With an almighty blow, Novennia is able to end the tiefling's life - the look of shock on his face frozen into place as his body topples to the ground.
Krokod says something in ignan that sounds akin to a cheer as Novenna finishes off the tiefling
Sure
Del tries to move into a flanking position if possible.
Delgata tries to hit the remaining skeletal wolf - but even getting into a flanking position doesn't help with his wild throw.
The wolf reacts to Brand's inactivity by taking a chunk out of his leg.
Seeing her target go down, Novennia pauses just long enough to catch her breath before turning her attention on the skeletal canine.
It was as if Novennia measured the amount of force required to finish the skeletal wolf exactly.
As it expired, the group drew breath.
You search the room and find a large chest to the north that is locked. Palaveen carries the key.
A leather sack that contains 50 of the wooden Mammon coins the Bastards use to mark the places they’ve robbed and people they’ve killed; 1600 gp worth of small gems; one 100 gp pearl; jewelry worth 800 gp, a masterwork dagger, a masterwork rapier, and a jeweled non-masterwork short sword worth 150 gp.
The notes on the table contain itemized lists of things the Bastards have stolen as well as some cryptic notes written in Infernal. Among these notes is a request for more skeletal wolves to help protect their base and a half-finished angry letter in which the writer seems to be frustrated at not being granted further audience with something called “the Council.”
A note lies in a crumpled heap at the foot of his bed. The letter is short and simply states:
Palaveen — While we appreciate the work of your Bastards, the Council never intended this association to be anything more than that.
We shouldn’t need to remind you that if your tiring applications continue, we’ll need to solve this problem in a manner less concerned with your continued good health.
A round-up of the corpses reveals the following:
Potion of disguise self, wand of cure light wounds (11 charges) +1 breastplate, +1 morningstar, iron unholy symbol, 600 gp, 6 x potion of cure moderate wounds, masterwork breastplate, 4 x crossbow, 80 x crossbow bolts, 4 x leather armour
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Yix takes quick stock of the loot, scanning everything with detect magic to see if there's anything of interest . He listens to the translation of the notes, making a mental note about this 'Council'.
Yix looks around the room as he thinks. Palaveen...was that one of the tieflings we fought? And this council...people who fancy themselves a lawful organization but work in the shadows are dangerous. I should know. He raps his dagger on the wall, turning with an air of finality. "I suppose we should leave before this becomes a crime scene. Does anybody else have anything they wish to do?"
.
"Finally," Krokod says, though if he's talking about the battle ending, his ability to speak common again, or both it is hard to say. Krokod casts detect magic over the loot.
]
Korokod double-checks the items but finds nothing different.
That guy that is full of hot air and annoying words could use some healing. Let me try the wand?
Del is more talking out loud to himself as he finds that wand of cure light wounds.
Alakazam
Alababa
Alabama
Alowishious
Aloe Vera
There is a little pop and fizzle all his failed attempts begin to frustrate him. He holds up the wand for anyone else to try.
As Del plays with the wand, saying an increasingly silly string of words in his attempts to get Neb back on his feet, Novennia busies herself with quickly and efficiently gathering anything she thinks the group could use. She divides the ill-gotten gains as best she can according to each rebel's percieved carrying capacity, leaving herself some of the heavier items, such as the weaponry. She suggests Yix take the papers for evidence, and keeps one of the healing potions for herself.
The breastplate and morningstar hold her attention longest, though. Her own armour was scratched and beaten, the hinges old and starting to creak... as Yix had said, though, the place was quickly turning into a crime scene.
After one final sweep to make sure nothing of interest remains, she nods at the bard in agreement. "I think we have everything," she says. "If none of us can get him up again-" she nods to the unconscious Neb "- let me know. I should be able to carry him out of here."
Ack-a-demia. Dammit either the wand is broken or he is broken I can't figure out which. Anyone want to give the twig a shot to give the twit a shot of walking out of here with his dignity.
Del will gladly carry anything he has been given.
"Here, let me." Krokod bends down to the Summoner and flames of life spark out to restore some health to Neb.
"I can try the wand as well, but I thought a spell might be more certain the first time."
As the spell infuses the body of Neb he seems to awaken... First he twitches, then rises...
Thank you fireman, what happened while I was knocked out?
"It was a bit of a blur, some of our stubborn foes didn't want to go down, but finally we achieved victory. We found some magic, you may want to look over it yourself," he informs Neb.
Neb treble checks and confirms what you already assumed.
"Anyone want that morningstar? I'm low on spells and while my club has been useful, magic is better," He says as they head out.
Not I but once we have fled this place I must reconsider my elemental pacts, my companion is good but I need more firepower... Literally as the case may be.
"They seem annoyingly resistant to fire, some of them," He says and claims the morningstar, at least to hold until later.
If they are resistant to fire then i'll get lightning elementals!
Bump?
You perform a final scan of all of the rooms. Quickly but efficiently. You do not find any more tieflings or treasure.
So you make your way back to Arael. He is clearly pleased to see you and delighted that you've all made it back.
"But please tell me, what happened and what have you found?"
For the last love of the gods! They are canine killers! Dead dogs all over the place walking around without skin, just bone. Angry viscous things; but understandably so, having no fur or eyes would make me quite angry too! There they are roaming around that defiled church like in a nightmare story written by an asylum inmate. Follow that with those red horned sadists creeping around like cockroaches in shadows, pointed horned vermin they are. Had to slip into the bell tower to get into the damnable place, killed their lookout dead. Then had some skinless dogs and more cockroaches to kill. We cleared out the church proper then went into the catacombs where we were duped into a trick. One of those fetishes cockroaches had dressed itself in burial lines and was laying in a crypt and rose out all creepy like. I though it was an revenant. Fooled me something horrible, what sane person lays in a dusty grave dressed like a dead guy in the chance someone just happens to walk by you in the bowels of your own secret hideout, what a twit. So this creepy cockroach gets out the grave and we back off, because he fooled us, I for one am not going to fight a dead man. So after we calmed our nerves we approached again and the revenant had left so we proceeded. That is where we found many underground tunnels that connected several houses. After clearing out a few we came on to the one with your big boss man. A bing and a boom this flamer over here (Neb) gets dropped but not killed, he is doing better now I think. Neb, are you doing better? Well we killed the big cockroach and more angry skinless dogs. We took their stuff and looking through it found evidence that there are more cockroaches, an infestation. Someone has letters to the big boss we killed. I am hungry now feed me.
Novennia listens as Delgata tells his version of events, staring at him for a few moments after he finishes. Does he even need to breathe? she wonders idly, silently marvelling at his rapid-fire speech. After a few empty moments, she clears her throat and gives her own telling of the events - in somewhat more direct terms, making sure to give Arael the papers for perusal. "Do you know what this 'Council' could be?" she asks, pointing out the mentions of it.
"What they said," Krokod says, "And I could use a bath or basin...some of what we fought was filthy."
Ned studiously ignores the rambling, insane Delgata...
We do have a prisoner, I recommend keeping him for the moment. The planetouched have many uses, although I am more acquainted with the descendants of the Genies...
Uses? Oh I see what you are getting at. My uncle had an antler rack on the front of his Wagon too.
A look passes over Arael's eyes. You've all seen it before. 'Why oh why did I ask?'
Clearing his throat he says, "Yes, well. Perhaps if I speak to each of you in turn your...err...different perspectives might give me greater...err...understanding. Yes!"
"Now, to your questions."
"To the necessities first. Food is being brought and you can clean up soon. Hot water is also being prepared."
"As for the 'Council' - it suggests only one thing but not something obvious. This place is full of conspiracies - what city or town isn't? But everyone has a story of dark deeds afoot in Westcrown. Shipments of valuable cargo that go missing with nary a trace or question asked. People who disappear as though they never existed. Lords
of business and nobles who speak in veiled references and accidental slips of masters even they must obey."
"What lords truly rule the Westcrown underworld? Could it be the tales of a far-reaching criminal organisation hold a hint of truth? Could the fabled Council of Thieves, said to have been purged from the city ages ago, have somehow survived or reformed?"
"And what hold do they hold over the city today?"
You are now offered an opportunity to wash and eat and ask any further questions.
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Yix drops his disguise, enjoying being in his own fur again. "A hot meal and bath will be very appreciated, thank you."
Yix laughs loudly at the conspiracy idea, waving off the looks he gets. "Nothing, just reminded me of something." He chuckles as he listens to the rest of the answer. "Hmm, we all work for somebody. That's what my father used to say." Yix goes glassy eyed for a moment before snapping back. "So you know as little as we do. Well, I suppose first things first, we should take you up on the offer for rest." Yix sets off, stripping off his sweat-stained tunic. He seems distracted; uncharacteristic for him.
The Council of Thieves. You've always mentioned your admiration of them. Is that what happened? You're not floating dead in a gutter somewhere, but rather you washed your hands of the darker work of our guild to pursue a seat on the Council? Yix flares his nostrils, absentmindedly eating his food as his thoughts drift back to his father...
"You appear to be providing us with more questions than answers," Novennia points out, hanging her cloak over the back of a chair and taking off her breastplate. The hinges squeal in protest, a sharp sound that sets the hairs on the back of her neck on end.
"You're right about that, Novennia. Mysteries upon mysteries here, I feel like a dog chasing his tail," Krokod says wearily though he did perk up at the mention of the food and hot water.
Del eats & drinks then bathes right when he wakes up in the morning. He will spend time with his bird talking to him.
Can we leave? I mean for like a few hours? Then come back? Or are we under the protective care of you now? There is someone that I wanted to track down, if she is still in town. I have an aunt that has a daughter that has a daughter that I think still lives here. Unless she moved she definitely still lives here. It would be nice to see her again since I never met her in person. Do any or all of you know Mina? Mina Stralroy? She is very popular in some crowds.
Del sits there staring at Arael waiting for an answer. It does not take a fool to know Del will be sneaking out if he is told no.
"You appear to be providing us with more questions than answers," Novennia points out, hanging her cloak over the back of a chair and taking off her breastplate. The hinges squeal in protest, a sharp sound that sets the hairs on the back of her neck on end.
[dice=Knowledge (local) - Council of Thieves?]1d20+7
Arael looks to Delgata. This is your home for as long as you need it. And like any home, you can come and go as you please. All I ask is that you do so discretely. The last thing we need are the authorities knocking on our door asking questions.
As he is getting his answer he is walking out the door with a spring in his step.
Woot hoot woot! Do not wait up. Going to find Mina.
Looking out the window you can see him quickly dusts off his clothes with rapid hands and slick his hair back with a handful of water from a birdbath. Then he is off...
Krokod watches Delgata go off, "He is an odd man indeed. I envy his energy."
Areal looks at Krokod. "Energy is a polite word for it - but I know what you mean. It's infectious, isn't it?"
"Is he always like that?" Novennia wonders, placing her removed breastplate on the table. She strips off the padding beneath it, eventually taking a seat once she's down to her civilian garments. "Also, Krokod, I noticed you spoke a strange tongue whenever the heat of battle rose. What's the deal with that?" She shakes her hair out of its bun, combing it loose. That feels much better.
"Well, not TOO infectious I hope. I have enough verbal quirks of my own," Krokod says in response to Areal.
She strips off the padding beneath it, eventually taking a seat once she's down to her civilian garments. "Also, Krokod, I noticed you spoke a strange tongue whenever the heat of battle rose. What's the deal with that?" She shakes her hair out of its bun, combing it loose. That feels much better.
"Ignan... the language of fire. I'm..well, marked by the gods, or a god...and I don't get much choice in the matter," Krokod winces with a touch of embarrassment crossing his handsome face, "When things get too stressful, and always in combat, I can neither speak nor understand anything else. Your own words, as much sense as they make now, would be babble to my ears during one of my rather humiliating 'fits'. Of course, the benefits include my spells and other mysteries, and this empowerment DID save my life, so I suppose I have little right to complain. Still, if I could go back to dancing and romancing without such cares, I probably would."
"I don't know, I'm not a caster. Of course, when others speak Ignan, I understand them at ANY time. But it's hardly fashionable in court let alone common."