Shouldering her bow, Reillana instead draws her fighting knife and makes ready to assist Celia.
Talk about a rock and a hard place! Well at least my companions tried to talk this time!Gods I'm not a coward but I'm flanked, wounded, and can easily be flanked again! Time to let my training kick in and not try to be the hero...one of us has to live to tell Sheila Heidmarch what happened here! Celia makes a *Sophie's Choice* and withdraws from an obviously over-matched and deadly situation. Perhaps if they don't give chase I can use my bow to pick a couple off from distance....Shelyn if you spare me...I swear I'll serve you as me mother wished me to do!
Cedric gets a good grip on Terisha's leg, but doesn't appear to break through the armor.
"Ah! Where did you come from?", she exclaims. "There's a spell caster around somewhere!"
Green watches as Celia makes her strategic retreat. "Aww... Where ya going? I thought we were getting ta know each other"
Knowing what the boss wants, he advances on Paeral, swinging with his morningstar and landing a glancing blow.
Terisha takes a 5-foot step away from Cedric, pulls a tanglefoot bag from her belt and throws it.
"Bad Doggy! Stay!"
Terisha -6
Paeral -7
Barkot -10
Blue
Celia -10
Reillana -2
Squint
Green
Barkot, holding onto his side where Blue based his his ribs with his morningstar, sees Celia run off after being struck herself.
Dat's a damn shame. Thought dat gal was gonna work out.
Barkot backs away a short step himself and winces. Reluctantly, he repeats his healing spell.
Once the worst of the pain has dulled and he can no longer feel his broken ribs stabbing into his lungs with the least movement, Barkot slips his off-hand into the straps of his buckler and readies his longsword.
Barkot heals the worst of his wounds, while Paeral finally draws blood from one of the thugs.
Blue advances on Barkot. "Hey, Terisha. This ugly half-orc is casting spells."
He bashes Barkot's arm, sending the orc reeling again.
Terisha -6
Paeral -7
Barkot -12
Blue
Celia -10
Reillana -2
Squint
Cedric Entangled
Green -7
With a wordless cry Reillana rushes the brute in front of her, juking left before lunging her knife at his throat!
Pulling her knife free, the elf twirls the blade and points it at the remaining thug. "Whatever she's paying you, it can't be enough. Go home."
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Clear of the immediate danger Celia slugs down her potion. feeling the effects of the potion..Celia's head clears a bit and she's the desperate situation her companions are in just down the alley. She looks longingly back toward the center of town back toward Sheila Heidmarch's house and safety and large lump forms in her throat as she slides her shortsword back in its sheath and drops the empty potion to the cobblestones at her feet. Can't believe I'm doing this! thinks she..as she reaches to her back to grab her bow.
Reillana's knife opens a vicious slash in the thug, while the entangled Cedric fails to bite at Terisha. Squint and Celia look toward healing.
The Green thug claps a hand over the blood spurting from his latest wound. "Gah! I remember now, I saw her at the Serpent's Run! She's the one who broke Jonny's nose! I didn't sign on for fighting gladiators!"
He Withdraws.
Disgusted, Terisha calls out. "Coward! We'll deal with this betrayal, mark my words!"
Looking down on the party, she says, "Looks like I need to deal with you myself."
She 5-foot steps away from Cedric, then falls to the ground acrobatically, deftly landing on her feet next to Reillana, where she holsters her crossbow and prepares to draw a weapon.
Terisha -6
Paeral -7
Barkot -12
Blue
Celia -6
Reillana -2
Squint
Cedric Entangled
Green -13
I shoulda snagged one a' dem healin' potions when I hadda chance.
Barkot grits his teeth and staggers back another step. He chuckles when the green-garbed goon gallops away; blood trickles out of his mouth, but he doesn't seem to notice.
"See, lady? We toldja. It's bad luck ta get in our way."
He hisses out a few more words, which only Terisha can hear, then drops his sword and collapses onto the street.
Terisha pops up from her 3-point landing with a grin, mocking the party. The grin is quickly wiped away as feathers suddenly sprout from her chest.
Terisha is still standing, but looks unsteady, then begins to look frightened as Barkot's spell takes effect.
The Blue thug, no stranger to battle, sees that the Boss is just about done and his friend has fled.
With a mock salute to Terisha, he turns and starts to follow Green.
"Pleasure working with you, Terisha"
Terisha -26
Paeral -7
Barkot -13
Blue
Celia -6
Reillana -2
Squint
Cedric Entangled
Green -13
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Cedric attempts to follow Terisha off the roof, though the goo snaring his four legs makes his jump off of the roof much less graceful.
Cedric lands prone behind the Tower Girl with a yelp.
Squint, still invisible, almost yelps at Terisha lands next to him. He scuttles next to the collapsed Barkot and pours a potion down his throat.
"Are you willing to be reasonable now?" Reillana reverses her grip on the knife and drops into a fighting crouch, but her voice is calm and reasonable. "Surrender and be spared. Better to be handed over to the guards than to be one more corpse staining the gutters, right? Who knows, if you have valuable information we may even let you escape."
Terisha looks around and sees no escape and knows that she is beat. Holding her hands to the arrow in her chest, she slumps to her knees.
"Fine. I can handle the dungeons. Maybe by the time I get out, the rest of the Girls will have forgotten my failure."
Celia takes a look at the pile at the end of the street. It is, indeed, the bodies of the three thugs who were guarding the boarding house. If you care to take it, they have 3 suits of chainmail, 57 crossbow bolts, and 36gp.
Patting down Terish reveals 3 light blue potions (CLW), 2 red potions, a smokestick, 1 tanglefoot bag, a Mwk chainshirt, a Mwk hand crossbow, 10 bolts, a Mwk short sword, a Mwk whip, climber's kit, grappling hook, 50-foot silk rope, second story harness, silver holy symbol of a pole with streamers hanging from the top, thieves' tools, 4 pp, 47 gp.
Celia stands guard over Natalya’s crated body while the rest take inventory of Terisha's belongings and secure the tower girl with her own rope. Barkot comes over and drops a pile of chainmail suits and a bag of gold next to the other pile of loot. Perhaps I should learn how to wear heavier armor hanging out with you guys *he*he*, Celia laughs with a bit of trepidation, unsure of how her companions interpreted her tactical retreat from a hopeless situation.
When Reillana Myerishil identifies the blue vials of liquid found on Terisha as potions of cure lt. wounds Celia says, If it's likely we're to be attacked again I'll need one of those to be any help. If my father hadn't bought me one before I joined the society, I wouldn't have made it through this donnybrook." Celia is not shy about asking for the potion despite her own self doubts. I did after all step forward to confront the thugs and block them from recovering Natalya when combat first broke out. It's hardly my fault they were able to flank me considering how quickly everything occurred!...Praise Shelyn for her mercy ...I and my companions were spared more harm!
Celia looks around anticipating an attack from all directions. Ask that one if we're likely to be attacked again before we get back..! Kicking Terisha's leg in impatience and fear Celia says, Is that all? Are you it!? Are more of your friends withing around the corner?!
"Hey, lookit dat! Rope!" Barkot happily stuffs the coil of silk rope into his pack and tosses the heavy hempen rope he found earlier - now covered in crap and slime from the sewage pits in the abandoned boarding house - into the gutter.
"If it's likely we're to be attacked again I'll need one of those to be any help. If my father hadn't bought me one before I joined the society, I wouldn't have made it through this donnybrook."
Barkot, covered in his own blood, the gaping wound at his side healed just barely enough to keep his insides in and the outside out, watches in silence as Celia takes one of the healing potions. He picks up the other two, tosses one to Paëral, then checks with Reillana before (if she nods her agreement) drinking the other himself.
Once the pain of his injuries fades, Barkot decides - grudgingly - that Celia probably did the right thing by retreating.
She sure got herself in a bad spot between dose two guys. Mebbe after all dem fights in da arena, she learnt dat da best t'ing ta do if yer in a bad spot or see one comin' is ta scoot. Thought she might be good wit' a sword, but Da Heidmarch musta picked 'er fer some udder reason. He chuckles to himself, a low rumble. Not dat I'm showin' anybody how it's done. I ain't one a' dem swashbucklers, dat's fer sure.
He fishes the filthy rope back out of the gutter, and starts tying Terisha's hands with it.
"Let's get dis broad turned over ta da guards and get back ta Da Heidmarch wit' everyt'ing else before anyt'ing else happens."
Celia looks around anticipating an attack from all directions. Ask that one if we're likely to be attacked again before we get back..! Kicking Terisha's leg in impatience and fear Celia says, Is that all? Are you it!? Are more of your friends withing around the corner?!
Terisha makes no response, but gives you a smirk no unlike what you've seen from your younger sisters when they don't want to do something you've told them to do.
Frustrated Celia takes one of the healing potions and stuffs it in her belt pouch for now. Well I'll be of little use carrying one end of this burden anyway.. Celia points to the crate containing the unconscious Natalya. Let's stack the chainmail on top of the crate..it should be worth some coin. Who's guarding this one? Celia says indicating Terisha with a nasty glare at the woman.
As he loads the largest pieces of the recovered gear into the crate on top of the unconscious Vancaskerkin (but not any of the weapons), Barkot examines the beribboned staff.
Cooing in wordless delight, Reillana loops the short sword's sheathe onto her belt and admires the whip. "Probably should just sell it, but it could be fun to have," she remarks to no one in particular.
Kneeling down beside Terisha, she confirms that the wound isn't lethal and then looks up to make eye contact with the thief. "Can you walk? We've questions for you and the faster we move the sooner we can get you patched up."
Familiar with many of the Empyreal Lords, Barkot recognizes the Maypole design of Marishi, The Festival Queen.
----
Grimacing in pain, Terisha attempts to stand, but fails. "I think I can walk, but I'm going to need some help."
"Somebody c'n help ya walk, but we ain't gonna carry ya. Squint, mebbe y'oughtta call back yer buddy, so's we got anudder set a' eyes while we're walkin'? Ya prolly got time while we're packin' up da goodies."
Barkot gives the whip the same wistful look Reillana does, then raises his eyebrows when he realizes he isn't the only one who might find it useful.
"Barkot, do you think you can do something for her to ease the pain enough for her to walk?"
When Squint doesn't answer Barkot's query the elf turns back to look at the halfling, head tilted in curiosity. "Squint? You alright? We need to get moving."
"I dunno, Reillana. I ain't got no bandages or nuttin, an' we're in da middle of da street. Maybe da best t'in' would be ta see if dere's a stable roun' here an' try ta hire a coupla horses an' a cart."
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Squint remains staring at Celia until she addresses him.
”Did you decide that you needed to claim one of the potions of healing from the defeated enemy before or after you ran away from the fight like a coward?”
Squint does not await an answer, but instead hands over one of the potions of healing in his pouch to Barkot, continuing to glare at Celia as he does so. He then starts to summon Ulyi, continuing to hold a largely unblinking stare with the female athlete.
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Reillana steps between Celia and Squint, palms outward to each of them to forestall and argument on the street. "Peace, peace to you both. If you must quarrel do so at the Manor away from curious outsiders. For what it's worth, Squint, I don't think she make the wrong decision--we'd be in it deep if we had a third casualty to move."
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Squint completes summoning Ulyi before responding to Reillana’s words.
”Your argument holds no logic. You would rather that our ally ran away than stay and fight by our side? Perhaps you would run as well, if given the chance, Reillana?”
Ulyi flares their shoulders, head darting bird-like between Celia and Reillana.
”I look forward to returning to Heidmarch Manor and requesting a new team assignment.”
Squint says nothing further to the party until his return to Heidmarch Manor.
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Celia blinks, Well there it is one of my allies has confirmed my own self doubts...but I find this unsettling to take from someone who stands in back and calls on magic beings to do his fighting for him while holding and hoarding the healing in his own belt pouch!
Mast Squeek..et umm I mean Squint Celia is not shy about her distaste for the ugly half-man. I ran this is true...but not before I placed myself between two charging adversaries and the rest of the party. Celia looks to the rest of the party to acknowledge what everyone knows to be true. Perhaps it was my many years of gladiatorial training that taught me to not allow myself to be flanked or death would soon follow...or perhaps your accusation is correct and I'm just a coward....I'll leave it to the rest to decide which is which seeing how you've already made up your mind.
But whether or not my maneuvers it combat constitute cowardliness or not is irrelevant to me with regards to yourself...As I did not see you at all during combat! Celia looks directly at the pudgy little deformed creature known as "Squint". Pointing her finger at his monstrous ally she continues. I do not have the luxury of using magic to conceal myself while others do the fighting for me! You however, are perfectly comfortable hoarding all the healing magic the party has to offer while others blood fills the gutters! What say you to this?! Must we all fall before we are deemed worthy enough to hold our own magic? Or will you summon your servant to take it from us?! Celia takes the potion out from her belt pouch..still bleeding and terribly wounded she considers throwing on the cobbles below and smashing the content in protest but instead hands it to Barkot.
I'll let a true warrior who bleeds his own blood hold the magic that can save his life. As for you savage little 1/2 dwarf... I'll not be speaking with you until offered an apology! Not through quite yet, Celia snaps her head at Parnel and says, As for you! If you continue to shoot first and ask questions later...you can expect a report to Venture Captain Heidmarch from me! We're Pathfinders not assassins! Celia shakes the crate holding Natayla... This woman was held up firmly in that place she could have waited till another day when we had a better tactical plan, or at least were fully healed. It's miracle she's still alive to interrogate..perhaps your cold elven blood doesn't feel mortality as we humans do, given how long your given on Golarion...but, I'd prefer my mother not be sent a message my body was found rotted in the sewers some weeks after worrying about my disappearance! So if you want to attack every thug on site we meet in Magnimar...give the rest of us fair warning so we can travel at distance and not be associated with such a ruthless individual. Celia laughs a bitter chortle.. You won't last long on the streets of Magnimar that way anyhow...but small consolation to your companions families, that you drug into your never ending battle, with your own ego! Celia spits in disgust, And if that be your view of what a coward is so be it! I don't answer to either of you anyway...I'm a Pathfinder...chosen for my skill and reason of mind and heart as well as my blade...you... Looking mostly at 'Squint' Your both just scared little men trying to build your own courage by calling into question others...I'll let Heidmarch and if necessary the The Decemvirate, decide my fitness to be a member. May Shelyn show you the path to beauty ... Celia turns her back picks up the crate and says to Barkot and Reillana, It's getting late, the thieves in these parts mostly come out at night...mostly. Celia says suddenly feeling naked and wounded.
Barkot looks decidedly uncomfortable at Squint's accusation and Celia's outburst.
"Yeah, I dunno, Squint. Might be she made da right call gettin' outta da way of dose two mopes when she did. She says she'd a' come back, an' she didn't go far, anyways."
He scratches the back of his head, then gives Celia a quizzical look. "But I dunno whatcha think happened back at dat 'bandoned boardin' house. Way I 'member it, it wuz YOU tryin' ta leave that set Lady Whackadoodle here off castin' some kinda nasty spell. Paëral and Reillana didn' shoot off deir arrows 'til she did. An' I know you thought she wuz in some kinda great position for a fight, but she didn' last long once da arrows started flyin'. Mighta gone bad, I guess, but that ain't what happened and so stop fussin' about it like sometin' proved you was right when ya flat-out wasn't. You wuz wrong back in da last fight, an' you gettin' pissy 'bout it now by tryin' ta change what happened ain't gonna settle da arg'ment 'bout dis one any better."
He picks up his end of the crate with a tired sigh, and waits to get started.
Terisha's eyes bounce back and forth between the party members as the argument continues. Sudden realization shows in her eyes.
"Lady Whackadoodle.... held up in that place...
Natalya is still alive?!? Curses!" Her eyes lurch toward the crate as she struggles to her feet and tries to kick it out of your hands.
She is easily restrained, but half-heartedly struggles as Reillana holds her back.
Celia feels a slight bump from the crate as Barkot nudges it forward.
"Time ta start movin', Cee. You an' Squint c'n have it out in front a' Da Heidmarch. I c'n guess how that'll go, but it's yer funerals. Paëral, how's 'bout ya take da front? An' Reillana, ya got Her Nibs dere unner control? Ev'rybody set? Let's git goin', people."
Unless Celia actively fights to stay put or drops the crate, Barkot starts them moving and assumes the group will go along.
Gonna be a long, heavy walk wit' Lady Whackadoodle an' all dis armor in da crate. But could be worse - at least I got new boots!
As they walk through the dim light of an Underbridge morning, Barkot starts whistling a Caydenite drinking song.
"Hey, Terisha!" Barkot calls out to their prisoner. "You knew who I meant pretty quick - did you gals call 'er 'Lady Whackadoodle' too?"
Grunting in pain, and wheezing from the effort of keeping up, Terisha tries her best to respond.
"I'm not an idiot. Did you see any other Ladies holed up in that building?"
"Just goblins," Reillana grunts, Terisha's arm over her shoulder. "Has Natalya always been...weird? Using the royal we, affinity for monsters? I don't get how she got the little monsters to work for her instead of killing her in her sleep and eating her. Maybe she charmed them, she seems to know magic."