Nic throws caution to the wind, jumping off the raised platform as the eagle again rips into him with it's razor-like talons. He manages to land and roll with his momentum, fear and self-preservation working in tandem to boost his actions. Looking to the girls he calls out Fly you fools, even as he continues his run, this time towards the waiting arms of the Earth Elemental that knocked down Blu.
Seeking to both stay out of reach of the stony creature, and to try and save at least one of his allies, Nic makes a bold, frantic decision. He adjusts his running sprint and tackles Blu's unconscious form, tucking into a roll and hoping to carry the pair closer towards if not through the doorway. With luck Eloviel and Vanea will be able to help kick them on through and close the doors, thankfully left open by Natalia as she leads the way to safety and clearing a path for the others, behind them.
Either way, Eloviel drops her bow and steps back to hold onto Blue, ready to pull him back as soon as she can. Although she still tries to maintain her song, she says to Vanea in passing "Get ready to close the door behind me, I'll try to save who I can."
Vanea grabs Vire and do her best to drag him along. Her green eyes are sending emerald sparks to the quasit.
As soon as everyone is safe a few feet away from the quasit room and the door is closed, she says
come close to me all, and for this time, and this time only, keep your clothes on.
Vanea does a buzzing sound with her throat, and two pulses of energy, the first yellow and the second black, jump from her lithe body, refreshing your energy, curing your wounds , leaving for a few seconds your tongues with the taste of honey and your minds with a burning need to get revenge.
Eloviel and Natalia hold the door shut as Vanea heals them all. Blue and Vire both awaken and everyone looks at each other, clearly contemplating on whether they should retreat and rest or go back in and finish the job before the quasit has a chance to prepare.
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Nic begins to pace, mumbling lightly as he organizes his thoughts. On the one hand it would be good to come back rested, spell plussed and the gear prepared for the things we are knowing to be fighting, ja. On the other hand it would be to the same that the Quasit will be rested as also and ready for us, neh. Yet on third hand do we have way to be knowing if it can summon more sin beasts with it's tainted blood, will the altar do that again? Then of course is the creatures we avoided to be seeing, the ones who speak of skulls, are they maybe to join the quasit in the readiness for us next time.
Nic stops and looks to the others, For me there are too many hands to think risking flight not fight. If the Gavver were to be in Sandpoint, we could have a chance. I think, and this is only my thinking, ja, we make the quick plan, then rush the creature before it knows we did not flee.
He begins fishing around in his pack, glancing to the others as he bends down to one knee. I am having acid in flasks and vials of the Alchemist Fire, yeh, others of you too yes maybe. We use these to hedge and harrow the creature. If it is to be burning or melting, it will not be to going invisible ja so easy. This gives to our warriors the chance for Calistria's revenge, goddess willing. They smash between selves the demon and destroy it. We who work the weave will cast what we can and use these, holding a vial and flask, when we can't. But this is only me talking, now you, we still need all voices in the harmony, da? Smiling at the group, winking at Eloviel and Vanea, noticing their little rivalry.
"Ladies, Nic, we only got OUT of there by the gods' grace and it's fool'ardy to consider rushing back in. That earth creature put me on th' floor in two breaths and I was feelin' fitter than I am now. No, the sensible thin' to do is get reinforcements. Town guards. 'ire some muscle. Maybe sell this ranseur for some potions of healing. And there must be a way to deal with that transparent thing. I dunno. Flour? Chalk powder? Sand? A net? Vanea called it a quasit. Let's go find out what that is and 'ow to stop it? Does it get its power from the altar? Is it a priestess of this Lamashtu mon...? He interrupts himself before insulting a goddess in her own church. No, there're too many questions. All this acid and alchemist's fire is great but ya hafta 'it with it. We already 'ave a better idea what we're dealing with 'ere. Let's get some rest and magic back and prepare a better offense!
Blue seems winded by his uncharacteristically long monologue.
Vanea turns to Eloviel
Do you know something useful about quasit? How can we hurt it? Is it harmed by fire and acid?I can still heal everyone quickly, so our fighters will be back to their best. I don't care much about how magic is used, but i guess the summoned beasties won't be there forever. Maybe if we wait just ten minutes they will get back to wherever they came from, and we can strike back at the quasit.What do you think, Nicolae? Natalia? Is that a reasonable guess?
"Hmm... let's see, I think quasits are..."
As they walk back up carrying Vire, Eloviel shares whatever she recalls about quasits before saying "Alchemical potions are nice, but I think our main problem is the invisibility... If we cannot find a way to see it, perhaps there is a way to mark it, like dripping water, paint, etc... What do you think Nic?"
Nic pauses a moment, thinking of any ways he can to counter invisibility, or at least to make something visible to others. A powder or soot bomb would be to covering an area and coating the things there in it. Alchemist's fire too covers an area, but in burning chemicals, visible even if what they are on is invisible. Tanglefoot bags will coat and hold the creature, even if visible, take it from the flying, make it hard to cast any spells. Most of these things I could be to making in town, if I were to be having the right tools and ingredients, yeh. Two, three days tops.
"Is there no magic to counter 'er tricks? 'ow about an enchanted butterfly net? The eagle she brought was immune to my skill with animals. Can she even be 'armed? I thought demons were pretty much indestructible? She also looked really scary there for a sec. What was THAT about? I thought poor Nic 'ere was gonna wet 'imself." Blue adds with a smirk, happy to still be alive.
Some of the demon-y types I am thinking can strike mystical fears in others, or so the old stories tell. Now that I have felt this ja, I am thinking to be better the ready to resist it. A need to be chasing others away tells of this creature's weakness, it's own desires to flee the powerful, yeh. To fear us, ja, very soon.
"Say Nic, you say you need alchemy supplies, my mother's the arcanist and alchemist in Sandpoint. We should hop over."
Looking over to Natalia, Nic smiles. Yes I am the needing of materials to set up a good lab. I would not be thinking to compete against your mother's business, neh, but I would be to liking to have the means to be conducting my own researches and practice the crafting, ja. Nic waves his arms, looking about to begin a lengthy discussion. It is very much the most useful when traveling to smaller towns that do not have the resident tinkerer, neh. I wonder if she, your Miri, has a few of the more exotic reagents, yeh, those I have used since I was last in say Riddleport or Korvosa, ja. Nic stops, seeing the glaze begin to cover a few listening eyes. Yes, well, I am being here in Sandpoint to do the researching on the Beacon, and on anything remaining of the old Thassilon. The Alchemy and tinkering have been for my stock in trade since I was the very little chavi.
Blue holds up a finger for quiet and listens for the beating of invisible or hidden wings following them.
Satisfied they aren't being followed by the evil spawn of Lamashtu, he continues.
"So, should we run our errands and meet back at the White Deer? I'd like to run to the general store and to munitions, and check up on Nu. Nic, if I make some 'ollow arrows, could you whip up somma that tangle-glue to go inside?"
Nic considers the request before replying. While I am not being an elf, I have heard of these such things being used by their kind. I am thinking I can be to crafting a few drams to be used, ja. That is if Natalia's mother has to her the gear and the supplies for what I will be needing, da.
In his mind, Nic calculates the costs of what all has been added to his list thus far. This will be just about all that has come from the efforts of myself and the others from the starts. Worth it if we are stopping the demons' from despoiling the town and other unfortunate souls, crossing himself with the wings Desna smiling.
"I think you'd be surprised at the diversity for such a small town."
The group hobbles back to town, beaten and bloody. Blue heads to the stables while Nic and Natalia scavenge the town for supplies. The others go their own way for rest. By evening the two mages make it back to the Rusty Dragon, fully supplied with what Nic needs. A pair of new faces catches Nics eye. A man donned in breastplate and another in chain sit at a table in the corner sharing a meal.
You also see what seems to be a small gold drake or possibly a dragon sitting at the table as well, talking very loudly while eating as well.
"So there we were, facing off against this huge sea serpent, 20 feet tall. So being the great hero that I am, I run up the mast, leap off it and slap it in its stupid face. It was so distracted by my bravery that it didn't notice the cannon being aimed at it. Which got me a feast in my honor as fitting."
"Last time you told that story it was only 10 feet tall, Copper. You should not exaggerate so much." Rohan smiles at his longtime friend. The man seems to be very large and very handsome, with medium length blondish hair. You can see a hint of his chainshirt under his unusually plain garb.
"I'm just a great story teller. You can add that to the list of my already impressive attributes."
Nic will take his supplies up to his room, leaving them scattered for the moment over the bed and small table. He will then head back downstairs and check at the bar on Ameiko's condition.
How is Rani Ameiko doing on this evening? This is a sad time and I am only to be checking that she is well and resting.
The old woman in her stead answers, "She is not well, but she will be thanks to you. She rests for now. I am so glad you and your friends were able to get to her in time."
I am glad she is safe back here, amongst those who can be caring for her. May I have my usual, and a bowl of the nights stew, neh. I have to be much working tonight, I need to clear the cobwebs, da.
Nic looks around to see if Natalia stuck around or headed back to the White Deer. He notices the dragon and it's companions having a conversation, telling "tall tales". One appeared to possibly be of Shoanti decent, the other most likely of the peoples. The dragon did not appear to be so much a dragon, but something draconic. Nic nods to them as he takes his drink from the bar, a small beer and a whiskey chaser. He waits for a server to kindly bring him a small bowl of the night's stew, finding a seat nearby the newcomers and the door, eyes peeled for any of his other compatriots.
A small bite, yeh, then a few hours arranging the lab ja. In the morning I must begin work, we have little time to be wasting. As he eats, he mumbles to himself, Maybe a few items tonight, if the lab works well, ja. Sleep is not needed, I could take a little boostie, neh.
During their walk back to the inn, Eloviel asks the others, "So, uh... where should we let Vire rest? I suppose Vanea wouldn't mind looking after him for a while in her room until he's able to stand again..." Then she winks at her and adds "or she might just weaken him so that he can no longer stand."
After some hours of rest and a bath to clean up the blood off her at the White Deer Inn, Eloviel goes down to the common room for a meal. She immediately notices the relatively formless but definitely a wingless dragon-shaped being 'sitting' on a chair in one of the tables. It's so small such that it's head could have rested on the table top and it would still be 'sitting' up straight ().
She stops a bit near the staircase listening to its story before moving forward so quickly she looks like she was gliding before patting the dragonling on the head and exclaims "Aww... so cute!!! and you can talk! about such tales that definitely does not fit your size! *kyaaa*" she continues to try running her hand down its neck repeatedly.
"Hey, these are one hundred percent true...Mostly, okay not really." Copper starts to unconsciously purr as he is petted. "I don't know who you are, but I like you. You know how it is. I'm Copperscale! My big buddy over there is Rohan. Don't mind him, he's a nice guy. Just a little dull sometimes. And afraid of pretty girls." The little reptile takes both clawed hands and picks up a mug downing a good portion of the contents.
Rohan looks a little shocked at Copper's candidness. "Um, I." He also takes a drink so he can stop trying to talk.
"Ohh... I'm sorry is he your pet? or is it a familiar? He doesn't look like a normal dragon though... more arcane-like. Like here, he's not really scaly or thorny. But still hard and there's this rune on it." Eloviel says to the man in chain pointing to Copper's forehead where many dragons have horns. After a short while, the pointing finger wanders to tickle Copper's chin.
"No, he's not my pet. He's my best friend. Like a brother to me. I've known him since I was little. He looks like a dragon enough to me." Rohan shrugs.
Nic looks around to see if Natalia stuck around or headed back to the White Deer
Natalia did tag along after they went to get the supplies Nic wanted.
"A dragon/semi dragon? Quite a sight.....What was that about fear of pretty women?..."
Oh this should be good....
Nic gestures to one of the servers, asking for a few more bowls of stew for the ladies, and a few rounds of drinks, including the table with the newcomers. He hands a few gold coins to the server as the order is delivered, for gratuity and to cover anything not included in the regular tab. Please all, enjoy. We survived much trials today and we yet live. New friends, come, tomorrow is not known what to be bringing. "Boksheesha", good luck ja.
"New mens to distract the ladies, hmm, may they all be fun together. They deserved to be enjoying themselves.
Leaning over to towards the men, Greetings, ja, I am Nicolae Plamen, though most are to be calling me Nic. What is bringing you to the Sandpoint?
"We were here for the Swallowtail festival, but somebody got the date wrong. I am Rohan." Rohan says looking at his smaller, louder friend.
"Hey, I'm just the idea guy. It's someone else's job to handle specifics. Name's Copperscale." Copper says before letting out a small burp.
Natalia leans in near Eloviel.
"It would have been better to have them here when the goblins raided Sandpoint. Though the drake is nice to see."
Blue walks Nu out the southern town gate and takes him for a good long hack, then practices some jumps and lunges. Finally, they spend 30 minutes training mounted combat, with Blue trying to fire his bow and swing his sword from horseback. They hack back to town so Blue can scrub him down, change his hay and water him.
Blue walks back to the White Deer Inn to stretch out his stiff legs but finds that none of his new compatriots are there. He briefly considers seeing if Nic is in the common room at the Rusty Dragon, but then he recalls that Nic and Natalia were running around town gathering alchemical supplies. Besides, the other inn is all the way across town.
The events of the day occupy his thoughts as he enjoys an ale and admires Hemlock's brother's meaty calves. When the innkeeper comes over to offer him a second, he covers his mug but asks instead,
"Who's gotta library in this town? I need ta check on a few thin's."
Thinking that the new priest might know a thing or two about creatures from another plane, he pays up and heads over to Sandpoint Cathedral to ask Father Zantus about quasits and other demons and about this dreadful Lamashtu.
"Hi Max!! Have a seat buddy!" Copper waves to the newcomer.
@Blue "No libraries in Sandpoint, though a man named Chask does own a bookstore over on Main Street. Sign out front of his shop has a goblin reading an upside down book".
Father Zantus recalls the same basic information that Eloviel has already shared on the Quasit.