Silence fills the courtyard again, two malicious fey attacked from stealth, indicating that there is something nasty lurking here.
Loot:
Quickling - Short sword + 1 (Small). Blue Whinnis (4).
What are you doing now?
Lisl quickly breaks out her healer's kit and moves to apply compresses to Isabel's poisoned wounds.
"This place puts off and gives me a bad feeling. Something looms here. Got to say this is a good foundation though and a future possible settlement if we can cleanse this place. Isabel let me take point, but lets stick together."
She smiles.
"Are we ready?"
Darian darts to his wife once the assassin fey are vanquished, his hand immediately reaching up to her face. A faint golden glow shimmers from his hand as he makes contact, reflexively healing his wife further. ”Issy? Are you alright?” he asks as he pulls her close protectively.
After a moment of calming himself, he gives her a reassuring squeeze before adding ”You know you just lost all credibility in complaining about me being on the front line with this little stunt, right?” with a playful smile.
At Johanna’s request, Darian nods and steps up to join her, his hand lingering with his wife before readying his shield and sword in preparation for further threats. ”Who, or what, ever is in charge here likely resides in the largest structure. Let’s cut the head from the snake before tending to these outlying ruins...”
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After a moment of calming himself, he gives her a reassuring squeeze before adding ”You know you just lost all credibility in complaining about me being on the front line with this little stunt, right?” with a playful smile.
"I took all relevant precautions. It just wasn't enough." Isabel replies, reaching up for a kiss. "You just go haring into danger!"
As the frontline forms up Isabel takes her accustomed place towards the rear of the group, wielding wands in either hand. "All yours." She offers the rogue with a smile.
G7. Grand Hall
This wide chamber has an impressive vaulted ceiling. Though obscured in places by earth and undergrowth, the hall’s floor is crafted of smooth stone tiles in multicolored pastel hues. The walls of the chamber are decorated with faded frescoes of sylvan life, showing scenes of beautiful elves engaged in hunting, feasting, dancing, singing, and a bewildering variety of other idyllic pursuits. To the west, a graceful, filigreed stone staircase, garlanded with flowering vines, climbs to the level above.
WHat are you doing now?
"This is fascinating," opines Lisl. "I wonder who built it? Certainly it seems to predate the Stag Lord. Possibly even Taldor."
"It would seem the fey have taken it over regardless." Frey flatly states.
Looking around and taking particular notice of the pastel hues pictures of elves, she says, "Who knows, maybe they even built it."
"Could have been elves too." she adds, pointing toward fresco depicting elven life.
(spending 1 inspiration)
(free use of inspiration)
(free use of inspiration)
”Either way it is impressive. But as Freya said...it’s got a dangerous infestation that needs tended to,” Darian says, the last bit through clenched teeth. He heads for the stairs and says ”Let’s clean it out, Josef.”
Lisl nods and keeps her shield up. "I am... of course... suspicious of the machinations of the fey. The grimstalker and the quickling are both fey, are they not? There may be others."
"So up the stairs then? I will keep point position for now. If we are ready follow me."
Johanna starts to make her way up the stairs.
One round after you enter the hall, the room fills with a cloying, violet mist that fills your heads with maddening visions of dark, moonless nights; twisted, malignant trees; and hot, steaming rivers of blood.
Fort save DC15 from everyone please.
"Oh no, I don't feel so well."
What are you doing now? The cloud has faded away.
Darian hacks and coughs at the noxious cloud, waving his hand in front of his face trying to waft the fumes away. As it clears, he coughs a couple more times before continuing on up the stairs as he asks ”Is everyone alright?”
"My mind is foggy. What was that?"
"Whatever order you think is best, but stay alert, as the fey have already demonstrated a willingness to go after the casters in the back . . .."
"Furry. That was furry like moss."
Are you continuing up the stairs? Or are you going to get your Rogue to check for traps instead of tripping them with your faces?
Johannan continues up.
G8. The Dancing Lady
The stairs end in a circular room featuring wide windows draped with hanging vines that offer panoramic views of the keep’s overgrown courtyard and the forest beyond. An open circular skylight in the ceiling provides glimpses of the forest canopy overhead. The walls between the windows are carved with exquisite, delicate nature motifs highlighted in gold and silver leaf. A riot of flowers, plants, and bushes sprout from the thick loam that carpets the hall’s floor, as if one were walking in a fantastic glade elevated high above the forest floor.
There are no traps on the stairs, you reach the top of the small tower to find someone waiting for you. She says nothing and starts to dance.
The Dancing Lady
Female baobhan sith (Tome of Horrors III 17)
CE Medium fey
Init +4; Senses low-light vision; Perception +17
Defense
AC 20, touch 15, flat-footed 15 (+4 Dex, +1 dodge, +5 natural)
hp 67 (9d6+36)
Fort +9, Ref +10, Will +9
DR 5/cold iron; SR 17
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee 2 claw +7 (1d6+3), bite +7 (1d6+3)
Special Attacks blood drain, captivating dance, dying words
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 10th; concentration +14)
At Will—detect thoughts (DC 16)
1/day—entangle (DC 15), suggestion (DC 17)
TACTICS
During Combat The Dancing Lady begins combat with her
captivating dance, hoping to entrance all of her attackers.
She follows this with entangle to ensnare anyone resisting her
dance. Once she has captivated at least one victim (preferable
a male elf or human), she grapples and drains his blood. If
necessary, she casts suggestion to convince an opponent to
defend her or force an attacker to leave combat. If forced into
melee combat, she focuses her attacks on female opponents,
attempting to tear them limb from limb with teeth and claws.
Morale The Dancing Lady fights to the death.
Languages Aklo, Common, Elven
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Blood Drain (Ex) A baobhan sith can suck blood from a grappled or
helpless opponent; if she establishes or maintains a pin, she deals
bite damage and drains blood, dealing 1d4 points of Strength
damage and 1d4 points of Constitution damage each round.
Captivating Dance (Su) When a baobhan sith dances, all living
creatures within 30 feet that view the rhythmic swaying and
movements of her body must succeed on a DC 19 Will save
or become utterly enthralled and captivated. Creatures that
are sexually attracted to females who view this dance suffer
a –2 penalty on their saving throw. A creature that makes its
save cannot be affected again by the same baobhan sith’s
captivating dance for one day. A captivated creature is dazed
(it cannot attack, but can defend normally). This continues for
as long as the baobhan sith dances. A baobhan sith can move
and act normally (including using her spell-like abilities) while
maintaining her dance. The save DC is Charisma-based.
What is everyone doing?
”Uh...wha-?” Darian asks confusedly as the thing starts to dance. The whole thing seems so bizarre that he finds himself at a loss as to what to do.
Johanna points her sword toward the creature and then her feet and hips begin moving.
"What in the nine hells is this?"
"Hello there . . .."
Still shaking her head, trying her best to clear the effects of the violet mist, Freya follows up the stairs.
The Dancing lady sways closer to the blinking Joanna and lunges hungrily for her neck, teeth sharp and ready.
Missing in her greed.
What is everyone doing?
Noting that the team seems to be engaging in strange antics and only Johanna is fighting, Lisl exhorts, "Up to you now, Johanna! You can handle this!"
The Dancing lady hisses in fury as Joanna automatically defends and then cuts her with the hated cold iron!
She steps back out of reach and casts a spell on Joanna.
She kindly suggests you drop those heavy weapons which you do.
What is everyone doing?
Johanna maintains her whits and keeps her blades offering a smile but still confused at why she can't control her body completely.
Lisl brandishes her healing wand in preparation for its use.
"C'mon, Johanna! Move out of the way so I can get a better view of her dance. Ought to see if we can get her to come to town . . .."
This creature appears as a female elf with pearl white skin, golden hair, and eyes of emerald. Her figure is sleek and curved and she moves with a cat-like grace.
Isabel scrambles passed the drooling imbeciles and lays eyes on the Dancing lady.
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"Really?" Isabel says, "Your form is sloppy, your movements imprecise and your footwork all over the place! I wouldn't give you time of day at my school." So saying she stamps HARD on her husband's foot. "And you should know better!"
With barely a thought she bathes the creature in the wildly swirling lights of colour spray!
"Graceless cow!" Is the Dancing ladies witty retort as she ignores the spell. Lunging forward to grapple Isabel
Everyone can act now. I'm ruling she can't dance while grabbing Isabel. And grinding doesn't count.
once the dance stops Johannan realizes she has control again and rushes in to help Isabel.
"All clear Josef"
”Ow! Hey!” Darian cries out when his wife stomps his foot, but it’s enough to break him from the strange thrall he had been in. Seeing his wife entangled with this elven woman trying to take her down, though, jars him to action.
He moves forward and says ”Let go of my wife!” as he wills his magic out into the weapons of his allies.