"Right now is the time potions and scrolls were made for ... we are almost drained, significant fighting still remains, and every remaining quick-response resource is more effective than a potion when we are next facing combat.""Have a potion as well," says Rhost. "Now is the time?"
"Aive ah skroll 'at koulde 'elp, ef 'e potions ahrn't enuf." Lio offers.
Myri looks enviously at the Circlet, but says nothing. After a few seconds she looks at Melinda, "Thank you for again disarming our opponent. How many times is that now? 2? 3?" ... She puts a hand on Mel's forearm, "I just wanted you to know, it's been really helpful. Thank you."
She moves over to Lio...and pauses, blinking once and swallowing before continuing, leaving whatever her first words were unsaid. "That was a really good shot. Thank you for giving me a model of how it's supposed to be done. You probably kept several of our friends alive today. I shall attempt to perform closer to your example." She does not touch Lio, but gives her a stiff but respectful bow. Her eyes do not leave Lio's. She pauses for a couple of moments.
Lio still looks uncomfortable at the praise, though she knows Myri is sincere. She smiles a little in response. Again thinks of arguing, and decides she doesn't want to hurt her friend's feelings by dismissing the complement. She nods back at Myri, but does not bow, her eyes questioning the younger girl as to the purpose behind the submissive movement. If that is what it was?
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Lio looks embarrassed. And possibly like she's considering arguing.
Hrithik smiles and nods respectfully to Liothonae.
Hrithik's answering smile and acknowledging nod are sufficiently deferential that it's clear Hrithik thinks Liothonae is being too humble about her contribution, but won't belabor the point in public. The nod is shallow enough to be open to later disagreement, but sufficiently deep to be a respectful end to it here if she chooses not to argue now.
Mel looks over at Lio, smiles "That was so much better than what I had planned."
Lio looks embarrassed. And possibly like she's considering arguing.Hrithik smiles and nods respectfully to Liothonae.
** spoiler omitted **
For some reason, she looks even more annoyed now.
sense motive for hrithik spoiler
In the entrance to the crypt/grotto, Mel stops to retrieve her weapons from the niche. She pauses, pulling her hair back up. When Alaric (hopefully) gets his own abandoned weapons, Mel looks at him, trying to say something.
He will retrieve his weapons for all the good they seem to do him. "Yeah, Mel?"
** spoiler omitted **
Lio still looks uncomfortable at the praise, though she knows Myri is sincere. She smiles a little in response. Again thinks of arguing, and decides she doesn't want to hurt her friend's feelings by dismissing the complement. She nods back at Myri, but does not bow, her eyes questioning the younger girl as to the purpose behind the submissive movement. If that is what it was?
"Yeah, Mel?"
She looks up at him, eyes conflicted. She swallows, leans up and kisses him very briefly on the cheek.
She looks up at him, eyes conflicted. She swallows, leans up and kisses him very briefly on the cheek.
Alaric's eyes follow her, a crooked smile on his face.
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You cannot help but realize that in your searching, you never found any corresponding stairs up that matched the stairs going down in the circular room on the ground floor. There are also, of course, stairs to the upper level in that circular room, in the briefing room, and in the ballroom on the ground floor.
As the others discuss where to go next, Hrithik ponders, then eventually responds, "Some of our remaining combat enhancements and language comprehension will expire before too terribly long, and our rapid response resources are running ragged. Finding Mx. Zaiobe as fast as possible and attempting to enlist her aid to eliminate Kikonu would be a high priority for me. She is a creature capable of flight according to Mx. Spivey, and I believe Mx. Sorn recently recalled the proper room we should seek. That would be my preference."
Reverting back to Aklo, Nindinzego screams:
ہارے ہوئے!میں اس طرح کے ایک ہارے ہوئے ہوں!میں اس طرح کے ایک ہارے ہوئے ہوں!
Hrithik rapidly scrawls notes into a notebook with an inkpen as the treasure haul is assayed. Now and again he pauses, and his pupils flare for a moment before he returns to scrawling. At one point, he pauses, and then turns and nods respectfully to Alaric, "Before my effort to demoralize It, Nindinzego failed to cast a spell, then uttered what turned out to be Its last words. I believe I have the phonetics correct, but since It reverted to speaking in Aklo, I don't have the meaning yet. Please, sir, what was the meaning of ہارے ہوئے!میں اس طرح کے ایک ہارے ہوئے ہوں!میں اس طرح کے ایک ہارے ہوئے ہوں! ?"
Hrithik rapidly scrawls notes into a notebook with an inkpen as the treasure haul is assayed. Now and again he pauses, and his pupils flare for a moment before he returns to scrawling. At one point, he pauses, and then turns and nods respectfully to Alaric, "Before my effort to demoralize It, Nindinzego failed to cast a spell, then uttered what turned out to be Its last words. I believe I have the phonetics correct, but since It reverted to speaking in Aklo, I don't have the meaning yet. Please, sir, what was the meaning of ہارے ہوئے!میں اس طرح کے ایک ہارے ہوئے ہوں!میں اس طرح کے ایک ہارے ہوئے ہوں! ?"
Suppressing a smile: "The creature's last words were 'Loser. I am such a loser. I am such a LOSER!' It... it had self-esteem problems.”
** spoiler omitted **
"Aggread." Lio says, smiling a little.
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Suppressing a smile: "The creature's last words were 'Loser. I am such a loser. I am such a LOSER!' It... it had self-esteem problems.”
Hrithik nods while rapidly scrawling. "It was much too hard on Itself. Its lair has been the only portion of this entire town executed in a thoughtful manner. Barring Its vulnerability to demoralization, and subsequent nigh-miraculous feats of archery, It was more than ready to commence "digesting us in Its stomach," as the Priestess said."
Hrithik pauses in writing, and his pupils flare for a second. As he resumes his rapid scrawl, "A pity that the last words It heard had to be so unfair to It. So it goes."
Myri approaches Lio, looking a little sheepish, "Uh, Lio? Ummm, sorry, but...I've been trying to go over in my mind like, precisely what your movements were, what you looked like when you shot the arrow and blew up the big tentacled tumor...but I can't. Ummm, I hate to say it, but I think I just realized...I didn't see it at all. All I got to see was the result." Her left hand begins rubbing the back of her neck, her left cheek tightens and her eyebrows raise. "Sorry. I'm feeling really stupid right now."
Myri approaches Lio, looking a little sheepish, "Uh, Lio? Ummm, sorry, but...I've been trying to go over in my mind like, precisely what your movements were, what you looked like when you shot the arrow and blew up the big tentacled tumor...but I can't. Ummm, I hate to say it, but I think I just realized...I didn't see it at all. All I got to see was the result." Her left hand begins rubbing the back of her neck, her left cheek tightens and her eyebrows raise. "Sorry. I'm feeling really stupid right now."
Lio shrugs. "Ymarfer yn gwneud perffaith; gallwn ni ymarfer yn nes ymlaen os ydych am, unwaith y byddwn wedi helpu Ameiko. Neu'n gynt os oes unrhyw un i saethu ar."
As the others discuss where to go next, Hrithik ponders, then eventually responds, "Some of our remaining combat enhancements and language comprehension will expire before too terribly long, and our rapid response resources are running ragged. Finding Mx. Zaiobe as fast as possible and attempting to enlist her aid to eliminate Kikonu would be a high priority for me. She is a creature capable of flight according to Mx. Spivey, and I believe Mx. Sorn recently recalled the proper room we should seek. That would be my preference."
Lio gives Hrithik another annoyed look as he starts using the honorific Mistrix.
I believe Mx. Sorn
Mel shudders... And looks at her feet, not looking at anyone.
W'll 'e bahd guy, whot's 'is fahce, saide summethen aboute thoase at stan' agganst hem fallen doun or was et 'ero's raesen? So ah ken we needta go all 'e way doun fairst, an' 'en rahise all sembolek laike. 'es a poet, ya? So 'ell beh defeted appropriatl'e."
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W'll 'e bahd guy, whot's 'is fahce, saide summethen aboute thoase at stan' agganst hem fallen doun or was et 'ero's raesen? So ah ken we needta go all 'e way doun fairst, an' 'en rahise all sembolek laike. 'es a poet, ya? So 'ell beh defeted appropriatl'e."
Hrithik winces. "Everything that sad creature says is an argument to do the exact opposite. I will abide by the group decision, but digging deep before clearing the ground levels has been exceedingly painful," Hrithik nods respectfully to Kelda, "Though rewarding."
The note reads as follows (although in Sylvan, of course):
Dear Adannaya,
Although that dreadul Chelish slave-trader you are traveling with made me swear to stay in my room on pain of my life, it did not take me long to realize that I could not in good consciense leave you to the mercies of a man who would try to sell you and your friends, without a second thought, into a situation that he clearly believed, in his twisted mind, would result in your death! But I make no claims to be a warrior, so I knew that attempting to confront him directly would have simply led to my own death at the hands of that scoundrel and his thuggish minions.
Also, it is entirely clear that you are not nearly as in his power as he would like to believe, and are as far as I could tell not (or not yet) his prisoner, so I did not want to presume to interfere in a way that might do more harm than good – for all I know, that villain and his henchmen might be somehow essential to your goal of saving you friend, which might explain why you are traveling with that man and his violent men-at-arms ... I should have asked when we had a private moment, but I am ashamed to confess I was too flustered by events and was not thinking ahead.
So I am attempting to give you what aid I can without accidentally doing you a disservice. Although I have little skill at arms, I flatter myself that I am not without resources and friends. I have contacted Zaiobe, who lives on the uppermost floor of this castle, and she has promised me that she will give you and your friends whatever assistance you ask for – whether that be helping you save your friend, or freeing yourself from that madman’s clutches if that is required. She cannot speak, but if you allow her to touch you, she can communicate with your mind, which has the advantage that the slave-trader cannot overhear.
I am doing my best not to be spotted by him, so I must not get too close and can see how you are doing only intermittently, and have not yet been able to hear or see overmuch when I do – I lost track of you completely when you went belowstairs, and am writing this in the hopes that I find you again soon – but rest assured that if I am ever present during a situation in which you clearly need my assistance, you shall have it.
Buttersnips
The old bloodstains that splatter the walls of the ground floor circular room, as well as the numerous brutal gashes and slashes to the stone itself, continue as you descend the curving staircase. As you do, you notice a few of the bloodstains growing ... runnier.
Suddenly, ghostly soldiers seemingly made of blood emerge shrieking from the bloody swaths on the walls, only to be immediately hewn apart by unseen blows, spattering all of you with blood. As they are torn to bits, they shriek at you:
”See?” Kelda says as blood splashes against the side of her face. ”Haunted.”
The ghostly soldiers do not appear to be doing you any harm, other than covering you with blood.
At the base of the stairs you find an iron portcullis barring passage into curving corridor beyond. The bars themselves are sunken deep into the floor and ceiling, with no obvious method of passing beyond. However, a quick search reveals two circular depressions in the walls to the left and right of the portcullis, faintly inscribed with an image of the sun (to the left) and the moon (to the right). The silver-and-darkwood crest you found bearing an image of Brinewall in the moonlight is exactly the right size and shape to fit in these.
"One short," Rhost says.
Rhost will take a potion from Myriana and one from Kalimac, drinking them one at a time. Then he will drink the one that he carries.
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Hrithik looks back up at the slaughtered ghostly blood-soldier spirits. "I am still in favor of negotiating an alliance, if possible, against Kikonu and the remainder of the cult with Mx. Zaiobe. Then doing whatever it takes to put any and all spirits, old or new, to final rest as part of cleaning up the decades of influence of the cult here. I would prefer we leave no lingering excrement or duty behind when we rescue Lady Ameiko's legacy and end the ward torments plaguing her."
Rhost will take a potion from Myriana and one from Kalimac, drinking them one at a time. Then he will drink the one that he carries.
"Go back? Find the sun?" This is clearly Rhost's vote. He doesn't seem to mind being spattered with ghostly blood.
"Better," Rhost says. And will start urging healing on those squishier than he is -- which is to say, everyone else.
For objects such as potions, is it simply assumed that the +1 per caster level is a base +1? I look these things up in the Pathfinder SRD, but there are often assumptions that trip me up.
"Go back? Find the sun?" This is clearly Rhost's vote. He doesn't seem to mind being spattered with ghostly blood.
Mel who watched the bloody spirits in silence nods.
"Go back? Find the sun?" This is clearly Rhost's vote. He doesn't seem to mind being spattered with ghostly blood.
"A suggestion both practical and profound."
Lio shrugs. "Ymarfer yn gwneud perffaith; gallwn ni ymarfer yn nes ymlaen os ydych am, unwaith y byddwn wedi helpu Ameiko. Neu'n gynt os oes unrhyw un i saethu ar."
The corner of Myri's mouth twitches and she gets a happy glint in her eyes.
"Hoffwn fod llawer ... fodd bynnag, maddau i mi am ddweud hyn, ond Jackardros defnyddio bob amser i ddweud wrthyf fod 'ymarfer arferion drwg yn unig yn eu gwneud yn fwy cynhenid. Ymarfer arferion da. Dewch o hyd i'r llun perffaith ar gyfer pob sefyllfa. Ymarfer perffaith yn gwneud berffaith. '... ... Byddwn yn falch iawn o ymarfer gyda chi er." she adds hurriedly...and then seems to bite off a last word.
W'll 'e bahd guy, whot's 'is fahce, saide summethen aboute thoase at stan' agganst hem fallen doun or was et 'ero's raesen? So ah ken we needta go all 'e way doun fairst, an' 'en rahise all sembolek laike. 'es a poet, ya? So 'ell beh defeted appropriatl'e."Hrithik winces. "Everything that sad creature says is an argument to do the exact opposite. I will abide by the group decision, but digging deep before clearing the ground levels has been exceedingly painful," Hrithik nods respectfully to Kelda, "Though rewarding."
"Dount laike poetrea? Lio asks quietly.
Myri pulls out a note. "Umm. If you will allow me. I think we have some additional information."
She reads it slowly, too make sure she gets it right.
"Dear Adannaya, ... ... (umm, that's me)." She glances up briefly at the others, than continues reading.
"Although that dreadful Chelish slave-trader you are traveling with made me swear to stay in my room on pain of my life, it did not take me long to realize that I could not in good conscience leave you to the mercies of a man who would try to sell you and your friends, without a second thought, into a situation that he clearly believed, in his twisted mind, would result in your death! But I make no claims to be a warrior, so I knew that attempting to confront him directly would have simply led to my own death at the hands of that scoundrel and his thuggish minions.
Also, it is entirely clear that you are not nearly as in his power as he would like to believe, and are as far as I could tell not (or not yet) his prisoner, so I did not want to presume to interfere in a way that might do more harm than good – for all I know, that villain and his henchmen ... ... (ummm, I think that's the rest of you) ... ..
might be somehow essential to your goal of saving your friend, which might explain why you are traveling with that man and his violent men-at-arms ... I should have asked when we had a private moment, but I am ashamed to confess I was too flustered by events and was not thinking ahead.
So I am attempting to give you what aid I can without accidentally doing you a disservice. Although I have little skill at arms, I flatter myself that I am not without resources and friends. I have contacted Zaiobe, who lives on the uppermost floor of this castle, and she has promised me that she will give you and your friends whatever assistance you ask for – whether that be helping you save your friend, or freeing yourself from that madman’s clutches if that is required. She cannot speak, but if you allow her to touch you, she can communicate with your mind, which has the advantage that the slave-trader cannot overhear.
I am doing my best not to be spotted by him, so I must not get too close and can see how you are doing only intermittently, and have not yet been able to hear or see overmuch when I do – I lost track of you completely when you went belowstairs, and am writing this in the hopes that I find you again soon – but rest assured that if I am ever present during a situation in which you clearly need my assistance, you shall have it.
Buttersnips"
Myriana looks up after reading. "I think we should try to find Zaiobe. If I remember correctly, you..." she looks directly at Hrithik "or Aunty Ameiko had said something like 'Beware the cuckolded cuckoo! It is in his shattered silent love you should seek aid!' ... it seems Zaiobe would fit the bill." she sighs as she folds the note and slips it back in her pocket. Then looks back up, directly into Hrithik's eyes if he is looking in her direction. "...& Hrithik, please do not bother Buttersnips further. I consider her my Aunty...and would be ... ... fairly upset... if any ill were to befall her. Am I clear?" Her tone has no animosity, but there is a definite conviction behind it.
The corner of Myri's mouth twitches and she gets a happy glint in her eyes.
"Hoffwn fod llawer ... fodd bynnag, maddau i mi am ddweud hyn, ond Jackardros defnyddio bob amser i ddweud wrthyf fod 'ymarfer arferion drwg yn unig yn eu gwneud yn fwy cynhenid. Ymarfer arferion da. Dewch o hyd i'r llun perffaith ar gyfer pob sefyllfa. Ymarfer perffaith yn gwneud berffaith. '... ... Byddwn yn falch iawn o ymarfer gyda chi er." she adds hurriedly...and then seems to bite off a last word.
** spoiler omitted **
"Mae eich ffurflen yn ardderchog, mae'n eich hyder sydd angen gwaith.' Lio says, no unkindly. "Beth?" She asks, wondering what is being left unsaid.
As Myri reads, first Alaric is confused, then a smile slowly spreads across his face. By the end, he is positively beaming. A thought occurs. He turns his gleeful attention to Hrithik, as though anticipating... something good, anyway.
As Myri reads, first Alaric is confused, then a smile slowly spreads across his face. By the end, he is positively beaming. A thought occurs. He turns his gleeful attention to Hrithik, as though anticipating... something good, anyway.
Lio's expression is much more neutral, though she too seems to expect something.
"Go back? Find the sun?" This is clearly Rhost's vote. He doesn't seem to mind being spattered with ghostly blood.
"Better," Rhost says. And will start urging healing on those squishier than he is -- which is to say, everyone else.
** spoiler omitted **
Although Lio says nothing, her expression probably reveals that she does not enjoy being splashed so liberally with blood.
"Mel, whon weh ahr dunne 'ere, mainde usen yer magik? She asks, hoping that Mel's cleaning spell works on ghostly flung blood.
"Mae eich ffurflen yn ardderchog, mae'n eich hyder sydd angen gwaith.' Lio says, no unkindly. "Beth?" She asks, wondering what is being left unsaid.
"I...it's nothing." Myri replies, though it's obvious she's not being entirely truthful.
"I...it's nothing." Myri replies, though it's obvious she's not being entirely truthful."Mae eich ffurflen yn ardderchog, mae'n eich hyder sydd angen gwaith.' Lio says, no unkindly. "Beth?" She asks, wondering what is being left unsaid.
Lio frowns, crosses her arms impatiently, and gives Myri a disapproving look. She's getting really good at looking disapproving.
"Beth?" She says more firmly.
"I...it's nothing." Myri replies, though it's obvious she's not being entirely truthful.
Lio frowns, crosses her arms impatiently, and gives Myri a disapproving look. She's getting really good at looking disapproving.
"Beth?" She says more firmly.
Myri looks a little surprised at the elf's impatience. She takes a breath, then looks up into Lio's eyes and responds, "Lio, I. .. dwi'n teimlo fel eich bod yn deulu ... ond eich bod wedi gwneud yn glir nad ydych chi am i mi cyffwrdd chi neu ... i alw i chi ... y pethau byddwn fel arfer yn galw rhywun rwy'n teimlo'n agos i. I. .. wedi bod yn ymdrechu'n galed i gadw at eich dymuniadau. mae'n ddrwg gen i, mae'n ... weithiau yn cymryd ymdrech ymwybodol i mi wneud hynny. " She looks down briefly, her eyes have begun to water a little. "Rwyf hefyd yn sylweddoli oeddwn yn esgeulus yn yr hyn oeddwn yn galw i chi beth bynnag. Ni ddylai mi a'ch gelwais chwi 'chwaer', rydych yn amlwg yn cael mwy ... um, profiad .. .. nag yr wyf wedi. Rwy'n ymddiheuro am hynny." fi i wneud hynny." She takes a noticeable pause, and has begun to tremble slightly. "Dwi ddim yn gofalu amdanoch chi er Lio. I. .. Dwi ddim yn gwybod sut i fynegi yn awr. Wyf yn gwybod beth fyddwn i'n ei wneud fel arfer yn anhwylderau i chi. Sut alla i ddangos i chi i'n gofal?" By the last words her voice has become a bit tremulous. Though she is apparently keeping her emotions in check far better than she would have previously. She looks up into Lio's eyes almost pleading for an answer.
"Lio, I...I feel like you are family...but you have made it clear you do not want me to touch you or ... to call you ... the things I would normally call someone I feel close to. I...have been trying hard to abide by your wishes. I'm sorry, it...sometimes takes a conscious effort for me to do so." She looks down briefly, her eyes have begun to water a little. "I also realize I was remiss in what I was calling you anyway. I should never have called you 'sister', you obviously have more...um,..experience..than I have. I apologize for that." She takes a noticeable pause, and has begun to tremble slightly. "I do care about you though Lio. I...I just don't know how to express it now. I know what I would normally do upsets you. How can I show you I care?" By the last words her voice has become a bit tremulous. Though she is apparently keeping her emotions in check far better than she would have previously. She looks up into Lio's eyes almost pleading for an answer.
It's pretty obvious Myri cares for Lio. She just seems to be having some issues on how to express it. Feel free to read the Elven spoiler if you want.
Rhost will take a potion from Myriana and one from Kalimac, drinking them one at a time. Then he will drink the one that he carries.
Mel looks over at the Ulfen woman, smiles. She pulls out the potion she has, "It's probably not enough... but here." Handing the potion to the woman. "My name is Mel, by the way."
"Thank you, Mel," Kelda says gravely.