Round 4
Aeronniell ducks and weaves under the ape's massive arms, trying desperately to time a shot when her long hair stirs in a sudden breeze.
Chesley? No?! You're alive still, right?
Jovial voice: Nay lass. The lad's time came. I'll keep a watch on him though, but ya need to watch out... Now duck!
Barely moving beyond the reach of another huge, hairy arm, Aeronniell struggles with the thought of losing another friend.
Unable to find a way to get a finishing shot in against Rowyna, she tosses her bow aside in the chill breeze and it lands nearly ten feet away. Slender fingers find her sword's hilt as she draws bare iron and steps up to the Dragon's leader.
"This ends... now!"
for
Rowyna smiles, as she deflects the blow away 2 feet before it even reaches her. "Didn't you learn anything from blondie's death?....Guess not!" With that, she vanishes and appears in N54, flanking Aero now with the ape! "You're right, your life ends now!"
Xarethi charges Rowyna with a hand held out to drain her life's water away from her body. She tries to flank Rowyna with Aeronniel.
nonlethal and sickening for 1 round.
Round 5 Enemies' Turn:
Rowyna continues to protect herself defensively, cheering on her pet to kill Aero.
Guts attacks Aero twice with his fists, but Chez' haunting spirit advises her when to doge and the ape misses both times!
Ialda pulls a potion of healing from her belt, hoping to consume it on the next round.
"Ialda, ya want mah room?"
The barbarian ignores her friend, with no one being sure if it was purposeful, or because she was pretty much unconscious on her feet.
"Don' despah Ialda, we'll get out a dis." Baolo takes aim at the giant ape again. "Mebbe ya bettah protect ya boyfriend mon. Looks like we're raytulin' him."
Guts is looking very wounded now, as another arrow punctures its flesh. Rowyna just looks at Baolo in disgust, "I will have my revenge on you, native, for hurting my baby! I swear it!"
Round 5
Realizing that she's no match for Rowyna unless she manages the perfect swing, Aeronniell instead shifts he plan to stall the combat and buy time for Baolo, Xarethi or Ialda to finish off the rogue or her "boyfriend".
"It's over Rowyna. Call off the oversized monkey and maybe the authorities will be lenient with your judgement."
"Forgive me if I don't believe your offer, but I did kill someone you cared about in blondie, if your screams of indignation were any indication. And I've hurt the rest of you, well almost all of you." Rowyna looks longingly at Guts, "I know you're hurting, baby. Mama's going to make things right for you. If you're serious about your offer and I have to choose between my "son" and my lover, I choose my son." Pointing to Xarethi, "You there, go get the authorities and I will surrender to you and tell you everything you wish to know about Vanthus." She waits to see what Xarethi does.
Xarethi considers the woman's words for a moment.
She looks confused for a moment, as though uncertain what to do.
Aeronniell swallows nervously and continues to keep her longsword in between herself, the ape and Rowyna, alternating her grip.
Jovial voice: Ye managed a parlay lass!
Roguish voice (Chesley): Wait! Don't parlay! You need to avenge me!
Jovial voice: Eledar's punishment will be much more painful - years in prison over the swift and honorable death.
Roguish voice: But... the Dragons have gold, treasure! You'll need the resources to chase down Vanthus.
When did it get so crowded in here! Quiet both of you. I need to think... can we trust her?
Jovial voice: She seems sincere...
Roguish voice: No way! She killed me!
SILENCE! We need to end this before anyone else dies!
"First things first, Rowyna. Tell the ape to heel and lay down your weapon. We're not sending anyone off to fetch the authorities, we'll be binding you and escorting you there ourselves."
The elvish oracle attempts to point the end of her blade at the woman with a marginally effective air of authority.
Baolo tenses, ready to continue to fight if the negotiation falls apart. Don't likka dis. Killed Chez. Nearly Kowaru an Ialda. Don' trust Eledah guards. But, in spite of his misgivings, Baolo wavers for a moment growling, "Dat's de only way its going down mon. Otherwise, I kill de ape."
Sense motive
Ialda chugs her potion of healing, adding some vitality. As the evil woman seemed to be telling the truth, Ialda falls out of her rage, barely able to stand due to her fatigue.
CLW
Round 6:
Rowyna commands her ape to move back NE. She moves up to flank Kowaru's prone body and then speaks to Guts in Polyglot, which Baolo understands, and says, "Baby, prepare to strike!" She then looks at the party and says in Common, "No, mon, that's not the way this is going down. I'm sure the 6 of you just killed my whole guild, so excuse me, if I don't take your word that my baby and I will be safe. In my experience, the best negotiation takes place when both sides have something of value to lose. Especially with the archer aching to shoot me and the green hulk of a woman preparing to heal herself with the elixir in her hand. You will get the authorities and I will turn myself in. You have more than enough evidence here to confirm I am the head of the former Lotus Dragons guild. My treasures in the chest over there are yours. When the authorities arrest me, I will hand you over all my possessions, armor, weapon, etc. That's the way this works. If not, if you attack me or my baby, then Guts here will crush your unconscious friend's body. And if you kill him, with my dying breath, I will end the half-orc as well. You decide how you want this to end. With two of your friends dead or only one dead and me in jail for my crimes." You can tell she is serious about her convictions.
"I'd love to bash your head in, you crazy b*&%$, but you seem to have to upper hand in negotiating right now. I'll agree to do it your way, and send Xarethi out. But you've got to agree to let me drink my potion, so that, if you backstab us, I can defend myself and the group. You do that, and I'll agree to your terms, as much as I hate myself for it."
"I appreciate your honesty, green one. Agreed, you may drink and heal." Ialda's wounds close partially.
Roguish voice: Don't let her negotiate! She killed me already! How do you know Kowaru is even still alive?
Aeronniell tries to process all the voices swimming through her head as she continues to keep her longsword ready to both defend herself and strike at the ape should it do anything hostile.
"Our two friends are already both dead. Their voices speak to me in the afterlife, and they urge me to refuse your surrender to bring the memories of their lives justice."
Aeronniell shakes her head while looking at the ape
She hasn't even issued a command to it, yet it obeys with complete understanding. The ape must realize what is going on here, so it's clearly as evil and guilty as Rowyna.
"Last chance, Rowyna. Command the ape to stand down and get on the ground. I'm counting to three."
"One..."
"Two..."
The rogue priestess scowls, "Ha, you're bluffing. I knew you'd try to double-cross me. This half-orc is not dead. I still see his chest moving. But do what you must and live with the consequences." She then looks at Ialda, "You seem the leader here, control your people before you do something you regret." The ape stands ready to bring his fist down on Kowaru's helpless head.
"Three!"
Struggling with the voices in her head, her emotions, and her building anxiety, Aeronniell closes her eyes, grips the longsword with both hands and swings when Rowyna fails to command her ape to stand down and drop to the ground.
for
Aeronniell feels Chesley's guidance pulling her swing directly into Guts, seeking retribution for his death.
for
Guts smashes Kowaru's head into the ground, causing more blood to spill out of the half-orc. Aero runs her longsword through Guts and he howls in pain, but he's still up!
Rowyna screams, "Nooooo! You double-crossing crazy biatch! I'll make sure to send your friend to hell!" In Polyglot, she screams "Strike the one on the ground baby, strike him!"
Nearly about to fire at the ape himself, Baolo goes through an emotional ride like a ship bobbing up and down in a storm as Aero steps up and stabs the ape, only to see it fail to go down. Knowing he has to make sure the ape falls before it can attack Kowaru again, he races around the perimeter of the room looking for a clear shot only to be blocked by the chairs at the northern edge. The little Bonuwat man steps on the first chair and hops to the second before firing a silver and green fletched arrow at the ape.
"Xarethi, I've heard enough from Norgahbah's pawn. Get her before she hurts Kowaru again."
Baolo's arrow hits the ape in its eye and it lets out a moan, before collapsing to the floor dead! Rowyna lets out a wail as she screams nonsensically..."Whhhhhyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy?"
Aeronniell's expression does little to hide her distaste for "Guts".
"That... monster. It's better off dead."
The elf struggles to straighten her longsword and aim it at the rogue leader.
"Rowyna! Meet the dirt and our terms, or meet your end."
Roguish voice: Wow! When did you get so... commanding? If I were still alive, I'd be getting you drunk tonight.
Quiet, you!
Aeronniell glances nervously at Kowaru, recognizing the subtle signs of lingering life, hoping he can hold on for just another moment. With her sideways glance, the tip of the longsword lowers ever so briefly - yet catching this mistake, she raises it again and effects a stern gaze.
Ialda holds her flail menacingly, moving next to the spellcaster. "Don't move, Rowyna. We've all lost something today, but I don't kill in cold blood unless I can help it, no matter how much I want to. You have no more threats to make, so allow us to restrain you, and we can take you to the guard."
Rowyna looks at Ialda with cold dead eyes. "Your offers of surrender fall on deaf ears. I no longer have anything to lose. You killed what I had left."
"Urk."
Xarethi chases after Rowyna and tries again to drain the water from her flesh.
Round 7:
With tears in her eyes, Rowyna Kellani looks at the party, struggling to maintain consciousness, "I would have gladly served a lifetime in prison for my crimes had Guts just been cared for or taken to an animal preserve. Instead you have taken him away from me and with my last breath, I will send another soul to Norgorber!" She pierces her rapier through Kowaru's neck, causing the half-orc to momentarily regain consciousness and scream in pain, before expiring.
Rowyna then looks at the corpse of the ape and starts walking to it, "Baby, mama's coming to join you.....", before collapsing to the floor dead, her arm and hand outstretched toward Guts. A silence overwhelms the room.
After the party overcomes the shock of what just occurred, you eventually get to the looting part and find the following (not going to waste time on Spellcraft checks since you can try each day, even if you fail, so here is the treasure you find on Rowyna, Guts, and the chest in the room (locked but you find key on Rowyna)):
3500 gp in gold and jewelry (trunk)
+1 chain shirt (Rowyna)
+1 buckler (Rowyna)
+1 rapier (Rowyna)
Amulet of False Life (+5 hps) (Guts)
Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds (trunk)
Potion of Gaseous Form (trunk)
Wand of Knock (17 charges)
4 letters from Vanthus
Baolo's eyes widen as Xarethi's attempt to reach Rowyna goes wide and the priestess slays Kowaru. He rushes forward attempting to stabilize the half-orc, but realizes immediately that it is too late. The little Mwangi man kneels down on the floor next to Kowaru and then Chez weeping softly. He closes their eyes with fingers laden with his tears praying "Sea an' salt, wind an' waves, look aftah ma friends as dey begin deh last great journey."
Ialda was furious with the situation. "Why did she have to do that, we could have settled this without killing anyone else?! I thought she was going to lay down here arms. If I could have had another few seconds to talk to her, I could have talked her down and possibly saved Kowaru even if it was too late for Chez."
She began walking around, realizing she was talking in circles and not making any real relevant points. She wanted to punch anyone or thing, but knew that wouldn't do any good either. She's never had friends murdered in cold blood like this before.
Xarethi shakes her head, saddened by the loss of their comrades.
"To be honest, I don't know. I haven't really been able to think straight since Chez died. That woman.... vicious. Do you think we could have trusted her even if she did yield completely? She seemed more savage and cruel than willing to parlay."
"No!!!"
Aeronniell drops her sword as she leaps at Rowyna, the wind stirring and the spirits hurling the weapon a dozen paces from the oracle as she reaches toward the rogue.
Yet, she is too late.
Collapsing in a heap, she buries her face into her hands and sobs.
"Damn crazy monkey woman! She says she wanted to surrender but refused to lay down her weapon... and then this! Striking our fallen friends. She was the very definition of evil."
Roguish voice: So, about that beer...
Jovial voice: There, there lass. Ya did the best ya could.
Calm voice: Salutations, brother.
Really? It's just going to be a party in my head now is it?
Roguish voice: It doesn't smell unpleasant in here. Kowaru, douse the lantern, does anyone have dancing lights prepared?
Calm voice: The day was grave. We should not celebrate.
Jovial voice: Finally, someone to play cards with!
...
As she wills the voices to subside, Aeronniell composes herself and does little to hide her reddened face as she rises and makes a final reverent gesture to her goddess.
It takes all her self-control to not kick Rowyna with her boot.
Roguish voice: Do it...
Shhhh...
After collecting her sword and bow, she absentmindedly hands her wand to Baolo to see to Ialda's wounds and begins to search the interior of Rowyna's "monkey-love-chamber" for clues to the whereabouts of Vanthus Vanderboren.
Finding the four letters, she does not hesitate to peruse the contents and share them with the others.
Ialda listens to Aero's info but doesn't really hear it.
She was still processing what had just happened. Her thoughts were consumed with trying to figure out a way to get both bodies of her friends out. Then what to do with them? Maybe Lavina had a contact that would see they had a proper burial.
After they dealt with those issues, then maybe she could figure out a way to get her hands on that bastard Vanthus. He would have to pay for all this horror he had caused. She was sure of that fact.
First letter:
“...My parents have grown soft. I’m not worried in the slightest that they suspect anything, my delicate flower. The funds you’ve trusted me with have been more than enough to pay off the local guards, the harbor watch, and the ship’s crew to say nothing about the new cargo. Hell… they even offered to help load the barrels! Of course, I didn’t tell them what was inside— I’m sure they’d sing a different song if they knew just how much alchemist’s fire we loaded into the hold of my father’s new plaything. I’ll be following the ship’s progress for a few days to make sure the fire does the trick, so you’ll not be seeing me for at least half a week. Keep your bed warm for me!”
Second letter
“…It’s unbelievable! Sure, she’s the eldest sibling, but she knows
nothing of life! She spent the last half of her childhood in
Cheliax learning how to fold napkins and play the violin,
for Hell’s sake! It just goes to show you how insane my parents
really were… leaving everything in her care like that!
She’ll need the house to live off of, I suppose. Lavinia’s not a
bad lass, really… I kind of miss our time together, to tell the
truth. Think she’d be interested in joining the Lotus Dragons? I doubt
it. And anyway, a second Vanderboren tragedy might get too
many people curious. No, for now, whatever’s in the vault will
have to do…”
Third letter: (Dated two days ago)
“…I really wish you could have been there, my little dragon, to see their faces before I closed the trapdoor on them! Especially, the green-skinned one! Lavinia’s never going to get anywhere hiring fools like them. I wonder if they’ve found Penkus yet? I hope they didn’t die too quickly.”
“In any case, on to the purpose of this letter. . Remember that thing Brissa hinted about to me? About the pirates who were supposedly using Kraken’s Cove as a base for their smuggling operation? Turns out she wasn’t spinning tales—I’ve heard that they’ll be arriving within two weeks with a particularly rich cargo. I’ll bring her name up with the pretext of joining up with them, get their guard down, and when they’re not expecting it my men’ll light the ships on fire! It’ll be a simple task to pluck the treasure from the water once all those fools are dead. Should be more than enough to make up for what we lost when Lavinia inherited rather than me.”
“I tell you… burning people to death on their own boats? It’s the best way to make money yet. Wish I’d thought of it years ago!”
Fourth letter (more like a note):
"Thank you for last night, honey, you were incredible. I need to get my plans in motion. I'll contact you as soon as it's over and then we can celebrate. See you soon!"
Roguish voice: What does it say? I can't read from in here!
Aeronniell's face twists from distate, to disgust, to revulsion and finally to rage.
It takes all of her self control not to tear up the letters and hurl them across the room.
"Desna's starry veil - these two are a foul, wretched pair. Absolutely, the worst two human beings I've ever heard of."
Soothing voice: Now, you learn child. Be wary of the *Aethen*.
Who let the woman in? Chesley?
Roguish voice: I didn't, but there's a seat for her right here. On my lap!
Who are you?
Calm voice: She is gone, already.
Sighing in frustration at the building turmoil in her mind and at the horrific thoughts put forth by Vanthus, she hands the letters to Baolo and begins to pace about the room.
"I don't even think we should show half of those to Lavinia. It sounds like Vanthus *enjoyed* burning his own parents alive. This is all so awful..."
Baolo goes over to Ialda with the wand. "Let's patch ya up mon. We'll find Vanthus soon an' take it out on 'im."
It isn't long before Aero comes over with the letters. Baolo spends a few minutes looking through them muttering, "Dat b**$% had de guards paid off. Might 'ave been sendin' Xarethi into a trap for all of us." and "Kraken's Cove? Anyone evah heard o' dat before? Sounds like we might 'ave a lead on Vanthus."
Ialda, who still hadn't read the note, was not surprised to hear that imbecile Vanthus had left them another clue to follow. Either he was as dumb as he appeared, or he was leading them into yet another trap. Doesnt matter. Either way, he dies for what he's done to us...
Knowledge Local for Kracken's Cove
Unfortunately, though Ialda has heard of the Cove, she has no idea where it is exactly or how to get there.
"Good thinking, Baolo. We don't want to walk into a guard post that's on the Lotus Dragon payroll with all that we've discovered. Perhaps we can ask Lavinia who she thinks we can trust among Eledar's authorities or leaders?"
Aeronniell looks at all the bodies and realization strikes that the two most likely "strong men" that would've helped in cleaning up this situation are no longer able to do so.
Roguish voice: Put your back into it! That's it, lean over that body and... perfect! Ah...
Calm voice: ...
Baolo sees Aero looking at Chez and Kowaru's bodies. "Don' worry mon. Ialda an' I ken bring dem. I may be small, but I'm wiry. Dey will have propah ceremonies. Just make sure we don' step on dat baad step." Baolo hands his bow to Aero and brings Kowaru's body up onto his shoulder.
Kneeling next to Rowyna, Aeronniell accepts Ialda's rope and begins to work knots around the unconscious rogue's wrists.
The elf's skill with knots is clear, a testament to her time aboard the Stargazer.
"There, I think that does it. That should limit what harm she can do when she comes to."
Rising again, she approaches Rowyna's "baby" and with certainty she buries her longsword into its heart.
"And this evil beast can wreak no further harm. It is unfortunate that it came to be corrupted by this..." Aeronniell struggles to speak Rowyna's name, not wanting to dignify their enemy, "... woman"
Aeronniell continues to pass Vanthus' letters to the others as she gathers up the remains of the treasure in the "dragon's lair".
"We'll simply need to flag the first guard in the streets we see and explain what happened. We'll likely need to hire some more muscle if we are to see Lavinia's desires to find her brother through - and follow up on the lead to this cove."