Ylva shakes herself as her paws come under her control once more. Raising her nose again, the she-wolf sniffs the air as Rannveig watches anxiously, wishing she had some ability to help.
Dimitrio strikes with deadly precision, sinking the blade of his shortsword into the puppet's joint. He twists, grinding into its wooden body and the needle wielding arm pops off and flies some distance away in a shower of splinters and the toy tumbles to the stage floor.
Donovan connects with his mace, but beyond leaving a slight dent, the blow seems to have no effect.
Artegal's halberd slices away a significant chunk from his target, and Nicu's blast knocks the puppet off its wooden feet.
The three remaining Carrionettes are becoming desperate and turn to face Artegal and Dimitrio, ignoring Olivia and Donovan. Two fail to hit their mark but C4 clutches at Artegal, flooding him with its evil energy.
.
.
Round 4
Olivia - missed, maintaining Inspire Courage
Dimitrio - critical to C2
Donovan - attack ineffective
Artegal - smites C5
Rannveig
Nicu - finishes off C5
Carrionettes - acted
Ninefingers
Ylva - scenting the air
C1-engages Artegal (6 DMG -2DR = 4 DMG)
#C2-downed and disabled (12 DMG -2DR =10 4+3+10=17 DMG)
#C3-downed and disabled
C4-engaged with Donovan (5 DMG -2 DR = 3 DMG)
#C5-downed and disabled (7 DMG 4+1+3+7+4=19 DMG)
C6-engages Olivia
Giuseppe-running (4 DMG)
Luc moves to G,8 and bashes down on a toy with his enchanted mace,
;
"Grrrwrrr" the frustrated dwarf growls as he splinters the stage floor.
Having already taken 10 points of damage, my hit points fall to -1, and I fall to the floor, unconcious.
Round 5
Nicu directs his last force missile to the carrionette looming over the downed form of Artegal.
Then he draws his bow and calls to Rannveig, "Artegal is down, we must rally to his defense before these little horrors cut another neck this evening!"
well, okay, but that's not nearly as exciting...
The rogue breathes easier now that the evil puppets start falling to his friends blows and his blades. He maneuvers to once again hack at them with both blades from behind.
Boote should not be unconscious - yet.
Disabled (0 Hit Points)
When your current hit point total drops to exactly 0, you are disabled.
You gain the staggered condition and can only take a single move or standard action each turn (but not both, nor can you take full-round actions). You can take move actions without further injuring yourself, but if you perform any standard action (or any other strenuous action) you take 1 point of damage after completing the act. Unless your activity increased your hit points, you are now at –1 hit points and dying.
Healing that raises your hit points above 0 makes you fully functional again, just as if you'd never been reduced to 0 or fewer hit points.
You can also become disabled when recovering from dying. In this case, it's a step toward recovery, and you can have fewer than 0 hit points (see Stable Characters and Recovery).
Ylva, picking up the trail, howls and lopes off into the night, Rannveig protectively on the she-wolf's heels.
I will not Lay Hands to heal myself, but with my last conscious action, attack C4, no longer with the Smite Evil ability
and then fall down unconscious
I will not Lay Hands to heal myself, but with my last conscious action, attack C4, no longer with the Smite Evil ability
[dice=Halberd attack on C4]d20+4+1
[dice=damage if successful]d8+1and then fall down unconscious
thanks, I know this, but it is not something Nathaniel will do
"Stubborn" Luc shakes his head, 'Dead ye can't help anyone."
As Ylva catches the scent, Rannveig notices that the fog has grown heavier in the time since entering the Theatre. The pair cannot see anything more than five feet in front of them outside the door to the Theatre.
A cry escapes Olivia's throat as she watches the infernal toy grab Artegal, his face blanching before her eyes under the cruelty of its wooden hands. But rather than wailing like a weakling damsel, her voice takes on a fierce edge as the words rip from between her teeth.
"NO! You will NOT touch him again, Abomination!" She lashes out with her whip with vindictive accuracy, wrapping it around the constructs wooden neck and with a flick of her wrist, she pulls the tiny monster off it's feet and away from the halfling knight. It tries to reach her with a needle attack but falls short.
"Now! Strike now while it's vulnerable!"
Dimitrio's shortsword only succeeds in scraping paint off the puppet theatre, but his dagger lands a solid blow.
Artegal lunges with his halberd, putting every ounce of his waning strength into the blow and then crumples to the floor.
Nicu shouts his concern for his comrade, trying to call Rannveig back to the fray and releases his (last?) force missile on the now prone Carrionette.
Ninefingers prepares to channel healing energies for his overzealously heroic fellows.
Round 5
Olivia - Tripped C4, maintaining Inspire Courage
Dimitrio - Dagger hit on C1
Donovan -
Artegal - Hit on C4
Rannveig -
Nicu - FM on C4
Carrionettes -
Ninefingers - Channeling
Ylva -
C1-engaged with Dimitrio (8 DMG -2DR=6 4+6=10 DMG)
#C2-downed and disabled
#C3-downed and disabled
C4-prone (8 DMG -2 DR=6 3+6+3=12 DMG)
#C5-downed and disabled
C6-engaged with Dimitrio
Giuseppe-running (4 DMG)
Donovan abandons the mace and strikes at the vile puppet with determined skill with his rapier, landing a splintering blow. The carrionette Olivia pulled prone turns a defiant glare on the fair halfling and scrambles across the floor toward Artegal with uncanny speed. Donovan lashes out in an attempt to stop it from reaching his helpless comrade, but even though he strikes true, the thing plunges it's needle into the back of the halfling knight's neck a split second before the rapier plunges home. The carrionette tumbles to the floor and remains still.
Ninefingers grasps his holy symbol of Iomedae and channels his reverence for life into healing energies that refresh and energize his friends.
But he feels a disturbing and disorienting sensation as he does so... Rather than being warmed by the reassuring glow of Iomedae's righteous honor, he is chilled and feels a gnawing emptiness inside. His connection to his loving goddess, once like a bright conduit... is now a murky trickle. Pain and panic compete for his attention as he gags from the sensation.
Round 5
Olivia - Tripped C4, maintaining Inspire Courage
Dimitrio - Dagger hit on C1
Donovan - Hit on C1 and C4
Artegal - Hit on C4
Rannveig - Delayed to Ylva's turn
Nicu - FM on C4
Carrionettes - hit on Artegal
Ninefingers - Channeling
Ylva/Rannveig
.C1
.C4
C6
C1-engaged with Dimitrio (9 DMG -2DR=7 4+6+7=17 DMG)
#C2-downed and disabled
#C3-downed and disabled
C4-downed and disabled (7 DMG -2 DR=5 3+6+3+5=17 DMG)
#C5-downed and disabled
C6-engaged with Dimitrio
Giuseppe-running (4 DMG)
After only a few steps into the night, Ylva stops, whining. She glances at Rannveig, and after a moment's communion, Rannveig understands that the puppetmaster has - for the moment, at least, gotten away. The two turn back to the door and begin their run back to their companions and their deadly struggle.
So I am concious, but do I suffer any effects from the needle in my neck?
The halfling regains his feet and raises his hand to the back of his neck, but feels nothing there. If any other effect has occurred, he is unaware of it.
Rannveig and Ylva can reach the Carrionettes and make attacks on this turn. Two are still standing.
Olivia's face gleams with hope of victory as the tide of the battle turns, and she attempts the more risky maneuver of pulling the Carrionette off its feet again, this time just managing to snare one of its hands as she jerks backward. The construct tumbles toward her, overbalanced and reaches out with its wooden hand and landing its attack on her leg as it clatters to the stage floor. She cries out in pain as the creature’s dark magic sears away nearly half her health in one shot. Her breath comes in small gasps as she recovers.
Round 6
Rannveig/Ylva- ?
Olivia - Tripped C6
Dimitrio -
Donovan -
Artegal -
Rannveig -
Nicu -
Carrionettes -
Ninefingers -
C1-engaged with Dimitrio (9 DMG -2DR=7 4+6+7=17 DMG)
#C2-downed and disabled
#C3-downed and disabled
#C4- downed and disabled
#C5-downed and disabled
C6-prone
Giuseppe-running (4 DMG)
Dashing back into the fray, Rannveig darts in for a low strike with her blade, Ylva's fangs coming in high at the same time from the other side.
Rannveig moves to G6, Ylva to F8. I'm not sure if Rannveig can get in a shot from there or not, but it seemed like she might be able to reach up onto the stage and tag one.
I will try to shake off the trauma, and recovering my weapon, attack C6
Nicu fires on the carrionette still standing, taking care to keep his shot away from his companions.
Dimitrio once again took advantage of their superior numbers to position himself behind one of the remaining marionettes. The rogue slashed and stabbed with his blades at the evil puppet.
Rannveig strikes a ripping blow on the prone puppet while Dimitrio's blades scramble to carve the beast a new countenance. Donovan's slice takes the creature's leg off at the knee.
Nicu's arrow fells the greatly weakened Carrionette and Artegal lands a sweeping chop that succeeds at beheading the vile thing. It's wooden head bounces across the stage floor, it's eyes wide with surprise.
The puppets lay in splinters and pieces at the party's feet, some of them still moving feebly, but no longer a threat to anyone.
Olivia rushes to Artegal, anxiously looking him over for a wound and seems somewhat relieved when she finds and then turns to the darkened Theatre. She mutters something under her breath and four balls of light spring forth from her hand. She directs them as she begins to search the Theatre, her cries for Azura becoming more urgent and panicked with every passing minute. Finally she stops looking, staring blankly at the body of the man on the floor of the audience.
"She's not here. I don't understand. What did they do with them? They murdered the Mayor... he would be the more valuable hostage..." She turns to the party, her green-gold eyes wide with fear and confusion, beseeching them to help her.
...
Donovan looks pale but resolute as he focuses on slowing his breathing and checking over his own wounds.
"Is everyone alright?"
Rannveig moves up to Donovan's side and jerks her head towards the door where Giuseppe escaped, a sense of urgency to her motion. She has no wounds of her own, but is clearly agitated. "He moves swiftly, but we can follow him if we must." She says to Donovan and Olivia.
"Let's be quick if we follow, but I fear for the town, how many of those evil dolls were distributed to the children of the faire? The horror we found in that first home may be playing out in other homes right now! Where are the children and adults that were here at the theatre?"Nicu quickly runs among the seats in the theatre floor, looking for any signs of struggle or bloodshed not related to the recent combat.
Luc will selectively channel a healing surge over his injured comrades.
He nods at Donovan.
Olivia's eyes widen at Nicu's words, her hand covering her mouth a moment before she speaks.
"Giuseppe has sold and made gifts of so many toys to the children of the town... I can't even begin to guess how many! There will be many and all over the town. I housed the children across the way and someone went to get Jovanni, he may be waiting to hear from us now. But I fear if we let Giuseppe escape into the night, as well. What should we do?" She looks to the party for guidance and her eyes slip unfocused as some level of physical shock begins to set in. Her fingers, small and pale, tremble before her lips as she gazes upon some imagined horror show playing out privately in her thoughts.
Nicu's quick search reveals little, some small items like handbills for the puppet show, a lady's comb, a man's watch, and a still warm, small redwood pipe. Lady Azura's pipe. There doesn't appear to be any signs of struggle, no traces of blood beyond that of the murdered town mayor.
Rannveig's eyes flicker to the door and the mists, clearly anxious to begin hunting Giuseppe, but she waits for Donovan's say-so, or the pack's...the party's decision.
"Slippery devil he is," clearly mentioning Giuseppe, "had 'im in our grasp. Any ideas where he'd run off to?" He chews and puffs on his soggy cigar butt. "Can't rightfully let that one run 'round the town...free, besides he may be able to control those darn dolls and turn 'em off if we catch 'im."
Ninefingers grasps his holy symbol of Iomedae and channels his reverence for life into healing energies that refresh and energize his friends.
But he feels a disturbing and disorienting sensation as he does so... Rather than being warmed by the reassuring glow of Iomedae's righteous honor, he is chilled and feels a gnawing emptiness inside. His connection to his loving goddess, once like a bright conduit... is now a murky trickle. Pain and panic compete for his attention as he gags from the sensation.
Luc will make a knowledge religion check to if this reveal any insight,
"Look here, a still warm pipe, and no other signs of struggle", jumping to the stage, Nicu passes the redwood pipe to Olivia, "Let's hope they're safe for the moment and pursue the foul puppet master while the trail is warm. Donovan, Rannveig, lead the way! The rest of us will follow your trail." Hopping from stage to steps, Nicu pursues Giuseppe.
Donovan lets Ranveig lead the way, both so as not to get in the way of her impressive nose, and because the injuries received in the previous fight made him doubt his own abilities as a point guard.
Donovan lets Ranveig lead the way, both so as not to get in the way of her impressive nose, and because the injuries received in the previous fight made him doubt his own abilities as a point guard.
I stand, somewhat awkwardly for a moment, I want to thank Olivia, but I cannot find the right words. I am afraid that she now sees that I am not the warrior I should be, and that I am nothing but a fake.
[b ] “Olivia, the toys,” [/b]
Just breath Nathaniel, just breath, and talk to her
“The toys, if they are like these, must be collected, and, and I know that sounds daunting, but it must be done. Every moment we delay is window of opportunity for that monster to take more innocent lives. And why, why would he do this? Is he extracting some vengeance on the people of this town? Is he just a madman? Is there a sickness in his mind? Or even worse is he only a puppet of some other horrible entity that takes pleasure in seeing people suffer, but, I’m sorry, I’m going on and on. Yes, we need to find people we can trust, and put them to work collecting all of those toys, but the rest of us, with the skill of Mis Pack-bound, will track down the man, and bring him to justice. This I swear.”
I try to smile at Olivia, but looking at her is beginning to make me feel things that I know I have no right feeling. I turn to Luc, and move toward him.
“Master Rockborn, once again we are all in your debt. I hope I can prove myself worthy of the gifts you continue to bestow upon me.”
At the mention of the toys, the rogue is suddenly worried as well as terrified about Mari. "Guys, remember the pirate toy that Mari wanted to give me the first time I met her. Is she an innocent victim or is she a part of the evil plot?"
Dimitrio votes for following the toy-maker, "But let's stay close. No sense in getting lost in this damn fog." He then spits on the ground to ward off evil spirits, sheathes his blades, and is ready to go.
Luc will make a knowledge religion check to if this reveal any insight,
Luc struggles to understand what is happening to his bond with Iomedae but nothing he has experienced or learned through study can explain this phenomena. He has only heard doubtful rumors of planes of existence where the gods hold no sway, but those rumors seem much more plausible at this moment than ever before. He searches instinctively, like a green plant in the darkness stretching toward the tiniest ray of sunlight. It is as if his goddesses' love and favor flows to him through a distant keyhole. But not simply occluded, no. Tainted somehow... like sucking sweet honey mead through the filthy stocking of man who marched himself to death.
Olivia takes the pipe from Nicu and holds it in her hand, seeming to stare through it rather than at it. But Artegal's words stir her and she makes an effort to shake off the leaden daze of shock and listen to what he says.
"I would never have dreamed Giuseppe was capable of something like this... I'm not sure he is in his right mind. But you are right, if we can hope to understand and stop these killings, we must find him. Oh poor, Mari. How will I tell her that her uncle is murdered?" She shakes her head sadly as the party assembles to head out into the mist in pursuit of the toymaker.
P.S. What is meant by "tag?"
P.S. What is meant by "tag?"
The suspicious dwarf raises his eyebrow at Dimitrio's suggestion, "Mari? Whatchya step on 'er foot when ya'dancin'" he snorts.
"What's your gut say, Dimitrio, is Mari a victim or a villain? I'll trust your say in the motives of women, you certainly have the more experience, but I'd hate to think she was anything other than a pawn in the plot of someone else. Olivia seems to know Giuseppe and his behavior seems shocking, we should take care that an innocent under enchantment doesn't suffer for our misunderstanding, let us only strike the real villain and not just at his puppets."
"It is definitely worth looking into. Even the best case scenario is that she is unknowingly aiding a terrible evil. Not a very pleasant thought for a young girl."
The suspicious dwarf raises his eyebrow at Dimitrio's suggestion, "Mari? Whatchya step on 'er foot when ya'dancin'" he snorts.
The rogue looks like he was offended, "Quite the contrary. The girl inspired me to one of my better performances." He smirks at his own joke, "And you should have seen me dancing."
"What's your gut say, Dimitrio, is Mari a victim or a villain? I'll trust your say in the motives of women, you certainly have the more experience, but I'd hate to think she was anything other than a pawn in the plot of someone else. Olivia seems to know Giuseppe and his behavior seems shocking, we should take care that an innocent under enchantment doesn't suffer for our misunderstanding, let us only strike the real villain and not just at his puppets."
"Well, that's jus it. Dimitrio thinks the girl was honest in her affection but I have been known to get things wrong in the past." He checks his clothes making sure nothing is missing and adds, "No, no it must be that she's also a pawn and she may be in danger. Dimitrio would like to go check on her if possible, yes?"
"I trust you, friend, that she is just a pawn, and it's what I want to believe, if so then let us pursue the man that pulls the strings and end her manipulation at it's source, then we'll find her safe afterwards. Check on her now if you must, no heart should be forced against it's will, but I'll pursue the puppet master and stop the foul maestro if possible!" Nicu lunges into the misty night, pursuing Giuseppe.
Listening to Dimitrio liberally mix his tenses made Donovan smile. He could practically hear his aunt snapping her fan in annoyance while she gave a much younger Donovan lessons in grammar and etiquette.
She'd have absolutely hated the charming rake.
Maybe that's why I like him. Donovan chuckled to himself.
"I'm not sure we should split up. If Mari is an unwitting pawn, she is still unwitting and in no danger. If she is part of the plot we should not seek her without our full compliment."