Alathea returns to the Inn with Athola in tow after promising the boy that they would return.
She is happy to see that both Gabriel and Jor have arrived before they have. "Greetings gentlemen, I have many things to report. We also have a dilemma Athola and I. We have located a restless spirit I would like to bring peace to but I believe we will need help. Can we go now? It will also give us a chance to discuss matters away from a room full of interested eyes and ears".
Gabriel finish his drink.
"A spirit? I suppose. We have a few hours before my request is processed."
He stands and gathers his things ready to depart.
Alathea arrives back at the ruined house with Gabriel. There you see what looks to be a cracked trap door and a young child probably around 8 years old dressed in simple peasant smock and leggings. He looks nervously at the trap door from the other side of the room afraid to go near it.
When Gabriel arrives the child speaks again with an ethereal voice, "Hello mister... have you come to help save my bear Husker along with this nice lady and this Kender girl? I think he is down in daddy's workshop down there, but I don't want to go down... the bad ones will get me..."
Assuming Alathea catches Gabriel up on the boy and that his spirit is not at rest he will proceed trying to aid him.
"Yes child. I will help you find your bear. Wait here."
Gabriel will approach the trap door and open it. He draws his blade as light shines from it so he can see into the darkness. He will use his ability to detect evil and see what he can search out.
Opening up the trapdoor the stairs lead down into what looks like some kind of old workshop that is covered with dust and probably ash that has slipped through the floorboards. It looks like there was once a shelf in this room but its fallen over and its contents scattered on the floor. On the floor are number of dolls of different animals as well as one that looks like a little human girl in a quaint looking peasant's dress. They look well crafted and have rather pleasant and friendly expressions on their faces of a child's toy at least the ones he can see the faces of from the stairwell. There also appears to be a work desk and a worktable down there which has a number of sewing and crafting implements.
On the surface these dolls look inanimate and benign but with detect evil Gabriel notices that the dolls radiate evil auras, although they're so clustered that he can't individually find out how many there are. From the stairway though he cannot see where the bear doll is and it does not register to his detect evil, so he suspects he might have to look around in the room to find the doll that the child is looking for.
"The dolls have an evil aura about them. Child step back, we wouldn't want you to get hurt or caught up by these things. Alathea I'm not sure if it is spirits or demonic. I will go first."
Gabriel heads down into the cellar.
"Athola I will need your eyes and ability to find things. Come on down. I will protect you. Alathea follow we will need your blessing or light to send these spirits from whence they came."
As soon as Gabriel takes his first step into the basement the dolls suddenly spring to life. Their kind looking toy faces twist into hideous and evil expressions and they let out mixes of sinister animal sounds and evil chuckles. They faces show wickely sharp teeth and they prepare to pounce upon Gabriel. There are 11 Animated Dolls in all.
The room is roughly a 15 by 15 room. Won't bother with a map.
Let the doll pile up begin.
Gabriel is not surprised by the sudden action but they still move before he has time to act.
Alathea Initiative
Anyway the dolls appear to go first (unless Athola beats them where I'll retcannon)
Anyway 5 will dogpile on Gabriel leaping into the air with shreaks and attempting to bite him.
Fortunately Gabriel puts up his shield and his armor deflects the attacks of many of the swarming creatures. Unfortunately the Cat bites a weak spot in his armor and attempts to latch on.
Fortunately it doesn't latch on. However he does take 1 point of non-lethal damage as well as 1 point of dexterity damage.
Another 5 swarm past Gabriel and go after Athola.
Athola gets swarmed by 5 of these little buggers as they are small enough to run and/or fly through occupied squares. The owl, lion and turtle doll bite and latch onto Athola. Althola you take 2 points of non lethal and 2 points of Wisdom Damage from the owl due to a critical hit. You also take 1 point of non lethal and 1 point of Charisma damage from the Lion and 1 point of non lethal and 1 point of Constitution damage from the turtle. In addition they have Altola grappled so will do automatic stat damage a round unless they fail to maintain the grapple and let go or are forced off of you.
Finally the Female doll attempts to jump past Gabriel and Athola and bite for Althea's Face.
Unfortunately it fails to do so, instead getting knocked back and then hissing with its sharp pointy teeth.
Athola Initiative
Gabriel curses as the swarm upon him and past him. He starts hacking at the dolls.
Current AC: 24 Do to Dex loss
Gabriel hacks at the dolls the blade appearing to work on them effectively, cutting a doll open open and causing stuffing to pour out and cloth to become torn. The first blow nearly cleaves one in twain, the second finishes the creature off, cut into a pile of stitching and stuffing. When killed the doll reverts to its former non-animate state.
The Cat Doll that bit Gabriel is the one that faces the wrath of his blade. What is Athola and Althea doing, you'll act before the ghost child does.
Ok as for Athola she'll attempt a escape artist check to break the grapples on her and then escape the swarm of dolls that are nipping at her.
31 should be enough to slide out of the grip of the dolls and then escape the horde of dolls and make it back up to the top of the stairs. Still the dolls look bloodthirsty and ready to swarm on their next turn.
I'll let Althea go before the Ghost Child. What is she going to do?
After the elf approaches the cloth seller he will inquire if there are any other elves in the city.
After buying a quality black robe a clothing seller, he says to Terevalis when asked, "Yes, there is a few elves that live in this town. Some came recently while others have been in this town my entire life and probably longer. Think a few of them are married to some humans and had some half-breed children. Not that we're a racist people here in Flostam. One could call our town a place where people go when they need a place to stay. We've got races of all sorts here living in relative harmony. Heck, we're ruled by a Hobgoblin of all people after all things. As for what the elves do, some probably work for the Guild, some hold jobs in the town, while those who don't contribute make their homes in the old town."
Terevalis wanders into the ruined areas of the town. Numerous piles of rubble and ramshackle homes that barely hold themselves together after a great fire swept through the entire locale. Soon enough he comes across some elves huddled the ruins of a building, sitting around a fire made of scavenged wood. They converse in normal tones in the elven tongue although much like many of the elven diaspora have a grim sadness to them having lost their homes back in Silvenesti, Qualenesti or other locales. You overhear the word "Micah" being mentioned and an ongoing debate if it should be looked into as a potential enclave.
[ooc] Is Micah something I am familiar with? [/b]
He will greet the Silvanesti that he sees, his hood over his head
Greetings Brethern. Tell me, why is there need for an enclave he says in Elven.
When Terevalis addresses them, they turn a look and seeing the black robes and the staff look pretty nervous.
One of the elves responds in Silvenesti elven, "Why should it be a concern of yours dark one. Michah was once a great city of the elves near here until it's fall do due them using arcane forces they could not control. The ruins yet remain and we are debating if it would be better to make a home there rather than remain here in these slums of this human town."
know history
Alathea will cast Blessing of Fervor on her allies.
Terevalis remembers his teachings on the Elven City of Micah. It was a border city of the Silvanesti lands, long back when the elves ruled a much larger territory. It was a city build before the Orders were formed, shaped by wild sorcery and magic and was a shining white city and a predominant power in the region. It is said one of the Dragon Stones once resided there until the outbreak of the second dragon war where the city was attacked. While the city held its own, the dragonstone shattered and a massive explosion shook the city. What remained was overun by monsters. Over time most of the city was burred into the earth.
As for the child he runs forward to see what's going on. Seeing the dolls he screams letting louse a ghostly howl.
Both Alathea and Athola will need to make a DC 14 Will Save or be panicked for 2d4 rounds. A successful save means you're immune for 24 hours.
[ooc]Round 2[/dice]
Dolls continue to swarm onto Gabriel. Gabriel can AOO one of them as they have to move into his square to attack him due to their size.
Bull:
Girl Doll:
Girl Doll Grapple Check:
Eagle:
Elephant:
Fox:
While Gabriel is able to fend off the little buggers, the Girl Doll unfortunately latches onto a weak point in his armor. He takes 1 point of non-lethal damage and 1 point of intelligence damage. He's also grappled.
With Athola having moved away from the dolls, Alathea becomes their next victim of the other 5 dolls. She can make an AOO on one of them as they have to move into her square to attack.
Male Human Doll:
Owl Doll:
Lion Doll:
Rabbit Doll:
Turtle Doll:
The Male Doll and the Lion Doll latch onto Alathea. Alathea takes 2 non lethal damage and a point of Intelligence and Wisdom damage. She is also grappled by 2 of them.
Hmmm. he says. I know of a better place, a safer place, closer to the lands we have lost. Very few people know of its existance, it would be a better enclave and closer to Silvanesti he replies.
With his speed enhanced by Alathea's spell he continues to assault the dolls starting with the girl doll on him.
Having destroyed the doll his last attack is directed back at the Bull
He will then take a step back making them advance on him again.
"So many of these cursed things."
Gabriel hits the bull with an opportunity attack but does not destroy it with the first blow. He then takes a swing at the doll latched onto his arm, the first misses as the doll is rather deft but the second cuts the female doll in half, causing both halfs to fall to the floor and the doll becoming inanimate. He then finishes off the Bull, removing the head of the bull with a single swing.
Athola having seen and heard worse in Kendermore is totally uneffected by the wail of the spirit. She steps forward and proceeds to stab at the creatures latched onto Alathea.
Athola stabs the doll with the shard of light. It glows brightly and cuts through the evil puppet like a knife through butter. The creature screams a death cry and then falls off a smoldering pile of stitching.
The Lion is the next victim of the shard, its form utterly obliterated by the power of the shard.
She then stabs the rabbit doll although not quite killing this one as it is not as vulnerable.
Alathea, your go. You still have 3 of these evil dolls attacking you although the ones grappling you have been cut off.
The place is very nicely hidden, in a valley. he replies. Tell me, do you know any of House Mystic or even House Clerist that are present here in Flotsam? Do you know of any who have embraces the grey or the dark as a matter of survival in these desperate times for our people
This group looks to be some Silvanesti refugees it seems. When asked about the House Mystic and House Clerist, the spokesperson for the group says in response, "Not in this town, although for your ilk it is a place where an outcast like you might feel welcome. The Wizards and Clerics have the money and support to live in far better places than in this town. Most of the Silvanesti are those that escaped the slave caravans. The Bull-Men are trading many captive Silvanesti to the Ogres. Our group was being transported to Ogrebond, when the Thieves Guild of this town assaulted the caravan and liberated us. There were some elves already living in this town though, some humans taking Elven brides and somesuch."
With a raised eye brow at the mentioning of the dilution of elven blood. Perhaps finding the area near Silvanost would be better. Are there warriors among you?
The spokesperson shakes his head and says, "Most of the warriors were away from the Silvanesti Forest when the Minotaurs attacked. Most of our city defenders died during the initial assault and the few that surrendered were sent to the fighting arena. The Minotaurs tore apart good section of the city to build themselves a marketplace and fighting arena for blood-sports and throwing any elf of any martial prowess into their fighting pits. It appears that they trade away the elves that they do not find useful, which includes us I suppose. As for going back to that desert, no thanks you. That place is as sure a death as with the Minotaurs for an elf, not to mention we can not even afford passage on a ship with our megar possessions."
Who then is the leader of this group of elves? I would like to meet with him or her
Attack of Opportunity
Magical Mace
Mace Damage
Alathea scores a solid hit as she is charged, still it takes Athola's wondrous weapon to free her of the little threats.
Alathea, smashes the Rabbit doll next as Athola seemed to damage it.
Magical Mace Attack #1
Mace Damage
Magical Mace Attack (Bonus)
Mace Damage
Magical Mace Attack #2
Mace Damage
Alathea with 1 blow from her mace crushes the rabbit into a pile of fluff and bunny skin. The next attack hits the owl doll but the other two attacks swing wide and miss.
The Dolls don't seem to have any concept of Self Preservation and move in to continue harassing Gabriel. Gabriel however takes a high swing and de-wings the Eagle doll before it can move close to him, leaving the elephant and fox to be the only attackers.
Both fail to find a chink in Gabriel's armor and their bites are ineffective.
The Lion Doll leaps at Athola while the Turtle and Owl dolls continue to attack Alathea.
Athola's AOO
She hits the lion for damage
on Athola
on Athola
Athola takes 1 non lethal, 1 charisma damage and is latched onto by the Lion.
Althea takes 1 non lethal, 1 intelligence damage and is latched onto by the Owl.
As for Athola she'll first stab that creature on her with the sword.
Athola slices the Lion's head off causing its body to drop and the head to louse its grip and fall off after it.
She then goes after the Owl on Althea.
That hits as its denied its dex bonus to AC for grappling.
Athola cuts off the owl and then goes for the turtle.
The tortice is wounded by the attack.
Next up Gabriel and then Althea
The spokesperson says to Terevalis "That would be Lhoris of house Servitor. He got sent with the caravan as punishment for according to the Minotaurs being too sloppy a slave servant. He now leads us. I suppose I can take you to him, considering he'ed probably like to know why a Dark Elf has revealed himself in this town."
You're shown to another building which actually looks like its had some repairs done with makeshift materials so that it won't collapse on itself. Still there are holes in the walls and the roof and its not the most sound of structures. A number of elves are camped there, mainly of Silvanesti stock, including some women. No children though by the looks of it, probably because they would make poor slaves. You see an older looking elf, with some graying on his temples, probably a few centuries old thus putting him maybe at the level of a Middle aged elf. He bears a number of visible scars on his face probably from some cruel taskmaster. He probably also would have more scars under his robes.
The elf leads Terevalis to him and gives a respectful nod. The man you suspect is Lhoris looks up and says in Elven of course, "Jhaan, you are always welcome here. Who have you brought to me."
His eyes turn to Terevalis and he blinks at first not believing what he was seeing. He then says, "A wizard by the looks of it. A black robe and an elf as well. I have not seen one of your kind since Dalamar the Dark took up the Black Robes. I must warn you Dark One that despite our exile, we still see you as an outcast. Any who serve the dark gods are not worthy to be called children of Eli's light. Now what is it you want here, Dark One?"
Outcasts we all are, Lhoris of House Servitor, until a time when the Lands of Silvanesti are reclaimed and a legitimate Speaker of the Stars is chosen. I understand that you are looking for a place to operate from, a place to strike back at the foul enemies of our people. A place to hide and to gather strength? he asks.
Lhoris says to Terevalis "I would fight for my homeland but many of here are not warriors. We are mere citizens of Silvanesti, pawned off like slaves by the Minotaurs. My defiance of our enslavers had me whipped and tortured and then sent off toward Ogrebond who who knows what the Ogres have intended. The Ogres want elven caprtives and willing to pay the Minotaurs to get them. Right now we are between places, we cannot return to Silvanesti due to the Minotaurs and lack the funds to pay for passage on a ship and we would not risk the Desolation due to the dangers abound. If there is a leader though, it would be I although leading elves from a dragon-burned town is not what one would call a kingdom. For now we survive here as best we can, with the limited charity the town actually gives to us. If you're asking us to go to war, it is a futile gesture. Unless we can field an army of twenty thousand, we'll never oust the Minotaur's from our lands."
The Black Robe will tell Lhoris about the Hidden Valley and the Hidden Temple area.
When you ask about that Lhoris says, "You do know that only members of House Mystic are allowed to study the art. And even if there were some with the talent among us, do you think I would turn them over to train with a Dark Elf?"