Telka spits upon the corpse.
"Bah! Good riddance. Traitor and a fool both."
She kicks the head to the side and picks up the Shard.
"I will never get this taste of my mouth." She spits, attempting to clear the aftertaste."[/b]
Jordan rubs his hands together compulsively: "Is that shard magical? Can I see it?"
Hralyk's rage fades to nothingness, and a wave of fatigue washes over him. He averts his eyes from the corpse, realizing that if his battle rage had not come over him, he would likely have been able to spare her life. "Let's just grab what we need and return. I have no desire to stay here longer than need be."
"We will have plenty of time to look over this bauble when we have returned, elf. Right now I want a bath" she growls, with unveiled annoyance.
Zeltyieli shrugs, "I worry that someone else may move in or at least loot the place while we're away. But if the group wants to leave immediately, then let's go."
He waves a hand towards Telka and drops two gallons of water over her, "Should help with the worst of it, at least."
"Why we leaving if there is more loot?"
Telka nods gratefully at Zeltyieli. "If the treasures of goblins are so important, then by all means dig through their refuse."
|
Ramenhotep discerns several magical auras, though one overwhelms all others - the one coming from the shard. Natalya also possessed a magical scroll, a wand, and a pair of boots. Among her nonmagical possessions, you find her mithral shortsword, a smokestick, a tanglefoot bag, a climber's kit, a set of masterwork thieves' tools, as well as a strange harness and 55 gold coins. The goblins didn't have anything of note except muck, sludge and rags.
Aura faint transmutation; CL 3rd
Slot feet; Price 2,000 gp; Weight 1 lb.
These soft-soled boots provide their wearer with a +2 competence bonus on Acrobatics, Climb, and Stealth checks. Once per day as an immediate action, the wearer of cat burglar’s boots can reroll any one failed Acrobatics, Climb, or Stealth check, taking the result of that check in place of the first failed check (even if the second result is worse). In addition, a secret pocket in the boots is built to hold a fully functional set of masterwork thieves’ tools. A DC 22 Perception check is required to notice this pocket. Any other object in the pocket causes it to bulge and become obvious to even casual observation.
As for the shard, its magic is too potent to be identified by you, at least for now.
|
Ramenhotep points to the shard. "That thing's powerful, be careful with it. Sheila will want to see it, no doubt." He casts read magic and takes a look at the scroll, "A shield spell," he announces, handing it to Jordan. "Mage Armor," he announces again, handing it off to Jordan once more.
"Don't know about the boots though. Jordan, you recognize those auras?"
"These are the famous Cat Burglar Boots. Should help climbing and such with a pocket for these."
Jordan pulls out a masterwork set of picks and tools.
- not so much
Hralyk snorts as the torrent of water rushes over Telka. "I could likely use some as well, Zeltyieli. This sludge does seem to...cling."
Jordan points to the tanglefoot bag.
"I don't like weapons, but that looks light enough to throw. The wand should protect me if I need magical armor for a while."
|
|
After discussing the spoils of war at length, you exit the ruined house to find the smell of stale ale, salty sweat and utter refuse that characterizes the Underbridge disctrict so well. Moreover, another of the local charms is expecting you in the next street. A quartet of burly-looking women with morningstars in their hands are glaring at you, while their leader, a whip in hand, addresses you thus: "We know you have the shard, hand it over-now! Do this, and the Tower girls may let you leave in one piece. By killing that little thief, you've rendered us a service, after all."
Jordan turns to Hralyk. "This magic may reveal things about the shard you should all should now know, even you ladies." Jordan begins to cast after throwing the ladies a quick sweeping hand to catch their attention.
His magic is one of change.
If allowed to complete, he mentions: "My magic reveals taking it is even more dangerous!!"
|
|
Hearing your expected refusal and seeing Jordan starting to cast, the Tower girls prepare for battle. "Very well, have it your way. We'll take it by force."
The leader steps forward and shoots at the ever-growing Hraylk with her hand crossbow, hoping to catch him unawares.
The bolt indeed finds the half-orc unprepared and surprised, piercing his tough hide in the leg. The pain is immediate, giving Hralyk good cause to let out his inner rage.
Initiative - round 1 - the bold may act
1. Terisha
2. Jordan, Zeltyieli, Telka, Hralyk, Ramenhotep
3. Varisian thugs
"Heal our big guy so I don't waste my magic--that would be sinful."
Jordan makes the barbarian eight times his volume and mass.
He speaks to the giant.
"Watch her, she's the threat!"
"Bah! This conflict is foolish!"
Telka takes out her axe and steps behind a wall for cover.
Zeltyieli whips the scarf from his neck and the draws upon the exuberant power of the Immaculate Joy, releasing a burst of healing energy.
As the bolt pierces his skin, the burst of pain causes Hralyk to fly into a rage, drawing his falchion as he approaches the leader. His large arms swing his falchion at her in retaliation.
|
|
'Tyieli brings warmth to his companions by healing their wounds, as Telka takes cover. Ramenhotep moves to strike the leader but misses, a mistake that mighty Hralyk, now double his size thanks to Jordan's spell, doesn't make. His falchion cleaves the air, then delves deep into Terisha's shoulder. The blow is terrible, yet somehow the Tower girl manages to live through it.
Terisha draws her short sword, stabs Hralyk before taking a step back to allow her henchwomen to confront the giant orc.
The thugs move forward, incurring Hralyk's wrath. They focus their efforts on the half-orc, clearly the superior threat here.
Initiative - round 2 - the bold may act
1. Terisha Varisian thugs
2. Jordan, Zeltyieli, Telka, Hralyk, Ramenhotep
Jordan advances and casts. This spell he needs no materials having the ability to cast without them. A greasy patch appears on the ground over the villain and her two 'topmost' henchmen.
School conjuration (creation); Level bard 1, sorcerer/wizard 1
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M (butter)
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target one object or 10-ft. square
Duration 1 min./level (D)
Save see text; SR no
A grease spell covers a solid surface with a layer of slippery grease. Any creature in the area when the spell is cast must make a successful Reflex save or fall. A creature can walk within or through the area of grease at half normal speed with a DC 10 Acrobatics check. Failure means it can't move that round (and must then make a Reflex save or fall), while failure by 5 or more means it falls (see the Acrobatics skill for details). Creatures that do not move on their turn do not need to make this check and are not considered flat-footed.
The spell can also be used to create a greasy coating on an item. Material objects not in use are always affected by this spell, while an object wielded or employed by a creature requires its bearer to make a Reflex saving throw to avoid the effect. If the initial saving throw fails, the creature immediately drops the item. A saving throw must be made in each round that the creature attempts to pick up or use the greased item. A creature wearing greased armor or clothing gains a +10 circumstance bonus on Escape Artist checks and combat maneuver checks made to escape a grapple, and to their CMD to avoid being grappled.
Unable to get to the front, Zeltyieli stays back and releases another burst of healing energy, having it just fall short of the temple thugs.
Telka dodges over the trash strewing the alleyway to add her axe in the fracas, only to find the way now blocked. She uses her last reserve of magical song to lend strength to Hralyk
Hralyk roars as the tower girl's morningstar injures him, and swings his blade once more at the leader, Terisha.
|
|
Terisha retains her balance, but two of the thugs fall onto the greasy patch.
Ramenhotep swings at the girl in front of him, but is clearly distracted as he misses again. Meanwhile, Zeltyieli's holy energy washes over you, lending you strength in this moment of need! Telka sings to encourage her kinsman, which ultimately proves a good choice, as Hralyk cleaves through Terisha and finishes her off! His other swing, on the other hand, meets the thug's armor in a loud CLANG.
The thugs attempt to get back on their feet, then run away!
Telka reflexively casts stabilize on Terisha's mangled form, and checks for a pulse.
Jordan casts, attempting to detect any magic auras.
Telka will begin to pursue one of the flunkies.
"Quickly, we should capture one... alive preferably!" she scowls to Hralyk.
Hralyk's attack misses, but he roars again and pursues the fleeing girls.
|
|
Two of the thugs manages to escape, while the third slips on the greasy patch and falls on the ground, prone to Hralyk's attack.
The falchion tears through the armor, splintering flesh and bones - yet the thug survives that blow, and throws her weapon. "I yield! Please, don't kill me!"
Despite your best attempts at interrogation, it is soon made clear that the thug doesn't know much about Terisha's whereabouts, and weren't part of the Tower Girls. She just owed money to the Tower Girls, and Terisha decided to collect the debt by asking the mercenary to join her against Natalya, which was their objective. Clearly she doesn't know more.
a smokestick
2 tanglefoot bags
a masterwork chain shirt
a masterwork hand crossbow (9 bolts)
a masterwork whip
a climber's kit
a grappling hook with 50-foot silk rope
a second story harness
a silver holy symbol
thieves' tools
4 pp, 59 gp
Telka snorts in annoyance. "Bah, be gone. Consider serving honor instead of money next time."
Jordan takes the sticky bags and hands the smoke stick to the barbarian.
"My help archers and mages from seeing you."
Telka looks at the potions. "Blue; curative magic, not very powerful. And something to restore constitution. Well, that's a pretty find."
|
|
Since your mission is accomplished, your party decided to return to Heidmarch Manor the next day and do what is expected of all Pathfinders after a mission—report.
As soon as you return, Sheila Heidmarch summons you to a private office where you will be able to talk at your leisure.
"You have returned." she simply states with an impressed look on her face. "Did you find Natalya? What of the object she told me about?"
Zeltyieli nods, "We did find her. Sadly, it seems something had pushed her over the edge. She fancied herself a queen, was working with goblins, and attacked us."
|
|
"Goblins!" Ramenhotep scoffs. "The nasy, filthy things! Can you believe it? Pay! We got the artifact though. Beyond my magical knowledge."
As he waits for the others to present the artifact, Ramenhotep asks, "Is your page around? Bah, nevermind, I'll find him myself. Page! PAGE! Confound you, why aren't you here waiting for us? Let's get that coffee brewing!"
Telka comes into the drawing room, sweat running down her brow.
"Bah! I despise the filth of the city. It has made the spirits in my blood miserable."