"I'll come with you" Vigny offers Randal.
"Always a pleasure to have a lovely lady at my side" Randal replies to Vignys offer "But lets get you fixed up just a bit first."
As Vigny reaches out to take his hand and move down into the courtyard, she finds it infused with healing energy.
Randal then easily makes his way down to the ground and has a good look around while he waits for her to follow.
Emi finishes trotting back to the others and nods to Jerukh when she sees he's free and unhurt. She shakes her head at Randal's smarmy flirtations.
As he and Vigny head away into the courtyard she quietly remarks to Soli, "Despite all his bluster, he has actually been fery helpful so far... I just hope he doesn't distract Figny, ve need her in top form vhile Reiko is missing... although, vunce ve're done here and Ameiko is all better, she could probably use a distraction."
Jerukh returns Emi's nod, then joins Soliana in keeping an overwatch as Vigny and Randal scout the courtyard below;
:
Vigny hops back down from the wall to the roof, and then the roof to the ground without breaking anything.
"So gallant! Are you sure you're a Caydenite?" she asks Randal jokingly. "But thanks, I was starting to really feel the length of the day."
She walks over to the ettercap's door and knocks. "You can surrender anytime you're ready! We're not going anywhere!" she calls to it.
"Well, shall we take a walk around and survey our options?" she asks Randal afterward.
As they walk around, looking the place over, Vigny confides in Randal. "I don't think they really understand. On the one end there's facts: dry as dust, easily forgettable. On the other end are lies: useless b~&+~$@%, embarrassing to those to tell or believe them. In the space between the two are stories, where reality is perfected..."
As they walk cautiously, Randal listens to Vigny. He considers her words, not quite sure he understands, and opens his mouth to speak, but says nothing, closing his mouth and staring at her for an awkward moment before deciding that her thought was complete. It needed no response.
As they approach the door, Randal looks it over for traps and to see if it is locked.
"...and so blah blah, catapult, blah blah blah, crazy birdmen who just say 'DOOM' blah blah..... well, blah."
Without any response from Randal, maybe he disagrees or thinks I'm crazy now, Vigny trails off into silence.
"So..., what's up with that lock?" she eventually asks, her cheeks a little pinker than usual.
'what's up with the lock' indeed, apparently its hard to check for traps next to a pretty girl....
There is, unsurprisingly, no reply to Vigny's suggestion that the Ettercap surrenders.
As you look around, you see two ugly humanoid faces peer from around a corner. They disappear when they spot the spider.
"Oh, looks like we might have some shy company." Randal whispers as he points to where the two faces ducked away.
"Wonder what it would take to get them to come out and play?" he adds before mumbling a flowery incantation at his bow.
"I don't know Randal, let's see. Cover me?"
Vigny waves to get the attention of the watchers up on the wall, then gestures in the direction of the uglies. She then walks out farther into the courtyard, trying to make herself visible, and visibly alone, to them.
She looks about casually and hums a little, as if she were on a sightseeing tour.
From atop the battlement, Jerukh draws the attention of Soliana and Emi to where he spied the watchers.
The alchemist acknowledges Vigny's signal with a wave, then whispers to his companion sentinels:
"Time to make a move so see those creatures more fully eh..?"
...then sprints back along the wall toward where the ugly spies were lurking.
Randal smiles at Vigny's suggestion and follows her about 20' behind, bow at the ready.
for
"Vell..." Emi sighs quietly to Soliana, "I do not think either of us is fery effective up here against enemies down there... I'm not sure ve should leafe Jerukh alone though... do you vant to stay up here vith him or shall I?"
As Vigny moves to see what lay on the other side of the courtyard, she hears the beginnings of an argument that soon everyone can hear.
"You go see if da mean ladies is still there!"
"Nuh-uh! You do it!"
"No! You!"
From the growing tension in the air, it seems that it'll come to blows if something doesn't stop the two participants.
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It's probably not the best of the ideas that come to Vigny, but it is the most amusing one so she goes with it.
"Excuse me!" she calls out. I think I can clear some things up for you! Yes, we're still here and we'll be staying! As I told the guy with the spider head, we are accepting surrenders, so whenever you're ready you can just give up!"
In case there are consequences, Vigny rests the end of her sword on the ground, and checks her grip on her tankard.
You hear a dulcet duet of "WAAAAAGGGAAABBLRLRLALR!" followed shortly by a slamming door.
Vigny looks back at Randal.
"Unless they've closed the door to change into their big-boy pants, I don't think they're coming out. Wanna go take another look at that lock?"
"On the other hand, somebody snatched Reiko. Maybe them, but I doubt it. They might to who to go see about it though. Should we go knock?"
Randal laughs a little at the scene, "I do something pretty similar when my tab gets called."
Taking the hint, Randal moves smoothly to the door and looks it over.
From his upper vantage Jerukh continues to keep a watch;
:
but gets distracted by lingering strands of webbing upon his person...
The double doors are unlocked and lead to a room of ruined opulence. The scars and stains of battle are numerous, but they are but a sideshow to the strange sight at the far end of the chamber. There, four dire corbies are busy acting something out while a resonate tenor voice directs them.
"No no no! You must feel the need to fly! You must feel the hatred of having your wings stolen from you!"
Despite seeing you, the corbies move to replay the scene instead of attacking.
"Do not fret ofer the vebs, cousin," Emi instructs as she draws near, as much because she doesn't want them shaken onto her as to calm Jerukh. "It looks like they are about to head inside... ve better hurry down to join them..."
Randal draws back full on his bow, but defers to Soli and Vigny, "Shall I wait for the others? Or get their attention now?"
Vigny keeps her voice low.
"Hold on Randal, the fight seems to have gone out of everyone here. Let's wait and see what happens before starting anything violent."
"I don't know Soli. Mind control?"
As the adventurers stand and wonder what is going on, the play or rather the rehearsal continues. As they wait, the subject of the play becomes clear. It is about crows that have lost their wings and long to fly once more.
The Dire Corbies are, to be blunt, terrible actors, though whoever is directing the play seems to be enjoying himself.
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"Just say the word and I'll begin the first intermission" Randal say, bow still at full draw.
Emi continues pushing Jerukh to keep up as she moves toward the others.
Jerukh arrives and frowns at the news of the crow-folk acting like neophyte mummers.
Hissing a whisper, the alchemist broaches a bigger moral concern;
"If none of these corbies are not in control of their faculties, should we go easy on them?"
"They know we're here so why don't we go on in and say hello? Maybe they're only ill-humored when they're not acting?"
Vigny walks in to the room. She claps as she does, figuring it might set a positive tone for their visit.
Before long, the group is reunited and Vigny is marching in, boldly, while clapping. The dire corbies stop and turn, baffled by the noise, and the feathers on the backs of their necks begin to ruffle as they start to menace the Caydenite, but a man, dressed in a style similar to Reiko's and with a comically long nose, calms them from where he stands in front of the throne.
"Ah! Applause for my magnum opus? You are far too kind! My actors need many more rehearsals yet, and sadly, I do not have all of the roles filled yet," he says while giving a flamboyant bow.
Vigny decides that at this point there's nothing to do but roll with the weirdness. She bows in return.
"Well, I've often heard it said patience is a virtue. I'm Vigny Olafursdottir. Greetings! My friends and I are passing through town. And, what a town it's turning out to be."
Jerukh allows the Ulfen lass to take the lead, hovering about in the background and offering no introduction save a mirthless look...
Randal lowers his bow and follows the others.
"The quality of your opera is quite evident. The detail with which your performers act is certain to convey the personal pain of their tragedy. I,for one, am nearly in tears just watching." Randal adds.
Wait? Did you just see pointed teeth?
And is it just you, or do you hear click of talons on stone echoing about?
"Oh marvelous! Yes, yes! Welcome! Welcome to my humble little kingdom. You must be treated as guests I say. There is something about you dear that I simply adore," the strange man croons as he skips along the tattered carpet to stand before Vigny. He taps his pursed lips for a moment as he studies her with a quizzical expression.
"Hmm, what is it? I wonder."
Okay! Pretty creepy!
Vigny falls back on her experience in tavern work, where this sort of thing has tended to come up the most. Deflect, change the subject.
I'll bet it's my taste in footwear. I never skimp when I buy boots. Say! You haven't by chance seen a friend of ours around today? Her name's Reiko. Black hair, wears clothing in your style?"
"Hmm, those are lovely boots!" The man bends at the waist and looks at Vigny's footwear with an appraising eye.
"I am afraid I don't know anyone named Reiko. You said she dresses in a similar style," he asks as she straightens up.
Strangely, while the dire corbies seem agitated, they do not attack. Indeed, they barely move from their positions.
"Now! I have answered one of your questions. It's only fair that you answer one of mine! Who among you has the best singing voice?"
He truly doesn't know anyone that you're describing, but it feels like he's hiding something. Maybe it was the slight emphasis he put on know.
I don't trust this weirdo, definitely not human
"I'd been known to sing for coins back in my youth, but its been a long while"
Randal keeps his distance and doesn't yet un-knock the bow.
"Though, in fairness, I've not heard any of these lovely ladies sing yet."
Vigny can tell there's something fishy about the man's answer concerning Reiko. When his question comes along she sees a way to possibility bait a hook.
"I'm sorry Randal, but my honest opinion is that Reiko has far and away the best voice among us. If only we knew where she is, I'm sure you'd agree."
Jerukh stands allowing the charade to play out.
:
At the strange man's words, his eyes narrow and his hand lingers near his belt where the combustable bomb components sit...