Bastarger -
Kenji -
Stirgen -
Rajah -
Lilley -
Esme -
Surprise Round
The net sails towards Esme.
Round 1
Updated Map
The net sails over Esme's head and lands behind her.
When you are the target of a touch attack, your AC doesn't include any armor bonus, shield bonus, or natural armor bonus.
You can't use your Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) while flat-footed.
Stirgen growls menacingly "Stay down" with his axe raised.
The net lands on Esme and she is entangled.
Bastarger dropped the two handed sword and held the rope in check, constricting Esme's movement with the small length of rope tethered to the net for that very reason.
Using the rope, Bastarger did his best to drag Esme out of the grease, moving towards Rhen's unconscious body.
Lilley growls deep in her throat and turns toward Kenji, squaring her shoulders to fill as much of the corridor as possible. "Ek is ook 'n moordenaar. As jy wil om die reg om af te sien, begin met my." Her voice changes to more pleading tone as she throws a glance at the entangled zombie over her shoulder. "Esme, asseblief! Ek wil om te verstaan. Vertel ons waarom!"
"Esme, please! I want to understand Tell us why!"
Kenji holds his hands up defensively, then kneels before the Oracle and bows in submission Her actions did not match her words and temprement, and she worshipped Shelyn. The woman was no killer.
Rajah unable to comprehend what's being said--and still stunned over what just happened--waits to see what happens between that of Lilley and the others.
Esme struggles against Bastarger, but the small gnome is able to overpower her.
Round 2
With a guttural growl, Esme tries to escape from the net.
She struggles, but is unsuccessful.
Bastarger turned to the others, still holding the rope attached to the net.
Obviously there are some moral qualms here- but I think we can at least agree to have her restrained before anyone else's throat is slit! Bastarger said irritably, seeing the group in a dizzying blur of inactivity as he struggled with the larger zombie.
Either grab an arm or get the rope!
Round 2-
Taking a step towards the zombie, Bastarger cringed, thankful the others couldn't make out his expression within his heavy helm as he steeled himself for what was to come. He let go of the rope, leaving Esme still entangled upon the ground- and he reached down to grab hold of her.
Lilley steps back from the cowering wizard, angry at herself for threatening him. "Esme, as jy nie praat nie, sal hulle jou doodmaak! Asseblief!" she entreats the zombie, tears in her eyes. "Hou op baklei ons!"
Rajah really wishing he knew what the heck Lilley was saying, "Can someone please translate that for me! It sounds important!" Rajah frets as he notices tears in the warrior's eyes. Not really knowing what to do, he did catch the zombie woman's name in there and gambles that Lilley was attempting to get her to surrender, like the others, except in a less combative form. "Esme! Please! I beg of you to listen to reason! You say you do not wish to die, yet, if you continue upon this course, you most assuredly will! Let us come to a less destructive conclusion in all of this, I implore you!"
Stirgen waits to see if their captive responds to the pleading words of his companions... axe still raised executioner style, but the look in his eyes betraying his reluctance to strike.
"I was willing to talk," Esme says, struggling against the netting and the gnome. "You are the ones who attacked me. I simply finished what you started." Her face and tone are indignant. "Let me go. Let me live. Leave me alone!"
Then allow yourself to be bound
Stirgen abandons words and drops his axe, he joins Bastarger in attempting to restrain Esme by force.
Grapple Assist:
"Fine." Esme stops struggling and holds her hands in front of her in submission. "So, what now? You will lead me up to the Pharasmans for my execution? You will sleep well tonight, thinking that you did not kill an innocent woman. You will be wrong. You are guilty. You are condemned."
Bastarger ignored her ranting and took advantage of her surrender to scoop up the rope and tied her up.
You just butchered your husband and then refused to co-operate. You brought the rope upon yourself he told her.
Now- what are we to do with her? I'm just a smith, i'll leave the judgement to you.
Stirgen's words are harsh and he roughly wrenches Esme's hands behind her before helping Bastarger to bind her "Yes, I will sleep soundly. And yes, I would see you given to the Pharasmin... it was their ground that you have defiled and therefore their judgement you should face." he pulls her around to look upon her face "Had you not killed him, then you might have felt our kindness... but now I know there is no beauty in you." before finishing by applying a gag to her mouth.
Stirgen then turns away, cheeks flushed with anger and strident "Let us make for the shortest way out... I would be rid of her."
Lilley makes an abortive move to interfere when Stirgen gags Esme but restrains herself. When he is done, she reminds the others in a flat voice, "There are two skeletons in the bedroom, her servants. No doubt they will attack without her to restraint them, and the Pharasmins would want them released from their service. I will stay this time, to watch the prisoner and the dwarf." She looks glumly at the bound zombie and the dead necroalchemist lying in a widening pool of blood. "Master wizard," she turns her attention to Kenji, "I apologize for my belligerence. I am what I said, but I do not intend for it to happen again. You have nothing to fear from me."
Don't you think maybe we should drag her along with us? Can't take the risk she'll slip the ropes if given half a chance.
Kenji bows again, Actions must be taken in context. I have. killed in defense. You do not possess the heart of a murderer. Nor do I believe you would endanger us. Watch her and we will dispatch the skeletons.
Arrk. Nice half-orc lady. Yes. Pretty hair she has. Good for nest building. Chatterbeak likes pretty hair. Arrk!
Don't you think maybe we should drag her along with us? Can't take the risk she'll slip the ropes if given half a chance.
"The corridor is not long, and the room is cramped, like most in these warrens," Lilley replies. "Besides, we should not leave the dwarf here alone and defenseless." She draws her sword wearily, nodding the rest of the group toward the bedroom. "If she frees herself, I will do what is necessary."
"I will remain here with Lilley and Esme." He tells the others as he looks upon Esme with sorrow.
Stirgen nods at Lilley's words, before stalking off to the bedroom with axe in hand.
Very well.
Kenji allows both Bastarger and Stirgen to go first.
You head back up the hallway, to the bedroom room. The two skeletons stand as they were before. They don't move as you walk in.
Esme stands, tied up. Her face is defiant and angry. She turns to appeal to Lilley, "So, jy sê jy is ook 'n moordenaar? Wat laat jou vry te loop terwyl ek gelei word na my dood?Jy weet wat ek gedoen het as hy wou.Het jy nog nooit liefgehad het?Het jy nog nooit gehad het om te doen wat was moeilik om jou liefde te wys?" She turns to look at Rajah before continuing, her face losing its anger considerably. "Laat my gaan. Hierdie klein man kan nie ophou nie. Asseblief, half-Ork.Asseblief."
"So, you say you are a murderer, too? Why are you allowed to walk freely while I am led to my death? You must know that I did as he wanted. Have you never loved? Have you never had to do what was hard to show your love?" She turns to look at Rajah before continuing, her face losing its anger considerably. [b]"Let me go. This small man cannot stop you. Please, half-orc. Please."
"Had you not killed him, then you might have felt our kindness... but now I know there is no beauty in you." before finishing by applying a gag to her mouth.
Bastarger motioned Stirgen towards one of the skeletons, readied his war hammer in both hands and struck.
Stirgen approaches the other skeleton and delivers a mighty crosswise swipe...
Greataxe: for
Both skeletons collapse to the ground in broken heaps.
The 2 skeletons destroyed, Kenji procures the Alchemist's Formulae book and pops it into hisbag.
Skeletons destroyed, Stirgen spends some time going over the bedroom...
Perception: take 20 for 29
It obviously pains Lilley to look at the bound zombie-woman, but she keeps her distance and her weapon drawn. "Esme," she croons sadly, "he loved you despite what you were. Is that not rare enough to seize a chance at mercy? We would have spoken for you, for him. I would have taken you back to Ankar-Te; we could have been friends; I've been so alone...." With an effort, she blinks back tears and retains control of her emotions. "You, Rajah," she asks the other man in a gruff voice without taking her eyes off her charge, "you are a priest? What god do you serve? Not Pharasma, or you would condemn her for what she is, what was done to her, as did the wizard."
"Sarenrae. I follow Sarenrae. And as much as I should return her to her rest, I am torn due to her sentient being. Now, it will more than likely be the Pharasmin priests that return her to her rest. Does she really need to be gagged? She cannot harm us with her words." Rajah moves and pulls the gag down just under her chin so it's no longer within her mouth. "Why, Esme? Why?" He asks, curious as to the reasoning behind her actions.
The book of formulae is large and filled with scratched notes and annotations. Searching the rest of the room uncovers very little of value - a disguise kit, some cheap perfume and an assortment of jewelry.
Rajah finds himself even more confused with this new found information about Lilley. Filled with a thousand more questions, "Esme, what you have done is far from love. Lilley is right, if he chose to die he would've fought to the death. Yet he did not. And we will never know if this is what he wanted. It is impossible for us to take your word for it." He looks over at her dead husband, wishing there was something he could do. Turning back to Esme, "What I realize now, is that, even though your husband found a way for you to keep your own thoughts in this state, what he was unable to do is allow you to keep your heart. Your idea of love is tainted horribly in your current state and sadly... you shall never know it again." He says with melancholy in his voice. "Forgive me, Esme, but I have to cover your mouth again. I...," he starts but realizes there's really nothing more he can say on the matter. Sighing, he replaces the gag.
Turning his attention to Lilley, he looks at her as if attempting to discern who she really is. "If I may: Who are you, Lilley Thornhollow? Now, if you'd rather keep your secrets then I won't pursue. I fully respect your privacy. BUT, just so you know, I am a fantastic listener." He smiles.
Arrk! Done here, Done here. Master has new spellbook. Hooray. More Power! Arrk!
When the rest of the party returns to the necroalchemist's lab, Lilley ducks back down the corridor over the planks to retrieve her glaive from where she leaned it against the wall.
Satisfied with the examination (and more than a little pleased with his new spellbook) Kenji turns and leaves, stopping along the way to grab the rather heavy glaive the woman dropped.
She was angry with him but hopefully could understand his reasoning.
Rajah nods and waits for the others to return.