"Thanks for your concern and advice," Shaedeen tells Asa, keeping her tone neutral. "You make some good points. But I feel obligated to counter and point out that maybe creatures with night vision might sleep during the day. And I can't very well see any potential traps without a light source, now can I? A limitation of my lowly human heritage, I'm afraid."
Hoping the jibe is enough to sting Asa without setting the dhampir off, Shae turns her attention back toward testing Calin.
"Two questions shouldn't take long, right?" she asks the half-elf.
Have you not noticed her hot-headed nature? When the man says nothing what will she do? Come one lets go."
He said simply heading the way she had loosely scouted. He drew out his flail since Shaedeen had a lightsource.
Asa only shakes her head at the comments from both.
"What I always do... what I have to do."
"Merrick, go with them please. Three will have better odds than two. Besides, I trust you enough to believe that you can pull them out of things alive if need be."
Shaedeen purses her lips, her brow knits into a frown, and much of the amusement drains from her eyes as the half-elf proves just as intractable and unwilling to compromise as the dhampir. She looks briefly to the other person she thinks might develop into the party leader--Merrick--before going with what her heart and instinct are telling her.
"I'll try to keep him alive," she says to Asa. A hint of amusement returns to her eyes as she adds, "I'm hoping the stairs lead to some sort of basement: I've learned through personal experience that they're more common beneath buildings than goblin lairs."
Her eyes scan the other party members briefly to see if anyone else will be coming along, then she starts down the stairs into the unknown.
"Wait. This is folly. My friends, I agree with Asa...we do not know what awaits us down there. But neither should we split the party. If there are another twenty Goblins down there and they swarm you, no matter how swiftly we come, it may be too late. Already, there has been far too much death in this place. Let us take but a moment to ask this man a question, then be on our way. If he is not helpful, then perhaps our magically inclined friends might know, or be able to learn, a spell that can compel truth from him. I do not think Asa would stoop to torture; I'm not saying she's not, ah, hot-headed, but she certainly deserves the benefit of the doubt there. But a brief few seconds to question this man might save us much.
For those of you who have yet to read the journal, this man, whom I think is Tsuto Kaijutsu, apparently helped plan the raid during the Festival, and it implies there will be another, worse attack. He mentions several names, and also mentions a quasit; there is Ripnugget and Bruthazmus, and the latter is a bugbear. Apparently this Quasit has forces and resides in tunnels below the Glassworks, so we will undoubtedly be facing more than just Goblins down there. The journal also mentions 'his love', and apparently the point of the raid on Sandpoint was to steal Father Tobyn's remains. This 'love' of his burned her father's remains on Thistletop, and that apparently started a transformation. It mentions replacing 'celestial taint' with the Mother's grace. I can only assume this is some demonic ritual."
Merrick will briefly turn to their captive.
"Well? Anything to say? Any insight on why you've done this? You can still repent, and be forgiven, under Desna."
Merrick, you'll still roll, but it will be easier for you and Rast.
For knowledge on Thistletop-
For information on the Mother-
For information on Ripnugget or Bruthazmus-
For information on the Quasit-
Also, Eloisa with your Spellcraft roll you are aware that that is a Potion of Cure Light Wounds, and the ring is a Ring of Protection +1.
Shaedeen rolls her eyes at Merrick's sermon and then turns and takes a couple of steps down the stairs before suddenly seating herself and fiddling with her right boot.
"Laces are loose," she tells Calin. "I'll just be a moment...."
Bawk-bawk-bawk-BAWK! Shaedeen seems to be having second thoughts about exploring the lower level if there are quasits, bugbears, and worse down there. She may be stalling....
With your Diplomacy roll, Merrick, you see your captive go quiet. He looks at your group with hatred and struggles against his bonds, but you can tell there's something in him that wants to believe you...but it's too far buried to make much difference.
"Do what you wish with me, you filth! You'll all burn, soon enough. I won't betray my love! This city DESERVES to be turned to ash! You'll see...you'll all see!"
Merrick blinks down at the man.
"Good talk."
Merrick will then cough politely, calling attention to himself to give Shae a moment to compose herself.
"It seems we are undoubtedly dealing with the machinations of Lamashtu, and the others mentioned in the journal are leaders of the Goblin forces. Let us see to these lower levels, together, and find our friends."
Shaedeen lets out a scoffing laugh when the captive calls the Heroes 'filth.'
"Like father like son," she says with a smirk, trying to push the man's buttons while secretly hoping that Asa will walk up and punch the jerk in the mouth.
"Well if you don't want to talk with us, I guess there is no reason to keep you alive. Let's leave him bound next to the furnace. Now let's stop squabbling and go find the women." He says as the man rambles on.
"I don't care who we are dealing with, if they come against us, they'll taste my blade." The knight responds to Merrick before beginning to leave the room for the place Shae found.
"Hmph.... so much for her courage... but then, I have seen her afraid before..."
Choosing to ignore the delay, Asa turns to the bound man.
"You may not answer my questions, but you will hear them."
As she speaks she begins to weave a ball of acid into her hands tossing it back and forth like a child's toy. Walking closer, she smiles at him, giving the man a full look at her elongated canines.
"Question one: where have you brought your sister and her friend?" Asa casually aims the ball at what no man would ever wish to have acid shot at.
"Question two: what remains between us and them?" Asa allows the ball to hover a few inches closer.
"Lie to me and I will know."
Asa, the man just glares at you.
"Find out yourself."
Shaedeen stands up, her boot laces apparently retied, and peers wide-eyed over the lip of the staircase at the tense confrontation between Asa and Tsuto.
This is getting she thinks.
|
Once again Merrik shows himself a better follower of Desna that I. I must work harder.
"Asa, neither lady Desna or I would weep for his death. He was carrying thieves tools so he may, um, be good at escaping bonds. I will not stop you.
I will follow the others below, please follow us soon we may need your blade."
Rast will follow Calin as he moves on below, looking back at Asa as he goes.
Merrick rubs his eyes.
This group will have to have a serious talk once we are out of this place.
Not wanting to waste any more time, Merrick walks over and punches the captive.
Merrick cuffs Tsuto viciously, knocking him out.
"There. Now he won't get away and we can not be talking about slaughtering unarmed and defenseless prisoners, talk to him later and rescue the ladies now. Everyone wins. Let's go."
Merrick will stride down the stairs.
The man is knocked out cold. He won't be going anywhere anytime soon.
Shae leads you down with a lit torch. The stairs go down about fifteen feet. To the left, you can see what once was a solid wall has been tunneled through enough to allow a Small sized creature to pass through unhindered. The path continues straight on, and then hooks to the left.
Merrick will direct Shae to go straight, then left.
You head down the hall, which forks to the left. You can see that it extends perhaps thirty feet before hooking left again. There are two rooms on the right, both with doors closed. One is in the center of the hall, and one is further down, near where the path goes left again.
Asa shrugs, tossing the ball into one of the nearby goblin corpses.
"I am not sure he will be talkative even then. Not many stare down acid pointed below their belt line and not flinch. Short of something drastic, like pretending that we were about to confine him to a glass coffin in the same way he treated his father... well, I think we might just have to let the sheriff and mayor try and execute him."
Asa pauses, then adds, "Although I suppose presenting him the head of this woman he loves after we stop her from scorching the town might loosen her hold over him. If anything ever will that is."
Ensuring that her falcata is ready once more, Asa takes a position near the rear of the group as they move along, using her preternatural abilities to see in low light environments to ensure that nothing attempts to sneak up behind them.
"I say we check the doors along the way, we never know where the might hide the girls or if goblins are leying in wait." The Desna Knight suggests, going over to the door in the center of the hall.
He listens to the door.
Eloisa's head bounces back and forth as the argument goes on between the party members. Well this isn't good. I hope no one comes to blows over this. "We definitely want to stay together. Ripnugget is the goblin leader, and Bruthazmus the bugbear has been annoying the local elven ranger for a while. Oh and a quasit is a tiny demon. Sounds like a trifecta of bad news for anyone involved." she falls in with the group toward the middle. "Oh the potion is a potion of cure light, and the ring is a ring of protection. Anyone need them?"
"The ring sounds like it might be good on one of us in the front. If it does what I think it does."
Asa gives the potion a wary look and shakes her head. "No, I think I will let someone else have the potion. The ring might be useful but I will let someone else have it if they wish. Hand me those earrings if you would."
Asa quickly checks to see if they have a magical aura and what their approximate value would be.
"If no one wants it, I'll gladly take it. Will help compesating for my lighter armor."
"No arguments with it going to the Knight or to Calin."
Shae looks up at Rast thoughtfully and nods. "On my crossbow, please--I usually carry that at the ready when I'm scouting...just in case. And if it's glowing, that'll help remind me to pick it back up after I've switched to my rapier."
Shaedeen notices the Desna Knight taking charge in the scouting department but doesn't get angry that he's stepping on her toes a bit. Instead, she nods in approval and agreement in the way he stops at the first of the doors methodically, rather than racing willy-nilly forward into the unknown. She sneaks up next to him and presses an ear to the door, offering the fellow a quick smile. Then she silently offers to open the door for him or the others to swarm in.
"Although I suppose presenting him the head of this woman he loves after we stop her from scorching the town might loosen her hold over him."
"Although I suppose presenting him the head of this woman he loves after we stop her from scorching the town might loosen her hold over him."
[dice=Perception]1d20+5
Merrick indicates that Shae should open the door while Merrick stands ready to shoot inside and the others are ready to move in at a moments notice .
The group opens the door.
This is simply an empty storeroom.
The next door, however, assuming you follow the standard operating procedure, is locked.
Shaedeen puts her hands on her hips as if to say to the locked door, "How dare you try to keep ME out?!" A moment later, she's plucked some lockpicks out of her belt pouch. After scanning the door and lock for traps, she tries to pick the lock.
The knight listens to the door. "Locked I'll try open it." he gets down to better be able to pick it.
|
|
Before moving forward Rast speaks with Asa quietly.
"If we find the women they will be injured. Please give room when we find them, I don't want to accidentally hurt or, um, reveal you."
Rast moves up with the others near the door after casting light on Shaedeens crossbow.
Good to be moving and active, not discussing.
Desna Knight, the door springs open. This is clearly an office room, though it is in great disarray, and on the ground, bound and apparently unconscious, are the two women you seek. Upon inspection, they both bear bruises and wounds.
"Work your healing, Rast."
Merrick peeks down the corridor, ensuring that the group is safe.
The Desna Knight rushes down to untie Agustianna "Agustianna wake up, please be alright."
The channeled healing does just enough to bring the women back to consciousness. They cough and groan, but their bruises fade a bit and their wounds heal.
Agustianna and Ameiko look up at you.
Ameiko is the first to speak.
"Normally I like to be conscious when I'm tied up. I'm glad you guys are here...hey, Merrick? Pineapples."
After a beat of Merrick looking confused, Ameiko continues.
"That's my safe word. Cut me out of these damn things, will you?"
Merrick blinked.
She didn't...did she just...at a time like this? Are all women like this? They can't be, right?
Merrick will grin, covering up his uncertainty. He will use one if his arrow heads to cut through Ameiko's bonds.
"Mine is lawsuit...you know, in case that ever becomes relevant."
I have no idea if I did that right. Are we flirting?
"Ameiko, I know you've been through an ordeal, but what in the Hells happened here?"
Agustianna rouses and begins to get up, slowly and somewhat painfully.
"Ooooof...this is definitely the worst hangover ever. Is it safe to leave?"
Ameiko is a bit more forthcoming. She smiles a bit at you, Merrick, but it quickly falters.
"My...brother sent me a message yesterday, asking me to meet. I asked Agustianna to come with me, because frankly, the letter was suspicious as hell and my brother has been on a dark path for a long time. I thought I would need the moral support. I didn't know...I couldn't know everything he had done. He told me that he'd been working with the Goblins, and I saw what he did to our father...look, the man was a mean bastard, but he was still our father! I couldn't stop myself; I slapped him. That's when he set his Goblins, who had been hiding, on me and Agustianna."
Ameiko turns to Agustianna.
"I'm so sorry...I never meant to put you in danger...I don't know if you can ever forg-"
Agustianna cuts her off.
"Drinks. Lots of them. For free. But, not for a while...I think we need to get out of here and rest, first. From everything Tsuto said, there's a lot more going on here than meets the eye, and I think our rescuers need to continue exploring. If we can get out safely, we'll get to Father Zantus to have him see to our wounds."
"The way behind should be secure. Of note...Ameiko, Tsuto is alive. He is unconscious and bound, near your...well, what he did to your father. He'll be out for some time...I, um, may have broken his jaw. When you get to Father Zantus, have him get the Sheriff to incarcerate Tsuto; we will have questions for him once we delve the depths of this place. Be safe; we will come to you once we've secured this location."
Asa speaks up at this moment. "Speaking of that snake, he is bound and unconscious upstairs. It is a lot to ask, but perhaps you could make more sense of his journal than we have."
She hands Ameiko the book, keeping her eye contact. "It is likely that he will not survive long. The mayor and sheriff will likely see him swing... if he gets to go to them."
"Wasn't that guard woman keeping watch outside?" Shaedeen asks aloud. "It'd only take me a minute or two to run outside, take her to Tsuto, and have her escort the ladies to safety."
Turning to Asa and then Ameiko, she adds, "Unless...you have some other plans for him?"
Calin certainly blushed more than Merrick and in a way he was very glad the beautiful tavern owner was flirting with the paladin instead of him. Had she said those words to him, he probably would have turned a shade of red he didnt have words for. . . and at the same time he scowled just a bit. I mean, why wouldnt she flirt with Merrick over him. Merrick was a paladin.... He himself was just a stablehand with delusions of grandeur.
He almost said something snarky about being apologetic for the delay in finding them but he bit his tongue and took a deep breath.
"Regardless of last nights.... insults I am sorry for the loss of your father and brother miss Ameiko."
He said simply before moving a bit further down the hall and taking up station. Flail at the ready. He knew Merrick was preparred to take them out of here, which was smart and wise and well. But he wasnt going to let what might be down there past him while waiting for the paladin to return.