Hero Point used
cure light
Round 4: Tessa
Tessa looks to see Cin casting animate rope and she screams out, "No! You want to see true power, I give you the power of death! She smirks as negative energy ripples from her form, striking all of you, but not affecting Amber and Viktor. She then moves 10' toward Amber to be next to her.
Cinnamon gasps in pain as the negative energy hit her, but remained standing.
Eudonius grinds his teeth while trying to keep unconsciousness at bay. He chops at the evil cleric's back when she tries to flee.
B&@ch!
Despite having taken the full force of the dark energy burst he still manages to land one last swing at Viktor before his body collapse.
Tessa screams in pain as the axe penetrates her armor but she continues moving, though she is badly wounded.
Luc moves to Y41 to flank Viktor with Gyllan but is still unable to penetrate his superior's defenses:
Gyllan feels Jun lay a hand on his back, and healing energy surges through him. Though it is painful to have his wounds knit back together so quickly, it is a pain that remind him he is alive. As he grits his teeth and steps forward to strike at Viktor, a wave of fresh, awful pain rolls over him, and he feels the same cuts begin to re-open, as Tessa sends her evil energy at the party.
Gyllan is reeling somewhat from the agonizing back-and-forth he's just experienced, but he takes a quick breath, straightens up, and lunges forward, driving the point of his greatsword into Viktor's gut.
Eudo miraculously still stands after the black energy seared the flesh off his body, and looking somewhat like a zombie, with his last heroic effort brings his axe to bear down on the senior guard's skull, cleaving it in two! Viktor falls with a stunned look on his face, as does Eudo.
Tessa screams "Brother, no!!!!" She grabs a dagger and looks ready to stab Amber before Gyllan moves up and beheads her with one swing of his greatsword!
Luc rushes to Amber's side and they embrace passionately, as the Seneschal's daughter's tears and whisperings of "I love you, Luc" flow.
Cinnamon watches the final moments of combat, as blood and heads fly, and bodies fall. "That was -- Sarenrae's golden nimbus, that was exciting. What do you think they do for an encore?"
She walks over to where Eudonius has fallen and attempts to stop his bleeding.
Seeing that Cinnamon is tending to Eudonius quite competently, Gyllan takes the opportunity to sit down abruptly on the floor and take a few deep breaths. As his breathing calms a bit, he says "Exciting, yeah. That's what it was. I'm hoping for an encore they stay dead, unlike our hobgob friend there. Cinn, how does Eudo look?"
Once he's recovered a bit, Gyllan stands and walks over to Viktor's corpse, looking it over for anything of value, as recompense for the terrible damage he and his sister inflicted on Gyllan and his friends. As he does so, he says to Jun, "Thanks for getting me back on my feet there. That fight could have easily gone the other way, but for you. Any chance you've got any more healing magic? I'm hurt pretty good, and Eudonius is clearly in pretty rough shape. It was amazing how he kept going with those wounds!"
Jun has sweat pouring down his face, "I haven't had a fight like that in a long time! I'm glad everyone made it through"
Jun channels to heal everyone after making sure it won't bring to life Victor or his sister
Channel Twice for 12
After channeling twice Jun slumps forward, exhaustion catching up with him. He smiles however when seeing all of his friends moving, "I believe that is all I have left of my blessing. Need to rest a little before I try anymore. Hopefully this will get easier the more I use it."
As his wounds close when Jun's magic washes over his body Eudonius's consciousness painfully returns.
Hmmmmmmmm....
Gods! It feels like someone tossed me out of a moving wagon.
He open his eyes to see Cinammon's face as she finish wraping the improvised bandages.
Hey.
D-d-did we w-won? giving a weak smile.
Gyllan looks up from rummaging through Viktor's clothes and gear, answering the wobbly half-orc, "Did we win!? Eudonius, my friend, you somehow kept on fighting when you should have been bleeding out on the ground, and you split Viktor's head clean in half! While that is pretty disgusting, I have to admit that I chopped his sister's head right off, which was pretty messy as well. So yes, we won! We saved Amber - and it turns out she loves Luc back.."
He continues excitedly, "And in case you missed it, you got that shot you took at Viktor's evil sister because Cinn tricked her with her magic sounds - and her natural charm and ability to get folk to listen to her, staring at them with those intense eyes of hers...uh where was I? Oh, yeah, and Jun kept us all alive when we should have been dead a couple of times over, like he just did now to get you back on your feet. I gotta say, we make a pretty good team, don't you think?"
The orc taint... has its uses. Eudonius mumbles embarassed while getting up on shaky legs. T-t-thank you Miss Oskrev and M-master Korter.
Looking around the room and the reunited couple.
Some r-results cant be r-refuted. I will have to agree with you... friend. With a timid smile.
Cinnamon feels the healing energy wash over her, the way it used to when Sarenrae loved her. She forces the words "Thank you," past her lips in Jun's general direction, without actually looking at the former guardsman.
She listens as her companions recap the fight, and helps Eudonius to his feet.
"It's not a taint, Master Lynch, it's part of who you are. And who you are is pretty impressive...I've never seen someone swing an axe like that."
Then she spies where Tessa's head landed after Gyllan's mighty stroke. Cinnamon runs over to it and kicks it like a ball against the wall, again and again and again, mumbling under her breath the whole time. "...blessed of Zon-Kuthon...kidnapping...helpless girls...show you something about..."
Jun limps over to Luc and Amber after he catches his breath, "I hate to interrupt this reunion, but we should verify there isn't anyone else here who is hostile and search the place for any clues or evidence to take back to Korvosa."
Luc and Amber stop hugging and kissing, the Seneschal's daughter a bit embarrassed at her display of affection and impropriety. Luc cuts the ropes from her hands. Amber smiles and says, "Thank you, thank you all for saving me. I'm glad Luc was able to find you. You have done so much for me, I am indebted to you all. I'm glad that cretin woman got what she deserved." She smiles a little at seeing Cin kick the head around. Unfortunately, her mood soon turns as she runs to the firepit and falls on her knees, tears in her eyes. "She took the cure the barbarian herbalist had prepared for Uncle Eodred and tossed it in the fire. How's he going to get better now?" Luc wraps his arms around her and consoles her. "Don't worry baby, we'll figure it out." He helps her up and sees she is fine. He turns to the party, Thank you, thank you all for risking your lives and helping. I'm sure if you accompany us to Korvosa, Amber can prepare some reward for you all. And I need to report Viktor's betrayal to the King, Queen, and Seneschal. What say ye?"
"Of course we'll come with you! We didn't rescue Amber from these awful people to then let you two hike back to Korvosa on your own. Maybe we can figure something out about this medicine too. And I for one am used to payment for services rendered, so I wouldn't say no to the reward you mention, Viktor."
Looking at his companions, Gyllan aks "Well, what do you say? Cinn, Eudo..nius, Jun? You all game to escort the princess back to Korvosa, maybe collect a little reward and figure out a plan to save her, um, uncle? Maybe they can help us figure out what this necklace Tessa was wearing does, while we're at it."
After this string of questions, he holds up Viktor's sword and swings it back and forth, testing it, saying quietly to himself, "Surprising number of nice swords in this part of the world."
Eudonius blush by Cinnamon’s compliment but the effect is somewhat dispelled by her subsequent soccer play with the head. He moves as to say something back to her but in the end choose silence.
Upon hearing the other’s exchange he comments.
Yes Mi’Lady. Of course w-we w-will scort you back home to s-s-savety. It should provide an interesting introduction to the court and its players. Will our paths cross again... mother?
But you mentioned a herbal c-cure of s-some s-s-sort and a wise-m-man. Could you not a-a-ask him again for a-a-another dose? Would love to study that formulae.
When Jun sees Gyllan looking at the magic, he goes over and starts to look as well
Spellcraft Longsword
Spellcraft Necklace
Spellcraft Wand
Gyllan studies one of the potions they've found, shaking it and holding it up to the light, but can't make out what it could possibly be. He then picks up the second flask and at a quick glance is reasonably sure he knows what it is.
But you mentioned a herbal c-cure of s-some s-s-sort and a wise-m-man. Could you not a-a-ask him again for a-a-another dose? Would love to study that formulae.
Amber looks dejected. "Unfortunately, the cure is from a rare flower that blooms on the Storval Plateau and if you know anything of the unfriendly barbarian tribes that live there, I was lucky to have been given the first batch at all. And now, to go back, waste another 4 weeks. I can't do it, at least not until I see how uncle, the King, is doing. I hope he holds out as long as possible. Damn, cursed year!"
Amber's words penetrated through Cinnamon's haze of fury, and she froze, still staring at the erstwhile cleric's head. Tessa's face was so battered as to be unrecognizable. With a disgusted sigh, she gave it one last kick into the corner of the room, then straightened her clothing and turned back to the group as though nothing had happened.
"We would be honored to escort you back to the city. I'm sorry your journey came to such a...sad end." Cinn walks over and peers into the fire, just in case something from this mysterious cure had survived the flames.
She shakes her head and continues. "Am I the only one here who could use a bath? A real one, with plenty of hot water and suds? Because I feel like I haven't washed in weeks. And besides..."[b] Cinnamon trailed off, both because she realized it really had been weeks since she'd last washed and because she noticed the things that Jun had taken to examine.
[b]"Oooo," she said, rushing over to him and gently touching the necklace, "pretty! Well, not really, but it is shiny. It reminds me of my friend Palo, waiting for us back at the inn. I wonder if he'll hang? Would it be all right if I -- could you please do the clasp for me?"
Cinnamon smiled and leaned towards the former guardsman, pushing her hair aside so that he easily secure the necklace.
Eudonius nods in dismal at the Lady's words.
So be it then.
It is time to go... home.
As Jun helps Cinnamon with the clasp of the amulet, Gyllan speaks up eagerly, "I can do that, here, let me help..." He trails off as Jun finishes and Cinnamon turns around. Gyllan's eyes widen and he says awkwardly, "Wow. Uh, that's, uh. That's nice. That looks nice on you. The amulet."
"I'll carry the wand for now if you don't mind. When I get another chance I'll study it some more to see if I can figure out what it does."
Assuming no one objects, Jun stores the wand in his pack for now.
"Oh thank you, Gyl!" Cinnamon gushes. "It's pretty cool -- I've never seen one like it before. What do you think about the color? Do you like the color? I could always paint it green -- that would really bring out the color of my eye." She winked her left eye at Gyllan, then leaned closer. "What about the length -- do you think it would it look better if it hung lower?"
Then Cinnamon turns on her heel with a laugh, and helps pack up. "I don't know why you'd want an old stick, Jun, but of course you can have it."
Gyllan stands mute as Cinnamon responds to his awkward compliment, his face slowly turning an intense pink color, which deepens as his eyes drift down when Cinn suggests wearing the pendant lower. He makes several halting attempts to answer, but no actual words come out.
After she turns away, he shakes his head slightly and says, "Uh, well, we'd better get going. Back to the inn, then on to Korvosa, eh? It'll be good to get home."
As he straps Viktor's sword on to his side, Gyllan thinks Did she mean it? Was she teasing? Ah, why did I have to fall for such a tricksy one?
Luc leads Amber back out into the frosty morning. Bones' horse is gone and there is no sign of the half-orc, though the horse's tracks clearly lead back to Korvosa. You make it back to the inn without incident. Amber is happy to be free, grateful that she was not a sacrifice, but sad that her possible herbal cure was ruined. Luc is trying to be supportive but you sense his urgency in returning home and reporting Viktor's betrayal to his superiors. However, he understands you need to rest and recuperate and he does not want to seem ungrateful for your help. When you reach the inn, you are greeted by the caravan members with heaps of praise and joy for your heroism and you find the Tengu still tied up as you left him. A grand brunch is served in your honor.
Jun is slightly embarrassed by the attention. It had been so long for him to be anything other than a drunk loser. He eats the brunch gladly then hopes for a good sleep before heading into Korvosa. He talks to Luc, "Luc I know you want to get back to Korvosa as soon as possible, but that Half-orc is still out there and I would not want to get ambushed by him and others while we were exhausted. If you really feel we need to hurry then I will come, but I would not want to see Amber come to harm again."
Eudonius is delighted, and embarrassed, by the attention and specially the brunch. With his metabolism running crazy by the abuse of...some substances he eats with voracity. Without even noticing he fills his plate three times before falling asleep at the table.
Cinnamon basks in the adoration of the crowd. During brunch, she recounts the events of the raid at least three different ways, all playing up the evil of the villains, the prowess of her companions, and the grace of Sarenrae.
Her exhaustion catches up with her quickly, however, at least in part because she drinks more than she eats. In the middle of performing Gyllan's soliloquy to Viktor about the consequences of betrayal she puts her head on the table. Her snores are in strange counterpoint to those of Eudonius.
Gyllan greatly enjoys the feast laid out for them, and Cinnamon's recounting of their adventure. He is particularly thrilled whenever she begins to describe his own role in the tale, and is looking off into nowhere, listening raptly to her describing his rhetorical skills in the face of evil, when Cinn goes silent. Turning his attention to her, he sees that she, and Eudonius, are both asleep at the table.
He turns to Jun and says, "Guess we'd better get them to bed." I know I'd much rather tuck in Cinn - carry her in my arms to her room, pull the covers back and lay her down...and watch her sleep, I guess. But it's hardly fair to ask Jun to move Eudo, who's so much bigger. "Jun, why don't you help Cinnamon to her room, and I'll help Eudonius, and then we can all catch up a bit on sleep before we hit the road again."