Bastarache, Welcome to the Nightmare

Game Master Rysky

”Someone better swat someone else on the ass!” calls out Yasmin as the two disappear down the hall.

”Wha?” Nalada lets out with a chuckle on hearing Yasmin call out to them.

From the bedroom comes the sound of a light smack against ample flesh, and a giggle.

"OHHHHHhhhh, we are never going to get anything done at this rate," Nalada says, her voice lowering back to it's normal tone before joining Yelenn's in her infectious giggles.

That is then followed by another smack.

~~~~

"Is Friend Yasmin sad?" Xeros asks, movement surging back to his till now completely still frame.

"Oh, only a little bit, Xeros," says Yasmin as she finishes the dishes. "It's, um, I'll be fine. Just had a bad experience. I'll get over it. For now I'm mostly nervous about surviving out here. Stumbling into this house was good luck, but we need some way to earn money or find more food, otherwise we'll have no choice but to hit the road again. I can't help but be a little nervous thinking about that." She puts away the last of the trenchers and whistles to her little water elemental, which spits out a few crumbs, shakes itself off, then slithers back up onto her pack to ride about.

"Also I didn't sleep very well," she says, stifling a yawn.

Mylyna finished her food as Yelen and Nalada went upstairs to get dressed and gathered up her dishes to take to the sink. She slithered her way over, making a loop of Xeros as she did, her scales brushing along his. When she reached the sink she set her dishes into the sink and then coiled up right behind Yelen and pressed close as she looked over the woman's shoulder at what she was doing.

Mylyna's attention was quickly drawn to the little elemental and she asked, "What is that and where did you find it?" She leaned in fairly close to the elemental in fascination as it cleaned off the dishes. She had no clue what it was but it was kind of neat.

"A jin - a young water elemental," explains Yasmin. "My magic involves a strong connection to primal elements. This one is bound to me. We are good friends - he helps out and gives me little bits of magical help from time to time." Yasmin finishes putting away the trencher and says, "Up! New friend!" The water elemental moves like a tiny wave across her shoulder and over to Mylyna, then pokes her on the nose.

Mylyna was surprised when the little elemental moved so fluidly up Yasmin's arm. She got a very close look at it when it reached Yasmin's shoulder. She was startled when it poked her in the nose and caused her to giggle. "Aren't you so cute," she crooned to the little elemental. "I'm Mylyna, what is your name little one?"

The tiny elemental makes some kind of gesture as if raising its "arms" and squeaks slightly. It waves back and forth, making the sound of water lapping in a bowl. Something in Aquan, perhaps?

"Anyway it's always around, I've just been keeping it in my pack so that it doesn't get into danger while we're out and about," explains Yasmin. "It doesn't have to stay in contact with me though. You can carry it around for a little while if you want. It's cheeky with people sometimes, though."

After a little bit more 'slap and tickle' Yelenn finally breaks off from Nalada with a sigh, beginning to gather up her clothing. "To be very much continued..," she says with a grin, enjoying the sight of the Warden's form as she gets dressed. "Care to help me with my armor?"

Xeros affectionately nuzzles against Mylyna’s coils as she slithers past him to chat with Yasmin and the Jin. ”A pure one.” he murmurs as he watches the water play and interact.

Standing up he gently hugs the Sha’ir, ”Xeros keep friend Yasmin safe.”

~~~~

”Indeed.” Nalada purrs back while calming herself down and taking a seat on the bed. At Yelenn’s request though she is promptly back up. ”I’d be honored.” she says moving over to the Witchblade.

Smiling, Yelenn begins donning her armor with Nalada's help.

”Okay, just pull that down a bit, a little tighter,” Nalada half tells Yelenn, half herself as she helps reequip the Witchblade. ”I haven’t served as an armiger in ages, this takes me back.” she says as she smoothes out areas of Yelenn’s clothing and inspects it for stray hairs and the like.

At the suggestion that Mylyna could carry the little Jin around she nodded eagerly and reached out gently to the little creature. She held her hand out and let the elemental decide if it wanted to come to her or not.

With much laughter and the occasional stray hand, Yelenn gets herself armored and armed, and helps Nalada get dressed. "Ready to face the day?"

"Ugh, no," Nalada says with a smile as she smooths out her dress. "Unless you know where a stray parasol might be?"

Yasmin's watery friend slides up Mylyna's arm - the feeling is a little odd, as it is clearly wet yet it leaves no trace of water behind in its wake - and it hovers on her shoulder for a moment, seemingly scrutinizing her face with its tiny beady eye-like whorls. Then it suddenly races down her back onto her coiled tail and jumps up and down several times.

Yasmin grins and says, "I think it wants to go for a ride."

"Don't have a parasol, but this cloak should help if you keep the hood up. I'll have to see what I can come up with magically." Yelenn says drawing a cloak around Nalkaca's shoulders and fastening it.

working to either develop a Magus version of Protective Penumbra or find and learn the spell. Eventually learning Cloak of Shadows

Nice! I'd say if you find a wizardy like lab or something you could put it together with the supplies there, not all sure how learning/creating spells are but I know there's a resource cost so that'll cover it.

Also stealing Nalkaca to use later.

"Why thank you, kitten," Nalada says as the Witchblade adorns her with the cloak. "And I thank the for thinking of my needs but please only pursue that avenue if it would be of some practical use for you as well, I wouldn't want you bereft in a dire situation because you expended a luxury for me."

"Duly noted," Yelenn says with a smile, taking Nalada's hand to lead her back to the others. "Alright, we're ready."

Mylyna giggled at the feel of the water elemental on her skin. That it left no moisture trail was truly and odd sensation and she looked into it's beady eyes as it scrutinized her face. When it suddenly slid down her back to her tail and started jumping on her scales Mylyna started slightly in surprise causing an undulation to go through her entire body but she twisted around to look at the tiny creature when Yasmin told her what it wanted and laughed as she said, "This isn't the kind of ride I usually give someone," her eyes twinkled in delight, "but I'll make an exception for you."

With that Mylyna began to slither as quickly as she could, her coils looping around Yasmin as she went, and then looped around the kitchen, partly up a wall, and then continued on into the room she had slept in the night before. She looked back periodically to make sure the jinn was still there and having fun.

Happy to be led back by the Witchblade Nalada cracks an eye when she hears the odd ruffled sounds coming from above. "Lamyrian locomotion is truly astonishing."

"Definitely." Yelenn agrees, grinning as she watches Mylyna play with the little elemental

The water elemental, tiny though it may be, waves back and forth excitedly as Mylyna makes her circuit around the domicile. It seems quite excited to be atop the powerful coils of the lamae, peering about this way and that from its elevated perch (at least, compared to hiding in Yasmin's bag). She chuckles as the elemental weaves this way and that, even racing up and down Mylyna's powerful snake-form as she moves about the rooms. Finally as Mylyna comes to a pause, the elemental races up to her shoulder again, gives her a peck on the cheek, then leaps off and hits the ground with a noticeable splat, becoming a puddle before it reforms and slithers its way back to Yasmin. She bends down to pick it up and the elemental slides onto her hand and clambers back on to her shoulder, peering about triumphantly.

”Funny pure ones, wonderful friends they make. Friend Yasmin blessed.” Xeros comments, his head looking over his shoulder from the kitchen.

The elemental’s antics do not escape Nalada’s attention either, who lets slips a few mirthful gasps and chuckles as she tries to watch its antics.

"Everyone ready to explore a bit?" Yelenn asks, still smiling.

"Of course." Nalada answer.

"Where we going?" Xeros asks.

"Well I suppose we should begin with completing our exploration of this manor itself. There is still the upper floor, as well as the greenhouse." Yelenn answers Xeros' question, presenting her companions with their immediate options.

Xeros nods. "Is the green house as big as this one?"

"That would be impressive if it was," Nalada comments then adds towards the guardian "It's a warm enclosure used to maintain specific flora, it's not an actual house."

"It sounds nice." he says.

"From what we've seen of it, that may well be the case. And the warmth is definitely welcome." Yelenn replies with a smile. "But much of what we've encountered here so far has turned out to be something other than it's initial appearance, so we'll need to be on guard."

Nalada nods. "Always a wise decision. If it's nearby do you wish for me to attend as well, or would you prefer for me to remain here with Wallace and Katherine while you explore?"

"I agree with the greenhouse - maybe they're growing fruits and vegetables there as well as flowers and plants. That could be helpful," suggests Yasmin. "It's likely to be warm and sunny. Right up Mylyna's alley but probably a bit uncomfortable for you, I'm afraid," she notes to Nalada.

"Just a bit," Nalada concurs.

"Then I think it might be best for you to stay with Wallace and Katherine." Yelenn replies. "Safer as well."

"It'll be good to have someone to look out for them," Yasmin chimes in, "especially in case... anything else gets out from that place."

Nalada smiles and nods at the Witchblade. "Perhaps we can have a little adventure here looking for a parasol... or at least some other clothes."

The smile slips away when Yelenn mention that place. "I pray not. But a valid concern nonetheless. I don't think we have anything on hand to seal up that hole down... there." she says as her head turns to the right. If not for the walls she would be staring directly into the basement.

Blinking she then looks around. "Is that pup still around? You would think it would come scrambling in like Xeros when it smelt food being prepared."

"Oh! The front door was open this morning, it made the fireplace go out." Xeros explains, which makes the Drow's eyes widen a bit. "Xeros... puppies can't open doors." She then looks to Yasmin, the unasked question obvious on her face.

Yelenn frowns as well. "That...Has anyone seen Wallace or Katherine so far this morning?"

Nalada looks to Xeros, who merely shakes his head.

"Patrol. Now." she immediately hisses, causing the former guard to bolt up and trot outside. "We're should we look first? Calling out may be the simplest option... but if something else is in here..." she asks in a quiet and steady tone.

Mylyna was surprised when the elemental kissed her and dropped to the floor. She cried out in fear when she saw it sploosh into a puddle and thought it was dead. Tears welled up in her eyes a moment only to stop as she cheered when it reformed, "Yay! You're alright!" She watched in amusement as the elemental ended up on Yasmin's shoulder again preening triumphantly.

When it was brought up that the pup was missing Mylyna seemed to get a little sad, when it was mentioned that Wallace and Katherine were missing the lamae became very nervous. As Xeros leapt up to do his Mistress' bidding Mylyna quickly leaned out to him and kissed him firmly on the lips before retracting and saying, "that's for good luck." She twisted around then and said, "I hate to let him go alone, I don't think we should split up any more than we need to..." she seemed saddened, "bad things happen when we split up."

Mylyna’s affection temporarily knocks Xeros out of his focus, who smiles as he continues. ”Thank you, Good Friend Mylyna. Xeros will be right back.”

”He won’t be far, within a soft shout given the size of this structure.” Nalada says to placate the Lamae.

"I agree. Let's make a quick check around the house," says Yasmin.

Nodding, Yelenn heads for the room they'd last seen Wallace retired to.

Wallace had been carried off last night by Catherine after he had dozed off after eating, so the group make their way to her room up the stairs as Xeros heads around the fireplace towards the basement.

Reaching the door they find it locked, the doorknob not so much as giving a rattle at their touch.

Yasmin whispers something to her watery companion in Aquan.

Yasmin’s Jin makes a motion of acknowledgement before raining to the floor in a puddle then flowing under the door.

Minutes pass.

Finally the puddle returns from out from under the door and reforms, motioning to be picked up.

Hope I did that right.

Yasmin picks up the jin, says, "Prep for trouble," and gestures for Yelenn to open the door.

Kneeling in front of the door, Yelenn points a finger at the doorknob, whispering an arcane word as she sends a glob of corrosive acid into it, and actions that she repeats fastidiously.

Acid: 1d3 ⇒ 3
Acid: 1d3 ⇒ 3
Acid: 1d3 ⇒ 3
Acid: 1d3 ⇒ 3
Acid: 1d3 ⇒ 2
Acid: 1d3 ⇒ 1
Acid: 1d3 ⇒ 3
Acid: 1d3 ⇒ 2
Acid: 1d3 ⇒ 3
Acid: 1d3 ⇒ 1

Seeing what Yelen is trying to do to get through the door Mylyna slithered back to get as much room as she could and then called out, "Move!" She began to speed down the hall as fast as she could using her momentum and considerable mass to slam into the door as hard as she could.

Not sure of what, if anything, I should roll but this is a huge mass that's just slamming into the door with as much speed as possible. It's probably going to hurt me but I intend to get that door down.

Maybe strength check with +2 charge bonus and possibly size bonus, vs decreased DC for acid damage.

Breaking down doors

As Mylyna backs down the hallway and calls out, Yelenn moves aside giving her a clear line to the weakened door.

!'ll allow the charge bonus

Snek nyoom: 1d20 + 1 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 4 + 2 = 13

Putting all her strength into her toned coils Mylyna's serpentine charge breaks the door open, it's weakened door handle snapping apart, revealing the room with the empty bed before them.