Grelthe will share that the lady seems stable for now. "I am a bit suspicious of what they will do to her, since we don't really even know who 'they' are, but the fact they requested her alive is a good omen. Kayla, if you have something that prevents her shapechanging I can heal her so we can talk to her. Either way, we should probably get her back to town quickly."
kayla seems rather adamant about this, she is alive and stable, that is enough. lets get her back to town and let me turn her in. I really am not that interested in her story.
Kayla seems she really does not want to get into to many details. looking to Grelthe, You know me, and who I am, and what I've done. there are debts that need to be paid. please don't push me to make more enemies than I am ready to deal with. I want to keep all of you guys out of this. this capture is between me, the rat lady, and my benefactors.
she confides in a whisper to Grelthe,
I promise to do my best to see that she will be treated fairly.
Cale grunts at her words "forgive me but no I hardly know you. I don’t know her. I don’t know your benifactors. Normally I wouldn’t much care about those latter points, but you’re trying to hide things from us and I’ve been put in a situation I don’t want to be in too many times once people I thought were allies started keeping secrets”. He hasn’t drawn his weapons yet, but from expirence you would know how fast he can extend those bone blades
So, would your group like to go off on its own again then? If so, we would be happy to accompany our friend back to town alone.
Grelthe steps between Kayla and Cain, "You are right, Kayla is not the most... forthcoming with information. But she has earned my trust, and I vouch for her." She looks aside at Zadira, then back to Cain, adding "If you are not comfortable getting involved in this, we can do as Zadira suggests, but considering how many fighters we have lost, I say strength in numbers is better."
Kayla is a bit unsure how to respond. she had thought everything was good, she was finally closer to a normal life again.
she almost instinctively reached for her blade, but she did stop.
I tell you what is needed only. not because I am hiding things, but rather protecting you. trust me, the less you know the better. I will take her back on my own if need be.
He grunts "ignorance is never safety..... ” he mutters before looking at the companions he was more familiar with, before sighing ”do with her as you must, but you’ve not earned much trust with this.
Simon certainly looks uncomfortable and looks in turns at Cain, Kayla and the rat-lady.
Finally, he speaks up, directly addressing Grelthe, his voice low and fearful?
"You're good with this, Grelthe-purr?
For me, this does not feel ... right."
Turning to Kayla he continues:
"Are these people of yours ... good ones-miii?
They sound ... somewhat ... evil-meowr?!
Can we ... help you with them somehow?"
Kayla actually does not answer, she looks to be rather uncomfortable with the questions. she is not ready to divulge to much.
they are not evil, and they are not good either. they just do what needs to be done.
Kayla starts to bind up the rat lady in preparation to haul her back. she seems intent on leaving as soon as she is ready, regardless if any will join her.
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Vuzi watches the byplay between Kayla and Cain. "Cain vu aren't dat forthcoming either. I think ve should stick together, and continue to explore. Simon ve deal vith evil all the time. Dis entire place is full of it. Kayla's people don't affect us. I say let's return to town, and den head back in. I need to stop and see Vance on de vay."
She looks concerned about the length of time she's been away from Vance.
Simon nods at Vuzi with a sharp expression on his face that is at odds to his previous indecision and uncomfortable nuances.
"Yeah,we deal with evil, Vuzi-purrurr.
Usually by cutting it into tiny pieces and blast it up-meorch.
I don't think Kayla is evil - or she would not be friend with Grelthe-purr.
But an itch in my tail warns me about her associates and this whole business for that matter-grch.
I'll help her - since this rat is evil as well.
She harmed Dalkk-purrrurr despite us trying to help her-meow.
Let's go and get this over with-mewww!
The sooner we go, the faster we get back here and do the work of Gozreth and his allies of good-purr."
At some time on their voyage back, Simon will approach you casually (which will happen to be at a time where you out of easy earshot of the others - maybe during a watch period?).
"Hey there, big-greeny-purr."
"I know that you are uphold and seek good-purrr.
Can you ... share with me why you trust little-Kayla so much-mii?
I feel ... uncomfortable around her and I don't know why-meow."
Grelthe will do a quick detect evil on the ratfolk, just to verify if she is truly evil or not.
~later~
It took a long time for her to open us and tell us anything of her past, but she was honest with us. She has been through a traumatic time and done things she is not proud of, but not for evil reasons. And she has been working to change her situation. I believe in the ability to be redeemed of all creatures, as long as they are committed to the change. Kayla strikes me as someone of true conviction, and I do not detect evil in her." She gives you a soul-piercing gaze. "Does that help answer your feelings?"
The rat is evil
The trio back to town is uneventful. The Twins are making good progress on the shop, Vance us downright chipper, and the poo monster is not in sight when you pass through. Too bad it isn't out of smell...
A few days under the open sky is nice after any length of time in that death hole and not even being chased by mysteriously regenerating gargoyles can convince you otherwise! How do they keep chilling back?
Anyway.
You deliver your quarry.
Your trip back is likewise uneventful. Grelthe, you notice that it's taking less and leads effort to bind Vance's flesh cravings and the effect is lasting longer each time you cast it. Odd... But it's enough to convince you that you don't have to drag Vance to town with you if you don't want to. He certainly wants to stay. He has a conference Sending the next day that would be a pain to re-schedule.
The rat wakes up the day before you get to Zelkor's Ferry. She sends confused, understandably. Wha... What? Who? Hey! Let me go! She protests, but weakly.
During the trip back, when the rat lady wakes up, Kayla offers her something to drink, (with a dose of that special ratbane poison in it)
After what happened in the dungeon, Kayla is certain that someone from the group will follow. she had tried to warn them, and cannot stop them. She can try to loose any followers but unsure what the roll would be...stealth maybe?
She delivers the quarry to the ferry. hoping on board the ferryboat. I brought you a visitor. Kayla says as she brings the rat lady on board the ferry.
"Vance if vu vill be all right I vill leaf vu with de twins ven ve go to town."
Vuzi doesn't need anything in town at the moment, and will be ready to return when the business is over.
Zadira shops for a silver sword.
Simon nods.
"Yes. I think so-meow.
Thank you, big-greeny-purrr.
I probably would have followed her once getting back to town...
... but maybe I should go against that urge.
Trusting her to do the right thing-miii?"
I have no business in town.
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The rat lady drinks, but locks Kayla's eyes with her own while she does so.
The locals can add silver to your weapon, Zadira.
The trip back is equally uneventful. You have just one area left to explore, the other side of the hall with the rolling ball of death. Thankfully, the northern door in the entry to this level gives you access and you don't have to brave the hall.
You find an empty room there with a secret door in the north wall.
"Nice door. Shall ve see vat is inside?" Vuzi casts Mage Armor on herself.
Zadira casts Open on the secret door.
Simon looks troubled and undecided.
"I ... mhhh ... Why are people hiding such things all the time-miii?
It makes things so complicated-meowr!
If you trust her enough to not follow her ...
I think ... I should do so as well-meew."
*** On the way back to the Dungeon ***
After the first day on their way back, Simon approaches Kayla.
"How did it went-miii?
What is the intend of your partners with her now that they have her?
Are they some kind of big secret ... law forcers-miii?
Like ... the Hellknights-grchh?"
At the last bit, Emily growls as well and focuses the smaller Kayla with intense eyes.
*** Now ***
"That's why we're here, Vuzi-purrurr!"
He draws his two sharp, curved blades and get into a low half-crouched stand beside Emily.
Kayla does not respond about how much trouble, instead she goes right to her questions, What exactly do you need her for. she asks, avoiding giving up information on her companions.
Kayla does not look amused in the least about the answer. there were other ways to obtain that. this little mission was costly.
she ponders moment, what's done, is done. I can't change that. but I think you should rethink your recruitment methods.
Once the meeting is done, and the ferry docks once more. good day. she says as she leaves.
[/ooc] what about all that con damage? I think Kayla would stay in town until it is all healed. she took 7 points of con damage by normal healing that is 7 days to heal.[/ooc]
I can also prepare 2 uses of lesser restoration a day to help along ability healing if needed.
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The ferryman appears to be under no compulsion to fill the silence. He drops you off and hands you a scrap of paper. On it is inscribed a short note.
Scorpion,
If you are reading this then you succeeded in your first task in the Graves. Congratulations. You have succeed whee many have failed.
Your next target will not be so easy.
A cell of ours was recently raided by minotaurs. We managed to capture one and extracted the name if his overlord, Kazleth. We have rain to believe this Kazketh is based in the depths of Rappan Athuk. We need him dead. Return with his head.
The door opens and the entire area is immediately plunged into utter darkness. Not even Darkvision functions! You hear what sounds like bones on the stone.
"Huh, good thing you brought cats with you-meow.
I smell ..."
Bones. You smell bones. And you hear the clink of metal.
Kayla did not really want to answer or rather she is choosing her words carefully. The rat lady has some talents in making certain items, my benefactors feel those skills could be put to good use. they intend to recruit her.
As they walk she tries to speak privately with Simon
can I trust you? I mean I have gone a long time with no friends, only "coworkers" <makes air quotes>
as she asks this she seems to be fiddling with a small piece of parchment.
when overcome with darkness, kayla whispers a gnomish curse and pulls a blade and carefully backs up, one hand behind her feeling for a wall (or any other obstacle.
*** Open Talk ***
"Mhhh, couldn't they have asked her-miii?
That organisation of yours is weird-meww.
But at least that does not sound too bad.
I feared for worse to tell the truth..."
And she didn't react on my mention of hellknights.
At least she isn't working with them.
"I do hope so, Missie-mew.
I have never let a friend of mine down.
Well, they sure have a tendency to go on different paths than I choose but I never betrayed them-purrr.
On the other side, I was betrayed by people I though would be friends and that confuses me to this day-grch.
Why would you do that-mii?"
As their talk nears it's end, Simon blantly points on the note in her hands.
"So what's that-mii?
It seems to trouble you deeply, yes?"
*** Now ***
"... Bones and metal.
Grelthe, can you use your powers blindly?
I think foul and evil magick is on work here-frch.
Maybe animated skeletons-grch!"
"The only thing I can do blindly is channel my divinity power, but they'd have to be undead and within 30 feet. Sounds like the first part won't be a problem. Can you tell their distance?"
Zadira casts Create Pit, making a 10x10, 30 foot deep pit on the other side (bad guy side) of the doorway.
Kayla starts to show Simon the parchment, but seems a little reluctant. eventually she hands it to him, this is just between us, please. If the wrong people find out it could be bad. and I really can't go through that again.
her eyes reveal that there is a bad memory there that she maybe still has not fully gotten over.
note:
Scorpion,
If you are reading this then you succeeded in your first task in the Graves. Congratulations. You have succeed whee many have failed.
Your next target will not be so easy.
A cell of ours was recently raided by minotaurs. We managed to capture one and extracted the name if his overlord, Kazleth. We have rain to believe this Kazketh is based in the depths of Rappan Athuk. We need him dead. Return with his head.
Zadira says Stay back! I'm trying to get them with a spell and I don't want to target any good guys.
You don't hear any sudden clatter of metal that might indicate that one of them has fallen.
You wait for a few seconds. Hiding and rattling bones can be hears with the blank of armor, but nothing attacks you immediately.
Then you hear rapid clattering steps and six separate clatters as whatever it is seems to jump over something!
Zadira: you can't tell how many made it over the pit at first
Simon takes the parchment eagerly into his paws and reads it.
As he finished, he looks up in bewilderment:
"You're not a scorpion-meow.
While you are small and possibly deadly,
you do not have scales or a tail-meew."
*** NOW ***
"Don't hold back, Grelthe-purr!
I couldn't smell them that well if they were much further off than that-grch."
Without stopping, Simon switches to a quick incantation.
"Gozreth, borrow me the tiny light of the firefly,
to bring light into this darkness!"
Grelthe will gently try to shoulder past her companions to be near the front of the group (and to the side of Zadira, based on her voice), and then mutter a quick prayer to channel energy .
"I vish I had de daylight spell." When she thinks they might be within thirty feet Vuzi Channels Negative Energy to Command Undead.
Simon's light spell sputters and is immediately devoured by the darkness.
You hear hissing and screeching as divine energy washes over the foes!
Vuzi, you feel a connection snap into place between you and one of your attackers!
(v. Undead)
Be careful. I cast a pit through the doorway, although I can't tell if any of them fell in. Just don't go that far. It will reset to normal floor soon enough.
Zadira decides to try shooting one. She pulls out her blunt arrows and tries to aim by listening.
(v. Undead)
(v. Undead and focused shot)
Emily shuffles a step forward and crouches low.
Her missing sight doesn't trouble her too much.
Her nose, more than capable to detect the approaching foes.
She concentrates and readies herself to bite the first boney thing that creeps up to her or tries to get past.
Kayla chuckles, scorpion in my nick-name, I am small, deadly, and I use venom when needed. the important thing is the rest, I need to take out that Minotaur and it may be a little much on my own.
Kayla remains where she is, back against the wall, straining to see into the darkness, sword drawn (no poison) ready to swing at anything that is scary and boney the she can target..
"Good to see you laughing, scorpion-purr.
Yesyes, this Minotaur sounds very dangerous indeed-meow.
If it is true what your contacts are telling you of course.
We'll see how he turns out for ourselves I think, yes-miii?
But if he turns out to be evil, I am sure he will find his end by blade and claw-meow!
We should talk with the others about this.
Thanks for being open with me-purr.
I think Cain-purr will be glad when you show him too.
He can be a bit rough but he is a good guy in his core,just listen to funny-little Skeetch-purrurr."
The noise closes in on you. You hear steel clashing and swords hitting flesh!
Simon, you feel a blade nip your flesh! The steel doesn't cut deep, but you feel the strength leak from your bones!
Zadira, your arrow hits something in the darkness, then the darkness hits back!
Cain, you can't see them coming, but you try you best to stay in a good defensive position. You feel a blade bite!
Vuzi, you feel that the first ring of steel in steel is probably your commanded undead, but you're soon very preoccupied with the poke you get in the ribs!