcerous powers to kidnap her! Explain yourself! Where is she?"
The man observing from the balcony picks up the little girl, turning her away from whatever is about to unfold.
"He didn't do nothin, are ya blind!" the old woman grumbles from her window.
Male human bloodrager 7 | HP 58/74 | AC 21 | T 13 | FF n/a | CMB+10 | CMD 23 | Fort +9 | Ref +7 | Will +7 | Perc +11
DM medlii wrote:
The little girl gasps and points at the spot where Maria vanished. One of the Gray Maidens turns around to see. All three look identical in their gleaming plate armor, shields, and red capes. "Where is she? What have you done with Maria? She would be safer off of the street where brutes like you would not be able use your sorcerous powers to kidnap her! Explain yourself! Where is she?"
The man observing from the balcony picks up the little girl, turning her away from whatever is about to unfold.
"He didn't do nothin, are ya blind!" the old woman grumbles from her window.
Cephelo took the turn of events in stride, "Me? What did YOU do? Everyone saw how you meant harm to poor Maria while I was just talking to you. You better leave and quickly and hope that Maria is found safe and unharmed!"
"Enough of your lies! Sisters! Capture this trickster. Korvosans, return to your homes while we deal with this criminal!" The Gray Maidens draw their swords, ready to subdue Cephelo.
Lantressa's flight isn't limited in any way as she zips above the situation unfolding below.
Seeing that the fight is about to begin, Lantressa decides she's waited long enough. She chants a few words and gestures causing the ground underneath two of the bullies to become coated in grease as she becomes visible once more as she flies well above their heads and drops behind a building out of their sight.
I cast grease under the top two Gray Maidens, since they haven't acted I assume they are flat-footed and don't get the reflex save to stay standing but if they do it is dc 16. I then fly over behind the building I moved to and drop down so I am out of their line of sight.
Also, I took the spells for the grease I just cast and the mage armor I would have cast before heading out for the day.
The Gray Maiden who had been arguing with Cephelo slips on the oily cobblestones. "What the! I knew you were some sort of sorcerer!" she cries as she struggles to her feet. If Cephelo has combat reflexes, he gets an AOO as she stands up.
Her companions attack Cephelo with their longswords. One manages to sneak her sword past his guard, but he instinctively raises an arm to block. Instead of sinking into his chest, the sword slashes his arm. 9 damage before DR
The man and his child retreat back into their home. The old woman leaves her window, but doesn't close the shutters.
Gray Maiden 1 attack vs Cephelo:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25 Gray Maiden 1 confirmation vs Cephelo:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18 Gray Maiden 1 dmg vs Cephelo:1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9 Gray Maiden 2 attack vs Cephelo:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12 Gray Maiden 1 dmg vs Cephelo:1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8 Gray Maiden 2 dmg vs Cephelo:1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
[ooc]Grease is marked on the map.
Being flat-footed doesn't affect reflex saves: A character who has not yet acted during a combat is flat-footed, unable to react normally to the situation. A flat-footed character loses his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) and cannot make attacks of opportunity.
Now dressed as the Owl, Ty walks around the corner. Strolling down the alley he addresses the Maidens.
"By what right do you attack the citizens of this fair city? Are you just hired thugs? You are not the Guard nor the Sable company. You have no authority here! Begone and leave these folk in peace." double move to place himself next to Cephelo
Despite their steel shields and heavy armor, Cephelo's sweeping blow rakes through the women's armor. Blood spatters the cobbles, mixing with the grease, and the Owl arrives on the scene. "We are the Gray Maidens! We are here on the authority of Queen Ileosa and don't answer to the likes of you!" Despite her severe wounds, the leader still uses the same imperious tone. "Let's get out of here! Back to the cart!" the other injured maiden cries, her voice filled with terror. About one hundred feet to the west, you see two horses hitched to an open-topped cart.
Trey and Yrsa rouse Maria in the alleyway. "Oooh. My head. What's going on? Who are you?" she asks, dazedly.
In an attempt to keep the Grey Maidens from fleeing to the wagon, Lantressa causes another area of grease to appear between them and the wagon and then flies closer to it in case she needs to get any possible captives away that are in it.
I drew the grease onto there if that is all right and moved myself, should be about 20 feet up right now.
That's fine, it avoids confusion if you put the grease where you want it.
Now that she is closer to the cart, Lantressa can see two figures lying in the bed of the cart. I'm not going to put it all on the map since it will get out of hand, but Lantressa is about 60 feet away from the cart now.
"Soon, the Sable Company and Guard won't matter! Only the Gray Maidens-" Her threat is cut short as she and the other injured maiden fall hard on their backsides into the grease. They both struggle back to their feet. Their uninjured companion manages to keep to her feet, picking a careful course back towards the cart, ending nearly directly beneath Lantressa.
#1 moved out of threatened squares, so could get an AOO from Typhon or Cephelo.
#2 fell and then stood up from prone, so could get an AOO from Typhon or Cephelo.
#3 fell and then stood up from prone, so could get an AOO from Cephelo.
#2 and 3 were injured previously by Cephelo.
With no way to prevent the captives from being taken except using another charge of the wand, Lantressa flies to the wagon and lands next to them, "Unless you want to be prisoners of the Grey Hag there, take my hand and come with me." Once they have followed instructions, she activates the wand and teleports herself and the two captives back to the safety of her group.
Move Action: Fly to the cart and land. Free: speak to them. Standard Action" Activate Wand.
Once we have Cephelo, Typhon, and Trey's actions, we'll go back to the top of the initiative with Lantressa. Ty still has an AOO available on the uninjured maiden if he'd like to take it.
stats:
#1 - 0 damage taken, prone
#2 - dead
#3 - 14 damage taken
I know I was getting a bit ahead of myself, depending on how things go I may end up changing my action for the next round, but I wanted it up in case we got there.
Ty seems curiously uninterested in attacking the fallen Maidens.
"Soon there will be only the Greys? What? Have you heard yourself? The Guard and the Marines are part of the history of Korvosa! They are for and of Korvosa, unlike the petty brat who is your queen! She cares not for our city or its people! Besides you Grey Washerwomen aren't near numerous enough to quel the riots that will result if her oppression continues!" no AoO, standard action to try to bluff and keep them paying attention to Ty, not Lantressa bluff:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
The Gray Maiden's shield blocks Cephelo's deadly blow. "Hah! We will stamp out the riots with brute force!" she says to The Owl. She doesn't notice Typhon glancing at the cart behind her.
Flying closer, Lantressa finds that one of the captives is unconscious and bound, like Maria would have been if you hadn't intervened. The third woman sits in the bed of the cart, glaring at Lantressa and clutching a pouch to her chest. She would be pretty if it weren't for her sullen expression. "This is mine, bugger off. You'll get your own bonus if you join up."
Meanwhile, Trey and Yrsa stand guard over the groggy "Maria" in the alleyway.
Lantressa, if you'd like to adjust your action, go for it.
Lantressa gives the woman a disgusted look, "I don't want the money, I'm just trying to rescue the both of you, keep it if you want but I don't trust them. This one comes with me."
If the bound woman is 100 pounds or less then Lantressa will carry her away from the cart and flay back to the group rather than use a charge on the wand. If she is over 100 pounds and/or the other woman wishes to leave as well, then Lantressa uses the wand to get them all to the safety of her friends.
Lantressa grabs the comatose woman and flies her back to the group. The Gray Maidens do notice her at this point "What?! There's more of them! The two remaining Maidens shout in exasperation as they float past. But Cephelo and Typhon block their path to the alleyway where Lantressa has taken the captives. "Let's get out of here! We'll find another way to take care of them!"
Both remaining Maidens attempt to flee through the slippery grease, again opening an opportunity for Typhon and Cephelo to attack. Provided no one kills her, #2 who was injured will move. #1, who was not injured will fall prone.
DC 10 reflex saves to move through grease at half speed Gray Maiden 1 reflex:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 Gray Maiden 2 reflex:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Sighing Ty will slash at the fleeing maiden.
AoO:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16 damage:1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 Never had a chance with Sabine anyway. She's too devoted to that crazy queen.
Lantressa, seeing the two fleeing Grey Wardens, decides she doesn't care to stop them. She kneels next to the bound woman, and begins to untie her, being careful that she causes no harm to the poor victim.
"Quell riots by brute force?!? You can't even deal with a street rat like me! Look at you all dressed in armor and running away. City's gonna burn if you are its 'protectors'! "
Ty sneers at the fleeing Maidens, giving a 'come and get me' gesture with his dagger.
Just waiting on Cephelo. Seems like some of you don't mind the gray maidens getting away, but others want to kill them, so I'd like to play this out since what happens next depends on if they get away or are killed.
Seeing that her friends are not giving up, Lantressa decides to help end this quickly and flies after the fleeing Grey Wardens before casting a spell and sending energy at one of them.
Lantressa flies 60 ft to chase down the Grey Wardens and casts a spell at one of them. She targets the farthest Grey Warden with the appropriate spell for the distance.
Cephelo's powerful blow cleaves the Gray Maiden from gullet to groin, slicing through her armor and spilling her blood on the ground before him. She is now quite dead.
Lantressa's fire is enough to finish the other remaining Maiden, her heavy armor providing no protection against the searing beams of heat.
With all three Gray Maidens dead, you now have a chance to take in your surroundings. Trey has been tending to "Maria" and the other woman in the alley. "Where am I? What's going on?" they ask, confused and afraid.
The old woman who had been watching from her window shuffles outside. "You did good, boy," she says, squinting up at Cephelo. "Those ones are no good. I seen em doin this before, sneak up on some unspectin woman and hit her over the head. Only women, never men. Then they drag em off somewhere." Looking at Typhon, she says "You can't reason with em. They think they're bigger n badder than the rest o' us. They aren't like the Guard or Sable Compny."
The horse hitched to the cart stamps and snorts nervously when it smells the blood. Lantressa can see that the unbound woman who had been sitting in the cart cowers and hides in the cart bed.
Lantressa glides down and lights in the wagon next to the cowering woman and speaks to her, "We are not going to hurt you, you are free to go once you answer a few questions for me. I am Lana, who are you," she says as she begins to ask questions. "Why were you going with them? My guess is that they were recruiting new members and you accepted, the money you have was given to you for signing on. I am guessing that the others were not willing to join." Continuing with her desire for information once her first question has been answered, "Do you know where they were taking you and the captives?"
Diplomacy (+1 if charming):1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14 Sense Motive if needed:1d20 ⇒ 3
Male human bloodrager 7 | HP 58/74 | AC 21 | T 13 | FF n/a | CMB+10 | CMD 23 | Fort +9 | Ref +7 | Will +7 | Perc +11
Lantressa Darksong wrote:
Lantressa glides down and lights in the wagon next to the cowering woman and speaks to her, "We are not going to hurt you, you are free to go once you answer a few questions for me. I am Lana, who are you," she says as she begins to ask questions. "Why were you going with them? My guess is that they were recruiting new members and you accepted, the money you have was given to you for signing on. I am guessing that the others were not willing to join." Continuing with her desire for information once her first question has been answered, "Do you know where they were taking you and the captives?"
Cephelo wiped his axe clean on the maiden's cloak and spat on her corpse. "You-need-to-treat-people-with-respect!"
He turned to Lantressa, "Recruiting huh? What? Is their pay not good enough? It must them long hours of just beating up innocent people that's not very appealing to most people..."
He looked about, "OK, are we going to the Arkonas?"
FYI, I'll be exchanging things from the loot pile since no one has claimed them and updating my PC sheet, hopefully tonight
Scowling at Lantressa, the lady answers "Hm. Name's Cama. You've got the gist of it. Better to get paid and join than end up knocked on the head or starving to death. Why should I tell a witch like you where they're headed? Pretty sure you're not going to join up." Cama rolls her eyes.
In the alley, calmed significantly by Trey's gentle explanation, the woman introduces herself as Mery. "I never seen em before, but I heard they go around recruitin women. A lot of girls have gone missing lately. I thought maybe they got sick or tried to escape to the mainland. But they just kidnapped them, I guess... Thank you for saving me. I don't know what they would've done if you hadn't been here."
Fighting back a burst of anger at being called a witch, Lantressa manages to channel it into her words which come out very quiet and with a lot of malice, "So, rather than fight against the bullies you would sell your soul to them? You would become one of those who are making this place such a hell? You do know that the plague has been cured in the rest of the city don't you? The only reason the cure wasn't given here is because the Grey Maidens are enforcing that b##~@ of a queen's policies and making sure that everyone here will suffer and die just to serve her own ends!" Her rage more than obvious by now, Lantressa finishes with, "And no, I won't ever join them, I would rather go back to the World Wound which tainted my birth than join minions of HELL!" Barely in control of her now run-away temper, Lantressa flies straight up and lets loose a primal scream of rage, hatred, and anger before landing amongst her allies and away from the woman who has set off her rage to avoid harming her.
That sounds like an intimidate check... Lantressa indtimidate:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Cama cringes back from Lantressa's display of rage, talking to Cephelo or anyone else around to hear. "Whoa. Okay. Well I haven't been there, but I think the Gray Maidens set up shop southeast of here, near the old City Hall."
Cephelo also realizes that the horse probably knows its way back to wherever it is stabled, which could be near the Gray Maiden headquarters.
"Huh. So I guess we have a choice to make. Continue on to the Arkona's place or check out this kidnapping base. For me it's not a matter of which, just in what order we go. "
Ty says as he shakes his head at the way things turned out.
AC 14 | FF 13 | T 11 | HP 45/45 | Init: +1 | Percep: +8 | Fort: +6| Ref: +3 | Will: +9
responding to Mery, hello Mery. if you are feeling better, we can escort you to your home, or perhaps we can find a way to get you out of Old Korvosa and back to the mainland. I can see that you are given shelter in the Temple of the Dawnflower.
Trey ponders the choices. and looks to the condition of the Mery. we should see to the well being of these people; as the people of Korvosa are my top priority.
looking to Ty, Still we came here to find someone that can help regarding the queen. and that has the potential to save even more. I suggest we see to this lady's well being then move on to the Arkona's residence.
Managing to calm herself down by melting a wooden crate with splashes of acid, Lantressa has gathered herself enough to speak coherently, "Much as I would like to go now and eradicate those unholy b#$+~es, I agree, we need to get the captives to safety and speak to the Arkona's, we may need help to deal with the Grey B*!~@es and the Arkona's have a vested interest in shutting them down I think. If we are passing anywhere near the encampment we may be able to get on top of a building and take a look at it."
Male human bloodrager 7 | HP 58/74 | AC 21 | T 13 | FF n/a | CMB+10 | CMD 23 | Fort +9 | Ref +7 | Will +7 | Perc +11
Cephelo nodded, "I'm good with this plan but I don't want to get too much out of the way. I think we should to the Arkona's quickly as he'll likely help to deal with the Gray Maidens."
