Tarson will move towards the center of the building and activate his deflection Aura. For the next 4 rounds everyone with in 20 feet of him will gain a +2 deflection bonus to AC as his holy symbol Glows white and forms small protective glows about his comrades.
Despite the impediment of the intervening temple wall, the fact that the harpy remains tangled in goop and lies upon the ground makes her an easy target. Thus, Freyja's sword - imbued with her own magic power - plunges through the goop and into the harpy's stomach, her shriek stolen away by the magic Silence. Although the bird woman remains conscious, she nears death.
Helgrim walks over and puts a boot heel to the stricken Harpy’s head.
”Her singing sound a little flat to me.”
The air elemental smacks the other harpy.
"I can't hear you," mouths Qitaba at the dwarf.
Wulf waits and when he feels the pressure on the door get stressed he opens the door then shuts it rapidly hoping to hit the Harpy.
Teasel is just quietly enjoying the music a bit confused as to why it died out.
The air elemental flies through the same gap in the wall that the harpy once attempted to breach. Landing upon the ground outside, the ephemeral outsider delivers a downward slam that cracks the prone harpy's ribs, knocks her out cold, and brings her to the brink of death.
On the other side of the temple, Wulf's timing is impeccable. He slams the sturdy stone door into the harpy as she charges, bruising her bones and knocking her prone. Adding further injury to the insult, Helgrim strides over and stomps upon her head.
This last of the three harpies cries out in pain and begins to drag herself away, desperately trying to crawl away from the party.
Meanwhile, the shadows continue to prowl on the verge of the temple grounds, sliding back and forth like caged and restless beasts.
With the shadows held at bay Ludvic will ready a action to move and heal anyone who is hurt by the harpy, but will otherwise stay still.
Qitaba exits the area of silence and calls out in Auran
"Go attack the one by the door! And watch out for those shadow things!"
The arcanist makes a pistol shape of his thumb and index finger and squints through a murder hole at the shadows. "You idiots," he mutters. "You must be Taldan undead. Our ghuls are smarter. I'm going to plink you."
He mutters a few arcane words and unleashes a bolt of positive energy at the shadow directly to the south of him.
Wulf will grab the Harpy and hold her.
"Hello Beautiful, let's have a chat shall we, or you are gonna take a dip" he says holding fast to the Harpy.
”Well, looks like this guy just saved you from being drained by shadows.”
The dwarf says to the Harpy rather loudly due to the earplugs in his head.
He motions to Wulf.
”Lets take your new lady friend inside after we tie her up and ask her a few questions, like has she seen Freyja’s dad.”
He gets out rope and a gag.
Kit's spell grazes the wisps of darkness that laze along the shadow's flank like curls of smoke. Although this does not harm the undead creature, it spooks them all enough to slink a few paces back from the temple.
The harpy swipes wildly at Wulf with her talons, but this only serves to place her arms firmly in his grasp. With Helgrim's help, the veteran hauls the bird woman back inside the temple walls. She is soon subdued and bound.
"I'm not good with the whole intang..intangible" Wulf had to pause and correct himself on how to say the word and then continued on."So I'll leave the Shadows to you, while we watch and converse with the Harpy"
"Do to unfortunate circumstances Miss we have come to meet via battle. I do apologize for such things, but it is a sign of the times we live in. Me and my friends want you to cooperate, so we can put an end to the bloodshed. My people will be safe and your people will be safe. Now more will die, that is true but we can stem the amount if you answer the questions we will present you. The Harpies can continue to live peaceably in the woods, while the townsfolk can live peaceably in the town. It sounds good, doesn't it? heck, we could eventually learn to trade and respect one another. Offer the Harpies Food and Friendship, while the Harpies aid in Defense and maybe working with locals to find resources in the woods. Not the final ideas on these mind you but ones that could be arranged" Wulf sets up hoping others with better words and confidence chimed in.
Ludvic will also chime in as well to support Wulf's arguments. IN addition, if things begin looking grim in negotiations he will use his racial ability to cast Charm Person.
Freyja frowns at Wulf's words. If you pick up a snake it may very well bite you for that is it's nature. These harpies charm and kill and eat sentient beings. That is their nature She explains. Then to the harpy she says. You are working with hags and even the Red Mantis. Where are these groups and who is behind them all coming together?
Teasel shrugs at Freya and says," I'd much rather handle this as peacefully as possible. Perhaps the hags are influencing or manipulating the harpies. I know we risk betrayal but that's a small risk. We are a competent group."
Turning to the harpy she adds," I would like to help you. The people you are working with would have no qualms betraying you. "
Helgrim smiles inwardly.
Bless your pure soul Teasel. So believable, because your heart rings true in every word. If I am so moved, maybe the Harpy will grasp onto that out of desperation.
. . . Of course this winged nocturnal baby stealer isn’t making it out of here. I haven’t made it any promises yet.
But, you never know. I’ve been surprised before.”
The dwarf checks on the shadows being held at bay before looking back and the unfolding interrogation.
As the excitement of battle wanes, you take better stock of your foul foe turned hogtied hostage. Feathers and down run along her torso and limbs, all caked with dirt, sweat, and dried blood. Wulf likens the smell to a barracks that has not been cleaned for weeks after hosting a company that has not bathed in months.
"The hags should fear us," the harpy says with a predatory smile, exposing sharp, discolored teeth. "They foolishly think they control us. We help them for now, as long as they bring us shiny treasure and healthy mates. As soon as they can't, my flock of sisters will rip them limb from limb and turn their misshapen bones into fine jewelry."
A soft chuckles escapes her mouth, despite her present situation.
"Perhaps the time has come? Perhaps you can help? Help us slay the hags, and we will leave your town be."
As the conversation with the monstrous bird woman continues, though, she expresses confusion at the mention of the Red Mantis. The name means nothing to her, and she has never heard of them.
The dwarf listens carefully weighing the creatures words.
Qitaba crosses his not very impressive arms (although, the robes are nice looking.) His look of frowning disbelief telegraphs the fact that he doesn't think much of the word of a harpy.
"Tell us where the hags camp, and you come with us as a prisoner, and perhaps we'll listen to you," says the arcanist. "You're not in much of a bargaining position."
"My sisters and I roost upon the cliffs and the ruins on top," the harpy says in a shrill croak, gesturing with her sharp chin in the direction of the Crags to the north. "The hags lurk beneath us, in the dwarf caves and tunnels within the stone."
Of course, you sincerely doubt that she will adhere to any sort of agreement after that.
Kit looks at the others. "Shall we approach from the cliffs, then, and make our way downward? I frankly do not trust the harpies to betray us at any moment."
Pocketing the silence coin Freyja says There are the shadows to contend with once we leave this place.
"And elementals won't stop them," says Qitaba in agreement. "We'll do what we can."
"I may be able to assist against the undead. My holy powers can harm them but I can not do much to avoid if they flee. It may be best to stay here until we can find a safe way to deal with those beasts."
"Don't Shadows fear the day we can wait for the dawn?" Wulf says as he stands and looks about. He was not happy about the scenario, just knowing the shadows are out there he can fight, but things like that he has no real idea how to fight them.
Qitaba shrugs. "Never my strong suit, knowing about these undead things. Tarson may know. I say we take some shots at them; I don't think they heal from injury."
”Well, I believe she is telling the truth regarding where the harpies and hags dwell. I will be in cliffs at the far end of the city's ruins. I think she’ll abide by the terms offered as long as it gets her back to her sisters and we move to slaughter the hags.”
Helgrim speaks directly to the prisoner.
”About how many Harpies are you and how many bags are we talking about here? Describe their chambers so that we can come up with a plan to kill them or drive them off.”
"My flock of sisters is vast," the harpy says with a croaking chuckle. "We number almost two dozen. We have gathered together, rising from the forest and descending from the mountains, to form one mighty flock."
She rattles on and on about her sisters. Despite the unity of which she brags, the harpies seem to cluster together with their original family groups or flights. Her descriptions provide enough information for Helgrim to surmise the ruins atop the Crags that each group claims.
One flight of harpies roosts within a garrison or barracks, and another upon the remains of an aqueduct that once carried water down from the mountains. Your prisoner's own group roosts within what sounds like an old counting house or mercantile hall.
"As for the hags? They number three," she says, struggling against her bonds to extend three fingers to offer emphasis. "Their leader is Mossy Uliza. She never fails to boast about her lineage, claiming to be the descendant of Ulizmila, the long-vanished Witch of the Woods. She dotes wickedly upon her own fledgling, Jeva, the youngest and weakest of the three."
Mention of this member of the hag coven elicits a derisive scoff from the harpy.
"Jeva insists she's a hag, but she looks like nothing more than a frail human to me," she laughs, like a schoolgirl sharing cruel gossip about a despised classmate. "All day and night, she works her fingers to the bone, preparing for some ritual that she insists will spark her transformation. She clearly shares her mother's madness, if nothing else.
"The last is Eudice. She is a spindly thing with ashen skin, the color of stone. She is always muttering, always whispering to herself. The only time she doesn't prattle about the 'Dead Moon' and the 'Lord of the End Times' is when she begs the other two to fetch her daughters and bring them forth."
The harpy knows nothing of the hags' chambers, since they forbid any of their winged allies from entering.
Tarson rubbed his chin as the harpy finished up on her information.
"The hags are cause of concern. While we could most likely deal with the harpies given time they hags themselves are most likely able to hassle us with their spell casting. It may make sense to try to gather some information about their capabilities. The last one brings me great worry. She sounds like a possible worshiper of He who Hangs above the Boneyard. His worshipers are nuisances, preaching about the end on street corners. At their worst... They try to usher them in.
For now let me know when we plan to leave this area. I should be able to destroy those shadows, or at worst cause them to flee."
I do not like working with such creatures. Freyja says, indicating the harpy with her chin and I will will never trust them. But if working with the harpy's will help rid us of the hags then so be it.
Wulf nods as he looks at the harpy his face stoic and eyes bearing down at her. The Man then finally pulls his face away."Yes, the Hags are a clear threat. The Harpies will do what they do when the Hags are slain."
Wulf looks back down at the Harpy and grabs her by her collar and pulls her face in close."What is your name and your flock's name?" Wulf asks his eyes less stern, as he was curious.
Although the harpy felt a resurgence of confidence whilst denigrating the hags, that confidence flees like smoke before the wind when Wulf seizes her. Her eyes go wide with fear, and she momentarily forgets how to speak.
"I am Venka," she croaks. "Venka of the Cragfeathers."
Teasel the entire time is just standing there wondering if the harpies have ill intentions. Upon realizing she's way over here head she adds,"I should be able to help with the shadows. They don't like positive energy right?"
"Wulf. Bind her wings, and gag her. She can walk. Venka, do you see the one who looks like a tree?" He indicates Teasel. "She possesses magic to bring thorns at a whime. If you try to double cross us, we will use those thorns to remove your eyes, scar your vocal cords into immobility, and leave you alive, to be mocked by your sisters as a useless cripple. You will wither and starve, slowly, over the course of a winter. Are we clear as to the terms of our agreement?"
The dwarf draws in a long drag on his pipe while looking at Kit before saying simply, ”Damn.”
He thumbs towards the outside.
”Alright, well, let’s take care of the shadows and look into Freyja’s father.”
Freyja perks up at the mention of her father, but is still cautious of the very real threat the shadows represent.
If Jeva is truly Uliza's daughter, then she is likely a green-born changeling, also known as a callow may. Though they are often withdrawn and soft-spoken, they are superb manipulators, yet have a deep appreciation of the natural world. Although she has heeded the Call - the psychic cry that draws changelings to their hag mothers - it seems that Jeva has not yet completed her transformation into a hag.
Lastly, Venka's description makes it obvious to you that Eudice is an ash hag. They prefer to live in areas that have been scoured by fire, such as burned buildings or fields. Their magic is strongly tied to fire, soot, and ash.
Venka releases a brief, fearful yelp. Her watering eyes dart between Teasel and Kit, terrified of what punishments they might unleash upon her.
Tarson will move outside, making sure to stay behind the area they fear to cross. For now he will wait for his companions to give sign for him to channel.
Teasel's eyes grow wide at Kit's words silently wondering if she's not powerful than she initially thought
Wulf binds the woman in tight knots, then uses a bit of cloth to bind her month
Freyja will ready to perform just before the group goes out to fight the shadows.
Kit looks at the knots approvingly. "See you, Venka," he says mildly.
He mentions the green hag, green-born changeling, and ash hag. "We have a green hag and her lovely daughter--both will be claw attackers and the younger one will be deceptive to we susceptible menfolk...er, perhaps some womenfolk as well." He ticks off his thoughts on fingers. "The ash hag. Not vulnerable to cold as far as I'm aware; fire won't hurt it and we should keep it from burned areas...which are probably unfortunately common around here."
He shrugs. "They sound tough. We will definitely need the harpies."