I look shocked to see Amir, "Amir my friend, it is good to see you again. Watch out though, there are bandits around and they have brought Undra and myself here. Undra must have already slipped free of her bonds though."
I stand up now I am free and smile as I see both Kzrira and Karethas too, then do exactly what I am asked to do, I start to sing a tune that is worthy for a grande battle.
Moving at supernatural speed, Amir streaks to Faelar's side and begins untying the knots. As he is unbound, Faelar starts singing though he is a little confused by the request.
Amir's heart sinks as the elf starts to talk about Undra, Are you sure she was brought her under force?
Karethas gives Faelar a frustrated glare, "Faelar, are you enscrolled, or just a fool? She knocked you out and kidnapped you!" He steps into the doorway, blocking the exit, and casts another spell. A cloud of glittering dust covers the room, unfortunately covering everyone in the group but himself.
Kzrira hesitates with the sudden disappearance of her target. Karethas' spell lore training kicks in however, and he recognized the slight popping sound of air rushing to fill the vacuum left as Undra used an innate ability to dimension door to safety.
Waiting for Karethas to say what he detected, then Kzrira will head back out the door to try to see where Undra went.
Karethas gives Faelar a frustrated glare, "Faelar, are you enscrolled, or just a fool? She knocked you out and kidnapped you!" He looks at Kzrira, "She teleported out, but is likely to be somewhat nearby. I cannot narrow it down anymore than that. My guess is that she will head towards the Princess. She will want to further her deception and poison the woman's mind further. "
Kzrira looks to Amir: Lets go, we have an evil hag to find. And find fast.
Kzrira heads back out the door and scans with the lantern as best she can for Undra.
Perception:
I look puzzled, "She knocked me out? She didn't touch me, she showed me her face, a very beautiful face and the next thing I know is I woke up here bound and then you all came in."
I do stop singing though and get up with everyone, following them to settle the matter.
Her quarry fleeing, Kzrira turns and dashes back up the narrow steps with Karethas a step behind. Amir finishes untying Faelar while the naive elf tries to figure out all that has just happened.
Kzrira spots a black shape near the door of the ruined mill. The woman says some strange words and then flinches from the angry archer. "Why have you attacked me? I have done nothing to you! I was thinking only of rescuing Faelar. Please return to him and make sure he is safe for me."
You are a fool for being so trusting but I am happy to see you well my friend.
Amir gives the bindings one more slice and then turns to follow the others wary of other threats.
Everything tumbles into place for Karethas: the sign of Ahriman, the other div that have been seen in the vicinity. He recalls mention in his studies of geniekind of a corrupted div that appears as a temptress known as a Pairaka.
Will: <-- ouch, DC20 is tough.
Kzrira suddenly, rather than firing another arrow, turns around and makes sure that Faelar is ok.
I look to Karethas, "A Pairaka? So Undra is ... one of those monsters? So when I saw her face, I likely fell under an enchantment? How did you all work that ... wait, they spread disease and dissent! I think Her Highness is in even more danger than we feared!" I see Kzrira lower her bow and start to walk towards us, with a concerned look upon her face, "Kzrira! What are you doing?! Her Highness is in danger!"
Karethas grits his teeth as Kzrira turns around. He casts a spell causing a pit to appear under the div.
Kzrira senses her friend, Undra's, concern for the poor elf and quickly spins brushing past Karethas and Amir to check on Faelar. Karethas is left to stand alone at the top of the narrow stairs against the devious div.
With a word and gesture, a pit appears gaping below Undra. The black veiled figure doesn't move. She remains hovering in mid-air without any obvious support. Karethas glimpses clawed purple feet dangling below the hem of her long black dress as she flies chanting upward through the door and into the night.
Karethas sighs as the evil div's abilities trump his spell again. He whispers stage whispers back to Amir, "This creature is a difficult opponent and should not be challenged at this point. We have saved Faelar and should leave."
I am trying to help Faelar. I assume that I am charmed, and, thus, will continue to help him for several hours (not sure how long the spell lasts).
"We should prepare and go to Her Highness, she needs to be protected even though she does not yet know it. Come Kzrira, I will be feeling much better once I know that Her Highness is no longer in the talons of that Pairaka."
At Karethas' urging the rest climb the stairs to leave the cellar and join him in the ruined mill above. Faelar says they should head to the palace to check on Almah. It does not appear that Undra is finished with the adventurers however.
The chanting from the night beyond the fallen door crescendos and then there is a buzzing that emanates from throughout the mill. Dust trickles from the rotten timbers and the floor vibrates as swarms of coin-sized biting flies suddenly fill the building.
Fort 1:
Fort 2:
While the bugs do not bother her, they do drain the archer a little.
HP: 10/50
Kzrira grabs Faeler and attempts to help him run from the building.
Does this count as an attack which would eliminate the charm?
With Kzrira propelling the bard forward, they pass out the door and emerge from the swarm of obscenely large biting flies, now covered in swollen welts that make intricate movements a tad difficult. Karethas is a moment behind and Amir surely soon to follow.
Thankfully the swarm doesn't follow, but the ominous throbbing buzz remains in the background as the heroes glance around for the deceitful div. Lights are seen flashing from the lower town as a crowd moves toward the river and then you are assaulted by a howling form in flapping black robes that drops from the sky.
Undra's veils and sleeves have blown aside revealing purple flesh and a sultry if androgynous face twisted by hatred. Large hands with long black claws assault Faelar as she screams, "I will defile you, elf!"
Kzrira steps back and quickly fires two cold iron arrows at the div.
I don't think so you dark hag. You game is at an end.
5-foot step away
Attack-rapid shot-cold iron arrow: <-- -1 from dex loss, -2 rapid shot
Damage:
Attack-rapid shot-cold iron arrow: <-- -1 from dex loss, -2 rapid shot
Damage:
Unfortunately the robes confuse Kzrira and one arrow is well wide while the other just manages to strike doing minimal damage.
HP: 28/51
Like Kzrira, Amir is undeterred but hampered by the buzzing insects. AS the group moves and Undra descends Amir moves to engage.
Amir bursts out of the swarm and pivots to charge directly at the flying monster. The black robed creature easily dodges his swing. Kzrira begins firing as Faelar and Karethas weigh their options.
I start to sing again, the same song as before. Starting nice, upbeat and catchy. But when I see the Undra I take a step back and change it to a more angry tune, like This
Karethas takes a step back and unleashes one of his few remaining spells. A cloud of glittering dust puffs from a point behind the evil witch, enveloping her momentarily.
As Amir bats at the hovering div, Faelar's anger rises and his lilting song of encouragement becomes a freakish war chant. Kzrira is emboldened and manages to hit the nimble fiend with a grazing shot. Karethas conjures a cloud of glittering dust that descends upon the dark form causing Undra to sparkle though she manages to keep it from blinding her.
From the other side of the bridge, you hear the mob drawing closer. The fierce purple face of the pairaka glances up and then turns back to you filled with fury and hatred. In a low tone, Undra addresses you once again, "You haven't stopped me, only temporarily delayed the inevitable destruction that I will again deliver on this town."
Her lip curls as she looks once more upon Faelar. "See you in your dreams, dear elf." Then she blinks away again in a cloud of glitter.
Kzrira says several rather unladylike things as the div disappears.
She then states flatly:
I want her dead with an arrow through her head.
Glancing back at her companions:
Unfortunately, we need to heal and recover some as we are all a little banged up.
However, she is so focused on corrupting this town, that I rather doubt she will disappear for long. Heck, to continue to control the princess, she will have to stay close I would assume.
Suddenly Kzrira pauses and looks to Faelar and Karethas:
Can either of you determine whether she has charmed the princess with her magic as she did to me and Faelar? If so, do you have to power to remove whatever curse she placed on the princess to cloud the spoiled brat's mind?
As she says this, Kzrira continues to scan the area for any sign of the glittering Undra.
Perception: