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"Why not?" Nina asks, gazing at the half-orc woman curiously before turning her attention to the items found on Wate Arwyll's person. "You do a good job at it!"
After a few moments the gnome frowns and shakes her head. "It's no good, I can't figure out what any of these items are supposed to be enchanted with!"
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"You know Nina, that might be a personal thing she doesn't want to share with a bunch of strangers she just met," Inky drawls, content to keep her eyes on the horizon for more dangers while the others search the bodies. "And maybe it's just me, but you might've been able to figure out what those items do if you'd spent more time studying like I told you you should instead of learning to fight with that toothpick you carry around."
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Erlathan picks the scroll from the tiefling corpse as if his thumb and index fingers were a set of fine tweezers, then hops back. "Gods, he's nearly as ugly as I am," he mutters under his breath. "This is a scroll of See Invisibility. The potion the commander carried is one of Cure Moderate Wounds and... I'm not entirely sure what the rest of this stuff on the necklace is." He shrugs in defeat.
The sight of the tiefling alone is enough to send chills running up Erlathan's spine, and he peers left and right, his eyes darting from side to side. "Er, especially after reading that note, I can't help but feel a little... Exposed while we stand here. Vegazi, what do you intend to do? Stay here? Our next stop is Arwyll Stead."
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Vegazi looks down at the dead orc-tiefling with mixed emotions. Then, after a few long breaths, she kneels and covers the creature's unseeing eyes with her dirty black robes. She tears the tribal fetishes from the quarterstaff and buries them far apart in the churned earth.
When Erlathan mentions a note, Vegazi looks up and asks, "What do the written words say?"
When the elf arcanist reads the note aloud, she nods and admits, "I have been following the human scouts. 'To hunt the wolf, follow the deer.' So it is said.”
She takes another slow look around, and then seems to have made a decision.
"Wait here."
Vegazi reconnoiters ahead a short distance and brings back the scouts’ four horses, which were scared away at the beginning of the attack.
"We deliver the dead back to the human town, yes? They pay you good money for their heroes' return."
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Hanlin nods at the half orc "We should definitely bring back the deceased so they can be buried with honor and respect. Many die fighting back the evil from beyond the grave and beyond this plane. They deserve to be recognized for their sacrifice." He goes about securing their weapons to their bodies and getting them up on their saddles for one final ride.
He then goes about gathering the spears from the devils "There's no sense in letting these fine weapons go to waste, a few blessings and a good scrub and they'll be primed to destroy some evil!"
Before the trip to town begins he asks another question of their newest contact here "I know we're strangers here, but I was hoping you'd answer a couple little questions that are gnawing on me... that ring of yours is strikingly similar to the Arwyll crest. And... why haven't you spoke in years again? And... know anything about this Hell's Fury tribe?" He asks, doing his best to not be too nosey.
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Vegazi remains silent, striding forward, leading the line of horses carrying the dead and their belongings.
Just as Hanlin begins to wonder if the half-orc even heard him, Vegazi speaks in a hoarse voice strained after long disuse. "The Hell's Fury tribe was once my own. The dead tiefling was one of my half-sisters, Jagan, a witch. I left the tribe long ago. A human I freed from the Hell's Fury’s slave yard gave me the ring."
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The gates to Argyll Stead loom on the horizon.
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"Oh no...," Nina responds, reaching out to give the half-orc a sympathetic pat on the arm. "Family's family, even when there's bad blood between you. So even though your sister might've been doing bad things, I'm sorry for your loss Vegazi," she continues solemnly.
After a moment's silence, she coughs. "Um...you said 'to hunt the wolf, follow the deer', right? So...whatcha hunting, exactly?"
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Another long, pained silence. "Hell's Fury. Devils. My sisters." Then, with a grim look, she tugs on the horses' lead line. It's clear she's done talking.
---
It takes several hours for you to reach Arwyll Stead from the site of the devil attack on the Path Road.
When you arrive in town, with the bodies of Wate Arwyll and his scouts in tow, you're greeted by town guards, who immediately fetch the mayor. A crowd of onlookers swiftly grows around you. You sense their unease and hostility toward the half-orc Vegazi.
Mayor Darrel Proum is a sweaty man with a paunch and complexion that reflect his stress-fueled life and encroaching middle age. Understandably, he doesn’t take the news of Wate Arwyll’s death well; he’s visibly stricken by the loss of the town’s icon. "This is tragic news. Thank you for returning the remains to Arwyll Stead. I want to know what happened, but we will speak in private later."
He orders the sergeant in charge of the guards, "Take the bodies of Arwyll and his scouts to Arwyll Estate."
The mayor then addresses you again, "If you're wounded, you can see our priest, Ovir Radan, at the chapel of Iomedae. He will tend to you, free of charge. If you've no immediate need of his services, then let's proceed to Arwyll Estate, where we can talk."
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When you arrive at Arwyll Estate, a servant answers the door and ushers Mayor Proum and you past the foyer and into the humbly decorated parlor room. The adjacent dining room has been outfitted as an impromptu morgue, with the bodies of Wate and his comrades laid across the sagging wooden table and covered in white linens.
Mayor Proum introduces you to the two militia members standing in the parlor, an elderly woman with wrinkled skin and a head full of curly gray hair, and a tall man in his late forties.
”Allow me to introduce Shovaan Orda and Gallus Crevac. The two are—were—friends of the late Wate Arwyll. Together, we four served as an informal governing council for Arwyll Stead. Now, just the three of us remain.”
Shovaan—the elderly woman—has a shrewd gaze and enjoys wearing vibrantly colored clothes that were in style when she was young. A large owl perches on Shovann’s shoulder, and looks as ancient as his mistress.
Gallus wears well-groomed red robes and keeps his graying mustache and beard immaculately neat.
Shovaan speaks, a note of bitterness and suspicion in her voice. “We’re keenly interested in you strangers, and we look forward to hearing your tale. Please, introduce yourselves, and then tell us exactly what happened that led to Wate’s demise.”
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"I'm Nina Brightspark ma'am and this is my best friend Inky," Nina responds, gesturing to the eidolon before sticking her hand out for a shake. "It's nice to meet you! Er...well, it would be nicer under better circumstances, I mean."
"We traveled here from Vigil, and to Vigil from Absalom. You see, we heard from Miss Evni Zongnoss in Vigil that there'd been all sorts of trouble out this way with devils and orcs lately and that you folks could use a little help," she explains. "And of course we couldn't just sit by and not answer the call! A knight never lets a call for help go unanswered you know. Anyway, we got to Vigil and Miss Zongnoss sent us this way - that's when we ran into a battle site with all sorts of bodies lying around."
She pauses. "Um, your friend Mister Arwyll and his scouts. And Vegazi here, too," she adds, more softly. "There were these two little winged devils still hanging around and so we managed to kill them. After Hanlin brought her around, Vegazi told us that she'd been following Mister Arwyll and his men when the devils and their leader attacked. I guess she tried to help your friends but the devils were too strong..."
"Anyway, after we took care of the devils she told us that you'd want to have their bodies back and so that's why we brought them with us."
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The mayor and his associates are patient listeners, polite and neither friendly nor unfriendly, not yet convinced they should trust you. They ask you to elaborate when necessary. Gallus keeps notes on the discussion as you talk.
Mayor Proum notices Vegazi’s signet ring, and asks the reluctant half-orc if he can see it. She holds out her scarred hand. "The ring bears the initials 'A.A.' and motifs of the Arwyll family crest. How do you come to possess it."
Vegazi withdraws her hand, uncomfortable with the sudden attention focused on her. "As I told these people, I got the ring from a human male I freed from an orc tribe’s slave yard. I do not wish to relive a past that’s 20 years behind me."
The three humans exchange a look and change the subject.
"Our troubles have come to the attention of strangers as far away as Absalom, really?" asks Shovaan Orda.
Gallus Crevac's eyes narrow. "I've never heard of Evni Zongnoss. Who is she, and why would she send you to Arwyll Stead?"
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The mayor then addresses you again, "If you're wounded, you can see our priest, Ovir Radan, at the chapel of Iomedae. He will tend to you, free of charge. If you've no immediate need of his services, then let's proceed to Arwyll Estate, where we can talk."
"I thank you for the kind offer, but we are in good shape for now. I'll stop in to introduce myself to those at the Chapel afterwards." Hanlin bows respectfully and heads off with the others to the Arwyll Estate.
Hanlin stands at attention during the discussion, keeping eye contact and being very attentive during the procedures. As the members of the town's council are introduced he shakes each one's hand if able and introduces himself to each with a smile. "Well met, I am Hanlin Ciderbow Jr, Priest of Iomedae."
Once Nina recounts the timeline, Hanlin nods along in collaboration "All very accurate. The Gaav devils that slew them bore numerous wounds, but with the mundane weapons on the scouts, Wate and his crew were at a serious disadvantage." He bows his head in reverence a moment before continuing.
"Vegazi here has been nothing but helpful in the fight and respectful towards the fallen. Without her we may never have come across the Gaav in time to purge them before they escaped. I hope she is treated with respect here, your townsfolk had an uneasy look about them." At this point Hanlin will hand the woman the note they found on Wate's body.
"Read this, we found it on Wate. It should add to the story."
"Evni Zongnoss? A Gnomish seer of sorts at Vigil. She seemed to know a fair bit of the Stead and its history of Honor and Valiance against the orcs and devils of the area." Seeing his answer did little to lighten their eyes, Hanlin gives a brief rundown of the Pathfinder Society, focusing mostly on his own faction, the Silver Crusade.
"We are all members of an organization based in Absalom, but active throughout much of this world, and even beyond it. We are sent out to help people, to protect them from evils, to rescue the lost, to preserve history and knowledge, to mediate discussions, and to report back so this knowledge can be recorded for future generations to learn from. Evni Zongnoss is the contact for our Society in this region, she knew of your troubles and wanted to help." He says with all sincerity.
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With Nina's recounting of your harrowing experience and Hanlin's courteous introduction, the attitude of the town's leaders warms somewhat, but they still await answers to their questions about who sent you to Arwyll Stead and why.
Shovaan chuckles. "I am a fortune-teller myself, young man. I suspect there's more to your arrival than merely the whim of some seer."
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Lord Bragget nods along to Hanlin's fine rundown on the Pathfinder Society, there wasn't enough about daring knights and nobles for his tastes, but the silver crusade does heroic work nonetheless, "Indeed, you are now in the presence of some of the finest knights and sages the Pathfinder society has to offer!" He says proudly, and with a slight bow. He introduces himself with the same gusto as usual, but regards the town's leadership with a confused look, before he finally says, "Forgive me, but I am mighty surprised that you were not expecting us. Master Wate sent a missive to Lady Zongnoss requesting our assistance, did he not mention anything to you of his concerns over the unusual behaviour of orcs and sightings of devils? I assure you that we are here to help in whatever way we can, and in doing so, make sure that this place looses no more of it's fine citizenry to the foul clutches of devil or orc!"
Nothing can escape the knight's perceptive gaze, and he immediately places Shovann Orda as a native of Ustalav, but for the moment he is more interested in Gallus' heritage, "I dare say that you have had a fair amount of experience with devils, Sir Crevac, hailing from Chelliax as you do. Do you have any idea what these Gaavs might want?"
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Shovaan nods at Hanlin's explanation, "The Pathfinder Society. Yes, that makes sense. It was wise of Wate to reach out to your organization. He probably didn't want to get our hopes up, in the event his request for aid went unanswered."
Gallus coughs, a bit embarrassed. "What would a gaav devil want? Such lesser devils exist to serve their greater masters." He adds, "Yes, it is true, I am from Cheliax and once served as a priest of the Prince of Law. I left the clergy, though, more suited to the life of a scholar than that of a zealot. Eventually, I came here. While Arwyll Stead has no formal school for teaching its children, the town does sport a sizeable repository of arcane lore in the form of my Red Archive. I started the Red Archive when I came to Arwyll Stead decades ago, and ever since I've amassed a diverse collection of writings—both recent and ancient."
Mayor Proum casts a sorrowful gaze into the dining room, where the bodies of the scouts lie atop the table. “Wate was the last of the Arwyll family, which founded Arwyll Stead generations ago. He was a brave young man who died far too young. In addition to being a symbol of the indomitable spirit of Arwyll Stead, he was a friend to many in the town.”
Vegazi asks, "Why is there so much concern over this one man?"
Proum sighs and answers, “Because he’s an Arwyll. The founders of this town and their line included many noble warriors who fought against the orc hordes, and the Arwylls have long been a source of morale and spirit for Arwyll Stead. With no remaining Arwylls to continue the family name, the town will never be the same.”
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Hanlin pauses to consider their words carefully. I best keep sharp here, there are likely politics to be considered...especially if Wate didn't tell them he called for aid.
"This Red Archive sounds impressive, I'd love to see what you've preserved here to teach the youth of the area." He responds to Gallus. "Devils are always serving a master of some sort, we'll need to see what and why. Tell us, what do you know of the history of the Devils and orc working together against the Stead?"
As an aside he thinks out loud "If Wate is so important to this town, and by the appearance of his equipment and lineage, perhaps there is enough wealth to ask Iomedae to return his soul to his body. If the well being of this town depends on it there couldn't be one more deserving."
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"Any collusion or cooperation between devils and the orcs is a new development. One that must be investigated," replies Gallus Crevac. Proum and Shovaan nod in agreement.
Shovaan scoffs, "The wealth to raise the dead exceeds Arwyll Stead's meager coffers. And such healing arts are beyond the capability of our priest, though Ovir Radan is a good man who does his best."
Mayor Proum adds, "A lack of capable leadership is part of the problem. While I can certainly do my best to maintain peace in Arwyll Stead as the town’s official mayor, Steaders are a notoriously stubborn lot and aren’t likely to defer their loyalty to someone not of the Arwyll line. In truth, I am leader in name only, and the town likely needs a new hero to look to."
"I’m not ruling anything out right now. You seem like a reasonable lot, and I have no reason to doubt your claims, but I can’t take any chances, either. If what Vegazi says is true, then the Arwyll family owes her a great deal of gratitude—at the very least for returning the Arwyll signet ring."
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By the time Proum, Shovaan, and Gallus finish questioning the PCs, the sun is fast setting. Mayor Proum escorts you to the door.
"Until we can sort out the matter surrounding Wate Arwyll’s death and ascertain the trustworthiness of your account," he requests, "I would invite you and your new friend stay put in Arwyll Stead for at least the night. I've arranged for you to have two rooms in the Blissful Badger—the town’s only inn—and I’d appreciate your cooperation with the investigation."
"In particular," Proum says, "I want to know more about Vegazi’s relationship with the Arwyll family. Perhaps, we can speak later of this person who gave his ring to a half-orc."
"I'd like your help retrieving Grev, a local hermit who knew the Arwylls well, in the morning. In addition, I'd like you to meet with Scoutmaster Terrin when he returns from his latest scouting mission."
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Bishop listens as the others try to gain the trust of the remaining council members. This Wate fellow had kept his affairs quiet with contacting the Society and now with his death things were about to throw this town into an even deeper hole than it was already in.
'Vegazi is looked with on with suspicion especially with that ring she is wearing. Even though we clearly saved her life she maintains hiding her secret from us. We'll see how long she keeps quiet on this one.'
Bishop nods at the Mayor's decision to trust them for now. "We are here to assist you and your offer of the room is appreciated thank you, Mayor Proum. We look forward to meeting with your Scoutmaster upon their return."
Bishop rises fully intrigued at the various mysteries that were quickly forming. He waits for the others to get up and heads off to the inn with them when they are ready to leave.
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Erlathan had largely been quiet traveling through Arwyll Stead and even entering Arwyll Estate. He'd found a cozy velvet chair to sit on, and while he perched himself on it, listening militantly, he couldn't shake the feeling that something horrible was on the horizon.
Devils and orcs collaborating. What could POSSIBLY go wrong? How did I get dragged into this mess again? Some days, I wish you and I were back at the academy, Sara, just like old times. Who am I kidding? Not a day goes by that I don't think about your smile. Fit for a goddess.
When dismissed, Erlathan stands from the chair. "Say, Gallus, I'd like to know a thing or two more about this Red Archive, especially if it's chock full of arcane goodness!" He rubs his hands together as if fawning over a tasty dessert. "Any possibility of a tour of the place since we're going to be here for at least tonight? I'd hate to pass up an opportunity to learn a thing or two more. Sir."
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Before you leave the Arwyll Estate, Gallus Crevac answers the elf, "Of course, Erlathan, you must stop by the Red Archive tomorrow, after your meetings are concluded. I'd be delighted to show you my collection."
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The Blissful Badger is the sole inn and one of two taverns in Arwyll Stead. It’s a rather remarkable establishment. The building is separated into two halves connected by a broad bar area. On the western side of the building is the inn, where visitors and a few semipermanent residents stay in cramped rooms on either the first or second floor. On the eastern side is the tavern, where tables small and large dot the floor in front of a finely lacquered performing stage.
A tired dwarven woman is tidying up the dining area, and she looks up as you enter. "Evening, folks. You must be the group the mayor wants me to put up." She wipes her hands on her apron, "I'm Isald Forgemore, the proprietor of the Blissful Badger."
"My father, Delest Forgemore, Torag bless his soul, built the Badger 50 years ago. Lost him to an orc raid ten years back. I've been running the place for the past decade. The name's a reference to Arwyll Stead at times of peace, when the Arwyll family needs not invoke 'the fury of the badger' to fend off the orcs of Belkzen or monsters from the Hungry Mountains." She gives Vegazi a wary glance.
"There's still some stew and bread left and enough ale in the keg to wash it down. Have a seat, and I'll fetch it."
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After dinner, Isald motions for you to follow her upstairs. "The main floor is as you see it. The cellar's for storage, and above is for guests. I've got three rooms ready upstairs, and your animals are welcome to sleep indoors. You're responsible for them, though. If they must heed the call of nature, you'll take them outside. Bag and tag their droppings, lest some poor fellow step in it. Bin's around back."
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Hanlin thanks Isald but asks to take his meal after he's had a chance to shed his armor and clean up "Eating in this unwieldy armor is not a pleasure and after the long trip I'm afraid I may knock over the other patrons if they walk too close without a bath."
After a bit he heads down to join the others in a meal, wearing no armor nor pack for once. He does however have his longsword sheathed at his side as per usual. "Break out that stew and ale, I'm starved, and another ale for our friend Vegazi here. She is quite the honorable individual."
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Convinced that protein is for meat-shields, Bishop loads up on simple carbs and gluten while he meanders through the marketplace.
He listens with a trained ear and tries to elicit even more information from the locals. Eventually, he returns to the Blissful Badger, pondering what he learned:
Arwyll Stead is a bustling frontier town of just under 700 people, mostly humans and a few dwarves. It's based around an iron mine founded by an adventuring couple, Daniela and Eston Arwyll. They and their heirs have been the town’s de facto leaders for generations, spurring the local legend that Arwyll Stead would never fall so long as an Arwyll defends it.
Under normal circumstances, adventurers are a welcome sight in town—Steaders respect those who can handle themselves. But you don’t see the town under normal circumstances; the crushing news of Wate’s death, the extant prejudice against half-orcs, and the Hell’s Fury tribe’s meddling have all contributed to a growing mood of tension and paranoia among the townsfolk. You've arrived just as this tough, fearless little town teeters on the brink of anarchy.
The frontier town is a law-and-order kind of place with a very low crime rate, thanks to the influence of the Arwyll family, Mayor Darrel Proum, Elders Shovann Orda and Gallus Crevac, the priest of Iomedae Ovir Radan, Deputy Naia Volsson, and Scoutmaster Terrin Shaw, the man whose name appears on the note you recovered from the body of Wate Arwyll.
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"Aw Inky, you know she didn't mean it like that," Nina responds in a placating tone. "She's probably just had people's animals leave poop all over before and she just wanted to head it off this time. I mean, I'd be sad if I stepped in poop so I can't blame her. And besides, most people don't know how special you are unless you tell them!"
She pauses and looks up at the rest of the group. "What do you guys think? It really did seem odd that Mister Arwyll didn't tell anyone he'd sent for us. Do you think it's just like Shovaan said about him not wanting to get hopes up or could there be more to it?"
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After Isald shows the group to their rooms, Lord Braggett mumbles something under his breath about the indignity of trailing his faithful steed with a bag. However, being both a gentleman and a an honourable guest, he reluctantly acquiesces to the request, "Should nature call on my faithful companion, you will have no need to watch your step. You have my word! As for allowing Sir Kibble to rest in your fine establishment, I am most grateful. Not every tavern is half so civilised as this one."
He looks to Nina and nods, "It does seem rather odd. Not that I would ever need to of course, but if I were about to call on outsiders for aid... Well I'd make sure everybody knew that I was just about to save the day with my glorious recruiting skills!" Meanwhile, Kibble lopes off into one of the proffered and jumps onto the foot of the comfiest looking bed.
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"I didn't think eidolons had that sort of er, business to take care of," Erlathan mutters. "It's odd indeed, my gnomish companions. I get the sense we're part of some bigger phenomenon here. The town teetering on the brink of anarchy, Bishop? Surely just the sort of place I'd love to get a room in for the night," he grumbles, pulling the covers around his lanky self. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say we should keep watch through the night. Gods know I won't get much sleep as it is."
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Bishop looks towards Erlathan as he uses some stale bread to slop up the last of the cold stew. "I just report what I see. The town clearly has never experienced anything like this. It won't take much more for it finally crack under the pressure that is building up here. Why Arwyll said nothing I don't like to speculate. It seems that he would have mentioned something to someone. Let's hope the Scoutmaster knows more."
Bishop looks at the half orc, "Vegazi. Your past is about to be brought up again and again. You might not think it is important for others to know but remember we are not here to judge you on it. I fully believe there might be a couple keys in your story that will help us make sense of what is going on here. Will you answer the questions that I or the others might have for you?"
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Tired after your long journey and your battle with the gaav devils on the Path Road, you hit the rack early and hard.
Erlathan puts together a watch plan for the party.
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Your 8+ hours of restful sleep end with the rude sound of splintering wood and crashing glass as the roar of battle erupts outside the inn.
Bishop is awake, pulling his guard shift, when he hears the sound of shattering glass in the guest room at the southeast corner of the Blissful Badger.
Vegazi, too, hears the noise and jumps out of bed. [occ](move action)[/ooc]
At the sound of the breaking glass, Erlathan and Lord Braggett wake to see two creatures climbing in through their window. Fiendish wings and a whipping scorpion-like tails lash behind the diminutive, red-skinned nuisances.
Erlathan
Vegazi
Lord Braggett
Bishop
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Thing Red
Thing Yellow
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"EGADS!" Lord Braggett wakes with a start, quickly pulling off his sleeping mask and looking around bleary eyed, "What the Devil? Sir Kibble, Erlathan, we have uninvited guests!" He springs out of bed, and tries to remember where he left his many weapons in this strange room. Hearing Bishop raising the alarm outside, the knowledgeable knight shouts through the door, "Is that you Bishop? We're under attack by... by..."
"Things!"
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"Gah! I knew it, I knew it!" Erlathan leaps out of bed, a bedsheet hanging off one of his shoulders. "Away with you, fiends! Get out, get out!"
Nowhere else to run, Erlathan frantically moves to the edge of his bed, cradling a pillow. "NINA, YOUR SUPER-KEEN EARS NEED SOME CLEANING!" He yells.
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Bishop runs to the sound of the broken glass, calling for the others to wake up. He makes it as far as the door to Erlathan and Lord Braggett's room.
Startled awake by the sounds of shattered glass, Erlathan and Lord Bragget see two tiny fiendish creatures enter through the broken window pane.
The red-skinned one crawls through first, gets up-close-and-personal with Lord Braggett, lashing its scorpion-like tail back and forth at the gnome.
The yellow-bellied one enters the window, jumps on Erlathan's bed, and waves its tail in front of the elf's eyes.
Vegazi yells at Nina and Inky to wake, opens the door to their room, and races down the hall, stopping short behind Bishop.
Erlathan
Vegazi
Hanlin
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Thing Red
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Bishop
Lord Braggett & Kibble
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Thing Yellow
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Nina & Inky
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"Oh dear, oh dear, what am I to do? Am I to die in a cozy bed to the claws of a fiendish devil? Maybe, but not without a fight!" Erlathan spreads his palms in the devil's nose, then unleashes a spray of pure electricity into its face. "Eat thunder and lightning, devil boy!"
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Bishop calls out through the door to Erlathan and Lord Braggett, telling them to open the door.
Hanlin follows bishop down the hallway toward Erlathan and Lord Braggett's room.
Meanwhile, inside the chamber, Erlathan casts a spell, and a cone of lightning shoots from his fingertips, engulfing the yellow-bellied creature. The smell of burnt wiring heavy in the air, the smoldering fiend howls a curse.
The red-skinned fiend slips in under Erlathan's guard.
Its tail lashes forward at the archanist.
Erlathan
Vegazi
Hanlin
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Thing Red
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Bishop
Lord Braggett & Kibble
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Thing Yellow
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Nina & Inky
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Bishop opens the door and watches as Erlathan, Braggett and his hound battle two rather diminutive fiends. Remembering back to an earlier conversation Bishop draws his silver dagger and hops over Kibble to land on the bed.
"Are these creatures hunting us now? Erlathan get out of the room and make space for Vegazi. Hanlin the elf is wounded."
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"If they are, they are just saving us the time of hunting them!" Lord Braggett exclaims confidently. Giving up on trying to find his weapons, he decides to focus his attention on the devil that Erlathan so thoroughly toasted moments ago, "Ha ha!" He cries as he dives across the room and jumps onto the yellow-bellied creature, giving Bishop a fine view of the courageous knight's perfectly pert posterior as his nightgown billows over his head in all the exertion.
While Braggett wrestles with the tiny winged menace, Sir Kibble finally awakes and scrambles to all four paws, *Arf?* The shaggy grey wolf takes a step towards Erlathan and growls at the tiny creature currently assaulting his tentacled friend, waiting his moment to snap.
Move action: Jump on bed
Standard action: Grapple Yellow (Provoke AoO?)
Kibble:
Move action: Get up from prone
5 foot step
Standard action: Attack Red
For the first two adjacent allies who are targeted for an attack, Kibble will use the Bodyguard feat to expend an AoO and boost their AC by 2.
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"GAH!" Erlathan grunts as the creature's stinger cuts through his pillow-fort like a hot knife through butter and finds its way into his arm. He feels sapped of his strength for a moment, but then Gozreh smiles upon him and the venom somehow shoots back out of the wound. "Nice try, you nasty, filthy creature. You make a vargouille look pretty!"
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Bishop opens the door, leaps over Kibble and onto Lord Braggett's bed.
Lord Braggett, nightshirt blowing in the wind, lunges at the yellow-bellied fiend trying to get his arms around it. The creature whips its tail at the gnome, landing its sting despite Kibble's attempt to help defend his master.
Kibble bares his canines and snaps at the red-skinned fiend, but the creature avoids his bite.
The yellow-skinned fiend decides it's time to disappear, literally.
Erlathan
Vegazi
Hanlin
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Thing Red
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Bishop
Lord Braggett
Kibble
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Thing Yellow
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Nina & Inky
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Hanlin hustles into the room as well, his sleep wear not near so 'billowy' as Lord's, just a simple shirt and thin pant. He takes one look at the yellow little creature and instantly knows what it is "Devilish Imps! Evil bastards, you will pay!"
Hanlin holds his left hand out, palm forward and channels the power of his oh so awesome Goddess into the beady little eyes of the creature(s). A golden energy erupts from him, filling the room and then some with a wave of holy goodness.
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Lord Braggett instinctively pulls away his arm as the yellow-bellied devil lands a painful sting, "Ha! Is that the best you've got?" He asks, clearly enjoying his morning callisthenics even though he was unable to get a proper grip on the devil. His noble steed, however, takes the attack on his best friend very personally and snaps at the devil with extreme prejudice.
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With the door now open, Erlathan hurriedly hops off the bed and scrambles out of the room. "Well, I think I've had enough face-to-face time with outerplanar creatures for one day. See ya!"
Stopping just next to Vegazi, he draws his magic missile wand. "Oh, good day, fine Vegazi. It's quite the, er, devilish mess in that room. Might you want to step in and, you know, DESTROY them?"
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Nina's eyes pop open at the sudden eruption of sound and fury just a few doors down and she instinctively rolls out of bed and grabs for her lance.
"Devils again!? Zounds!" she cries as she rushes out the door to her room and screeches to a halt just behind Vegazi. "Oh no, there's no room! HEY YOU GUYS! SAVE SOME FOR ME, OKAY!?" she bellows as she waits for an opening.
Inky, however, is conspicuously absent...
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Before the yellow-bellied fiend can pop smoke, Kibble's mighty maw closes around its scrawny neck. The pooch is perplexed when his teeth fail to penetrate its tough hide. But Kibble takes some satisfaction in tripping the tiny thing, tumbling it onto Erlathan's rumpled bedding.
Nina grabs her weapon and heads down the hall, wondering what the fuss is all about.
Erlathan withdraws from his bedchamber.
Hanlin passes Erlathan on his way out, enters the room, and realizes you're facing a couple of imps,tiny outsiders with the devil, evil, extraplanar, and lawful subtypes. He knows all about their special defenses: They have fast healing 2 and only good or silver weapons bypass their damage reduction.
Hanlin curses at the imps, holds up his righteous left hand, and lays an egg of golden goodness. The red imp winces in pain, and the yellow imp is staggered.
From the doorway, the nearly nude Vegazi looses an arrow at the staggered yellow imp, piercing Erlathan's down-filled pillow.
The red imp slithers off the bed and gets in close to Kibble, whipping its scorpion-like tail at the dog.
Erlathan
Vegazi
Hanlin
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Thing Red
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Bishop
Lord Braggett
Kibble
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Thing Yellow
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Nina & Inky
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"Ha! Nice work, Sirs." Lord Braggett says to both Kibble and Hanlin, "We have them on the ropes now." He hops up onto the head of Erlathan's bed just as the red imp slithers away and stings Kibble, "Hey! Get back here..." Incredulous that yet another imp has slipped from his grasp, Braggett decides that now is an excellent time to show off his exceptional motivational skills, "Now is the time to strike, my friends! The imps are afraid of us, they now know that Pathfinders are not to be trifled with."
Meanwhile, Sir Kibble attempts to bite at his assailant. Unfortunately, he is unable to get his head into the awkward position necessary, and ends up spinning in a tight circle and barking loudly in it's ear instead.
Move action: Jump on bed
Standard action: Lion's Call
Kibble:
Standard action: Attack Red
For the first two adjacent allies who are targeted for an attack, Kibble will use the Bodyguard feat to use an AoO and boost their AC.
Having spun around once, Sir Kibble is in a much better position to bite at his foe. With teeth bared and hackles raised, he snaps at the red imp, hoping that it is softer than the yellow-bellied one.