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Nigel smiles sympathetically at Mila.
"Fair enough. Zat makes perfect sense. You have been zrough a terrible ordeal, after all. Once again, I am sorry zat my current appearance frightens you; believe it or not, in my usual form, I am far less distressing. However, zis place looked like it vas going to be a difficult nut to crack, so I zought it best to pull out all stops - and to take on as many aspects of ze forest as I could. Vith hindsight, adding some aberration into ze mix vas probably a bad idea, but I villing to acknovledge my mistakes, and move on."
When Father Noelan mentions being able to bind outsiders, Nigel looks surprised, and impressed.
"Fascinating! I had no idea zat you could do zat..."
When Cirieo rails against what happened to Ageep, Nigel sighs sadly.
"You are right; ve should have done better. All I can promise you, is zat ve vill try to do better in ze future; zat is vhy ve vill try ze business vith ze potion..."
Nigel then slaps his forehead, and groans.
"Of course, it helps if I remember zat I can reuse potions..."
"Right. Zis is no longer a one-use, risky proposition. I propose zat every time ve enter a new level of ze tover, I vill do so under Invisibility, until ve are sure zat all of ze remaining Rangers are accounted for. I can't promise zat it vill vork, but it is ze best one zat I can come up vith, for ze moment."
”Did you ever look at yourself in the mirror? You’ve got two extra green arms sticking out of you, look like you’re part wolf and part bat, and eyes all over you. That’s gross.” Mila replies with revulsion.
”Yeah I mean if he wanted to shapeshift, at least do it like Renee and go fully one beast, instead of some unholy amalgam of various creatures, right?” Cirieo puts in. ”I’m really not sure how the Rangers are going to react if you appear in their midst like that.” Cirieo says dubiously. ”Maybe it’s better they don’t see you at all.”
”It’s ask politely. Not Bind,” Father Noelan corrects Nigel. ”There’s a world of difference. A bound outsider is likely to subvert your instructions or do the minimum possible. Whereas if you ask them politely, they will do their best to fulfil the spirit of your orders even if they cannot comply with the letter. However, they do have other things to do, so they will require recompense for it.”
”Remind me not to take that invisibility potion. You’re not spitting it back, are you?” Cirieo gives Nigel a suspicious look.
”But I do appreciate you putting in effort in trying to account for all of them. We of the Chernasardo Rangers don’t believe in leaving anyone behind. I would consider it a pyrrhic victory even if we managed to clear the hobgoblins from this place, but got all of my friends killed.” Cirieo tells Nigel. ”I mean so what if we avenged them…it doesn’t bring back the dead.” Cirieo answers bitterly. ”And Grenwold already said we need to re-establish the Chernsardo Rangers back in Fangwood – and that won’t be possible if everyone’s dead.”
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"Actually, no - since zis is ze first time I have done zis, I have not looked in a mirror."
When Father Noelan corrects him, Nigel nods.
"Ah, fair enough. I am afraid zat zat sort of magic is outside my area of expertise, so I don't really know anyzing about zat. I apologise for ze mistake."
When Cirieo makes his comment about the potion, Nigel smiles sheepishly.
"Vell, technically, yes... but it can be Purified afterwards!"
When he then mentions something about a Pyrrhic victory, Nigel winces.
"I very much hope zat it doesn't come to zat. Believe me vhen I say zat I vill do vhat I can to prevent any more deaths."
"You should. Or maybe stare into a polished sword."Cirieo passes Nigel one of the hobgoblin longswords.
"I'll pass."Cirieo replies to Nigel's suggestion that the potion can be Purified after.
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Nigel raises a hand, in a gesture of defeat.
"Fair enough."
He takes the sword, and gives himself a once-over, wincing.
"Hmmm... Vell, I must admit, it is hardly vhat I vould consider an improvement... Perhaps using Ratel's blood as a catalyst was a mistake... his antecedents interacted vith my own in unpredictable vays. I may need to ask Azriel if he vould be villing to provide some samples, when we get back."
"I don't know who Azriel is but I don't think it could possibly be worse." Cirieo replies. "At least you don't have eyes all over you. Eww!"
”An island like this between two rivers may be resting on soft rock but inherently this rock specifically was harder than the surround minerals which is why the river carved its channel. If it weren’t stiff enough they could not have easily built the towers. Burrowing any deeper than the surface through the island would require the power of an earth elemental - I doubt even I could do it while infused with planar power.
He nods when Cirieo reacts and is visibly upset, ”It is upsetting to me too, we will redouble our efforts.” He looks distraught whenever he sees the cover over ageep.
Later, Grenwold shrugs, ”Magic is just that - it can do all kinds of things. Nigel’s appearance doesn’t bother me. The Darkblight looks much worse” He readies himself to move on. ”our clock is ticking- to the tower then, or do we clear out the rest of the ground floor buildings?”
"But how would you have known that until you tried to dig?" Cirieo questions Grenwold. "How can you claim an attempt is doomed to failure if you never tried? If you hit bedrock, realized that there was a problem, at least you can say you tried."
"I went along with the frontal assault idea even though I preferred getting the Chesanardo Rangers out first. And now I'm wondering if our next rescue will turn out as badly as this one."Cirieo states."I mean the hobgoblins killed Ageep because we didn't let them walk free,maybe if we aceeded to their demands, the situation might have turned out differently."
"I'll tell you I never had, nor wanted any magic. And even Chesanardo Ranger magic doesn't look like that. He's an aberration!" Cirieo gestures at Nigel.
”Well, I am not in charge of this group. So my opinion does not hold much sway, I am just trying to help you as best I can. We respect your opinion and are trying to take your advice into consideration, which is why we are going to have some changes to our plans. Nigel or I can scout ahead invisibly if you want, to try and free these folks ahead of time - but our resources are extremely limited and we have very little flexibility when it comes to a rescue operation. We don’t have digging tools, or a way to silence the digging, or a reliable way until we found that potion to hide ourselves and scout. We can’t do it at night because every hobgoblin can see in the dark - and we couldn’t scout in this place for that same reason. Now we have a potion so Nigel can make an attempt a few times, which we are going to do. That’s the best we can. ” Grenwold says, a little exasperated, ”and for that matter, why does it matter how Nigel looks. He’s trying to help you. We’re all trying to help you. You aren’t obliged to take his potions - and considering how hard of a time we are having I’ll take whatever help we can get.”
”For the record, I would have let the hobgoblins go to save your friend. And I think we should make that a rule for whatever else we do. Saving the rangers is paramount, even if it means letting the Legion go. Again, though, I only speak for myself.”
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Nigel raises a placating hand to Gren.
"Gren, Cirieo just saw a friend murdered in front of him; he is entitled to be distraught. Vondering vhat you could have done to prevent it is a normal, and healthy, emotional response. Zat said, I am not sure vhat else ve could definitely have done to prevent it, short of calling a Zebub Devil to scout, and zen a Hound Archon to retrieve ze prisoners... but I doubt zat zat vould have been a good idea; dealing viz Devils never turns out vell, for anyone... not to mention zat I don't zink Fazer Noelan can actually Call Devils..."
He then shrugs.
"As for my temporary appearance being distressing... vell... I am sure zat you have noticed zat people can be quite judgemental of zose zat are different; Ratel mentioned at lengz zat his people lived apart for zat very reason. Still, Mila did say he vas villing to let it slide, because ve are helping him, vhich I consider to be a positive step!"
"I would appreciate it if you could at least try to get my friends out instead of having them caught in the crossfire. And not shrug it off like oh, this is a war and things like that happen."Cireo replies. "A home isn't a home without people in it. It was the Chernasardo Rangers that made this place a home. At the end of the day, I would say that who owns this Fort is immaterial. If we can find and organize enough Chernasardo Rangers, we would eventually find a way to retake the Fangwood back. Its not even about the possessions or the place, but rather the people!"
"What I am worried about is that the compounds that he's taking, in such a experimental fashion may alter his mental well-being. He probably put in troll bits to grow troll arms and god knows what else!" Cirieo puts in.
"Actually I don't know much about outsiders. Hound archon for rescue would work...but what I'd summon for scouting, I'm not very sure. Erastil will provide."Father Noelan states. "And devils would find a way to screw you over, within the letter of the contract and trick you to bargain your soul with them, so yeah bad idea."
"And no, Nigel, I wouldn't walk into any populated area looking the way you are now. The city guard might misunderstand."Father Noelan adds.
Robert looks at Father Noelan. "What about Lantern Archons. Don't they fly?" He looks around. "What? Even Rangers go to church when in town."
”Maybe. But since I don’t know the various outsiders that well, I would just put a general request to Erastil and let him decide what best to send.” Father Noelan replies.
”Do you really want to just storm the tower today?” Cirieo asks Nigel, his expression worried. ”If you really want to, and if you find any prisoners, please tell them to stand down, so that they don’t draw any attention to themselves. I don’t want any of my friends killed.”
Nigel then drinks his extract of alchemical allocation before drinking the potion of invisibility and spitting it back into the container. He then opens the tower door.
The lowest level of the tower bears several large holes knocked through the brickwork walls. The floor is a mess of splintered timber and rubble. Water dribbles steadily down the staircase to the north, passing through an open doorway and joining a stinking, filthy mess inside a privy to the southeast. A sturdy door to the east is barred. Two enormous sows and a dozen other pigs of varying ages—root around through the ruins. Four hobgoblins, 3 wielding longswords and in breastplates, the last one wielding a light flail and having a small chain and manacle hanging from his belt patrol the room. At the back of the room there is a staircase up.
As Nigel slips in through the open door, the hobgoblin wielding a light flail feeling a draft, curses, "Boldok, did you leave the door open again?" To which the white hobgoblin moves to the door and closes it. "I didn't, but it's closed now."
Gren says, "Remember, I know a bit about the planes, I've figured out some information through my prayers to Shelyn, she has imparted me with a goodly bit of knowledge, so just ask away if you want to know something."
Grenwold nods at Nigel and Cirieo, "Yes, we have to do it, for better or worse. We will do everything we can to keep the rangers safe, your friends, are more important than any building or land. Of course. I would have died to protect Ageep, it's why Fenton and I rushed into that room. I just couldn't reach him in time," Grenwold says miserably.
Nigel hears multiple voices from behind the door but cannot make out what they are saying.
"We should have tried to get Ageep out of there after they first shot him."Cirieo laments."But he was chained to the wall. If he didn't try to help us, he might still be alive now."
Nigel catches another dark shape that looks like another door as he peers under the first one. Beyond that he can make out some shapes under the door that look like feet.
You cannot properly hear the words to determine the language due to the doors in the way. Nigel ascends the staircase.
Most of the interior walls on this level have been knocked out and the resulting debris has been hauled away, leaving only a small room to the north. A stream of water pours steadily from the ascending staircase in the south end of the room to the descending stairs to the west. The only items here now are a few stools, an open chest containing raw meat, and a few coiled whips and spiked collars hanging on wall hooks.
In the room a tall creature with rough, green hide. Its hands end in claws, and its bestial face has a hideous, tusked underbite is training two bear-sized predator is long and low-slung with soft fur and intelligent expression contrast with its glistening fangs.
Nigel has no idea what the two creatures are, nor what that tall creature with a rough green hide is.
The two bear sized predators sniff the air and snort as Nigel steps up the stairs,causing the
tall creature with a rough green hide to sniff the air suspiciously.
"Valami nem szaga van itt. Szaglom, bármi is van." The creature looks threateningly in Nigel's direction.
[ooc=Giant]
Something doesn't smell right here. I can smell you, whatever you are.
[/ooc]
"Jang, azt hiszem, van egy behatoló a toronyban." The tall creature with a rough green hide yells up the stairs. "Szagolok egy lényt, de nem látok senkit."
Jang, I think you have an intruder in the tower. I smell a creature but don't see anyone.
Nigel moves up the stairs as he sees the tall humanoid with a dark green skin move to the stairs behind him.
A tall table in the center of the room holds a large map of the Southern Fangwood covered with marks and figurines, while a large cloth map—more recent and covered in heavy notations—hangs on the northwest wall. A large window to the south looks out over the surrounding forest.
Two unarmed and unarmoured hobgoblins are pouring over the map.
The rest of the room doors are closed. A stairway with water pooling at its side leads upwards.
Nigel also realizes it has been more then a minute and a half to get to this point. He does not have much time on his invisibility left.
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Nigel quietly heads past the two hobgoblins, and out the window, and flies down to join the others.
Nigel quickly gives the others a summary of what he discovered.
"I zink zat ze best bet for vhere ze Rangers are is behind zose two sets of doors on ze ground level. Ve need to head inside now - I vill move to immediately block ze door to vhere I zink ze Rangers are located."
"Let's go.
Nigel flies out of the window, landing back on the ground level.
As Nigel finishes his explanation to the party on what he has seen, he appears, his invisibility worn out.
Grenwold nods and readies himself to follow as soon as the door is opened. He’s wielding the shield and morningstar.
"OK, that's good. Thanks for trying to find the Rangers."Cirieo thanks Nigel gratefully. "At least we know that we need to stop them from getting to those doors."
"Nigel, you're visible. Do you want to go invisible again so you can get to the door more easily?" Cirieo asks Nigel.
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Nigel nods to the others, then Alchemically Allocates the Potion again, ready to make a bee-line for the inner door as soon as the outer one opens.
Nigel nods to Cirieo.
"Agreed. I zink zat vould be ze wisest course of action."
He then Alchemically Allocates the Potion of Invisibility again, ready to make a bee-line for the inner door, as soon as the outer is opened.
The lowest level of the tower bears several large holes knocked through the brickwork walls. The floor is a mess of splintered timber and rubble, Water drips steadily down the staircase to the north, passing through an open doorway and joining a stinking filthy mess inside a privy to the southeast. A sturdy door to the east is barred. Two enormous sows and a dozen pigs of varying ages root around through the ruins. Four hobgoblins, 3 wielding longswords and in breastplates, the last one wielding a light flail and having a small chain and manacle hanging from his belt patrol the room. At the back of the room there is a staircase up.
Cirieo rides Cavall into the tower then clubs the hobgoblin with his korrigan club.
In his haste to land a good blow, his club blow goes wide and Cavall does not manage to bite through the hobgoblin's breastplate.
The longsword wielding goblin yells, ”We’re under attack!”, then takes a step back and throws a flask of alchemist fire at Cavall.
The other two move up, drawing their alchemist fires and ready to throw at enemies going around the corner.
The hobgoblins do not notice the invisible Nigel.
Father Nolean shoots the white hobgoblin in the thigh, growling "Hey, stop throwing alchemist fires at my wolf."
Robert and Pila move. +1 Adaptive Comp. Longbow, Point-blank Shot on White.
, with Point-blank Shot
, with Point-blank Shot
, with Point-blank Shot
, with Point-blank Shot
Robert shoots white on his shoulder but his second arrow goes wide.
The light flail wielding hobgoblin calls out, "Kill the intruders in Hadregash's name! " He then begins to cast a spell and touches himself then moves up to touch the white hobgoblin.
Grenwold recognises the spell as communal protection from good.
Cirieo urges Cavall up to attack the white hobgoblin while clubbing him twice on his ribs.
Cavall, not wanting to dislodge Cirieo, chooses to attack the hobgoblin but he dodges out of the way.
Nigel appears, clawing green, of which one of the strikes clang off his breastplate, then savagely bites him.
Red on seeing Nigel appear, throws his alchemist flask at Nigel catching both green and Nigel.
Gren prays for a moment before adopting his earth focus, and Grenwold and Fenton move into the room with a determined, and almost a fanatical look on Grenwold's face, going past Cavall and Cirieo to get into a flanking position with Cavall. "FOR MISTHOME. FOR THE FANGWOOD!"They both attempt to strike viciously at the hobgoblin they are flanking.
Swift Action - Earth focus
Move/Move - move past, to flanking, provoking from white.
Standard/Standard - Fight!
The hobgoblin lashes out at Grenwold as he attempts to flank with Cavall, but Grenwold blocks the attempt with his shield.
Grenwold then clobbers the hobgoblin in the ribs while Fenton runs the hobgoblin through.
The red hobgoblin takes out another alchemist fire and throws it at Grenwold, while the green hobgoblin takes a step back and throws his alchemist fire at Nigel.
The alchemist fire falls short of Grenwold and smashes on the ground.
The flask thrown at Nigel hits him and splatters its burning contents on him.
Father Noelan moves forward then shoots at the red hobgoblin hitting him on the leg.