"Yorad! Stop looking at my flowers like that!" She reaches out to pummel Yorad.
Though Yorad isn't quite able to tag Ouidda as she tries and fails to tumble through his personal space, Frankie easily opens up another wound on her arm.
Frankie then has another moment of clarity and realizes that Serge is sleeping on the job! He reaches out and gleefully tags the sleeping paladin, rousing him from his slumber. But Serge is apparently a grump when he's just woken up as he confusedly staggers to his feet and slugs Frankie!
Meanwhile Yorad takes off in fear for his life, bolting back out of the room - but he manages to maintain enough presence of mind to avoid the trapped rug out in the hall.
Lazarus, though impressed by Ouidda's antics, doesn't let up on the wand-fueled barrage of missiles, leaving even more burn marks on her person. Though not happy, she still shoots him a fierce-looking grin.
"At least someone here appreciates my talents!"
And poor Meredith babbles incoherently, which is a marginal improvement from hitting herself. What isn't an improvement is Denair slapping Yorad upside the head as he dashes past.
Now that Yorad is out of her way, the clever Spider sees her opening. She withdraws for the door, drawing a rapier as she does and also provoking another strike from Frankie!
Unfortunately, she realizes too little too late that you've neither disarmed the traps outside or tripped them and she blunders right into both!
The Spider suddenly stops and in a rather bizarre turn of events, begins to mechanically divest herself of her ring, armor, and other personal possessions.
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Ouidda
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Yorad
Serge
Frankie
Jan
Lazarus
Meredith + Denair
Active Conditions: Bless
Everyone is UP!
"Down came the rain and washed the spider out?" Denair completes Meredith's opener by babbling incoherently.
Meredith and Denair continue to flail about ineffectually while Serge and Frankie continue to trade blows, or at least try to. Yorad continues to flee, heading back up the stairs, while Jan snores away. Being the only one really capable of doing anything, Lazarus continues to pew away at Ouidda with his magic missile wand.
Though Ouidda shoots Lazarus an irritated glance she continues to struggle to remove her armor, having already removed a rather nice-looking ring. "Like the bite of a mosquito! Annoying but otherwise harmless. I don't even need my possessions in order to take care of the likes of you. Just wait and see!"
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Ouidda
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Yorad
Serge
Frankie
Jan
Lazarus
Meredith + Denair
Active Conditions: Bless
Everyone is UP!
"Are we still playing this shoulder bash game?" Denair smashes herself. "Ow."
Jan snores away while Jan flees up the stairs, away from the source of his fear. As soon as Ouidda is out of his sight the fear finally ebbs and drains away - though he's still rather confused. Serge has a brief moment of clarity and draws his sword before hurrying after Ouidda, while Meredith and Frankie stand around babbling and Denair hurts herself in the confusion again.
Still the only one capable of doing much, Lazarus changes it up and conjures a bright burst of radiant light that not only proves painful but...
...also leaves her dazzled and blinking rapidly to try and clear her head! After the light from Laz's spell fades, Ouidda is left looking rather noticeably bloodied and she finally throws down her weapon and holds up her hands.
"Enough! I can tell when I'm beaten and I have no intention of dying here! I surrender!"
It takes another 30 seconds or so - and some careful dodging - but the confusion spell clouding the minds of everyone else finally dissipates. Ouidda makes no further move to flee or to try and cast; she stands resolute with her hands visible in the air as she waits for you to decide what to do with her.
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Meredith sings several nursery rhymes while fighting off spiders crawling over her.
Finally, she gets some clarity. "Huh? Finally got rid of those damn spiders. Ow." Meredith grunts as she realizes her wounds. "These spider bites look like spear marks..."
"Denair, you alright?" She turns to her wounded eidolon, then back to Ouidda. A flash of anger leads to an outstretched longspear. "You surrender? Good. One false move and I'm running you through."
"...by the way, I like your costuming."
"Yay, the game is over!" Denair claps. "That was more painful than I like."
She runs over to Jan, to rouse the sleepy warrior. "Wake up, sleepy head!"
She also looks up at Frankie. "Are you okay? I.. um... I'm sorry for chasing you like that." She seems quite remorseful.
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Yorad returns to the scene of the crime, looking a little irritated but none the worse for wear as he retrieves his dagger (and resisting the urge to plunge it in between Ouidda's sternum). "So happy you came around to our point of view. This is how friendships begin," he comments sarcastically. "Since you don't enjoy dying here then allow me to bind your hands up so our happy friendship can continue."
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It doesn't take TOO long for Frankie's CPU to work out the kinks from the confusion spell. When he does finally come to he rubs his nose and looks around "Huh, must have been quite the fun we just had." He heads into the rug room and looks around extremely confused "Who's that and why is she nearly naked?" He laughs uneasily like he's missing out on an inside joke.
"I'm good Denny, how are you? You chased me? No problem, I know how hard I am to catch, guess I won that race too!" He fist pumps at what he kinda remembers as a weird game of tag then runs over and helps Laz search for tricks, traps, and treasures in the office.
He quickly starts with the desk, everyone always keeps candy in their desk.
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Serge scratches his head, staring at each of his companions, one at a time, and then at the woman who Lazarus just bound. "What.. What happened? I feel I may have injured one of you, but I cannot put my finger on it. And why is my sword on the ground? Most odd." The paladin collects his weapon, then walks over to Ouidda. "Did I not say you were outnumbered before you invaded our minds with that foul magic of yours? Speak, witch, and tell us who you are and why you attacked us."
As she allows Yorad to bind her wrists, Ouidda raises an eyebrow at Serge's questions. "Who am I? Considering all the trouble you and your friends went to to find me, I would've thought you'd know! Or didn't your master or masters tell you?" she replies disdainfully.
"If you came here seeking the Spider, you have found her. But really now, I should be the one asking you the questions," she continues, a note of genuine curiosity in her voice. "Who sent you to me? I have many enemies, of course, so many that it would be nigh impossible for me to simply guess."
Meanwhile, Lazarus and Frankie turn their attentions to the gear collected from Ouidda and to her personal study, one searching for magical auras and the other for traps (and candy). On Ouidda's person and scattered about her on the floor you turn up a potion containing a milky blue liquid, a chain shirt, a masterwork rapier, a ring, her spell component pouch, a set of keys that are presumably to the doors in this place, and the winding keys to her (now smashed) clockwork guardians. The potion, the chain shirt, and the ring all radiate magical auras...
It's Cure Moderate Wounds.
It's a +1 Chain Shirt.
On and in the desk in the study are copious notes and ledgers regarding the Spider's many plots. The ledgers contain fairly mundane transactional information regarding Ouidda's role as an Aspis Consortium Gold Agent in Riddleport. While none of this information seems to be particularly incriminating or valuable, it could still be embarrassing if made public.
However, the most prominent item of interest on the desk is a piece of paper with a list entitled 'The Ten', which contains several dozen names. This is certainly something Grandmaster Torch would want to see for himself!
Otherwise, the study is beautifully decorated with furnishings that might be worth some coin, such as a gold inkstand, an engraved hourglass, and a stack of fine paper. There are also several busts prominently displayed in a nearby cabinet.
Hey, wait...the names on these busts don't actually match with the figures represented. These busts are of popular figures from Andoren history such as Alysande Benedict, King Culliam II and the poet Darl Jubannich.
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Jan has not time for subtlety, "Look here, you are in NO position to be making demands. Answer our questions and you will make it out of here alive. I give you my word... the truth will keep my axe from being introduced to your neck."
In regards to the items- if the rolls are needed.
I guess a subtle threat technically counts as Diplomacy for an Ulfen- since it wasn't followed by violence. Jan's goal is to AID whoever is trying to use Diplomacy.
The Spider sighs heavily and shrugs as best as she can, given her current bound state.
"Answer which questions? I have already told you that I am the Spider. As to 'why I attacked you' - you cannot be serious? Am I not allowed to defend myself when intruders come slithering into my domain?"
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Frankie sighs with great exaggeration when his hunt for treats comes up short "Who doesn't keep at least a little chocolate in their desk to nibble on?" He drags up the pile of paperwork and waves it at Laz "Well we've got some boring paperwork, I'm sure this is what he wanted for some reason."
Frankie gathers up the small 'valuables' that Laz points out and shrugs, returning to the others. "Laz says we got what we came for, and well, her too right?" Frankie waves at the woman, takes out a piece of taffy and offers it to her. "Want some taffy? I saw you didn't have any left in your office, you must be out!"
Frankie's smile comes across as genuine, and it indeed is. No one should be held without sugary sustenance.
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Disappointed to have found neither spellbook nor scrolls, Bloody spontaneous casters! Lazarus takes his time examining the items that radiate magical auras. The potion and chain shirt aren't much of a puzzle, but the wizard-priest seeks Desna's guidance regarding the ring.
"We've got a potion of cure moderate wounds and a +1 chain shirt here, but I can't identify the enchanted ring, I'm afraid."
Professionally embarrassed, he looks to his companions. "Can any of you discern the ring's properties? I've studied its aura, and I'm certain it's _________________."
He examines the busts that Ouidda has displayed in a cabinet. "Francis, did you check this for traps?"
"Ouidda, what do we have here?"
The samsaran helps the team gather up the useful documents and other portable loot. Then Lazarus takes a moment to copy down the names listed on the document entitled 'The Ten'. "Useful information, I'm sure."
"Oh wow, sounds fancy!"
The Spider, Ouidda, blinks down at Frankie with some surprise as he genuinely offers her a piece of taffy. It takes her a moment to gather her wits but she gently shakes her head in the negative.
"Thank you, but I'm sure you worked hard for the money to buy it. Please, keep it."
She looks up and gives Serge a rather meaningful look. "Besides, I am sure that the Pathfinder Society has plenty at their lodge. Perhaps they will be generous and share?"
As the search of her office and gear winds down, she smiles slightly as her ring proves rather difficult for Lazarus and Meredith to puzzle out. "Ah, well, I suppose I can share as you've earned it - that is a Ring of Spell Knowledge IV. Did you see my mirrors on your way in? Of course you did. The ring contains the means for me to...meet with and survey others, through my mirrors."
With little else to apparently see or find (the office contained no further traps nor secret doors), you now turn your efforts to getting your captive out of her lair and the gambling hall above without drawing too much attention. Luckily, Guaril Karela generously provided you some tools to help with this.
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Yorad eyes the featureless hood and the voluminous cloak with a critical eye. Should work OK.
"OK new friend, let's get you dressed up. Think of it as a date if you'd like." Once he has outfitted Ouidda in the proffered clothes he pulls the others aside. "What are we gonna do about those spies we saw earlier hanging out in the cellar?"
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Lazarus asks, "Yorad, did you check the masterwork manacles and the good quality lock? Will they keep her secure?"
The samsaran takes a look at Ouidda, once the Spider's feature are concealed beneath hood and cloak.
"I think our agreement with the trio will hold. But we'll be ready, if they change their mind on our way out."
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Frankie frowns as the woman declines his offer. "I understand, I guess. Ladies always try to avoid candy, you certainly look like you do a good job of it!" He compliments the woman's girlish figure, they always seem to like that.
He takes a seat and chats while Yorad dresses her up. "So what do you do down here that makes so many people hate you? Doesn't it make you sad to not have any friends to play games with?" He asks, popping the taffy into his own mouth and chewing furiously.
"When I was really little I didn't have any brothers or sisters to play with, just Mom and her man friends. They didn't want to play games with me too much, they were always too busy drinking dad sodas and playing adults only games in her room." He picks some of the taffy out of a back tooth before adding "And yelling. They liked to yell a lot too." He pauses in thought then goes silent.
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"Hmm, she sure has changed her demeanor quite quickly," Serge looks at the Spider, dumbfounded.
Cousin Brayden might have thought it was his 'boyish good looks' that would have her so obedient, and so suddenly. He'd joke about it openly.
With a subtle laugh, Serge helps Yorad tie the cloak carefully so that it all but hides her features. "Very well, I suppose we cannot do as the druids do and change her form, so we must disguise her as best we can. Shall we escort her out?" Serge stows his earthbreaker and takes out his greatsword once more, just in case.