Quilindra can’t help herself grinning as she looks down on the corpse. ”Just an old story really. But I think this is the banshee’s body. Look how the hand is holding the blade - this is self inflicted.” she points out that the dead woman eviscerated herself.
Dimitrio warns Layne, "Maybe we shouldn't take those things Layne. I sure would like some of them but maybe that's why we haven't been attacked and perhaps won't be if we leave things be..."
Lief hears of the ring's protective power, so doesn't delay in taking it as his second ring. He also secures the belt, in the meantime, understanding that the Banshee's wail will challenge even the hardiest of folk.
"Dimitrio, one way or another, you'll be encountering the Banshee. You might as well be better armed."
Having come back to Kaylayne when she put up her protective shell, Ederin eye's the magical items greedily. The threat of the banshee over head has him concerned about his own fortifications and he nods his head approvingly when Lief equips a number of the items, glad the younger man has a better chance at survival.
Ederin shrugs at Dimitrio's suggestion.
"You do what you want mate, I aim to survive this an' make it back home. Ain't gonna do that by letting these pretties sit on the floor." He comes to the conclusion however that the various suits of chainmail, though light, are still more restrictive than his breastplate and can't bring himself to limit his shooting arm. Might look into fixin' that. He thinks. If we survive.
Once they've stored or handed out the stash of magical goods, he looks ahead and keeps his senses alert, hoping not to hear something that might kill him.
"Maybe we shouldn't take those things Layne. I sure would like some of them but maybe that's why we haven't been attacked and perhaps won't be if we leave things be..."
"No," Kaylayne replies with a head shake, pulling the cold iron longsword from the wall. "No, we won't be leaving these here if we may be needing them in the future. I can't use this blade, but there are others who might."
Kaylayne gathers all the magical items, worried for the time until her spell wears off. She packs what she can in her 'sack, other stuff she pawns to Ederin and Allarnon (if amenable to carrying loot).
She grabs the wand of fireballs for herself for the time being, though her staff is a better source of power.
"Dimi, can you use any of this? Something might be useful now...or later," Kaylayne says to the dancer. "What have the rest of you found while I did this?"
Kaylayne looks to see...if nothing, she will return to the gate in hopes for a change in it.
With the moment to leave things alone passes, Dimitrio resigns himself to picking out his loot.
He tries on the special elven chainmail, moves around some, and nods at the comfort. This would not hinder his movements too much.
"Fine, let's get these items then."
"I'm ready."
----------
take +3 moderate fortification elven chain and remove my chainshirt +3
unless anyone has any objections...
The party gears up with some of the new things and feels uneasy about their surroundings, and what’s to come. Yet the minutes turn to hours and nothing further occurs. You will, presumably, carefully search the complex - but though you find a few gate keys among the bodies, none seem to function. The gate is stuck inward. Perhaps some study would yield results, but that would take hours, leading you to evening and a day wasted.
The outside is rather nice, the building sits in a low spot, so it’s very well hidden from the surrounding countryside. You really need to know where it is to find it. There is a ruined stables not far off and a few other minor outbuildings. It’s clear this was a military base of some sort, with the dozens of dead inside accounting for its defense. What happened though to lead to the fight remains a mystery.
Quilindra is concerned, but not worried. She seems more uneasy about the banshee than getting stuck here - after all you’re in Ustalov, and there must be a settlement somewhere. She keeps trying to work the gate, hoping each time that something will have changed and it’ll ”…just work this time.” Alas, her knowledge of magic is poor, and her skills even poorer and the gate refuses to yield.
There must be a way to close the gate, so that it may be reopened, without damaging it.
"Piddlespot that gate!" Kaylayne says looking toward the outpost, and it is unclear if she means to go back.
Know (Geography)
Kaylayne picks up a stick and begins to draw in the dirt.
"From what I understand, we are here, in Ustalav," Kaylayne points to the north on the map. "Here is Numeria, the River Kingdoms, Lastwall, Razmiran, I think, and there is Kyonin. There is a lake here the we could use, I suppose...but..." Kaylayne points out the different general features as she talks.
"I think we can walk...possibly boat into Kyonin. I'm just not sure what kind of travel we can expect on the lake...nor the trouble we migth find in Razmiran, but with the gate broken, we can't stay here. The banshee is still here...waiting for us and we should be long gone before she comes to find us."
Kaylayne looks at the rest of the party.
"We can forage as we go, can't we?" Kaylayne asks Ederin, then Allarnon.
"So the daytime's sunlight has kept the banshee at bay. That seems obvious. The idea that there was a banshee here, at the Lichgate... they're attached, the one to the other. How long the banshee has existed, why the succubus knows the name of the banshee, are we really all that surprised, in hindsight?"
"Our fate seems to be tied to defeating the banshee, so that the broken gate becomes a normal gate once more, and we're free to travel on. Quilindra, when did you last see Elledariah alive? What was she to you? Why would you be so careless as to blurt out her name to us? Are you the reason we're unable to activate the gate?" Lief pays attention to the succubus's answers, should any be forthcoming, but he expects just enough truth to obfuscate any genuine understanding of their shared backstory.
Still fiddling with lunges and places to place his spell component pouch, Dimitrio removes the elven chain and puts back his chainshirt. "Much better. This feels like an old coat."
He then added to what Lief was asking, "I agree Quilindra. There's something you are not telling us and I think it can help us. We got some smart people here."
He quipped, "No, don't look at me but Layne and Lief here could probably figure this out so c'mon, out with it."
Those of you with heightened geography can guess you’re 600-700 miles, as the crow flies, from southern Kyonin and the Tanglebriar. Exactly where in Ustalov though you have no idea. That would take some travel, identification of a river, mountain range, forest, etc., or even better, a town.
Based on the storage capacity here, and the Ustalov humans, you’d guess you’re not too far from a settlement of some size for resupply. Certainly within a few days. Ederin might be able to find some old tracks as there was somewhat regular wagon traffic which would help.
"Quilindra, when did you last see Elledariah alive? What was she to you? Why would you be so careless as to blurt out her name to us? Are you the reason we're unable to activate the gate?" Lief pays attention to the succubus's answers, should any be forthcoming, but he expects just enough truth to obfuscate any genuine understanding of their shared backstory.
Quilindra continues to grin, though it’s clear she’s trying to be her usual demure self but just can’t help it. ”Fine, fine.” she says. ”Elledariah was my mark many years ago, so you could say this is somewhat my fault.” She goes on to tell a story.
The elves maintained a small stronghold called Mirianath used as a barracks by a small group of elven scouts and rangers. Lichgate was unique among the aiudara of the network in that it led to the lost region of Kyonin under the influence of the demon Treerazer - no other aiudara remained active that led to this region. The elves of Lichgate were charged with the task of guarding this portal but were under strict orders not to venture through it into Tanglebriar beyond.
Yet Mirianath‘s commander Elledariah ignored these orders. Acting on the best of intentions but fueled by a dangerous combination of pride and patriotism, Elledariah believed that if she could establish a safe harbor on the far side of the gate, she and her soldiers could wage a war against Treerazer’s demons from within Tanglebriar’s borders, and in so doing might be able to drive the abyssal taint of the region even farther back.
Her initial efforts seemed to be working, but she was unfortunately confronted by a menace she wasn’t prepared for - seduction. Armed to defend herself against physical threats, she was ill-prepared to resist the wiles of a particularly silver tongued succubus who seduced her in the form of an elven scout who claimed to have escaped the Witchbole. The eager elven ranger brought the scout back to Lichgate, tended to his apparent wounds, and accepted him into her people’s ranks, but as the scout “recuperated,” he began to lure the elves away from their mission with well-placed lies and the periodic charm.
Over the course of several months, the elves of Mirianath became increasingly paranoid and introverted. They abandoned their worship of Calistria and started to suspect the rest of the elven army had been infiltrated by shapechanging demons from Tanglebriar, that someday in the near future, an assault of demons wearing elven skins would overwhelm them and that their allies in distant Kyonin would do nothing to help.
So when a group of Kyonin’s soldiers arrived to investigate why Mirianath had cut off contact with the homeland, the defenders mistook their arrival for invasion and attacked. "I enjoyed the slaughter, but I enjoyed the results of that slaughter even more. The only survivor of the fight was Elledariah, and when I revealed my true nature to her after the battle, she was overwhelmed with despair and took her own life."
She can’t help but laugh, ”My finest moment.” She seems to not connect her current plight with her prior actions. Or if she does, she does not care.
Kaylayne stares at Quillindra and then just shakes her head.
"Uh, that doesn't sound like anything that will help us fix the gate...so we should get planning...?" Kaylayne asks while thinking about how best to get to Kyonin.
"Lief what makes you think the demise of the banshee is causing the gate to malfunction? Do you have anything to base that upon? Maybe the gate is just broken and we're taking a big risk for nothing by waiting around for a screaming b~&*& to come yell at us to death."
Kaylayne looks around. "We could also just make our own way to Kyonin."
"We might get to a large city to buy a scroll that will hasten our travel, but really hard to say until we get there."
"The 'demise of the banshee'? The banshee is 'alive and well', wouldn't you say? Her betrayer is standing in our collective, gloating and confused as to why the gate no longer heeds her command to close, then open. I can only intelligently speculate. The gate may very well be 'just' broken. If you don't think Quilindra's epic story of betrayal points to a conjunction, I can't help you. I only wonder if the gate would function once again if we sacrificed the succubus to the banshee. Otherwise, if we're really all that interested in the gate right over there, we'll need to deal with the banshee. I'm alright with traveling on to Kyonin, since we have Ederin to see us safely there."
Ederin keeps his head to the ground, looking for tracks of any sort that may help lead them out of their current position. He does momentarily turn to glare at Quillindra, hand on his bow, as she tells her tale and laughs at the results. Should kill her right now...
He frowns, unsure that he wants to start a fight with the succubus while the threat of a banshee attack still hangs over their heads and he goes back to finding the best path out. The old sound of Lief and Kay bickering is easy enough to ignore by now.
Ederin learns some more details about the lives of those stationed here, and he can confirm Quilindra's story - in as far as the final combat's concerned. But he doesn't learn much else.
Quilindra seems indifferent to your opinions, and continues to grin, er, well, like a banshee, as she recalls the details of her prior efforts here.
|
"Quilindras not going to be pleased at all with her betrayer in our midst..." Allarnon glares at the succubus. "Did you just bring us here to finish your work for you? I to wonder if Quilindra will find peace if we end this right now." He asks as he furrows his long sharp claws into the dirt.The succubus' betrayal had set him on edge.
Dimitrio was also quickly his sympathy for the demon. He turned to his companions hoping they would help him make sense out of all this and make up his mind about the succubus, "So why exactly do we need her? Lief, could you not activate the gates yourself now that we now where we are going?"
He looked at Layne, "Do we really need her? Can you not do what she does?"
His hand clenching and unclenching, the bard was getting ready for violence...
He looked at Layne, "Do we really need her? Can you not do what she does?"
Kaylayne shakes her head. Then smiles as she considers more.
"No, I cannot do what she does, nor do I know what she knows. And when I say 'I cannot do what she does', that means that I cannot betray her even though she would do the same for me. I cannot kill her when we have an agreement made," Kaylayne answers. "And I cannot tell you anything about the Winter Council. I do not consider myself a loser in comparison to her...but in some things, I cannot replace her."
Kaylayne looks around at the unappetizing lands of Ustalav and debates internally if she wants to spend days/weeks/months marching across it.
"I would propose a solution. We spend the evening and some of the night far away from this place, at midnight, or some earlier hour, we return with our protections and see if Lief's theory of the banshee is true. Should it fail, and there is no banshee, nor will the gate work, we begin moving to Kyonin on foot," Kaylayne suggests.
Quilindra steps away a little as the hostility rises, but she's enraptured at the conversation - always a study of human nature she! She doesn't go far as she smiles.
As I see it you have few options. Cross country, study the gate, leave and return, or offer Quilindra up as a sacrifice.
What's the plan?
Keep in mind, I'm not sure 'after midnight' does anything for you. Daily gains occur at dawn, unless otherwise indicated I think. So if your'e trying to encounter the banshee, but not now, you'll need to wait a whole extra day, while the drow toil in the underdark bringing about your ruin...
Ederin shrugs and agrees to Kaylayne's plan. He's confident he's found some reliable tracks that should lead them out, and hunting should be simple enough until they find a town or settlement nearby. Admittedtly he knows nothing of the country they're in so he finds himself almost hoping that encountering the banshee and defeating it will activate the gate.
"Ain't sure what we're waitin' for, but I ain't got a better idea either, so lets set a watch yeah? Unless one of you has somethin' else you wanna try."
Dimitrio once more turned to Layne and Lief, "We need to study this gate. I mean you two need to figure this out. I'll mess around with it but it's all 'messing with it' with me so you two need to figure this out."
-----------
Lief looks from Kaylayne to Al, then Ed, then Dimi. "If we're departing now, there will be no genuine time to study the gate, until we return with protections. If Kay says we need to return more strongly protected, then let's depart, and return."
"We need to study this gate. I mean you two need to figure this out. I'll mess around with it but it's all 'messing with it' with me so you two need to figure this out."
Kaylayne gives a look to Dimitrio.
How do I say 'I don't know dick about gates' in Varisian? Ugh.
"I don't know how to fix gates. It's beyond me, Dancer. If the B...if Lief can't figure it out, and Quillandra doesn't know, we're out of answers. Clearly, it wasn't meant to work. If we go back and the banshee ain't around so we can test Lief's alternate theory, then we start walking. I don't know what you expect from me," Kaylayne throws her hands up, having no answers.
When the discussion is over, Kaylayne begins to set up camp about 200 yards from the building that holds the gate. Lief can continue to do his research and Kaylayne can grump in relative peace and not worry that the banshee is going to rise and scream her to death.
At midnight (or so...as long as it's dark enough to test Lief's theory), Kaylayne will magic up and see if the banshee is around.
The party moves off from the complex and does a little scouting around the immediate vicinity. You find a forested hill, just a few hundred yards off, with a campsite setup at the base of a large cluster of trees. A few platforms have been setup high in the boughs to watch the surrounding countryside. Looks like a guard post for the complex - a little something to watch the region - and a good place to hunker down for the afternoon.
The party whiles away the day, killing time, waiting for darkness to fall. One or more of you climb the rickey boards nailed into a few nearby trees leading to the platforms. It’s clear from their positioning and the view from above, that there’s a thin wagon trail leading to the Southwest away from the complex. Two of the three platforms give a good view of this trail as well as the surrounding countryside. The third looks less used and more protected.
By the time the sun is setting, you’re all watching, waiting, as the last slivers of daylight dip below the horizon.
Almost immediately, Kaylayne’s preternatural senses are tingling, and she may act during the surprise round. As it’s before my action, nothing has, as yet, occurred. But Kaylayne is certain something will.
Round Surprise
"Ah piddlespot! SOMETHING'S COMING!!" Kaylayne tries to alert the others. She readies to fly/move 40' in a direction once she assesses the threat.
The party, shaken by Kaylayne, stares around nervously, but they need not wait long. Soon enough, a low moan can be heard, slowly rising in pitch until becomes a loud wail. You're not sure exactly where it's coming from - it seems to be all around you, ever present and eviscerating as it hits that 'tone' in your head that makes it hurt more.
Quilindra grins with glee. "I've got this." she shouts over the din.
Allarnon
Dimitrio
Ederin (+2 underground, +4 urban)
Kaylayne (acts in surprise round)
Lief
Good Guys
Quilindra
Dimitrio hopes no one saw him shaking a bit when the moaning started. He moved closer to Quilindra. To protect her better, of course.
Concerned about not being touched by this thing, he cast his protective spell making his form waver.
He then drew his rapier and looked everywhere for the banshee to appear...
--------------
HP 91/91
AC 28, touch 17, flat-footed 22
10 +4(DEX) +1(belt of DEX +2) +6(chainshirt+2) +2 (buckler+2) +2(ring of prot) +1 (dodge)
Conditions: blur
Melee (rapier+3): +20/+15 = +9(base) +4(dex) +1(belt of dex +2) +3 (magic) +1(weapon focus)+1(swashbuckler specialization)
Melee Damage (rapier+3, arcane strike, panache): 1d6+18 = +3(weapon) +4 (dex) +1(belt of dex +2) +2 (arcane strike) +5 (precise strike)+2 (specialization) +1(swashbuckler specialization), 15-20, x2
5/5 daggers, 5/5 panache, 3/3 charmed life, 22/22 bardic performance, 5/5 1st level, 3/4 2nd level spells, 1/1 arcane bond spell, ring of fire 5/5
"I've got this."
Kaylayne glares at the demon, trying to decide whether to trust her or not...and whether to flee to safe range or not.
Ah piddlespot. Do I trust her?
|
|
Closing his eyes Allarnon centers his mind with what little bit of nature surrounds him. hearing the crickets in the still night air are quickly drowned out around him as the wail begins to sound setting his nerves completely on edge.
Whispering a small plea to the element Allarnon begins to feel a small draft of wind pick up underneath him and his feet. The air creates a sort of barrier that lifts him slightly off of the ground as the air itself carries him.
Round 1, Init 16
Though Kaylayne's first instinct is to run, seeing her companions dig in and trust Quillandra, she opts to do the same.
"Come to me, I can protect you from her touch, but not her wail,"Kaylayne says. "I cannot protect you all or for that long...but it is a measure of safety."
Kaylayne casts her second Anti-Incorpeal Shell. She moves to float 5' above...the middle of the party. She cannot protect airwalking bears or other bears.
[ dice]1d20+14-2[/dice] to hit; (rapid)
[ dice]1d6+2[/dice] magic damage.
+8 Bab +4 Dex +1 magic +1 PBS
1d6 + 1 magic +1 PBS
Pearl of Power 1: 0/2 used
Pearl of Power 2: 0/1 used
Rod Metamagic Extend: 3/3 used (magic vestment*2;heroism)
Scroll of Water Breathing
Wand of Lesser Restoration: 14 charges left
Ring of the Ram: 11/36 charges left
Wand of False Life 20 charges left
Staff of Dark Flame (10/10)
10 Adamantine Stones
25 Cold Iron Stones
10 Silver Stones
Spells:
Magic Vestment (22 hours)
Overland Flight (11 hours)
Heroism: (220 minutes)
Barkskin (110 minutes)
Resist Cold (30)
Produce Flame: 0/11
Other Kaylayne: round 0/11
Round 1, Init 15
AC = 2
HP = 62/62
Weapon Equipped = +1 Hand Crossbow
Condition(s) = None, only those circles of protection surrounding them all, mostly all
Lief decides the only thing he can do is listen to the 'women', remain close, and consume his vial.
"How, exactly, do you have this, Quilindra?"
HP 77/77
AC: 24 (Touch 18/ FF: 16)
Equipped Weapons: +1 Keen Longbow (+2)
+1 Cold Iron Longsword
Conditions:
Relevant Data:
+11/+6/+1 BAB
+2 STR
+5 Dex
+1 Composite Longbow (+2)
+1 Weapon Focus
-2 Rapid Shot
-3 Deadly Aim
+6 damage Deadly Aim
+1 Attack/Damage PBS
Gravity Bow (2d6 damage rolls on arrows)
Boots of Speed (10/10 Rounds left)
+1 Attack/from Haste
Extra attack from Haste
6 Regular/ 40 Adamantite (*)/10Silver/33 Ghost Salt (*)/11 Blunt Arrows (8 Silvered (Blanch) 6 Silvered (Alchemical)/20 Thistle Arrows (*)
Ederin says nothing as he draws his bow and casts gravity bow . He scans the room while preparing to launch as many arrows at the banshee as he can, whenever it decides to show itself.
Dimitrio blurs himself and prepares to defend Quilindra if he can. Ederin quietly casts gravity bow and prepares his onslaught. Kaylayne adds a layer of protection to the party. Lief displaces himself. Allarnon centers himself and casts air walk, preparing to take the fight into the air if necessary. Quilindra begins a wail of her own, interspersed with suggestions for how the party is better than some old hag of an undead thing. It’s hard to say who’s voice is more grating, but Quilindra’s certainly having fun shouting down the Banshee.
The Banshee completes her wail, and everyone must make a DC 25 Fort save or suffer 140hp of death damage. Alternatively, you can accept Quilindra’s help and your save is . Those who make the save (or accept Quilindra’s help) still suffer the sickened (link) condition for rounds.
Frustrated the Banshee tries to claw her way out of the ground to attack the party, but is stopped by Kaylayne’s Barrier. Clearly upset by this state of affairs, she begins to wail again…
Round 2, Init 16
Kaylayne feels sick, and moves to vomit so that it's not upon others. She vomits, cleaning her belly of bile and wiping her chin.
When she recovers, she casts Bless
[ dice]1d20+14-2[/dice] to hit; (rapid)
[ dice]1d6+2[/dice] magic damage.
+8 Bab +4 Dex +1 magic +1 PBS
1d6 + 1 magic +1 PBS
Pearl of Power 1: 0/2 used
Pearl of Power 2: 0/1 used
Rod Metamagic Extend: 3/3 used (magic vestment*2;heroism)
Scroll of Water Breathing
Wand of Lesser Restoration: 14 charges left
Ring of the Ram: 11/36 charges left
Wand of False Life 20 charges left
Staff of Dark Flame (10/10)
10 Adamantine Stones
25 Cold Iron Stones
10 Silver Stones
Spells:
Magic Vestment (22 hours)
Overland Flight (11 hours)
Heroism: (220 minutes)
Barkskin (110 minutes)
Resist Cold (30)
Produce Flame: 0/11
Other Kaylayne: round 0/11
|
|
At this point we’re at something of an impasse. The Banshee cannot surface due to Kaylayne’s spell, so she’s just going to continue to wail until Quilindra runs out of rounds. We’ll stay in rounds for one more pass, then we might just fast forward ten rounds or so to the fight without Quilindra’s oration.
Kaylayne casts her second Anti-Incorpeal Shell. She moves to float 5' above...the middle of the party. She cannot protect airwalking bears or other bears.
Allarnon's guts bind into a knot and he doesn't want to to trust the Demon but he knows that his life is on the line and that he must. he does what he can to focus on her words as only Himself and Tarkir are outside of Kaylayne's protective shield, due to their size and sheer masculinity.
He awaits the banshee to show itself before he leaps at it.
Allarnon-Bear Form
AC Bear: (AC 24) [+5 Armor; +1 Dex; +4 Natural; +3 Deflection; +1 Dodge;
AC Human: (AC 21) [+5 Armor; +2 Dex; +3 Deflection; +1 Dodge;
HP: 137/137; +0 Temp HP; -DR (0 remaining)
Buffs: Rage 17/17; Air walking)
Tarkir
AC: (AC 28) [+4 Armor; +3 Dex; +9 Natural; +4 Enhance Barkskin; +2 Deflection PfE; +2 Magic Vestment; +1 dodge haste]
HP: 64/64
Buffs: Greater Magic Fang; Magic Circle of Protection from Evil
Clearly shaken Dimitrio asks, "What's the game plan? I'm not very effective at a distance. Shorty, can you do something?"
--------------
You saw her fingers scratching at the dirt, but not enough to attack. Nor can she attack from within the ground. If/when she attacks, you'll be able to see her and can then target her with missiles or melee as fitting. So not yet, but eventually. :)
Round 2, Init 15
AC = 22
HP = 62/62
Weapon Equipped = +1 Hand Crossbow
Condition(s) = Countersong, Displacement, Shield
Lief strains to understand how she's doing it, as demon and succubus assail everyone present with noise that seeks to undo them, or undo the wail. He only wonders which of them will last longer. He isn't hopeful.
As the banshee attempts to reach from within the ground, then remain in the ground, Lief looks to his companions. "Isn't she supposed to be so filled with rage, that she would swoop about, seeking any way against us? It knowingly hides in the ground? It seems to be a more rational creature than Quilindra led us to believe."
Lief deals as best as he can with the sickness, before consuming another vial, while they lock sonic horns with the banshee.
HP 77/77
AC: 24 (Touch 18/ FF: 16)
Equipped Weapons: +1 Keen Longbow (+2)
+1 Cold Iron Longsword
Conditions:
Relevant Data:
+11/+6/+1 BAB
+2 STR
+5 Dex
+1 Composite Longbow (+2)
+1 Weapon Focus
-2 Rapid Shot
-3 Deadly Aim
+6 damage Deadly Aim
+1 Attack/Damage PBS
Gravity Bow (2d6 damage rolls on arrows)
Boots of Speed (10/10 Rounds left)
+1 Attack/from Haste
Extra attack from Haste
6 Regular/ 40 Adamantite (*)/10Silver/33 Ghost Salt (*)/11 Blunt Arrows (8 Silvered (Blanch) 6 Silvered (Alchemical)/20 Thistle Arrows (*)
"Want me to shoot the dirt Carini? Fine, but you're buyin' my arrows."
Ederin holds his bow steady and keeps himself prepared. He's not entirely sure what he can do to help so he just readies himself to release at a moments notice.
Dimitrio took a gamble, "We can't wait her out. We'll run out of resources way before she does."
He gulped, "Layne, can you move away with your protection? Perhaps Allarnon and I can engage her while you all pepper her from a distance. I see no other choice."
The bard starts reciting old dance tunes of the Varisians and his blade starts shimmering with energy in anticipation of the fight. His last?
------------
Dimitrio ghosts his rapier and suggests Kaylayne move away. Kaylayne blesses the party and moves off to expel her feelings. Lief wonders at the oddly specific nature of the Banshee, and prepares further with a shield. Allarnon readies an attack, which triggers and shifts his initiative to… the same place. Alas, his might swing is a miss however. Ederin readies an attack, which hits (first ‘blood’!) - and shifts his init to join Allarnon. Quilindra continues to wail to match the Banshee. She watches Kaylayne move away and expel her breakfast and…
…she stays put, trusting in Kaylayne’s good nature.
The Banshee completes her wail, and yet there is no effect. However, as the Banshee tries to claw her way out of the ground to attack the party, she finds she is no longer stopped by Kaylayne’s Barrier under her prize.
She erupts out of the ground (no provoking as the first square has cover) next to Quilindra. She screams at the face of her tormentor, and rakes into her - clearly focused only on Quilindra.
for and Terror (DC 25 Will save or cower in fear for rounds)
Quilindra, hit, is quite displeased, but still standing.
(bless) ...and not even cowering in fear, though she shoots a dirty look at Kaylayne for her exposure.
"Feet don't fail me now!"
The bard moved around the tree to get in position to try and corral a ghost...
-----------
HP 91/91
AC 28, touch 17, flat-footed 22
10 +4(DEX) +1(belt of DEX +2) +6(chainshirt+2) +2 (buckler+2) +2(ring of prot) +1 (dodge)
Conditions: blur, ghost touch
Melee (rapier+3): +20/+15 = +9(base) +4(dex) +1(belt of dex +2) +3 (magic) +1(weapon focus)+1(swashbuckler specialization)
Melee Damage (rapier+3, arcane strike, panache): 1d6+18 = +3(weapon) +4 (dex) +1(belt of dex +2) +2 (arcane strike) +5 (precise strike)+2 (specialization) +1(swashbuckler specialization), 15-20, x2
5/5 daggers, 4/5 panache, 3/3 charmed life, 20/22 bardic performance, 5/5 1st level, 3/4 2nd level spells, 1/1 arcane bond spell, ring of fire 5/5
Round 3, Init 16
"I told you to stick with me if you want protection. All of you that wish it," Kaylayne mutters to Dimitrio. "And if you wish to engage the banshee, might I suggest you leave rather than have me flitting about and denying protection to those that do?"
Kaylayne 5' floats closer to ensure protection for Ederin even as she spits the vomit from her lips. She grips her staff, wishing she could enter the fight...but knows that her ward prevents that. Then she smiles, seeing the Other Kaylayne near...and holding a copy of her staff. It is something that no one else sees.
Kaylayne utters words of magic power, imbuing the Other Kaylayne's staff with the might of force and magic.
The staff alone, now shimmering with force energy (and the staff is visible to all), joins the fight against the banshee. It attempts to strike with force.
to hit: (bless)
force damage;
[ dice]1d20+14-2[/dice] to hit; (rapid)
[ dice]1d6+2[/dice] magic damage.
+8 Bab +4 Dex +1 magic +1 PBS
1d6 + 1 magic +1 PBS
Pearl of Power 1: 0/2 used
Pearl of Power 2: 0/1 used
Rod Metamagic Extend: 3/3 used (magic vestment*2;heroism)
Scroll of Water Breathing
Wand of Lesser Restoration: 14 charges left
Ring of the Ram: 11/36 charges left
Wand of False Life 20 charges left
Staff of Dark Flame (10/10)
10 Adamantine Stones
25 Cold Iron Stones
10 Silver Stones
Spells:
Magic Vestment (22 hours)
Overland Flight (11 hours)
Produce Flame: 0/11
Other Kaylayne: round 0/11
Round 3, Init 15
AC = 26
HP = 62/62
Weapon Equipped = +1 Hand Crossbow
Condition(s) = Countersong, Displacement, Shield
Lief watches with fascination as the banshee strikes the succubus. Elledariah, tragic figure, finding some small retribution against the demon for her death and return. He quietly hopes she's given another chance to injure Quilindra further. At the same time, he takes a moment while the two abominations square off, to understand the banshee's center mass.
Ederin (DMPC) attacks with a volley of, I presume, ghost salted arrows.
Dimitrio rounds the tree and swings at the Banshee, barely missing in his excitement now there’s a target to attack. Ederin (DMPC) unloads on the Banshee with a volley of arrows, but DM luck means nothing lands on the elven undead. Kaylayne energizes a staff, but her other cannot quite hit the elusive Banshee. Lief fires twice and connects once though he does less damage than he’d like (incorporeal). Allarnon double moves into position while keeping Tarkir a safe distance. Quilindra withdraws under Kaylayne, trying to get back into the protective bubble. "We must find a better way to kill her than leaving me out as bait." she says simply, giving a look to Kaylayne.
The Banshee scrabbles at the protective bubble, and, screaming, descends back into the ground. You can see her scratching at the bubble from beneath the earth directly under Quilindra. You don’t see the Banshee well enough to attack her, but enough to know where she is.