Wolf howls in pain as the claws drag along his side.
Snapping at the nasty-green-thing-with-claws he attempts to return the favor
However his jaws close on thin air in his haste to retaliate.
Natalya snarls in anger at the assault on her pack mate, viciously kicking the door open again and moving in to the room.
Lorald manages to get a shot off before the door is slammed shut.
Once Natalya exposes the green skinned fey by knocking down the door he lets off a volley of cold iron bolts.
Gareth barrels into the room alongside Lorald, and stabs at the green foe.
Attack
Crit confirmation
Damage
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Lorald's arrow slices into the creature, just as the door slams. The stinking fey resists the touch of the weapon, healing more than half the damage almost instantly, Lorald will not make that mistake again.
Wolf makes the save and turns to chomp it's attacker, but still dizzied form the brutal assault is unable to grab hold. Natalya boots the door open, revealing her ally and fow locked in combat.
Following the door re-opening Lorald lets loose a flurry of cold iron arrows, one of which finds purchase in his target. The arrow hits with incredible accuracy, stunning the foe, just a Lorald undoes himself with his own poor shot.
On it's turn the creature just manages to shake off the pain of Lorald's attack. It unleashes a claw upon wolf and then Natalya, but is unable to hit either.
Gareth Squeezes in there and takes a dig at the creature, striking it, but not managing to complete his brilliant thrust. The creature is bloodied.
Unless Marlani has something to say, back up to the top for round 2.
Natalya and Lorald again.
Ignoring the pain as best he can he reloads and fires another volley. That fey was going down and he would be damned if he would let his own blunder undo him.
Wolf moves first, manoevering his prey in to his packmate's jaws whilst continuing to snap at its heels, savaging the foot and trying to pull the creature down
Natalya snarls, her expression matching Wolf's as she brings her blade around in a two handed chop, distinctly aware from the lack of damage Lorald's normal arrows did, that she'll have to hit very hard to wound the creature.
Once he has an opening, Gareth drives his rapier forth at the enemy in a flurry of thrusts.
Rapier enchanted to +1, Spellstrike attack with Frigid Touch
Attack 1
Attack 2
Damage + Frigid Touch
Damage
Frigid Touch cold damage
+ staggered for one round
On Marlani's turn (if still applicable), she will move one square down and shoot:
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Teorlian the Grimstalker
Ac 18, F+5, R+1, W+7
Lorald's first Arrow hits, but does not confirm. The second arrow misses.
Wolf Misses.
Natalya slashes down across the creature, speattering the wall behind it with blood, falls dead.
A quick search of the tower reveals a locked chest, with no sign of the key.
Scrutinising the chest, Natalya sighs
We have to get ourselves a set of magical lockpicks, or a wand that casts an open spell, we could cart this all the way back to the city and find it's full of rocks!
She calls Wolf back to her side and moves off.
So, last corner tower then before the big one, we've had a quickling, a horde of rats and now a half-plant, half-fae thing. What's the betting this one is rigged to collapse on the first person through?!
Natalya heads for the South-West tower, Wolf ranging a few feet in front of her.
Natalya gazes over the ruined tower
I get the feeling our energies are better spent moving to the central tower
she whistles and Wolf bounds off to stand by the central tower's entrance. Natalya holds her blade ready, waits for everyone else to nod their agreement, then enters in.
Gareth follows Natalya. All the while, he cannot clear his mind of the image of a strongbox of rocks.
"I think we should wait. I don't know about the rest of you but I am far from peak condition, that fast little creature and then pulling my muscle during that last fight has left me in a sorry state. Not one I would wish to be in if given the choice to face what could keep in check two such creatures I dare say."
"Yes, I think you are correct. If we are all far from hale then it might give our foes too much advantage"Gareth replies in a rare instance of wisdom.
I agree, we've spent a significant amount of energy and resources on the courtyard today, I wouldn't mind a breather before we tackle the main tower. Shall we camp outside the gates or in?
queries Natalya
Marlani will cast CLW on Lorald and Gareth;
Lorald:
Gareth:
She will also listen for the singing... however, being a bard she is cognizant to the dangers of this kind of thing.
Ideally she'd like to identify if there is a magical component to the song, and if so start a Countersong (while signalling to everyone to plug their ears).
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Natalya is fine, although she sleeps restlessly and feels tired the next day (no mechanical effect). As she wakes she is unable to remember her dreams, aside form a voice saying "You'll dream of me."
The elven singing is so faint, and seemingly in an ancient dialect it is hard to parse any specific meaning, although it is a sad and haunting song.
The next day you are all feeling hale and hearty and ready to take on the day.
Lorald flexed his arms, it seemed everything was in order now. Prepared to lay siege to the central tower and claim the ruins he mostly waits on the others. Checking his crossbow and having it ready in his hands.
"Are we ready?"
I stand ready, let's make a start with the morning fresh in our senses.
She pauses for a moment
I don't suppose anyone else is having odd dreams?
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The central tower is an elegant spire of ivory coloured stone, draped in a riot of vines and other plants. It is the most complete structure of the fortress remaining, its 5-foot thick walls climb 70 feet to a multipointed stone roof.
It has vaulted archways with no doors leading inside from either side to a wide chamber with 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.
Aside from the staircase and the decorations the ground floor appears empty.
This must have been a beautiful place in its time murmurs Natalya, momentarily enthralled by the frescoes.
You know I've half a mind to restore this place, it would make a wonderful residence
She moves forward, watchful for any surprises as Wolf scampers over to the staircase and sniffs the air.
Finding nothing of note, he snorts from the dust in the air, and Natalya starts to move up the staircase.
Not noticing Natalya, Marlani is also mesmerized by the frescoes here; she wanders over to one of the walls and explores the room.
... she also looks around the room for other interesting things.
Lorald looked around, the elven part of him was pleased with the grace and beauty. But the other part of him that was more about form and function was also impressed in a different way. At Natalya's words he spares her a glance.
"I have been considering restoring the towers as well the more I see of them. But I had a very different idea in mind, one which would benefit the kingdom mind you."
It seemed his lapse in guard for the moment was a mistake as the mist moves in on them.
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DC 15 fortitude save.
Those who fail suffer maddening visions of dark moonless nights, twisted, malignant trees; and hot, steaming rivers of blood. Take 1d3 Wisdom damage.
Anyone who fails has to make another save taking damage each time they fail until they either succeed or fail 6 times.
It's insanity mist!
The sound of Marlani gagging pulls Gareth from his examination of the walls. It takes a moment for him to notice the whisps of vapor and connect them to the bard's plight.
Fort Save
Natalya notices the purple mist in time and holds her breath, gesturing aggressively with one hand to signal Wolf to move with her as she sprints out of the vaulted hallway and the danger of the mist.
Once it's cleared she checks with her companions to make sure everyone is ok to continue
Wonder how long that was waiting to go off... she muses, before continuing up the staircase once more.
Lorald much more alert now, shakes his head.
"I rather doubt that is some ancient trap. Not with the many inhabitants we have already faced, not to mention the sheer time difference. Poison does not last forever and as the main building surely someone must have entered before us at some point. I would say the towers keeper is the source."
If she can, Marlani will try and flee the room out into the fresh air.
Lets see how it goes;
That looks like I take the damage 3 more times:
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Lorald is correct, Marlani only failed twice. After her third roll she was able to bring herself back from the brink of madness. As the decor inspires these, disturbing, visions she might not even notice the purple mist until her companions begin to beckon her to join them on the stairs. With wisdom as her dump stat Marlani is now seriously crippled in the willpower, common sense, awareness and intuition department. She wears a rictus grin and her eyes carry a spark of instability.
Lorald stoops over the stairs and inspects them meticulously. He determines that far from being abandoned this tower has been used frequently and recently. Also he can smell the stink of Fey.
You all head up the stairs which 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.
None of these windows, despite their size, were visible from outside, clearly enchanted. This chambre is a vaulted 40 feet high and and 30 feet across. The room has few furnishings, but they are captivatingly beautiful. A life-sized alabaster statue of a nude, dancing elven woman stands by one window. A full-sized harp, clearly of elven masterwork, sits by a plain wooden chair. An ancient silver filigreed elven water clock sits in the middle of the room on the floor. A large bed sits opposite the stairs and is covered with a snow-white bear pelt. A finely carved wooden wardrobe peeks open to reveal several expensive looking gowns and outfits. A small rosewood table by the bed is littered with jewelry.
All These treasures and beauties pale before the room's inhabitant: an alluring, graceful elven woman with alabaster skin, golden hair and emerald green eyes stands near the top of the stairs to greet you. She wears a flowing white gown of archaic elven style, tied at the waist with a blood-red scarf.
"Greetings, Lords," she says in a voice accented deeply with Elven. "Come join me in my revels." she says enticingly.
Natalya glares at the fae, keeping her blade between them. Wolf crouches on his haunches, ready to attack at a moment's notice.
Last I checked there were two ladies present as well. We are emissaries from Emermark here to officially claim these lands. Who are you and what is your purpose here, surrounding yourself with evil creatures?
Natalya readies an action to strike the fae if she should begin spell casting, attack or take any other action Natalya deems threatening...
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She doesn't really pay attention, or even look, at Natalya. She pirouettes around once, moving a pace back from all of you.
"Most just call me The Dancing Lady, and you may do the same. Teorlian and Rigg aren't evil, they're just..." she pauses and puts a thinking finger to her chin, "easily distracted. Those two boys loved me and served me, and who could blame them?" she gestures to herself in a 'take it all ' way.
"I have neither weapons, nor ill-intent. Just memories of better, more beautiful days. Why don't you boys come and join me? I could dance for you," she says gracefully turning her ankle in a suggestive step. She hungrily eyes Lorald and Gareth, as though she wants some thing badly from them.
Lorald did not doubt his senses often, but when one spoke of fey and another spoke of nonsense. He sided with the logical and practical option, this was all or mostly an illusion unless this elf was tied far more closely to fey then the norm even for her full blooded kind. More so the fey had all been of a cruel and brutal bent, clearly not the graceful kind she was passing herself off to be. His crossbow was ready, he was not going to put it away for a pretty face. He had also placed a cold iron bolt sense the stink of fey alerted them to his presence. He did not know if she was tied enough to the fey for the cold iron to have the same effect but he was willing to play it safe if she was in fact the mistress of the tower and surrounding creatures.
"I will pass and advise you answer my comrade."
At the first sign of trouble he was going to shoot her. He did not like that confidence about having a group of armed people in front of you without a care.
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"Well, if that's how you feel about it," she pouts. "I've never met a more hostile bunch of sticks in the mud," she says.
"Have it your way," says The Dancing Lady. She then begins to dance.
Everyone make a will save. You are at a -2 penalty if your character happens to be sexually attracted to females. This effect is mind affecting, and it is being performed by a fey.
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Lorald succeeds, by the skin of his teeth, he feels his will slipping, been drawn into the creature's spell, but he's able to keep a grip on his mind.
Natalya is just enthralled and captivated by the woman's dance, she, and anyone else who fails the DC 19 save becomes Dazed.
I suspect this will cause the already hostile Lorald to unleash his bolt. The cold iron spike slams into the woman, she falls to the ground with an inhuman shriek.
Initiative:
Group A: Marlani (save for Dazed), Natlaya (Dazed for this round), Lorald.
The Dancing Lady
Group B: Gareth (Save for Dazed)
He knew it, they were all wicked fey in these towers. Hide it as she tried, her true colors came out and he would be rid of her.
"Let you be the last stain of darkness with in these walls to be washed away."
He fires again, this time a pair of cold iron bolts.
Natalya stares, slack jawed at the woman's dancing, though she remains open-mouthed even when the lady tumbles to the floor.
Dimly something inside her is screaming for action, the noise gets louder until she can't bear it any more, shaking her head to clear it as she returns to her senses.
They shriek of the Dancing Lady shakes Gareth to his senses. He had nearly finished sheathing his rapier without being aware of his actions.
Will save