I still have some wounds, little one, but like the river cleft in twain by the rock I will be whole again soon enough.
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Our thanks. What is your name, Lyrakien?" Terflynn asks as he composes himself.
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Thank you." Zack responds to the tiny voice while digging though the pile of spent arrows to see if any remain intact.
"Spivey," the tiny voice replies. "Servant and priest of Desna. You're the first friendly faces I've seen in a long, long time but I'm not naive. I wanted to make sure you were genuine so I've been following you since you came to visit my cemetery. I can see now that you mean well. I tried to keep this place clean for a while but to no avail; I started to attract the wrong kind of attention and couldn't do it by myself."
While speaking, she flies over to Miso and taps his wounds.
Spivey flies a little closer. You can see that she carries several very tiny scroll tubes as well as a set of miniature starknives. "So I think you said you're in here to help your friend, right? If you need assistance, I can come along. If you'll have me, that is."
"This corby worshipped Pazuzu. I am trying to remember if I've read anything about him/her. I still have a few unknit wounds little one, but not many.
Smiling, Jennix says. "Of course my dear Spivey! We would be honored to have one a chosen of Desna along with us. It can only bring lucky tidings, no?"
Spivey fixes Jennix up. "Well, all right then. Now where are heading?"
"Well, we were going to inspect the rooms to the northwest of the feasting hall, before we decided to introduce ourselves to the corby and his mobat."
Everyone heads towards the northwest door, followed by the flying Spivey. Judging from the blood and gouges marring the walls, a terrific battle once took place in this guard room.
"Look out! The blood is still running! This place is haunted!" Spivey yells before channeling more of Desna's power.
As Desna's healing power washes over the room, the blood stops running.
"Phew! That was a close one!" the little azata says.
The room looks empty else wise and the two side rooms look to be former armories that have been emptied out. Stairs lead upwards.
"I'm not sure what happened, but thanks." Zack says to the small flying creature, while continuing to follow the rest of the group.
-Posted with Wayfinder
The party ascends the stairs to the topmost tower of the keep. The walls of this semicicular room are lined with bookshelves, although the majority of the books lie in disorganized piles on the floor. A large, filthy next of grass, branches, and strips of cloth is tucked in the northeastern corner of the room, which a wooden door sits int the wall to the northwest and a flight of stairs leads down to the south..
Sitting in the room is a woman, her bare legs exposed to show several feathers growing here and there. Her legs end in sharp bird-like talons and two large feathered wings sprout from her back. She looks startled to see you enter but remains sitting and simply smiles and waves shyly. She points to a piece of parchment and a quill nearby and tilts her head questioningly, apparently asking for permission to write something.
The woman, clearly a harpy, takes the parchment and writes a note before handing it over to the party.
I am unable to speak. Please let me touch one of you so that I can communicate through telepathy.
Yeah....right....
Miso studies the strange woman curiously, trying to discern whether she means he and his companions weal or woe.
Terflynn looks to the more perceptive members of the party for their judgements.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Jennix turns to look at his companions, a questioning look on his face. He slowly walks over and tentatively holds his hand out.
The harpy reaches out and touches Jennix's hand before resuming her seat.
Jennix relates what he hears in his head.
"Getting involved in a harpie's love affair?" Terflynn confirms with a cocked eyebrow.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Miso appears genuinely surprised by the harpy's words situation. He looks at her quizzically. If this relationship has run its course, it must pass like the setting sun beneath the sea, surely.
But is violence necessary? Why would you not each simply seek out another mate more suited to you?
"Yes. It is usually just better to walk away," Zack says with a slightly pained expression.
Speaking through Jennix, the harpy goes on, You wouldn't understand. I've tried to get away but he's. . . powerful; he has control over me. Not magical or anything-it's just hard to leave with him still alive. He has not treated me well for a long time and he deserves it. Will you help me?
Miso looks to Terflynn, interested in the elf's input. This would not be the first time imprudently stepping in where I may not belong. Yet the winged woman seems sincere.
"I think it would be most prudent to learn what we can from her and then to pay this ex-lover of hers a visit."
-Posted with Wayfinder
The harpy responds through Jennix, Kikonu is likely downstairs rehearsing one of his *asinine* plays for those corbies running wild all over the place. He's got a hideous red mask-like face and fearsome yellow eyes and great big crow wings. He claims to be some sort of tengu. He taunts me by stealing my voice; he says things in the very voice I have been unable to use for as long as I can remember.
So will you help me? I can call him up here telepathically and we can lay a trap for him here or anywhere else in the castle. Or we can go down there and confront him in his throne room.
A trap sounds ideal. I would assume he makes use of magic. Can you tell us whether he practices arcane or divine arts?
He is primarily a warrior, although he does have some innate arcane abilities.
"Perhaps we should ask the cleric among us of the morality regarding this issue."
-Posted with Wayfinder
The little azata speaks up, "I do not have the power to detect evil on people. It sounds like she has been mistreated, though it is hard for me to discern her true intentions. I don't advocate a violent encounter either way, but I'm not quite sure how else to deal with this situation other than taking this brute out. Perhaps that would be our best option if he truly is abusing this poor thing."
"Very well. This is the trap I propose.
Let us first investigate the catapult on the roof, clearing what rabble we must. We will then allow myself and Zachary to take up archery positions on the wall while Miso prepares to operate the catapult. Jennix will remain in the courtyard below with our new friend to confront the offender. Upon his signal, we will loose arrow and rock upon him from above while Jennix dances with the fellow on the ground."
Terflynn pauses. "That is, if mister Jennix finds this reasonable."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Jennix nods in agreement. "You plan this as if you've done something similar before. The plan seems sound to me. How many people does it take to operate a siege engine?"
"It may take the three of us to load it, but it is likely only one person is required to operate the release. Following that, Miso may take up arms of his choosing, or utilize some of my more interesting items."
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Works well enough for me. I would be leery of leaving you down there by yourself though." Zack comments on the proposed plan.
"He will be accompanied by our cleric of Desna. She will keep is blood flowing within him rather than without, I trust."
-Posted with Wayfinder
"I should warn you," Spivey interjects, "that the energy channeled from my goddess can not exclude enemies. I still have several spells left today though."
-Posted with Wayfinder
Miso nods slowly. I, too, have concerns about Jennix being left alone, but I do not see how it can be helped.
He thinks a moment, then: Though, I can perhaps confer some additional sinecure onto him. This is a prudent approach. Miso casts protection from evil on Jennix (Miso is treated as a 3rd-level caster).
The party readies the catapult and takes up their position to ambush the abusive lover of the mute harpy. Standing atop the barracks with everyone but Jennix, she calls out to Kikonu telepathically. Moments later he bursts through the large double doors into the courtyard to find everyone waiting for him. Zaiobe flaps her wings and rises from the ground, making a rude gesture with her fingers at Kikonu, the strange humanoid with a fearsome red mask-like face.
Kikonu, seeing that he has been tricked, casts a spell on himself.
Miso, the catapult ready to go, aims and pulls the firing mechanism!
{BAB +1, Dex mod +2)
He will then look over the "interesting items" Terflynn mentioned, hoping to find something he can use and knowing full well that he will be far less likely to hit the soon-to-be-jilted lover once Jennix closes to melee.
Not knowing what this humanoid is or what spell he just cast, JEnnix calls on his luck and fires an arrow at him.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Zack methodically draws two arrows and fires them at the red masked creature.
-Posted with Wayfinder