Lucian focuses his thoughts to conjure a brilliant flash of light to dazzle the lamia!
"May Desna's stars shine and burn the blackness of your soul, foul spawn of evil!"
Source Champions of Purity pg. 29
School evocation [good, light]; Level arcanist 2, cleric/oracle 2, druid 2, hunter 2, sorcerer/wizard 2, warpriest 2
Casting
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M/DF (a piece of flint and a pinch of silver dust)
Effect
Range long (400 ft. + 40 ft./level)
Area 10-ft.-radius burst
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw Reflex partial; Spell Resistance yes
Description
This spell fills the area with a brilliant flash of shimmering light. Creatures in the area are blinded for 1d4 rounds, or dazzled for 1d4 rounds if they succeed at a Reflex save. Evil creatures in the area of the burst take 1d4 points of damage per caster level (max 5d4), whether they succeed at the Reflex save or not.
Growing claws, Kufieno steps foward and attacks the woman, his hands crackling with electricity.
Seal leaps forward as if he had been bound by chains all winter. With his falchion in his hand, he whips it about quickly in large arching chops.
Rissi hastes the party! Miana lands a pair of punches as Lucian's spell burns her evil nature! One of Kufieno's claws rends a tear in her side and Seal moves in to finish the job!
She also carries a single scroll in a small scroll tube on which she has listed every citizen of Turtleback Ferry who received a Sihedron tattoo from her as “favorite customers of Paradise.” Kaven’s name is on this list with a circle around it. The list itself bears only this intriguing header: “Those who have agreed to grant their greed to the master’s need.”
By the time you finish off Lucrecia, the other Black Arrows have subdued Kaven and hog-tied him on the ground.
Beyond her chamber is the jail proper, with several cells on each side of the room. Currently they are unoccupied.
"I am fairly certain I can undo these marks and free these people, given time - at least if the magic involved is anything like conventional *chhhh* tattoo magic of Varisia. At the very least, we should ascertain if the tattoos provide direct control over the recipients."
"The gambling parlor, right? At the bottom of a river, if what Lucian discovered earlier is accurate. Was it the woman who gave you the tattoos directly, or someone else?
"Good riddance." says Lucian, looking at the lamia contemptively, yet with a hint of regret in his voice.
How beautiful she was... what a shame. I might have been enthralled by her and sold my soul too if I had known her under different circumstances.
Hearing Rissi, he snaps out of his thoughts. "Yes, Rissi's right. The Paradise barge sank in the lake near Turtleback before we even arrived. We should put Kaven in jail before anything, and check whether we've completely cleared Fort Rannick." he concludes with a weary voice.
"Nobody will miss her. Half the town already thought she was dead when the ship sunk. Have we figured out who the Master is yet?"
"I have very little in the way of magical resources left. I cannot provide much in the way of aid henceforth if there is much left to explore."
Kufieno ambles around the room, peering at the items found and the traitor.
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"Ah yes...", Miana's face turning red as in her quest to get more information, she forgot what she already knew. Some meditative study will be in order later.
"We still need to look for the captain, too, and see if he is safe with his mistress."
Looking to the hogtied man, she beckons to him, "Do you wish to be redeemed? Do you believe your life can be better for all repenting for selling your allies to a brutal death and soul to a master you know nothing of?"
"The gambling parlor, right? At the bottom of a river, if what Lucian discovered earlier is accurate. Was it the woman who gave you the tattoos directly, or someone else?
"Yes, she gave them to us. They're given out to select customers, as a reward for brand loyalty so-to-speak. I was promised more than just extra gambling chips though. . . and all I had to do was talk about the Fort and stay out of the way!"
"And if you meddling kids good-for-nothings hadn't gotten in my way, it would have worked too! And I'd be in Paradise for sure! Not the gambling parlor, no, but real Paradise! I would have had everything I wanted: gold, power, women!"
"As my friend Tone Mountain once said: first you get the gold, then you get the power, then you get the women. Giants don't figure into that at all.
But I'm tired. I'll get to staking the giant heads then its time for a nap. Who's with me?"
"I agree, we need to rest. We should do it here, in the Fort. I don't think I can muster enough strength to walk back to Turtleback Ferry."
The next morning, Lucian looks appalled, turning the fort upside down looking for something, scrutating the skies. "Has anyone seen Evanya? She hasn't woken me up this morning like she always does, and I haven't seen her since last night. Great Desna, I hope nothing ill has happened to her. As if these horrors we've faced yesterday weren't enough..."
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As Lucian is speaking, a tiny figure silently shows up behind the Varisian, going through the window and into the room where everyone is having breakfast. As you look more closely, the figure isn't a bird, but rather looks like a tiny woman with a lithe form and delicate butterfly wings fluttering behind her back. She is surrounded by sparkling lights and gentle rainbow arcs. Her clear voice suddenly emerges from the silence, like clear water coming out of a mountain spring. It is a melody, an ode to hope.
O Lucian, have you forgotten me already?
Or are your eyes deceived by what they want to see?
I have returned, on Desna's will, an avatar,
To help you, show you the way, your own guiding star,
Out of the dark, fear and anguish, into the light.
Your destiny lies ahead, with me at your side.
Lucian turns to see what manner of creature has such a wondrous voice, and in no time his smile returns to his lips, happier than ever!
"Evanya, is this you? I cannot believe my eyes. This is truly a blessed day. Thank you Desna for putting her on my path."
Rissi squeaks in appreciation.
"How fascinating! A gift from your goddess of such beauty; it must be *chhh* uplifting."
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Before the day's rest, Miana smiles. "I could carry you; in fact, I think Seal could carry all of us if we got him angry enough and told him there's a giant along the way!"
Miana is surprised to see the fey-like creature at their morning camp. "Lucian, it seems like you've met her before.", the paladin puzzled. She looks over the creature, pouring over one of her religious tomes, trying to identify the creature for her own knowledge and studies.
After the defeat of all the ogres and the other lamia sister, Miana finds herself more balanced within herself. Travelling more, she hasn't had as much time to study, but more time to reflect on their recent battles versus evil, trying to champion goodness through inner peace, and seeking redemption. Perhaps this is why the goodness of Irori flows more within her, granting the power to nullify muscles sore from exercise and a stronger constitution that will prevent infections and plague from striking.
"Aha, a lyrakien azata. Hmm...", the paladin mutters to herself, taking the opportunity to know more of their new companion.
Resting easily, the next day, Kufieno takes the newcomer in stride, smiling and nodding at Lucian, but saying nothing, though occasionally he can be seen stealing glances at the azata. Packing up his things, Kufieno asks. "Any idea where we should start searching for the commnader?"
Lucian shares everyone's amazement when it comes to the lyrakien. He listens carefully as the azata explains a little bit more.
From Desna's will I come, yet I am no stranger
To you, for we have travelled with one another,
Under guise of a bird, a simple deception.
Desna yet revealed who I am, lift the curtain,
Your own soulmate, your companion everlasting.
In the next hours, days, as long as he have, Lucian spends all his time with his new companion, laughing, smiling, revelling at the thought that he's found a true companion in Evanya. All the gruesome memories of the battles he's recently fought seem to fade, or at least to be forgotten for a time.
"Let's ask our new friend. Kaven where is the captain?"
Kaven rolls his eyes. "You guys said it yourself, didn't you? Off with his mistress in Whitewillow! If he survived and didn't come back in the middle of the invasion, that is."
"Yes, Whitewillow in the Shimmerglens. I *chhh* must say that those who wield weapons should procure cold iron, if the stories of fay are to be *chhh* heeded. So... unpredictable, those creatures."
"I have a cold iron morningstar that I'll gladly lend to someone who would be willing to use it. However, I certainly hope it won't come to that. Feys are creatures of pure wonder, not ones I'd like to fight. "
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Wonder? Perhaps, but they are renown to be *squeak* mercurial. Best to be prepared."
The Shimmerglens have long been shrouded in mystery, for these trackless swamps are said to lie quite close to the First World, particularly where they border Sanos Forest. Capricious and sometimes malicious creatures are known to harass travelers in this domain.
Along the way to and through the swamplands near the Shimmerglens, Jakardros and Vale point out some unusual things, "It seems. . . darker here. The plant's aren't so much dying as turning ill, don't you think?"
Something suddenly flits ahead of you from one bush to another. Jakardros, Vale, and Shalelu instinctively reach for their weapons and go on the alert, motioning for everyone to halt and quiet down. A minute later, however, a waifishly thin humanoid with gossamer wings, large expressive eyes, long pointed ears, and a diminutive 2-foot-tall stature steps out from the bush. His rumpled clothes and eyes puffy from crying, though, indicate just how much things are out of place for the poor creature.
"Please don't hurt me! And don't leave! My name is Yap!" He delivers his message and plea in a rapid, breathless speech, as if he’s afraid at any moment you will turn him away.
“My mistress, she is… ill. Very ill. Death would have been a kindness. The land sickens with her heart, and it cannot be cleansed until her misery is purged. I cannot do this myself. Please, you must help her! You are friends with her human lover, yes? He wouldn’t want her left like this! I can take you to her—maybe you can do something. I have tried everything to cure her forlorn heart, but to no avail. She wails and moans in Whitewillow, and the trees and plants and nixies and frogs and everything are dying or worse! I can take you there! Please!”
"Her human lover? Where has he gone to?"
"Yes, the human is *chhh* the reason we are her. I imagine we can investiage your mistresses well being as well. Can you tell us any more about her condition?"
[spoiler=EF]I'm 99.9% sure fey are nature, not planes - at least if she is vanilla fey. They happen to be at the same level for me, so...[/ooc]
Lucian, conversing with Evanya during the whole trip, suddenly stops and gazes in amazement as he sees Yap. He beams his brightest smile at the fey, trying to ease the faerie's scare.
"This is a chance meeting, Master Yap! I am truly enchanted to make your acquaintance. I'm Lucian Arvandru, and we're here as friends, merely trying to assess what fate befell the Fort's Commander. Could you lead us to your mistress, if you please? We will help her to the best of our ability. Isn't it, Evanya?"
The eerie forest doesn't appear to scare the azata, quite the contrary, she seems well at ease in this new environment, revelling in the sheer beauty of nature.
"Indeed, Yap. You see that you and I are not so different, though I do not hail from the First World. You can trust Lucian with your life."
"Could you tell us more of what ails her? Anything would help us tremendously."
"I sense there is evil mojo in this forest. Maybe its affecting her brain and making her sick. The giants are behind this, I am sure. Worry not little Yap, we will help you. I'll even offer my helm of mind protection to aid your mistress in need."
Seal takes off his cold iron helm and presents it to the fey as a gift.
Yap wrings his little pixie hands. "I don't know. . . I don't know where they took him. The ogres, they tore her apart and made him watch. Then they handed him off to a trio of hags! It was terrible, horrible!"
"Her spirit still lingers but is mad and twisted. Oh, this whole thing is just awful! Just awful!"
Yap shakes his head at Seal and says, "Thank you, Mister Dwarf, but I don't need it. You keep it."
"Hags?" The azata appears shocked beyond measure. "Oh Lucian, we have to help them! What a terrible fate."
"And we shall. Yap, you're saying your mistress's spirit lingers in these woods. Will she attack us? Won't it do her more harm than good? Maybe we could rescue the Commander first - which seems the highest priority - and return it to her to appease her mind? What do you think?"
"Ogres ..." Seal says with a drawing grow. His eyes narrow as the slaughter plays out before him once again. Oh the glorious destruction of all giant-kin ...
"Which way did the ogres go? We shall avenge your mistress and clear these lands of their plauge."
Rissi ponders. "I know a dead woman of elf blood may become a *squeak* banshee. I wonder what a dead fey transforms into." She shudders at the possibilities.
Yap shakes his head sadly, "I can't say what she'll do. She's not evil, just a bit mad. I don't think she'd attack innocent and curious people like yourselves. But I don't know what happened to the commander. They just drug him away and that woman, that foul treacherous perilously beautiful woman, said that she was giving him over to the hags. Terrible, terrible." Yap shudders a few tears.
"We should go! And quick! Follow me!" the disheartened pixie turns and tramps through the glen to lead the way.
The Shimmerglens themselves quickly grow tangled and densely packed once one travels out of sight of the swamp’s edge.
Twisted black trees rise wretchedly from shallow pools, seeming to have lurched from the land, their arthritic branches curled into miserable tortured claws. The sun seems to scorn this place, and a cold, dark mist looms within the canopy of bone-bare branches above. Evil murmurs ride an unnatural wind that f lows forth from the glens, and shadows dance in the dark mists within. "We're coming through the Whitewillow now," Vale whispers. "But it's not quite as. . . beautiful and mystic as it once was, huh? Used to be quite the romantic hideaway, I could see why the Commander favored it so."
Spiders, languid and fat with poison, hang from trees. Dying birds twitch in the shallows. Slithering things with too many eyes squirt away through the water.
Nothing but chill silence surrounds you, though you occasionally glimpse tall, dark-robed figures in your peripheral vision. The creatures’ enlarged skeletal claws extend from their outstretched arms as if reaching toward the party. When you look, you see these apparitions are nothing more than horribly twisted black trees.
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"Was this woman who took away the Commander a long-haired red-head with supernatural beauty and grace?" Seal says in hopes that the woman the fey is describing is Lucrecia.
Seal is visibly shaken by tricks his mind is playing on himself. Every once in awhile, he let his dorn loose toward one of the "out reached hands." Sometimes he realizes it is just wood and stone. Other times the barbarian does not as he screams out his battle cry. Once calmed down, Seal gently sings to himself to gather a sense of calm.
"A duel of personalities
"That stretch all true reality
"When figures from the past stand tall
"and mocking voices ring the hall
"They keep calling me
"Keep on calling me, calming me"
"Nualia, Xanesha, now Lucrecia... why must our nemesises always be women? You're right though, it must have been Lucrecia. She's responsible for much, and deserved every bit of the doom we brought upon her."
With every step forward, Lucian's morale sinks a little more. Very soon his mirth is gone, and a gloomy shade crosses his weary eyes.
As for Evanya, her inspired poetry fills the quiet air, trying to fortify the morale of Lucian and his companions by conjuring mental images of lost love found again, the impossible love story between a fey and a human.
Rissi casts a spell of overland flight before proceeding - she had no joy in the thought of being sucked into mire. She too is vexed by the swamp's dank miasma, and stays close to her Sister Miana, calmed by the warriors presence.
"I my studies restless spirits have a tendency to commit terrible evil, even if *chhh* unwittingly."
"Was this woman who took away the Commander a long-haired red-head with supernatural beauty and grace?" Seal says in hopes that the woman the fey is describing is Lucrecia.
"Indeed! Say, what is that song you're singing; it sounds hauntingly familiar...." ;)
You walk further through Whitewillow. A natural pool of water created by runoff from the hulking dark trees stands in a clearing ahead of the party. The water looks clear and refreshing enough.
Anyone who gazes into the water too intently must make a DC 15 Will save. Failure indicates her own reflection is normal, but other party members appear reflected as decaying corpses. In addition, the other party members appear to be glaring hungrily at the PC gazing into the water as if they are about to attack and devour her. The PC immediately takes 1d4 Wisdom damage.