Clebsch GM Wrath of the Righteous Adventure Path

Game Master Clebsch73

Ellena almost dropped her sword, not expecting the snake to be right there. Despite that, she steeled herself and swung to cleave it in twain.

Attack 1d20 + 5 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 2 - 4 = 7

Damage 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

High is good 1d100 ⇒ 25

Ellena could not manage to reach the snake with her sword between the barricade and the mist and the little creature slithering this way and that.

Round 5
Karas (3 lethal, fatigued)
Anevia
Horgus
Tauni (-1 Wis)
Aravashnial
Franti (3 lethal, shaken, -1 Con, guidance)
Avelina (-2 Wis)
Viper (3 non-lethal, 6 lethal, staggered)
Ellena (-2 Wis)
Anarya (-1 Wis)

Karas watched as his friends fought some tiny creature he couldn't quite make out. His fatigue had the better of him though so he did not press into the most. Instead he watched the doors for more cultists.

Karas and Anevia remained in the second room, watching for new enemies. Horgus moved toward the sounds of Franti struggling with the viper and saw the beast at his feet. Shifting slightly, Horgus made another thrust with his rapier.

The blade might have ended the battle, but for a slight thickening of the mist at a crucial moment, leading Horgus' aim to be off.

Round 5
Karas (3 lethal, fatigued) (delays)
Anevia (Ready attack)
Horgus (attacks, misses)
Tauni (-1 Wis)
Aravashnial
Franti (3 lethal, shaken, -1 Con, guidance)
Avelina (-2 Wis)
Viper (3 non-lethal, 6 lethal, staggered)
Ellena (-2 Wis)
Anarya (-1 Wis)

Tauni's eyes followed Horgus's rapier thrust, toward the ground and near the short wall. Certain that she couldn't get a crossbow bolt shot in, she considers what spells she has that might help.

"What is it?!?" she asks no one in particular.

Tauni will continue to hold a ready action to shoot, whatever it is, once it comes into her sight.

Without a clear shot or an obvious spell to cast, Tauni aimed her crossbow at the barricade, ready to fire at the enemy when she got a clear shot. In the other room Aravashnial continued to stand stock still, listening for signs of activity in the nearby rooms.

Round 5
Karas (3 lethal, fatigued) (delays)
Anevia (Ready attack)
Horgus (attacks, misses)
Tauni (-1 Wis) (ready to attack)
Aravashnial (ready)
Franti (3 lethal, shaken, -1 Con, guidance)
Avelina (-2 Wis)
Viper (3 non-lethal, 6 lethal, staggered)
Ellena (-2 Wis)
Anarya (-1 Wis)

Franti took a step away from the snake, towering over. "Well, this was fun little friend, wasn't it?" Franti prepares his saps, looking for a good angle to strike from. He swung one his right, swiping upward to try to send the snake skyward.

Flanking Guidance Sneak Attack: 1d20 + 2 + 2 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 2 + 2 - 2 + 1 = 23 for Damage: 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + (1) = 6, nonlethal
Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 + 2 - 2 = 21 for Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3, nonlethal
Concealment: 1d100 ⇒ 66

He brought his other arm in, swinging the sap, aiming the cold iron ball to smack right against it's hopefully-airborne skull.

Flanking Sneak Attack: 1d20 + 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 + 2 - 2 = 18 for Damage: 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + (5) = 10, nonlethal
Concealment: 1d100 ⇒ 38

5ft Step, Full-round Action to TWF Sneak Attack. Damn, I might have just killed it non-lethally

The viper made a listless attempt to bite Franti as he stepped away from it, but it did not pose a threat. With foes on several sides, the snake turned to try to face each but this only gave Franti a better chance at hitting it. Franti's next swing with his sap caught it square on the head and left it lying motionless on the ground. A second strike hit it again.

Non-lethal damage becomes lethal once the number of non-lethal damage equals the maximum hit points. So the first blow did 6 non-lethal, and 3 lethal, making the creature unconscious and at zero hit points. The second hit made it -10, which is 2 more than its Constitution score, making it dead. Melee over.

Once the characters get out of the mist, the staggered condition will go away. Discuss what the group will do next. Nothing new enters the room before Karas' fatigue wears off. No traps are discovered on any door, nor is any door locked. The doors all open into the unexplored rooms, for what it's worth.

Edit: all mongrelmen and the kobold are negative but stable, hence disabled and also unconscious. Make a note of what the group does with them.

Franti breathed heavily, looking down at the dead snake. He kicked the corpse aside, flinging it through the mist and towards the northern cave wall. He put his saps back in bandolier, picked up his bag once more, and inspected the Kobold corpse. Wary for another snake, the fool spoke aloud before touching the body. "If there are more of you, I'll be making a belt with your pelts. Keep that in mind before trying to bite me."

The fool searched him over for anything valuable. He figured that a spell-caster must carry something valuable on himself. Afterwards, the fool grabbed the Kobold, dragged him out of this mist and into the second room, and took rope from his bag. "Who wants the honors? I don't want to go in blind, this little lizard might have answers."

Anyone who has not made a will save to see through the illusion on the kobold will continue to see him as a small mongrelman, but that will dissipate if you concentrate a bit or if you touch the body. Don't worry about the rolls.

Franti found three potions and one scroll, a club and a light crossbow (both MWK) 10 bolts. He wore no armor, naturally, but he did have a well made cloak.

Karas sneered at the kobold as he finally caught his breath.. "We don't exactly have time for an interrogation do we? They raised the alarm. We are quickly losing our advantage."

He looked about the group then returned to watching a the eastern door and stepping closer to it. "Besides, I have a bit of revenge to seek on this cult as well."

move to within 5 ft of door and 1 step South please

"Fine, Silver, all about your vendettas," Franti began with a smile, putting his rope away as he set all the kobold's belongings to the side. "What about mine? I was bit thrice by his pet and he hit me with a rock." The fool rose to his feet, conquests in hand. "A big rock, mind you." The fool dumped the cloak, the scroll, and the potions to Tauni. "For you, Little Rabbit. Cloak's a bit small, but you can wear it like a capelet, I suppose. I think you'd look rather fashionable." The fool winked.

Franti brought his hand to his bandolier, holding it over the scale. His form twisted, and he turned small and scaley. He grabbed his little saps and wagged his tail wildly as he hyped himself for the next room. "Who wants a crossbow and a few bolts?"

Adding to Loot Sheet now. If anything is identified, please update me as such.

Ellena nodded at Karas's words. "They know we are coming. We need to strike hard and fast. Someone get the door and let me go in first. The rest of you, come in after and mop up what's left. ". She moved beside the door as well, prepared to charge through.

"Ellena, Karas, a moment please. It could be that these belongs may aid us." She turned to Franti, she'll ask "Did it have any keys on it?" Then she turned back to the others and asked "Did any of them have keys on them?"

Tauni accepted the items from the jester. She set them on the low wall and murmured a simple spell over them, concentrated for a moment on each item. She nodded as she said "These are magical..." She slid a hand across the rich fabric of the cloak and whispered "Magical, but the exact enchantment eludes me at the moment."

She then unraveled the scroll, moving her lips silently as she examined its contents. "Magical as well, a wizardry spell to deliver a jolt of lightning by touch." She put the scroll in her pouch and then turned her attention to the vials. The first one she cast a minor spell on and raised her eyebrows. "Invisibility! That could be useful." She examined the others with the spell as well, but this time knitted her eyebrows in frustration. Taking each vial, she carefully dabbed a tiny bit of the fluid on the tip of her pinkie finger from each in turn and placed it on the tip of her tongue. Once she did that, she nodded knowingly. "Healing. Not terribly potent, but could certainly be vital at a key time."

Tauni rocked back on her left heel, effectively taking a half step back from the potions and cloak. In an unspoken gesture, she offers the remaining items to the others.

Summary: Cloak unknown, scroll of shocking grasp (assuming CL1), potion of invisibility (assuming CL3) and two potions of cure light wounds (assuming CL1).

Franti glowed. He snatched the potion of invisibility and barked in excitement. "Very useful! Think of the pranks! The jests! Tricks, jokes, whatever you call it!" His tail shot out straight in joy. "The snake was a trial! And I passed! Picoperi awards me once more for my devotion! Praise to the Merrygleam, I am your servant now and forever!" Franti embraced, nay, tackled Tauni, sending two scales hands across her hips for her discovery. The little-lizard fool danced, tucking the potion into his bandolier.

Party Loot updated.

Despite thousands of tons of rock between them and semblence of civilization as they know it; despite deadly foes likely mere yards away; and despite the tremendous weight of war cast over all, Tauni couldn't help but laugh, nay, giggle, when Franti embraced her. She quickly came back to herself and told him "Franti, restrain yourself! Wait to use it for a prank until we are clear from this dark place. We may need it to save our lives before all is done here. If it turns out that we don't need it, then you can use it for pranks!"

Avelina giggled at Franti's frolicking.

"You really are quite the fool! All that prancing about praising your god. It's adorable." There was not one hint of self-awareness in her voice.

Avelina snatched up the masterwork light crossbow and bolts, unceremoniously dropping the lower quality one in its place.

"How lovely! A superior replacement. Clearly, this boon is a sign that my devotion to the Inheritor has been rewarded."

She held the crossbow close to her chest as she gazed off into the distance, gentling rocking herself as she smiled.

"Oh, my Beloved Inheritor! My heart is yours."

From anyone else, this display might have held a sense of irony or parody, but the princess's companions had learned better by now. The girl was completely mad.

Karas couldn't help but smirk as the fool went on about the pranks with glee. It drew him from he darkened mood somewhat and he stepped over to the pile. He placed one of the potions of healing in his pouch with the other.

He patted the kobold jester on the head and returned to his position near the door. "Thank you. Truly. I needed that. Please forgive any rash actions I may take in here. These people... If they are as they seem. I have history. It's not nice and lets go with I have a lot of pent up anger for them."

"Horgus, you may have saved Franti's life," Anarya said, smiling as she placed a hand on the merchant's shoulder, before examining his wound. "You have skill with that blade as well as a brave heart."

"Before we advance, I can do something to alleviate your injuries," Anarya said, making sure to pull Karas, Franti, and Horgus far enough from any fallen mongrelmen that they would be the only ones affected, and let her healing energy flow forth.

Channel Energy: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5 Spending two channels - the first left much to be desired. I'd rather run out of channels and have to retreat than see someone drop because of a missing two hit points!

I like Franti's suggestion of giving everyone guidance before an uncertain moment like breaching this door.

Anarya bowed her head a moment before the group entered the chamber beyond, asking Iomedae for her blessing. She knew the goddess's hand didn't directly guide her power, but the Inheritor watched over all who fought for righteousness, and she still felt safer knowing the goddess was in her thoughts.

Putting guidance on all the PCs before opening the far door - since I can do one per round, everyone will have around 5 rounds of the spell once the door is opened.

This post is mostly to answer questions raised or to raise questions of my own.

@Karas: Which east door? North or South?

@Tauni: no keys were found on any of the mongrelmen or the kobold. Caster levels are as you indicated.

@Avelina: be aware that the light crossbow is sized for a small creature. Damage = 1d6 instead of 1d8.

@Anarya: please indicate the order you cast the guidance spells when you get a chance. We'll assume the last one is cast the same round as the door is opened.

All that remains is to indicate which door. North, Northeast, or Southeast. The North door has no latch and opens into the next room. The NE door has a latch that keeps the door in place, although it can hardly be called a lock, since a firm shove from the other side would break it. The SE door opens into the next room and has a door knob but no actual latch to hold the door in place.

I'm teaching tonight, so I'll set up whatever you find later tonight.

Current Status
Karas (guidance)
Tauni (-1 Wis) (guidance)
Franti (-1 Con) (guidance)
Avelina (-2 Wis) (light spell, guidance)
Ellena (-2 Wis) (guidance)
Anarya (-1 Wis) (halo light, guidance)
Anevia
Aravashnial
Horgus (torch)

Anevia had been quiet, standing patiently while the others assembled and prepared. She sheathed her short sword, readied her bow, and stood toward the back of the group. She was calm, as if she had done this before.

"Strange that they have not sent more in here to defend the place. Perhaps they gave up their comrades for lost and are focusing on preventing further ingress. I can summon creatures to help fight, but as I have a limited supply, I will only do so if asked."

Aravashnial also waited patiently for the next advance to begin, positioning himself next to Anevia.

Horgus beamed at Anarya's praise and thanked her when her channeled energy healed his minor cut. His attitude changed and he did not complain or try to order anyone about. He kept his rapier out and held the torch high, watching out the door that led back to the entry tunnel, keeping an eye out for enemies from behind.

Northeast was my intention

"Maybe the Mage can call an animal that we could send into the rooms to clear them out.". The paladin didn't know much about magic, but she had seen users of magic do many wonderful things on the battlefield. If it would make the group's life easier, she was all in favor.

"That way first then," Ellena pointed to the northeast where Karas was indicating. "Any traps there, Franti?" After she heard the results, she had the others move behind her, ready to lead on, if no summoning was done.

Guidance in this order: Anarya, Tauni, Avelina, Ellena, Karas.

"Whatever may come, we have certainly lost the element of surprise. We should be cautious and wary, rather than hasty and aggressive, from here on," advised Anarya. "Let us hold Aravashnial's summoning spells in reserve for now." She grit her teeth as the group prepared to enter. "I am ready."

Franti turned to Karas nodding. "I've got your scaly back, Silver, you got mine." The fool hopped at Ellena's questiong, looking to the door. He peeked at its latch, dropped to the floor and tried peering beneath it. He blinked. "No traps that I can see. " The fool took out his saps, ready to charge in before Anarya spoke. He slowed his wagging tail, and attempted to look composed as he knew she couldn't read his lizard lips.

"Cautious. Wary. Got it. Now," he began, happy she couldn't hear him, "let's show these demon worshippers how to really raise a little hell."

Saps out, placed self on map (2?,6?). Delay until after Ellena goes through the door. Don't forget me in the Guidance!

@GM Oh, right. I guess I shan't use it then, as you take penalties to hit for using a weapon not properly sized for you. Poopy.

Upon taking a closer look, Avelina noticed her fingers had a hard time fitting into the trigger loop of the crossbow. She blinked a few times, waited until the others had turned their attention to the door, and then picked her old crossbow back up.

Avelina then took up a position behind Ellena, leaning forward to whisper in the knight's ear.

"I shall protect you, My Champion. I will be right behind you."

Avelina chuckled at Franti.

"Hell is devils, Darling. Demons are the Abyss."

Ready to go

Franti turned the small wooden lever that kept the door from opening and pushed the light door into the room and stepped back.

The room appeared to be a pantry or larder, with shelves crudely dug out of the walls and some supplies hung from hooks in the ceiling. Of much greater interest, however was a cave lizard, about five feet long with a gaping maw from which shot a long forked tongue, testing the smell of the newest occupants of the room.

Since both lizard and the crusaders were alert for an enemy, there is no surprise round, and no one is flat-footed.

Round 1
Tauni (-1 Wis, Guidance 5 rnds)
Karas (Guidance, 9 rnds)
Cave Lizard
Anevia
Avelina (-2 Wis, Guidance 6 rnds)
Ellena (-2 Wis, Guidance 8 rnds)
Horgus
Anarya (-1 Wis, Guidance 4 rnds)
Aravashnial
Franti (-1 Con, Guidance 7 rnds)

Tauni will delay since she can't really see into the room and see the lizard.

Initiative order was off. I had the wrong initiative numbers for Franti. See revised below.

Round 1
Tauni (-1 Wis, Guidance 5 rnds) (delay)
Karas (Guidance, 9 rnds)
Cave Lizard
Anevia
Avelina (-2 Wis, Guidance 6 rnds)
Ellena (-2 Wis, Guidance 8 rnds)
Horgus
Franti (-1 Con, Guidance 7 rnds)
Anarya (-1 Wis, Guidance 4 rnds)
Aravashnial

Karas saw the animal and, while formidible, not necessarily a target of his ire but a pet. Still it looks as though it wanted to make a meal of them and he would not tolerate that.

He drew his longsword as he rolled into the room trying to keep the beast from getting a shot on him as his did so and he struck at it.

Acrobatics to 6,5 I think I have that right. Draw during movement. Standard action attack.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Guidance would have been used on the attack forgot to note it.

Karas stepped, spun, and leapt to get behind the lizard before it could take a bite from him, but his position left him without proper balance and his sword blow missed the large lizard.

The cave lizard moved quickly for such a large lizard and ran for the door. Karas took another swing at it but he still didn't have his balance the the blade dug into the dirt where it had been.

The creature got out the door and snapped its powerful jaws at Franti. Although he was a smaller target, the bite caught him all the way up to his shoulders and severed an artery. Franti went limp and the lizard let him drop as it looked around for another target, giving off a strange howl as it did so.

Anevia let loose two arrows at the lizard.

Both arrows drove deep into the beast's chest, gushing dark red blood. Anevia immediately dropped her bow and drew her short sword to protect Aravashnial who was directly behind her.

Round 1
Karas (moved, attacked, missed)
Cave Lizard (14 lethal)(moved, bit Franti for 12)
Anevia (hit with 2 arrows for 14 points)
Tauni (-1 Wis, Guidance 5 rnds) (delay)
Avelina (-2 Wis, Guidance 6 rnds)
Ellena (-2 Wis, Guidance 8 rnds)
Horgus
Franti (12 lethal, -1 Con, Guidance 7 rnds, unconscious, dying)
Anarya (-1 Wis, Guidance 4 rnds)
Aravashnial

DM, I'm going to be out most of today, so here is Ellena's action.

Ellena swung her blade at the rampaging animal, trying to stop it from harming any more of her group.

guidance Attack 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 1 = 14

Damage 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Tauni is delaying but if she wants to act, she can. Avelina does not need to wait for her, however. Ellena's attack results will be indicated after Avelina's action is resolved.

Prescience 1d20 ⇒ 4

Tauni turned quickly when the monstrous lizard tromped out in the room. Even as it lunged for Franti, she brought up her crossbow and aimed for a moment; a moment too long for Franti. She struggled with the horror of seeing Franti savaged by the lizard, and tried to get off a clean shot before the lizard finished off her new friend. The bolt had hardly crossed the short distance before Tauni had lowered the crossbow and reloaded it.

To hit 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Damage 1d8 + 0 ⇒ (7) + 0 = 7

Avelina smiled smugly as the lizard erupted from the cupboard. She pointed at it in a dramatic pose.

"Monstrous creature! You fight against the Inheritor's Faithful this day! Teemble before Her Word!"

Word of the Inheritor Ear-piercing Scream: 1d6 ⇒ 6 Damage is sonic, DC 16 fort save to take half damage and not be dazed

At almost the same time Anevia pierced the creature's chest with arrows, Tauni added a bolt to its neck, nearly enough to kill the beast, but not quite.

Then from Avelina came a sound which to the other crusaders was just an arcane sounding word, but to the lizard was a shrill sound that vibrated its very bones.

The creature had very sturdy bones and resisted some of the damage, but it was too close to death already and the magical damage snuffed out its consciousness and it collapsed next to the bleeding Franti.

Round 1 Melee over
Karas (moved, attacked, missed)
Cave Lizard (24 lethal, unconscious, dying)(moved, bit Franti for 12)
Anevia (hit with 2 arrows for 14 points)
Tauni (-1 Wis, Guidance 5 rnds) (shot crossbow, hit for 7)
Avelina (-2 Wis, Guidance 6 rnds)(cast spell for 3)
Ellena (-2 Wis, Guidance 8 rnds)
Horgus
Franti (12 lethal, -1 Con, Guidance 7 rnds, unconscious, dying)
Anarya (-1 Wis, Guidance 4 rnds)
Aravashnial

Once Franti is healed, we will take a short break from the action for leveling up to 2nd level. Well done. From 1st to 2nd level in just under 3 months. At this rate, we could be through the AP in as little as 5 years. That's a long time, but I think the pace is very good. We can cut that down a bit at certain points if we want to speed it up.

When the party searches the pantry, they find the following:
A rack of hooks hangs from the ceiling, cured slabs of meat dangling from them and filling the room with a smoky aroma. A group of barrels appears to hold other preserved foodstuffs.

The meat hanging here is primarily dire rat and mongrel meat—it’s all stringy, over-salted, and fairly unappetizing.

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Anarya rushed to Franti's side, flooding him with healing energy. "We need to get you some thicker armor, Franti!" she said, as the magic sealed off the lizard's bite. "Perhaps we can find you an enchanted shield that wards off reptiles," she joked.

The fool's vision wavered, slowing opening his eyes to the blonde figure. "A-An angel?" The warm healing of Anarya came at a surprise, and he was glad once again she couldn't hear him. Franti reverted back to his humanoid form, still on his back, smiling. "I've taken worse." the fool lied, "One bad joke at a bar and you're hanged quicker than a Third Crusade Witch."

Bluff: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

The fool drank one of the potions in his bandolier, careful to not drink the Invisibility potion.
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

The fool got to his feet, kick a light kick to the unconscious lizard. "To the abyss with you." the fool laughed, making sure all his items were still fine. After making sure he still had both saps and that nothing was in the beast's maw, the fool was ready. "So, uh, what's behind door number two?"

1d8+2 now, Angel ;)

Avelina shook with glee as the lizard succumbed to her spell, the spell that had performed so poorly the past two times she used it. She had no idea it had already been on it's last legs, or even that it had resisted the spells full effects, nor would she have cared to know. She jumped, throwing up her arms and legs, clapping and hopping when she landed, holding her mace in the crook of her arm.

"Oh oh oh! The Inheritor has rewarded me for my Faith in Her!"

She dashed over to Franti, and Anarya, and finally Ellena.

"You see?! You saw?! I did it!"

She spun around, her arms thrown wide. She lost the grip on her mace and it went flying into the wall.

"Oh, how Glorious! How Beautiful! How Righteous!"

She stood, arms heroically at her hips, and gazed up into the distance.

"Oh, thank you for watching out for me, My Beloved Inheritor! Know that my heart is always yours!"

As she finished her outburst, she looked at her hands, her brow furrowing as she noticed her mace was missing, then finally spotted it.

"Oh, there it is!"

As she extended her hand towards the mace, another hand, this one made of force, gripped the truncheon and pulled it back through the air to her hand.

Avelina stood in silence for a moment, her mouth hanging open.

"IT WORKED! It finally WORKED! I've been trying to get the Long Arm of Justice to work for AGES!"

She looked up at the sky once more. "The boons you grant me are truly never-ending, My Beloved Inheritor!" She kissed her two fingers then held them up to the sky.

"Oh, I just feel like I could take on an army now!"

Ellena enjoyed seeing the pretty, ever-so-flighty girl happy. "That was really good magic. The Inheritor has been good to us, for sure!" The paladin didn't bring extra attention to the fact that her sword arm had been less than effective for the most part in the last couple of scrums. Despite her happiness they had lived, and her pride in little Avelina, she worried about her own performance.

I need to do extra devotions tomorrow. Increase my relations with Iomedae. Isn't good that the others seem to be getting more attention than me.

She was snapped out of her thoughts by Avelina's mace flying over her head.

After she saw that Franti was okay following Anarya's treatment, Tauni made a point of pulling her crossbow bolt, her deity's favored weapon, from the lizard's neck as she replied Ellena's comment "Not just the Inheritor..."

Karas walked out of the pantry and ignored the calls of who's diety contributed more and stifling a laugh as Avelina's mace flew. He held the utilitarian Kingswood at ease and watched as Avelina's hand of force grabbed the weapon curiously.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

He opened his mouth to say something but snapped it shut. That was a Mage Hand spell... She taught me at least how to spot and identify spells. I think Avelina may be a bit more arcane than divine...

"Oh no, little Rabbit, it is always the Inheritor." He smiled widey, adjusting his coral-pink wig after the bite. He sidled next to Tauni, placing a hand over his mouth as he whispered. "We are outnumbered, I am afraid. My jokes and your gold mean nothing to these girls." The fool offered an exaggerated sigh, dropping his hand from his mouth. "I wonder if I say a prayer to little Iome-y if I too would turn blonde, feminine, and magical. I've always thought I'd make a cute blonde."

The fool laughed to himself as he moved south, ready again for what was behind the next door. "Someone bigger, someone perhaps more armored should take the blow next time, maybe? Not to point fingers and say names, but, hmm," he points to Ellena, "Ellena maybe? It's looking like I need a champion far more than our Princess." The fool shrugs. "They must know I'm the biggest threat in the room. Can't blame them."

"Perhaps you should quit antagonizing every animal we run across, Franti," Ellena says with a grin. "I'm expecting little Cobblepaw to go for your throat any time."

Grateful for a moment of levity in their struggle, Tauni smiled and put a restraining hand down on Cobblepaw's neck where he rested in her satchel. "Easy, fella. He's harmless to you." Then she narrowed her eyes as though Franti might be a threat after all and added "But, if he tries to convince you to get into his hat because it would make for a neat trick, go for the throat."

Then her smile faded, replaced by weariness. She checked her crossbow to ensure its readiness and then waited for their next move.

Once the group had been stitched back together again, Ellena moved to the northern door. "How about this one next, Franti the animal tamer? See any traps ahead? If you can get the door open, I'll head through first. The rest of you, stay behind me."

We'll move forward when everyone's ready. Post something to the discussion board to indicate when you are ready. Thanks.

Avelina smiled at Franti as she patted him on the shoulder.

"Iomedae loves you, Darling. While not all of her followers are as cute and feminine and magical as us three, if you feel like you would be happier with a more feminine body, go for it! I'm sure you would be adorable. Have a little faith, and She will show you the way to happiness. She makes dreams come true."

She sighed deeply, embracing herself and closing her eyes.

"She's already my dream come true herself."

Ready to go whenever