Both of Amira's kunai fly true as she deals injury to the nearest of Pilts's thugs. He reacts by hacking down one of the rioters with his axe, clearing the way between himself and Amira.
The thug badly wounded by Wednesday attempts to return the blow, and is foiled by the iron skin spell Wednesday cast as he took the field .
The second thug helping to block the stairs to the royal platform also tries to dissuade Wednesday and fails for the same reason.
The last thug actually on the field closes with Tolenn and hacks at her with his axe, but is blocked by her superior shield work.
The rioters, not nearly as well armed, start to break off their attacks on the thugs in favor of trying to find safer routes off the rooftops.
Pilts keeps up his exhortations to his goons and pulls out an elaborately carved rod. Pointing it right at Tolenn, he invokes its power.
There is a peal of thunder directly overhead the melee as the clouds open up in a downpour. This seems fairly odd, particularly to Cassandra who can see the edge of the rain effect not more than five feet from her. Pilts laughs maniacally.
Struck by Tiadora's mud arrow, the Red Mantis involuntarily twitches from the electrical shock. Mud splatters all over the visor of the mantis mask he wears, blocking his vision.
With some deliberately noisy footwork, Amin draws the Red Mantis out of position and follows up with a painful jab in a soft area. His two follow-up attacks also strike home, the blindness caused by the mud hampering his self-defense and leaving him wide open.
The Red Mantis shakes his head and enough of the mud spatters free to enable him to see again. His blades almost seem to pulse with magical energy as he slashes the sawtooth blades at Amin.
He strikes only once, again, but strongly for 15 points of damage for Amin.
The fire spreads rapidly again, making the room pretty hot now for Tiadora.
Tolenn defects the thug's clumsy but powerful blow, then launches her own more measured attack...
Wednesday starts hacking his way through the thugs to get to Pilts.
Coughing as the smoke and heat begin to spread, Tiadora fires a pair of shots before taking a step backward, preparing to evacuate the burning room.
+
Tiadora's first arrow strikes home though the second misses. Despite the piercing damage and the electrical shock, the assassin fights on. That is, until two dagger thrusts from Amin later (one to a particularly sensitive and vital spot) lay him low.
In the moments after the fight ends, Amin creates water that subdues much of the fire - a little beating and stamping manages the rest. The smoke is a bit thick throughout the house, though there is little reason to not open windows.
The assassin, when given a chance to regard him, was armed with two sawtooth sabers - iconic weapon of the Red Mantises. And, of course, there's the Red Mantis mask - also an iconic characteristic of the assassins. He was otherwise armored in red leather armor, wore a short cloak, and had a potion and a flask of alchemist fire in his pouch.
Tolenn lands a telling blow on the thug in her face, but he's not out of the fight yet and he adequately avoids her follow-up. Wednesday's first blow smashes his enemy but he too fails to succeed with the follow-up strike.
Cassandra casts a spell and enchants several of Amira's weapons as returning weapons.
Amira flings kunai at the goon once more, successfully gashing him once. Her weapons, now returning via Cassandra's spell, fly back toward her for throwing again...
On their chance to retaliate, the goon fighting Tolenn chops away with his axe but fails to win past her stout shield.
The goon still at the base of the short steps to Pilts's platform tries to hold Wednesday off with his axe. He fails to injure Wednesday in the attempt.
The goon bedeviled by Amira's repeated attempts to kill him hacks down the last rioter between him and Amira and then closes the distance to try to take the fight to her.
Pilts, still laughing a bit from the wondrous rain he managed to generate, starts to take stock in Wednesday's relentless approach. He elects to try to put a spell on him.
"We really should check out the rest of the house for Master Vencarlo or other assassins."
Amin says distractedly, while slowly being drawn to the remains of the assassin. Amin picks up one of the sabers and the mask.
"Sooo Flashy." he whispers to himself.
Putting on the mask, and striking a dramatic pose, he attempts to emulate the flashy swordplay of the Assassin.
Unfortunately, the saber is apparently not balanced correctly, so the display is awkward and seems to aggravate one of Amin's wounds.
<wincing> "Oh right." Amin casts a healing spell on himself.
To Tiadora, "Oh, um, you ok?"
Tolenn again easily turns aside the thug's attack, her own scimitar weaving and cutting the air...
"Yes I'm fine, he didn't touch me. Though you might not want to keep wearing that in case we actually do fn him here. He sees you first you might not be able to ditch it fast enough t save you." Tiadora mutters crouching down to remove the potion and alchemists fore from the body. "So you're a spellcaster, good to know,"
<distractedly> "Oh yes, I can cast a few spells. Let me know if you ever need any healing."
<sighing and taking off the mask> I guess you are right about the mask. Anyway the mask stinks like something died in it. ... Which I guess actually DID just happen. "
Amin casts Detect Magic on the mask, the body and the Sabers.
Try to ID enchantment on the Mask, if magical
Try to ID enchantments on the saber, if magical
Amin looks at the items, and shrugs, looking puzzled.
Amin then turns his attention to the body and starts to study the man closely. He gets on his hands and knees, and looks closely at the armor, then starts to examine his face, moving around to see it from different angles.
Muttering to himself, "..shame he never said anything, probably had a wonderful accent.."
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Wednesday succumbs to the charm effect and must treat Pilts as a trusted friend and ally. Pilts can be heard shouting to his goons, "Stop fighting him! Stop fighting him! I've got him. I've got him!"
This leaves Wednesday caught between allies he trusts - Pilts and Tolenn.
Tolenn strikes the goon fighting her once. He seems increasingly distressed, his face sweaty and his clothing becoming more bloody.
Meanwhile, Cassandra and Amira coordinate to flank their goon. Their attacks aren't terribly effective, but Amira does get in one good slash.
To Amin's spell, the helmet is revealed as faintly magical, though no details are yet discernible. The sabers also radiate as faint magic, as does the red leather armor, a potion bottle in his pouch, and a short cloak that is tightly secured to the assassin's back. Also within the assassin's pouch are 27 platinum coins.
The assassin's face is relatively nondescript. Male, not particularly old - maybe in his 30s. Possibly Chelaxian or Taldane given his dark hair and relatively pale skin.
The rest of Vencarlo's home appears to be unoccupied. The upper floor, now that there is time to look about, is dominated by an open room with some (now scorched) practice dummies. Some parts of the floor and walls appear to be coated in a kind of oil - probably the accelerant sprayed about to help the alchemist fire spread.
Also on the upper floor is the bedroom where the bed appears comfortable, but also tidily made. A desk and chair sit next to the bed with a clothes closet rounding out the rest of the room.
On the ground floor, the other rooms aside from the sitting room and foyer include a workshop capable of maintaining weapons and making minor repairs, a pantry with a counter and cutting board useful for minor food prep, a bathroom with a flushable privy and a tub, and a study with a couple of cabinets of books and a desk piled with ledgers and papers.
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Wednesday's will is under assault, but an image of the sunrise forms in the back of his mind and he faintly hears the phrase "The Dawn brings new Light." His will remains his own.
Wednesday gets a serene smile on his face. "Thank you, Tolenn." he serenely says before he resumes slashing at the thug, blood trickling down his arms and hands.
[After a quick check of the house, Amin ends up back upstairs]
"Wow, this guy had a lot of toys."
Try to ID enchantment on the Cloak
Try to ID enchantment on the Armor
Amin offers the mask and saber to Tiadora. "Are you any good at identifying things?"
Amin takes off the Assassin's cloak, armor, and coin-purse, then dumps the body out in the alley.
"So should we air out the house and make sandwiches, or find out what all of the noise down the road was about?"
"Sure, give me a few minutes." Tiadora says studying the dead assassin's equipment. "We might as well see what's going on out there, it's gotten pretty lawless over here"
"Sure, well if I have a few minutes, then sandwiches AND check out the ruckus."
Amin goes downstairs to the kitchen and tries to quickly throw together three lunches. If there is enough food, he then takes the odd Platinum coin from the Assassin's purse and hides it somewhere where Vencarlo would find it if he ever came back and used the kitchen.
He then wraps one of the lunches in a cloth with a quick note
Then meets back up with Tiadora. Handing her a lunch (if there was any food),
"So what do they do?"
It takes both attacks, but Wednesday wrecks the last of Pilts's goons guarding the bottom of the steps to the platform.
Tolenn's opponent tries once again to wound her with his axe. He is finally rewarded by hitting her just hard enough for her to feel the pain of the impact (7 points of damage).
Pilts looks at the thug next to him and says, "What are you waiting for? Get down there and kill him!" The thug heads down the stairs, warily, to confront the dangerous Wednesday. Apparently too cautiously as his axe strike fails to accomplish anything.
Pilts points his rod at Wednesday again. A fireball erupts out of it, engulfing not just Wednesday, but also Tolenn and the two goons they're fighting. Pilts cries out, "YOU'RE FIRED!" and laughs maniacally.
points of fire damage
The goon coming down the stairs is caught unawares and takes the full brunt. The one fighting Tolenn manages to evade the blast.
Meanwhile, Cassandra and Amira continue to coordinate to flank their goon, but to little effect.
Tiadora fairly easily identifies the whole lot.
The bread down in the pantry area is a bit on the stale side, as if none has been bought fresh for a few days. The cured meat and cheese are, however, fine. So it appears Vencarlo hasn't been around - or at least not eating here - since the attack at the school.
The ruckus up the street has quieted down some, but now a few people can be seen running down the street in the opposite direction.
Distracted by the thug in front of her, Tolenn doesn't see the fireball coming until it was too late, it's heat causing considerable pain.
Without consious thought, her hand rises to brush against the holy symbol of Sarenea, bringing forth brief burst of light that travels over her body...
The cooling balm of Saranae's healing passes over Tolenn, bringin some relief from the fireball's burns.
Thus refreshed, Tolenn turns her attention back to the thug in front of her...
”S&!~!” Wednesday manages to get out as he sees the fiery magic explode. Thankfully there was a rather helpful thug in front of him who offered to help shield the Avenger from most of the blast. Wednesday thanked the burning man by hacking into him with his sword.
Tiadora fairly easily identifies the whole lot.
The bread down in the pantry area is a bit on the stale side, as if none has been bought fresh for a few days. The cured meat and cheese are, however, fine. So it appears Vencarlo hasn't been around - or at least not eating here - since the attack at the school.
The ruckus up the street has quieted down some, but now a few people can be seen running down the street in the opposite direction.
"Well, his gear is definitely useful. Minor enchantmenst on the sword sto make them a bit better in a fight, same with the armor. The cloak is protective, the potion makes you temporarily stronger, and the helmet, well that enhances your perception quite a bit." Tiadora says, explaining the helmet's functions and it's current state.
Tolenn's blow seems to discomfit her opponent significantly - his breaths coming in quick pants and his eyes increasingly full of fear.
Wednesday, meanwhile, drives his burnt enemy straight down to the rooftop with a solid blow, then with a pivot, he splatters Tolenn's wavering enemy across the rooftop.
The last remaining thug anywhere near Wednesday sees the writing on that wall and makes a desperate run for it.
Pilts takes a couple of steps back and casts a spell - suddenly, there's a small mob of 8 of him - images all shifting in and out of each other.
Amira and Cassandra make up for a weak previous round by grappling, critting, and ultimately slaying their opponent.
Seeing the other thug flee Wednesday rolls his eyes at Pilts' magic as he hounds after the "emporer", sword ready to swing.
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Wednesday’s swing hits the man, not an image! Pilts gasps in pain.
Amin starts to haggle as they go down the stairs and prepare to enter the street. He pulls out the money pouch and hands, Tiadora 13 Platinum coins.
"There's lunch and your half of the coin. Now to divvy the rest. The mask is wonderful, so I'd like that and at least one of the Sabers to go with it, although they do seem hard to use. I wonder if the other assassins will keep coming to get them back? Anyway, that would gives you the armor, the cloak, and the potions. Do you want the other Saber too?
Once they reach the street, Amin suddenly stops and says, "I almost forgot! Wait here, just a second" He then runs into the building across the street, where he originally appeared. Almost immediately, he runs back, without the extra lunch he was carrying.
"So can I keep the mask? I can do such glorious things with that."
Tolenn joins Wednesday in attacking the numerous images of Pilts....
Tolenn clambers up the platform, bypassing the stairs, to get at Pilts. But her slash comes up short.
Hammered by Wednesday, but not out, Pilts retaliates with a war razor he has kept up his sleeve. His first attempt is easily avoided, but his second makes a wicked cut for 11 points of damage to morose adventurer.
Cassandra and Amira take a few moments to save the lives of dying rioters.
"If you want the mask, keep it. It's your head the other assassins will come looking for when they find out someone clearly slew one of their own and has been wearing it as a trophy." Tiadora reasons with a smirk.
"If you can use the saber, then, by all means, enjoy. I'm fine holding onto the other one. My own armor is probably going to protect me better than this will, though the cloak might be useful."
Looking up at the fleeing people on the street she frowns. "What in all the hells is going on here?"
"Really?!" Wednesday hisses despite himself when he is nicked deeply by the razor. Narrowing his eyes he angrily brings his sword down on the the Emperors before him, more akin to smashing with a club than slicing with a blade.
"Oh its not a trophy or anything, I just think it will help for grand entrances...
and of course, practical jokes!
You do make a good point about being on MY head. The assassins are hunting him, but Amin probably wouldn't see the humor in more attention."
hmm, how about this?"
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Amin's face transforms, shifting to look like a live versions of the now-dead Mantis Assassin from the loft, and his height and weight adjust as well.
"Did I get the nose right, you think? It feels a little off somehow.
He bounces the mask in his hand a few times, looking at it.
"Ah well, these might be just a little too flashy for street wear."
Amin/assassin then puts the mask and sword into his pack. Then he pulls out a mirror and looks at himself.
"Oh excellent, especially for a rush job, the nose is perfect after all"
Tolenn continues her assault on Pilts and his many images...
A flurry of sword blows rains down around Pilts Swastel, Emperor of Old Korvosa. Wednesday's first swing destroys an image and the miss plays havoc with his follow-up.
Tolenn's first slash also destroys an image. But her second finds Pilts and he gasps in pain.
"You don't understand me! You don't understand art! Nobody does! Not even the Great Salvator Scream! Just me! I'm the only one who understands!" Pilts shrieks as he slashes at Tolenn with his razor. His first attempt leaves a painful cut for 6 points of damage. His second is deflected by her armor.
Cassandra and Amira continue to save the lives of dying rioters.
As the Firdall experiments with the dead Red Mantis's appearance, Tiadora and FIrdall overhear some of the townsfolk talking about someone trying to kill the Emperor of Old Korvosa. And that they hope they succeed...
In any event, the streets in that direction are clearing and the sounds of violence are thinning out. Perhaps someone has managed to kill ol' Pilts Swastel of the Exemplary Execrables and his deranged ambition to lord over the slums of Old Korvosa.
"Well that's definitely useful." Tiadora says in reference to the shift in appearance. "Let's get going and see what this ruckus was all about." She says leading the way that people seemed to be coming from.
"Oh shut up." Wednesday growls out in annoyance as he slips around to better vantage the raving man between himself and Tolenn before swinging.
Not having heard the assassin's voice, Firdall tries out a dozen different voices/accents as they walk, each voice is different in pitch, quality and accent.
"Undoubtably, we should proceed!
"Jah, we tcshud go. "
"Sure, let's see what the fuss is about!
Finally setting on a deeper, Shingles accent.
"This one seems to match!
Firdall; puts away the mirror, and draws a single dagger, as he and Tiadora proceed to the "Palace".
Wednesday presses Pilts with his sword work but only manages to annihilate 2 images for his troubles.
After a number of the irregular blocks that typify the poor urban planning of Old Korvosa, the Emperor of Old Korvosa's "palace" comes into view for Tiadora and Firdall.
Most of the surrounding buildings are burned wrecks, mostly heaps of rubble. The palace itself is a boarded up tenement about 3 stories tall - all lower entrances whether doors or windows have been boarded up. The only really apparent entry is from a pair of shorter buildings and rope bridges/ladders strung up between them. Most of the locals have cleared out and there are no signs of guards or sentries.
Everything seems surprisingly quiet considering there was just a riot raging here. The local carrion birds, drawn to such violence and spectacle as Pilts puts on, are still disrupted as if a fight had recently concluded...
Seeing the images fall one by one, Tolenn presses her attack...