"Grrr." Jewel bears down and shows some little tiny teeth.
Round 4! (Theme ♬)
The Bold May Act!
_________________
__ Talking Badger-Deer-Lion-thing Blue down; Yellow down; Pink -20 hp; Red down; Green down
__ Alia -22 hp
__ Illthir
__ Fergus (2 rds of actions)
__ Durgan
__ Serena
__ Alak Dool
__ Kozen
__ Longtooth -20 hp
__ Matheus -25 hp
__ Mother Vorst -6 hp
__ Jewel
__ Tiny flying poll-taker
"Well about time." sneers Dool, stepping over Zokon and the other man and into what might be the center of the maze.
By 'we' did Illthir mean 'Durgan'? Durgan is unsure of the skald's intent, but he takes advantage of the opening.
Best to have me take its retaliation anyway.
He moves to where Matheus had been and swings his cold iron axe at the beast.
Serena brushes past Jewel to join Mother Vorst and the others.
"You forgot something, there...", Alia lifts her still frost-covered and blackened Estoc and points at Zokon. "Unless you mean to take point and rely on my magical support while facing whatever else we run into on the way out?"
Alia was aware that Alak Dool was...still a dangerous wizard. And she had already unwittingly antagonized Stroon. But courtesy be damned, he had used her Fiancee as a shield, then dropped him. The shepherd was missing, she was made a fool of by some mockingbird-creatures and her husband-to-be was alive but nonresponsive.
Alia was having a BAD day, and just about had it with taking s&~+ from anybody.
Dool cocks an eyebrow and then sighs. He stows his lightning-shaped wand before hauling the ranger more or less upright, muttering under his breath.
Meanwhile Kozen looks critically down the business end of his wand before banging the butt repeatedly into his palm. Then he let's fly another bolt of twisting energy at the creature Durgan is fighting.
He scowls again at the result and backs his way past Illthir urging her and Fergus forward. "Ladies first. Go on. Don't mind me. I'll be right behind you."
"Well that's a bit of a scrum." Longtooth comments to Vorst and Serena far back from the battle. He looks about the maze for a way around crowded junction.
Mother Vorst darts past to offer encouragement and fortitude to a visibly rattled Matheus.
The harried leucrotta snaps at Durgan before turning to flee into the maze.
Round 5! (Theme ♬)
The Bold May Act!
_________________
__ Talking Badger-Deer-Lion-thing Blue down; Yellow down; Pink -35 hp; Red down; Green down
__ Alia -22 hp
__ Illthir
__ Fergus
__ Durgan (+ AoO)
__ Serena
__ Alak Dool
__ Kozen
__ Longtooth -20 hp
__ Matheus -3 hp
__ Mother Vorst -6 hp
__ Jewel
__ Tiny flying poll-taker
Durgan hacks at the beast as it tries to flee, landing a solid hit.
Attempting to find a way through, Serena heads south along the outer path.
Fergus will roll his eyes at Kozen's comment before moving up. He will try to get a strike in at the creature Durgan was fighting, but it was a hard angle even for a properly trained and experienced fighter. So, instead he will rub the ruby gemstone braided into his beard and fling a trio of dark red bolts out at the creature.
Well ... She had hoped the beast would happily step forth and they could *all* beat it up. But Durgan was a solid dependable alternative - it just was a bit challenging to help now. Hmm. The skald turned to the tiny imp. Maybe it *could* help them a bit. "Say, you don't happen to have a map of the carnival grounds do you? It'd help know what's what to evaluate and enhance the experience." With a bit of luck its wishes for reviews and her desire to navigate the death-traps would align!
Durgan's blow catches the thing mid-turn and sends it crashing to the earth.
Results!
_________________
__ Alia -22 hp
__ Illthir
__ Fergus
__ Durgan
__ Serena
__ Alak Dool
__ Kozen
__ Longtooth -20 hp
__ Matheus -3 hp
__ Mother Vorst -6 hp
"Welp. So far I prefer the maze to the stable of doom." Illthir comments without thinking. When she arrives at that step, she shuts herself up just in case the imp can somehow spice things up. Let's not invite that!
"So! The trail and that darn mage..."
"As are many others, Matheus." says the holy mother.
"The Lord Mayor." adds Longtooth. He turns and looks at Kozen who looks deep in his own thoughs.
Durgan fells the last beast. He cleans the blood off of his trusty Crusade-tested axe and moves forward in the maze.
"Alia! I am glad you are safe. It feels like it has been forever. But what has happened to Zokon?"
"Well, you all took your time." says an obviously put upon Dool as the rest of the party finds their way to the maze's heart.
Pewwwwwwwwwwwww" Illthir breathes an internal sigh of relief as Alia and Zokon seems to be accompanying the wizard. That was the last of their bits - at least as far as this party was concerned at least. Though... Zokon didn't look too hot? "He's alive right?" If not; please don't let him have died the last few minutes. Please. But even more; do be alive. "..."
---
Though that one there seemed dead dead for sure. But ... Better let the healers look just in case. She can't help but notice Kozen seems to know this one though. "My condolences..?"
---
But hopefully the delightful Dool would be able to shed some light on the situation. Maybe. With a pained smile she addressed the wizard. "Pardon again for the delay; would you believe it's not our fault this time either?" But perhaps it would be wise to keep a distance from the wizard in the future. Dangerous critters seemed to run amok wherever their paths crossed! "I must be frank and ask you; when Stroon stepped in the other day you did seem to notice. Would you be able to sniff out where the rest of the gathering ended up being spirited away to?"
Though that one there seemed dead dead for sure. But ... Better let the healers look just in case. She can't help but notice Kozen seems to know this one though. "My condolences..?"
"Hm? Oh no. The contrary really." Kozen says with a broad smile.
But hopefully the delightful Dool would be able to shed some light on the situation. Maybe. With a pained smile she addressed the wizard. "Pardon again for the delay; would you believe it's not our fault this time either?" But perhaps it would be wise to keep a distance from the wizard in the future. Dangerous critters seemed to run amok wherever their paths crossed! "I must be frank and ask you; when Stroon stepped in the other day you did seem to notice. Would you be able to sniff out where the rest of the gathering ended up being spirited away to?"
Dool gives Illthir the look. ಠ_ಠ
"I was not exactly expecting to have to look for my hosts or their other guests today." he says curtly.
"Thank you for carrying Zokon. I appreciate it.", Alia speaks to Dool. She did not expect any thanks from him, but considering she simply was "Zokons Elf" to him, she didn't truly expect him to even remember her name the next time they would meet - she would be pleasantly surprised if she did manage to leave a lasting impression in the aloof wizards mind, but wasn't holding her breath.
Sheathing her blade, she lifts Zokon from Alak and opts to carry him herself - with that many people, it felt safe to do so: "Zokon was assailed by spiders - I think it may be a Toxin. He seemed alive and stable, but I'm no healer. If anybody more skilled could take a quick look?"
After delivering Zokon to whoever volunteers, she quickly checks the company, then nods:"I am glad you all managed to stay safe. Did you all end in this labyrinth, too? I know where the exit is, but these strange creatures lured me in pretending to be the Shepherd - luckily, as otherwise I may have arrived too late to retrieve Zokon before - ...a worse fate would have befallen him...-", her expression darkens.
"We came looking for him." Mother Vorst says indicating Dool who seems to swell at the attention.
Serena kneels to examine Zokon.
"We should return to our rooms and gather our things. I have additional weapons and gear in my room.
And then we should decide what to do.
As I told Serena:
We are in the dark and in over our head. Powerful enemies laid a carefully-planned trap. We are on hostile territory with an unknown number of enemy assailants.
We should gather all the allies we can and establish a defensible position. Somewhere we could hold out for a day until we can replenish our spells.
The Efreeti killed Alisa and nearly killed Matheus. The armor killed two of the Lord Mayor's guards. The undead killed another of the guardsmen, although we were able to save most in that battle.
I would advise returning to the great hall and regrouping with the surviving guards.
My guess is that the attack was organized by representatives of some of the River Kingdoms, upset at Restov extending its influence to the Stolen Lands. But that is just a guess. Whoever it was had considerable magical power. Far, far more than I possess. I wouldn't know how to start tracking them down."
Huh. Hmm. Mildly worrying. Illthir gave the corpse a long stare, trying to remember if it had introduced itself when it was alive. Probably; but had it stuck?
---
"I agree with Durgan. Even just a moment to recoup and see which 'events' are left to search would be valuable, lest we create more guests in distress."
"We came looking for him." Mother Vorst says indicating Dool who seems to swell at the attention.
deflating as Durgan takes center stage, Dool asks "So what did you need me for then?"
"That way", Alia points towards the exit she found earlier, then turns to Alak "First things first, lets get out from this maze. And we needed - and still need you because of your vast magical abilities and knowledge, since we are clearly facing a foe well-versed in that area, as well. And you are clearly the superior option over Stroon, are you not?"
Alia knew by now that Alak liked having his ego stroked, and attempted to edge him on into proofing his capability and usefulness, even at the risk of inflated perception of self-worth.
THAT would be something to deal with later.
The group leaves the maze behind and passes in sight of burning stables and back into the main house and up to the second floor under the lambent glare of the grinning lich perched upon the top step of the spiral stair.
With no little trepidation the large group makes their way to Zokon and Alia's chamber to rest the stricken Zokon upon the bed. Then a quick stop to their individual chambers and back to look in on Zokon and make plans.
"It's a real shame you know." says Longtooth looking down at the insensate Zokon.
"And what about the other one--Baron Drelev? Where's he?"
{Stands apart in the hallway muttering prayers to herself}
**sniff, sniff, sniff **
"We came looking for him." Mother Vorst says indicating Dool who seems to swell at the attention.deflating as Durgan takes center stage, Dool asks "So what did you need me for then?"
"Can you track teleportation effects, Doon? Can you find where others went who had been in this Great Hall and were scattered by the bursting skull?
I should also wish to find Archbanker Siguard Barasav and Ser Ernest Daye. Neither of whom were in the room at the time of that effect, though."
The explosion of eldritch energy that washes outward a moment later seems to expunge ever other individual from reality including:Alia, Zokon, Serena, Varn,Castigan, Drelev,Stroon, and many of the nobles men-at-arms
"Yes, I suppose Baron Drelev was in the room at the time."
Durgan sounds entirely unenthused at the prospect of saving the Baron from a horrible fate.
"Anyone we find alive is another person interested in finding whomever did this. And let's take down that horrible thing, it looks unbearably smug." Illthir points at the "lich". That was hopefully just an illusion. Yeah. Not a double bluff and an *actual* lich.
"We came looking for him." Mother Vorst says indicating Dool who seems to swell at the attention.deflating as Durgan takes center stage, Dool asks "So what did you need me for then?""Can you track teleportation effects, Doon? Can you find where others went who had been in this Great Hall and were scattered by the bursting skull?
I should also wish to find Archbanker Siguard Barasav and Ser Ernest Daye. Neither of whom were in the room at the time of that effect, though."
The explosion of eldritch energy that washes outward a moment later seems to expunge ever other individual from reality including:Alia, Zokon, Serena, Varn,Castigan, Drelev,Stroon, and many of the nobles men-at-arms"Yes, I suppose Baron Drelev was in the room at the time."
Durgan sounds entirely unenthused at the prospect of saving the Baron from a horrible fate.
"There are some spells I am sure that can block, hinder or track teleportation magic, but I have not studied any that would be useful to us just now. Location magic (like what the Reverend Mother used to find me) might better serve now. And I do have some of that prepared. 'Big conventions of people' and all that. If they are close by I might be able to find them. Who did you want to search out?"
"I know Matheus wishes to find Lord Maegar Varn. Can we start with him?"
Huh. Hmm. Mildly worrying. Illthir gave the corpse a long stare, trying to remember if it had introduced itself when it was alive. Probably; but had it stuck?
Dool's magic leads the party down the twisting stair to the ground floor and across to the library.
He points out the ornate, dark wood door to the left of the entrance, and says "He is there, or at least his sword is and I doubt many others would have such a blade."