Oscar wheels about and attacks with his strange hooked, double-bladed sword. The wraith deflects the rhoka with ease.
Then with a song of power, Dora imparts eldritch energies into her blade and thrusts the same into the wraith's breast. It shrieks, as much in anger as in anguish. The bard then steps back, leaving an open slot in the battle line.
Kale, Alphonse, go!
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Kale steps into the the space left open for her as her blade whirls through the air.
"I vould love to Dora!"
Her movements are a fluid blend of defense and unrelenting attacks as she strikes out against the wraith once more changing to a two handed grip and striking more viciously.
<halved because incorporeal
Kale drives her aldori dueling sword into the apparition with two deft strokes. Though she feels no resistance at all, the wraith recoils with a dimly-heard scream. Moments later, Alphonse's crossbow quarrel explodes within the wraith, embroiling it in fire.
Emerging from the hellish inferno, the villain reaches for Oscar's heart.
"Mistress!" it moans. "I have failed you! I do not deserve existence..."
<- vs. Touch AC
<- Fail
Everyone, go!
No need. With his second shot, Fung Xi slams a lighting-laden fist into the wraith, causing it to fly apart, fading in all directions at once like a silent explosion, its angry wail drifting away on an unseen wind.
The Pathfinders are alone in the wine cellar (having made quite a bit of noise, despite the warnings of Major Madris and Lady Morella).
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Fung stands unsteady, as he shakes the dizziness from his head, then smiles broadly, "Al, we'd best work on your understanding of quietly... Time for damage control!"
Clapping the alchemist on the back, the stout monk happily takes the stairs a few at a time, returning upstairs... then stops, as if suddenly remembering something. Solemnly, he looks back at the bodies of the two serving girls, "Oscar? Dora? Can one of you perform some last rites for the girls? I hope they can find peace now..."
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"It cried out for its mistress. I think ve should be looking for her."
Kale moves towards the stairs. "I am thinking that none of you know how to heal vhat that fiend did to me."
She keeps her blade in hand reluctant to return it to its scabbard. The blade's eerie red glow seemed to have gotten brighter each time it struck the wraith.
While Fung Xi finds no more clues in the basement, he does discover that the mohrg wears a gold ring studded with tiny rubies. It is expensive looking.
The Pathfinders return to the salon as Genedair is still speaking. Major Maldris and Lady Morilla approach, whispering.
"What was all that racket?" the lady asks.
Oscar looks around at the servants as he comes up looking for one whose size and hair color would match the dead servants below.
Major Maldris and Lady Morilla nod in understanding. Neither recognizes the ring.
"Go and mingle with the dinner guests," says Lady Morilla. "They've become agitated by the explosions. We want to reassure them that they are safe. Also, see if you can't pin down the infiltrator while you're at it."
At about this time, Genedair concludes his speech and the guests migrate into the adjoining salon (area 4), where a string quartet from the White Grotto music school plays soothing chamber music.
Major Maldris stops Alphonse (a member of the Andoran faction). "I'd like you to join me," he says. "I'm planning to take that fop Naran to task for his shameful behavior."
Lady Morilla approaches Kale (member of the Taldor faction) and makes a similar proposal. "I'd like to remind Lady Vaelia of Taldor's martial traditions, dear. I'd appreciate your assistance."
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Let me know what you're doing.
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Dora looks on as a couple of her party are singled out by top brass. She decides to check out the string quartet and discretely activate her shining wayfinder to detect evil while listening to the band and watching the guests for any strange behavior.
"Oh, I love this song. This group has mastered the color and emotions perfectly . "
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Dora catches Fung Xi motion and heads over before having the chance to activate her wayfinder.
"Hello again, Lady Dyrianna correct? It is such a beautiful evening. I just adore the quartet, but then I am very fond of all music and the other fine arts Absalom has to offer. It would be a travesty to let this incursion destroy the culture that has taken generations to develop. Would you not agree? "
Oscar moves through the crowd talking to people and trying to find out who the infiltrator might be.
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Ayaki shrugs his shoulders.
"I'll let the investigators, investigate. I suppose it would do no harm to talk with Lady Dyrianna"
Ayaki walks boldly towards her, his ebon feathers shining off the reflection of his breastplate.
"I am not from around these parts, but you are quite the attractive mammal."
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Lady Dyrianna smiles at Ayaki's words, savoring the absolute badness of the compliment. Turning to Dora, she nods her head. "Why of course. Absalom is a unique fusion of much that the Inner Sea has to offer."
"You haven't seen my escort, Faelyn, have you? He's been missing since shortly after we left the Dining Hall." She lowers her voice in an amused conspiratorial just-between-us-girls whisper. "I suspect the lascivious rascal has taken up with one of the other guests or one of the pretty serving girls."
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Major Maldris and Alphonse approach Senator Naran. "Senator," says the Major. "I'd like to discuss the evening's matter with you if I may."
"But of course, Major," says the senator with a bored sigh.
Andoran is strong and young," begins the Major. "Her citizen armies enjoy high morale and excellent training. Her navies are the envy of the Inner Sea. Our accounts are balanced. All these things could be used to fight for Golarion, to fight the demons."
"Yes, Major. All this is true. Andoran is strong and brave."
"Then, Senator," says the Major, "Why will you not support the invasion?"
"My dear Major Maldris," says Naran. "I am foremost among those who respect and honor Andoran's martial traditions. The right things will be done, Major, in the right time."
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Lady Morilla and Kale approach Lady Vaelia.
"I am curious, Lady Vaelia," Morilla begins, "About your family's great history in the Shining Crusade and the Armies of Exploration."
"You know perfectly well that House Wintermark was covered in glory in all those great affairs," replies Lady Vaelia.
"Well, so I learned as a girl," agrees Lady Morilla. "Then certainly this Fifth Crusade would be a perfect opportunity to reclaim lost glory. It is a prime opportunity to lead Taldor to greatness once more; when the Shining Crusade and the Armies of Exploration swept across the Inner Sea region, it was Taldor that led the charge. Were Taldor to save the world once more, surely the empire would regain, if not exceed, its former glory."
Vaelia's face scrunches up as if she'd bitten into bitter fruit. "Let me tell you about reality, little girl," she says. "Qadira is a den of snakes just waiting for us to something so foolish so it can bite us when we turn our backs! That foul nation and its Sun Witch will never let us aid in the crusade without seizing the opportunity to attack!
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Oscar and Fung Xi make pleasant, calming conversation with the nervous guests.
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Dora tries to hide a worried look on her face about anyone missing at this point.
"Yes, boys will be boys. Did you see him wander off with any of the ladies or serving maids in particular? I will have to get the details on his bardic performance." Dora giggles and winks. Then looks around to try and spot the missing man. If she sees him, she is reassured. Nevertheless, she will continue the polite conversation in trying to sway the lady.
"I truly would not want to think we could lose all of this. I am quite fond of the party life myself. But you are invited to many more extravagant parties than I will ever be as a traveling singer and historian. A Lady of your standing has so much more power and influence to contribute and between you and me, the people in high places know it." Dora gives her a genuine look of respect and then a pleasant laugh. She takes one more look around the room for anyone out of the ordinary.
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Dora will continue her chat with the Lady until she has some certainty she has won her over or annoyed her.
"It has been wonderful to have had this chance to chat . With your support, I am certain we will have many more lovely encounters. "
After that , she will go back to her original plan with the band and the way finder.
Oscar continues to make light conversation while trying to find someone who might match the servants who died.
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Kale is visibly angry though keeping it barely in control as she suffered through the cowardly woman's prattle. The cold anger she feels leaver her words sharp and biting.
"Lady Vaelia, it saddens me to see that such a great house has fallen so low. If it is Qadira you truly fear, then you are lost. Compared to the host of demons pouring forth into the vorld the cultists of the Dawnflower are nothing. Do you think that if Taldor ignores this threat it vill simply vanish, or perhaps you hope the demons vill devour Qadira and its inhabitants first?"
"It is the cowardly actions of families such as yours who have let the Taldin empire collapse into this shell. Families who have forgotten vhat honor means. You are asked to stand as an example, to hold the banner high, and all you have deigned to do is cower and vhine that a pitiful cult of sand eating sun vorshipers will nip at your heels if you do anything but stand still."
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With all due respect senator, the right time as you so delicately put it may not be IN time. Ward stones are failing and our great nations armies stand by and watch the slaughter of innocent people every day. Some of them being our people no doubt, as merchants and researchers are doubtlessly in many of the cities under siege. Can we really tell their families that we stood by and let the demons devour their loved ones because our politics took too long? And what will happen if they cannot be beaten back and take all of mendev? They will spread across the lands and come to And or an to be faced by us alone as our allies are facing their own threats of demons in their own countries. If we do not mobilize and quickly, all glory will be lost in beating back these forces. If we wait until they are on our doorstep and do defeat them we can flex our muscles at the ruins of our allies and start burying the dead.
Alphonse ends his speech with a somber expression, knowing that if the senator is not convinced he will likely be needed to defend his homeland against the vile creatures.
I would rather strike them in the face then cower behind a siege wall