Running toward the sound of danger is not an instinctual response for Tish, which is why, after much dragging of her feet, she is the last of her group to arrive at the scene. Her hand rests on the handle of her crossbow as she regards Jix and Kali's attempts to subdue the 'dragon'. She is tempted, sorely tempted, to stand by and let things reach their natural conclusion. I bet it's just hungry. So, the giant lizard eats the mouse, maybe the rat, and hopefully afterward it will happily go back into its cage. No fuss, no muss.
Luckily, it only takes a few moments longer than it should before the mesmerist decides that's a poor idea. After all, she'd have to find a new cook on such short notice, and then there would be the inevitable questions that the sheriff would have for them.
"Move. Move!" she shouts as she shoulders past the panicking crowd. Laetitia stops about 10 feet away from the dragon and fixes it with a dark look. When she has a clear shot of the creature--and maybe not Kali and Jix--Laetitia draws on the well of psychic energy at her command and lets loose a burst of clashing colors.
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Rounding out their number, Otho stormed onto the scene. He didn't say anything about his plan. The only things that came out of his mouth were words like stop, down, or stay. His hands too were just as animate. Held out in the creature's view as a ward before being lowered to the ground, repeatedly. All in all, pretty hilarious as the brawler tried to suss out what would make the dragon back down.
Owl moves around trying to see if any of the texts he read on dungeons and their workings may have some bearing here. Unfortunately, at best you can feel that this "dragon" is perfectly fine scampering around above ground and probably not suited as a dungeon guard monster.
"Thomias?"
Owl, you look to the side of your new position and see a woman in her late twenties, seemingly transfixed by the boy across the way, the battle raging between them.
"Mom!" Thomias says, his voice breaking. He starts to rush towards her, straight through the fighting area. A panicked look on the woman's face, and she moves to try and stop him.
Both are now entering the range of combat stuff.
======
Otho approaches and tries to figure out if his simple actions might have an effect to clam or make the "dragon" back off. But the thing about reptilian faces is that they're pretty hard to read. He does take notice of your approach, but you have no idea what that means.
======
Kali dives into the fray and tries to directly engage with the "dragon" hoping to wrangle it. Yet, its body writhes and squirms with surprisingly strong muscles and it doesn't seem like the tiefling can get a decent enough grip. The lizard breaks free, it's claw scraping against Kali, and lands back on the ground, looking wildly around at the enclosing group.
======
Laetita seems to work her way through the mass of panic and, seeing the situation, focuses her mental might on the creature. It's defenses weakened, she let's loose a wave of sensory images, angling it just right so it avoids her allies and hits the "dragon."
The "dragon" seems to be momentarily affected. It blinks, and shakes its head around and Laetitia knows her power has been shaken off (the color spray, not the stare).
======
======
Even at Lia's urging's and general state of command and authority, the floppy eared man refuses ot move from his spot.
"I can't! If he see's my while he's having a fit he'll never trust me when he's calmed down!" he protests.
======
Jix looks around hurridly and doesn't find anything more useful than the tins that had so rudely gave her away, but with the :dragon right next to her, she tries to make a quick diversion so she can make a tactical retreat. But as she stoops to grab the tin, the "dragon" sees a moment of weakness and attacks!
Luckily, the lithe little ratfolk manages to pull her tail out of the "dragon's" maw before it clamps shut. She then shucks the the tin over the other way, which does successfully cause the "dragon" to shift its attention.
=======
The "dragon" looks around at all its new meals- I mean opponents. It latches onto the one that looks the tastiest, waving his big drumstick arms around. It attacks Otho with a bite!
Kali lets out a pained hiss as claws open up three gashes on her leg. She sees the mess the maw makes of Otho's arm and knows that the two of them aren't going to keep it occupied for long, and seeing Thomias rush over to a terrified looking woman, and sighs.
She just knew someone was going to make a comment on her intelligence after this.
She tries to tap the lizard's snout with her fingers as she whistles to it to get it's attention, hopefully while making herself harder to claw or bite.
"Come here boy! Follow me and I'll get you a tasty treat," she calls out as she takes a step back and tries to lead the monster away from Otho and Thomias.
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"Oh hell..."
The thing damn near ripped a hole in him. He would've backed off, let the others take point, but he saw something worse than his torn and bloody self. The kid and his mother running in from the sides.
Times like this made him wonder about his promise back in the Hells. "Do better." Made him wonder if he could live up to that lofty goal. He'd try, by the gods, he'd try. He squared his shoulders and shoved the beast in the direction Kali was going to run.
Laetitia's supreme confidence in her abilities flags when she notices the apparent ease with which the overgrown lizard is able to shake off her magic. She had yet to attempt to influence anything other than another human (or rather, humanoid), but instead of seeing whether the creature's mental resilience was a fluke or not, Tish decides simply to switch to tried and true methods to subdue the beast. Seeing the dragon take a nasty bite out of Otho momentarily derails that plan. Instead of drawing her crossbow, Laetitia comes up behind the man, making sure to keep his big body between the dragon and herself, and presses her palm to the giant's neck. Her presence in his mind is cold, sharp and terribly lacking in finesse, but also thankfully brief, and, once her psychic safeguards are in place, she breaks contact with Otho. "You'll thank me later."
Jix's eyes widen as she see's all the damage the beast has inflicted on her companions and the thought does cross her mind to just book it and be done with this. After weighing her options Jix begins the process of loading her heavy-crossbow and maintaining her stealthy position, out of sight for the beast knowing full-well that a single bite from a creature of that size could mean certain death for something as small as her. She can only hope her new allies manage to survive. Until she can manage to get another bolt off at the beast. Damn this thing's survival and damn twice it's owner. The dumb beast needed to be put down.
Never keep your eyes off the target, Owl chides himself. He drops his pack and kicks it somewhere safe-ish while he heads for Thomias. On the way he pulls an unassuming stick out a pouch as well as some flint and steel. He deftly lights the stick and tosses it in front of the "dragon" to provide cover and distraction. "Ma'am. Get your son clear," he shouts to the woman frantically running towards Thomias.
Owl sends a smoke stick flying through the air and shouts a warning to the almost reunited parent and child. The smoke stick lands with thud and.....poof! A large smoke cloud fills the immediate area.
Thomias and the mother seem to see this smoke cloud between them, and snap out of their frantic meet-up. They quickly move off to the side, out of combat range, and then go to meet each other.
=================
Otho manages to shake off any adverse effects of the poison. Maybe all the alcohol he drank had more use than just getting buzzed. He braces himself and tries hurtling his large body against the "dragon" aiming to push it towards Kali. But the creatures is swift, and Otho finds his his efforts making contact with nothing but the air.
=================
Kali's focus on protecting herself doesn't allow her to take advantage of opportunities that might allow for a more solid attack. The "Dragon" does move its attention to her, as the current one who has tried to "harm" it.
Whether because its untrained or is too monstrous to be tamed, the "dragon" pays no heed to Kali's attempts to handle it as if it were an animal.
=================
Laetitia hurries forward and places a gentle hand on Otho's neck. He begins to feel a tingling warmness, though he has no idea what the strange woman has done to him.
=================
S*##! S*%#! S&#*!
Lia, in your haste to get the rope ready, you find you accidently tangle it in a few places. It take you the rest of your turn, but you untangle the mess and ready it.
=================
Like a blade of grass in a field, Jix merges with the shadows once more and becomes hidden from sight.
=================
The dragon hesitates for just a moment, then it lashes out at Kali
Luckily, it's mighty jaws snap shut on air as Kali expected the attack and moved clear from its maw.
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It felt like a buzz, the kind one gets from a little hit of pesh. Otho tried to stay away from the stuff, too addictive, but the womans touch felt like that. That worrying elation.
Other things had more of his attention though. Before the smoke went up he'd seen Lia and the rope, so tying the beast down seemed like the best bet at this point. At least he didn't have to worry about Thomias and his mother getting torn up.
"Don't want to move... Fine. Then you stay on the ground."
Aiming down the sights of her heavy crossbow Jix takes a moment to breathe and calmly observe the scene around her. Everything seem's to have fallen to chaos. Her golden eyes flit over Kali and Otho. Their bloodied forms clash and tangle with with the beast. She can see the grit and determination in their eyes even as they stand at death's door.
Once again Jix glances at her weapon of choice and sighs. There is far too much chaos for a proper shot to be taken at this point. Any proper sniper would know that now is the time to wait for the opportunity to take her next shot.
But Jix was no ordinary sniper. She was the best! And she's be damned if she was just going to let her allies be ripped apart before her as she does nothing.
Dropping her crossbow to the ground Jix points and cries out at the creature. "Ohhh no you don't you ugly little git! You wanna scrap?! 'Cause I'll bloody well scrap!"
The spry rogue then proceeds to charge the beast with reckless abandon and pounces at the beast arms outstretched.
Seeing Otho and Jix leap at the creature to try subduing it, Kali lets out a frustrated sigh and tries to help.
With the kid out of the way, it was time to subdue the beast. Right. Why were they trying none lethal again? He thought to plug it with a few arrows but that might just piss it off more. Instead, he looks at the man that originally pleaded with them and downs one of his alchemical concoctions.
He turns into a stunning likeness and whistles at the beast. "Hey. Sit." he says in as commanding a voice as he can muster.
Her good deed for the day done, Laetitia carefully backs away from the tangle of limbs both scaly and fleshy, drawing her trusty hand crossbow as she does. Although she is hopeful that her companions will successfully overwhelm the dragon, it never hurts to be prepared. Without taking her eyes off the chaotic scene in front of her, Tish slides a bolt home into the arrow track and lines up her shot with what bit of reptilian flesh is not being covered by her teammates.
Those watching from the sidelines see the strangest hog-tie with a "dragon that they've ever seen before. They'll be talking about how a giant-of-a-man grabbed the thing by its neck and attempted to hold it in submission as a much shorter man and some weird rat person joined the frey to aid him.
Owl's disguise doesn't faze the creature, and his orders go unheeded though you do hear a small worried cry from the humanoid you copied, very worried.
Laetitia posiitons herself just in case the worst goes down, and LIa finally figures out which rope end is which, making it capable for use.
The "dragon" thrashes around, trying to escape Otho's grip.
But even as it struggles, it can't wiggle its way out. So it tries to sink its teeth into Otho's arm.
Otho, you see the "dragon" bite your arm, you see the blood emerge out of it, but you don't feel it. It's strange, but that tingling in the back of your neck is definitely shooting up your head and down your spine. You dont' really get it, but you know that the attack didn't hurt and you can still keep going.
Players up!
Kali tries to keep her grip, but the beast thrashes too much for her to keep a firm grip.
Jix cheered as she clung onto the creature she had leapt upon, her eyes wild even as Otho's blood splashed over her it only strengthened her resolve. She flashed a wicked smirk and licked at the blood around her mouth as her small but sinuous arms tightened around the creature. "Yeeeeee ha!
Owl wasn't really expecting his disguise to do much. But the worried sound that came from the owners mouth was extremely interesting. He couldn't think about its implications right now though. "Toss me a line," he calls to Lia. He catches the line and gets to work hog-tying a "dragon" into submission.
Laetitia spares one quick, almost sympathetic look to Otho's now mangled arm before going back to lining up her shot. She gives her "team" one chance to subdue the dragon with nonviolence before she tries to fill its scaly hide with bolts. Her finger hovers over the trigger of her hand crossbow, waiting to see if the monster breaks free.
You all have a distinct feeling of being back in Golarian Kindergarten where everyone teaches you to help each other.... Welp, I guess that was a good lesson, wasn't it?
The "dragon" is pinned without too much trouble and though it bites and snaps, as four or so people descend upon it, a few moments later every stands to reveal a hogtied "dragon."
You hear a shouting from the crowd of spectators that has formed, and a large man appears red-faced and winded. Behind him are a group of carnival workers with long poles with metal holding hooks (not sharp, more for forcefully holding) in hand. He takes a look around, sees you all a bit roughed up, nods in thanks and starts giving orders to the handlers.
After the "dragon" is carted off back to a new reinforced cage, the man who introduces himself as "Berthold Flavion approaches you.
"Thank you for intervening." he says. "If not for you lot, I shudder to think what could have happened here."
He presses a small bag into Otho's hands, its contents 50 gp in varying coppers, silvers with a few gold..
"Everyone chipped in, but I put in some extra for keeping my beast alive. He's a strong one, but I thank you for not killing him like mad animal. He was scared, was all."
With a moment to breathe, Owl returns to normal, literally, as the disguise drops. He lets Otho deal with the newcomer. Money was involved and it took considerable will to pull himself away but he really wanted to find the person, or creature that warned them first. And there was Thomias and his mother to deal with. Had to find them too.
Kali, distracted by looking for Thomias and his mother, nearly drops the pouch in surprise. Once she's sure she has a good hold of it, she looks to Berthold Flavion and mutters a thank you before trying to help Otho to his feet.
"You— You wouldn't happen to have a healer on hand? I'm afraid my friend here is about to pass out from his wounds," Kali says as she keeps looking for Thomias.
"And would you happen to have seen a boy around here with his mother? We were supposed to look after him and we want to make sure he's okay," she adds.
Jix jumps off the now hogtied dragon and approaches Otho giving him a heaping pat on the back. "Well, well, well there Othy! You kin take a 'it like none other now cantcha? A lesser man woulda died fer sure!" Jix smirked at her friend and shook her coat splashing blood over Otho and the others. "Now what's e'ryone jus' doin' standin' 'bout like a buncha slack jawed bugbears! Someone get this man a drink!"
Owl and Kalisuel spot Thomias and his mother clutching each other, both silently sobbing. But there are smiles on their faces.
Berthold puts his fist to his mouth, and thinks.
"Tis unfortunate, but we do not have a dedicated healer on hand. We make due with natural remedies and a well applied bandage. You might have better luck with the townsfolk."
Speaking of which...
Lia's courtly mannerisms come as a shock to the old man she grabs before he has a chance to leave. He has a bit of potbelly, but his frame speaks of constant work in the fields. On a night like this, you can smell the sweat on him.
"A healer you say?" he asks to affirm, introducing himself as Anglin. [b]"I know just the lad you're looking for. His name is Finas, opened a small apothecary shop in town. He's a nice enough boy, bit bookish, but knows his way around herbs better than half the mother here know their spices."
He laughs, amused at his own joke.
"But if you want more direct methods, I'd say your best bet is with the Winding Market over there." He gestures to the many rows of tents and such that are in no way matched.
"Think I saw a few potion sellers, or something. Could be drugs. I can't tell!"
Another laugh from the old man, amused at the idea of buying a potion to find out it was some kind of new-fangled drug the kids were using.
"Thank you. We'll see if they can help," Kali says quietly, the adrenaline that had been rushing through her veins is now gone and, around people she didn't know, the shy, quiet demeanor returns.
Turning to Otho, she asks, "will you be okay if I check on Thomias?"
Kali limps over towards the mother and son, but as she gets closer her pace slows, until she stops a short distance away in the shadow of a tent. It hits her hard as she stands there. The sudden, unrelenting envy that wells up from some part of herself she kept locked away deep inside hammers at her and it takes all of her self control to not cry out in frustration at seeing something she so badly wanted happening to another. The moment is brief and after the caustic wave of emotion, all Kali feels is an emptiness and a weariness that had become more and more oppressive as she had been chased away again, and again, and again. She could barely endure it now, but, somehow, she manages to push past it and the doubts and fears that would have rooted her in place. She ignored the questions that so often raced in her mind and plagued her.
Slowly, she puts one foot in front of the other and gets close enough to them to be heard.
"Are you alright, Thomias? I was worried for a moment that monster would come after you," she says as she takes a knee, and can't help but wince as the gash in thigh goes from throbbing to piercing.
Owl walks over to the happy couple and gives them a moment at a respectful distance. When they finally notice him, he takes a sweeping bow. "Madame. I am happy to see you and your son reunited. You have some very powerful people looking over you."
If she turns weary when Kali kneels before the bow (cause she's a tiefling) he puts a gentle hand on her shoulder. "She's an associate of mine. You have nothing to worry about. She was extraordinarily helpful in our mission to return your son to you. I think they've grown quite attached. Might I ask how all this got started? Maggory seems like a rather...difficult man to be with," he says, feigning difficulty in describing the man. It'd be very easy to describe him but insulting him could be counterproductive if she still had feelings for him, unlikely as that sounded.
Jix chuckled at her companion's exhaustion. It was well earned but still somewhat comical to see such a big man so exhausted. Jix sat down beside her companion and nodded, "Well can't really blame ya there mate! Turns out the poor ol' beasty just needed some tender love'n care. Ne'er woulda pegged ya fer an animal lover but then again ya do spend a lot o time wit' Scoot. Sure it get's lonely sometimes. . . jus' the two o ye. . . romance in the air." She teases the man with a sly wink before calling out to the crowd once again. "Oi! 'ow we comin' on that drink?!""
"Do I look like a bar wench to you?" Laetitia asks, one dark eyebrow quirked as if to defy Jix to say something clever. "And before you answer that," she adds, waving her hand crossbow about, "This is still loaded." She lets the veiled threat hang in the air for a moment, until a smirk breaks the arch look she was trying to give. "There'll be drinks at the inn, after we get Oaf-o here patched up. That warm, fuzzy feeling I gave you will be wearing off soon, so we'd best get you to the apothecary while you can still stand on your own feet," she says, trying to motivate Otho to get up by way of kicking at the soles of his boots. "Up you."
Thomias and his mother break apart as Kali approaches them. You can see the tear stains on the mother's face, and her eyes glistening. She throws her arms around Kali without hesitaiton and speaks, a tremble in her voice.
"Thank you....thank you for bringing him back to me...."
And then Owl appears, trying to act as professionally as possible.
The mother nods, revealing her name to be Alana.
"Desoran right?" she asks, a grin on her face as she wipes what remains of the tears. "That silly bastard can't keep his nose out of my business. Guess I owe him."
Thomias has been clutching his mother this entire time.
"Please, is there anything I can do to repay you?"
================================
Kari frowns at Lia's proposed wager.
"You nobles and you're fixed wagers. I need to take you with me to a gambling hall sometime. Real risk is much wilder than the stories about them."
You along with Otho, Jix, and Laetita depart to the village, joining a crowd of people who are also calling it for the night.
There's more than a few murmers about the incident, and even afew people looking at Otho as some sort of folk hero. You definitely hear a few young women mention the "dragon wrestler" and how nice his muscles look.
There's also a few children, spurned on by the fact they've never seen a ratfolk before that are slowly, but surely trying to grab Jix's tail.
Kali stiffens at first, but after a moment, she slowly wraps Alana in a hug of her own. Her vision blurs as she begins to cry herself, and in a strange turn of events, she mutters thank you over and over again into the woman's ear.
After a minute, Kali manages to regain her composure, before the gash in her thigh twinges with pain again.
"A healer," she says with an expression of pain from her leg and joy at not being rejected, "helping me to a healer would be good enough." She gives a pained chuckle, but the pain she feels now is merely physical. The deeper pains of her heart drowned out by an overwhelming joy and elation. Alana had accepted her, and not even with reservations. She'd been accepted wholeheartedly, and that was enough to drive the pain away for a little while.
"Well," she says as they move, turning her head to better see Thomias, "looks like you're stuck with me for a little while longer, Thomias. I hope you don't mind."
Jix immediately pulls her tail forward into her hands and glares at the children behind her as they make their way towards the village. "Oi! Mits off me tail ye little wankers! Tis a very sensitive part o' a woman's body tis! Now sod off a'for the dragon wrestler 'ere gives ya a tast o' what that little dragon got earlier see?" She says with a kind of playful tone and sticks her tongue out at the brats before running off and giving them something to chase. "'sides you lot could ne'er catch me anyway!"
"That better not become my nickname."
"Oh, but it suits you so well," Laetitia teases, cozying up to Otho's unbloodied side, ostensibly to help him to the apothecary's. Of course, the scorching looks she sends toward the women of Ilsurian tell a different, less selfless story. "The next time you want to tussle with something that bites, let me know beforehand. That neat little trick I pulled on you should keep you standing. Although I will say, we might make a good deal more coin having you wrestle wild animals than we would selling food. Just a thought."
"Please, is there anything I can do to repay you?"
"Oh you needn't worry. Desoran said nothing about us needing to get payment. I would suggest leaving soon though. Probably today. Your son's father seems well connected. Its prudent to assume we did not get out of the city without leaving any hints behind. He'll probably come looking eventually. The longer the head start the older the trail." As much as he wanted to gather more info, he reminded himself of what that thug said. Something was going to happen here. Best be gone when it happens.
He goes to shake her hand and presses 6 silver into her palm. "Take care." He waves her and Kali farewell as they go find a healer. That was some drama when he arrived. He could guess why but would keep it too himself for now. He walks back to the others who are filtering away with the rest of the crowd. He catches up to hear the tail end of Laetitia's conversation.
"Although I will say, we might make a good deal more coin having you wrestle wild animals than we would selling food. Just a thought."
"I highly doubt we'll be lucky enough for another dragon to pop up anytime soon. You realize animals are expensive? And the feed is heavy? Plus I am not sure any of us are any good at handling them? Bandages or even potions cost a lot too. Don't think the wagons big enough for one either. Less you want to cram us all in the remaining space. Or gods forbid walk."
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"Adulation is the trap of fools." Pastor back home used to say that a lot. Otho, like the rest, just ignored the impromptu sermons. It felt good to get recognized for something decent for once. Almost as good as the time he'd cleaned out the Pet. "Dragon Wrestler." He might just have to hold on to that one for a while.
As Jix goes running off it has the expected effect. Otho nearly topples. Once again, thank the gods for Tish. Perhaps he really should give her the benefit of the doubt more often. Same with Owl.
"Pa always said I should have been a wrangler. I mean, I can handle Scoot well enough."
The mention of the stubborn oxen is not a point in his favor.
"Wouldn't want to share the carriage with him though."
Alana nods at Ow'ls suggestion.
"Of course, of course. It would be nice to stay, I've grown fond of the place, but I have had contingencies should my former husband come for me."
================================
"I think it looked more like a lizard than a dragon." Kari says, in answering Lia's question. "But if you haven't read it, it's anyone's guess."
The party continues with the village folk back to aforementioned village, though Jix does catch some of the more bolder kids going for her tail again.
Before long, you arrive at a small single story shop with a swinging branch hung like a sign. Your large group work their way in, and youcan see bottles with labels lined along the halls, fresh herbal smells wafting int he air, and bundles of dried plants packaged in baskets.
"Just a minute!" you hear someone call from the back. Moments later, a lanky young man, probably not completely into manhood comes bounding in from the backroom, hefting what appears to be two pails of something viscous looking. He sets the pails down on the counter and looks around excitedly to see so many folks in his shop.
"Hello! I'm Anglin, the proud proprietor of this shop. Anything I can help you with?"
Kali looks to Otho and waits for him to speak up.
"A thousand pardons, Master Anglin, my friend and I were injured subduing one of the faire's beasts and are in need of someone skilled in the healing arts. We were told you'd be the one to help us," Kali says in her quiet, almost timid voice.