The dolphins being less effective than she had hoped, she pulls deeper into Legion's lakes and oceans and pulls out a many armed monstrosity, streaked black and red and casts it towards the Hag.
The octopus surges forward, tentacles trailing at first, then turn as each slithering tentacle moves towards the hag.
for
and
Once the octopus is released, she begins a new spell, and discharges three streaking bolts of abyssal power at the Hag.
Lyla's magic missile skips off of the hag's head without hurting her, but Nalun's spear does not. This time, it manages to catch the hag squarely in the thigh, sending more blood into the water.
The octopus swings and bites at the hag, but its efforts go unrewarded--its beak finds nothing but water and its tentacles are batted aside by her spear.
Karri's magic, however, strikes true. Three bolts of force open up the hag's already grievous wounds.
Still barely able to do more than crawl across the Direption's walls, Ortik burbles a word of encouragement to Dmitri, aiding the Inheritor's blade in striking down this aquatic foe.
The wounded hag changes tactics now, instead trying to dodge every swing coming at her while trying to cast another spell...
...and it fizzles. The hag's face turns white as a sheet.
Demitri swims into the flank.
Unable to do much beyond offer encouragement, Ortik shouts his encouragement to Nalun as well.
Nalun thrusts his harpoon forward, hoping to end the creature before it guts him!
Ispword,FavTrget,Prayer,Flank
Favtrgt,SneakAtt
Total Damage = 28
HP 27/41
With the hag now clearly on the defensive, the octopus does what it does when hunting. Though it's beak does not penetrate the hag's leathery flesh, the tentacles do wrap around and pin down her arms!
for
and
The octopus strikes true and grabs onto the hag, just before Nalun's spear goes through her heart and impales her. The hag twitches once, her eyes going wide before a cloud of blood billows from her body and she goes still.
The hag was carrying:
--Her shortspear, which is made of oak wood and tipped with a remarkably sharp shark's tooth;
--A pair of iron bracers, engraved with images of turtle shells.
"Good job."
Unable to help Ortik, Demitri will heal Nalun.
Karri lets the octopus feed on the hag's corpse before it is called back to it's home plane. However, she avoids watching as Kasdaye laughs at her softness. Obviously this has an impact on her ability to focus as she can't decipher the powers of the bracers. Ah, my poor little fleshling...does your head hurt with all of us in here?
The waters are silent, save for the sounds of a shark gorging on a corpse outside the infirmary.
D2: The Shattered Hold
A yawning wound in the ship’s charred timbers allows murky water to flow easily through this debris-cluttered hold. Loose timbers, small fish, and dozens of identical boxes float eerily in the quiet darkness.
D4: The Captain's Quarters
Along with a few other bits of ruined furnishings, the scorched sheets of a canopied bed twist like ghosts above the snapped wooden bed frame. Knotted amid the linens, a drowned corpse wearing the birdlike mask of a Queen’s Physician twirls in the current.
Demitri retrieves the coffer.
It takes Demitri several tries to force open the door. He grimaces when he sees the corpse. He motions over for the party to see.
Ortik slowly clambers his way towards Dmitri, watching the drowned Physician carefully - who knows if the hag had desecrated the body and given him foul life beyond death?
The body floats in the current, unmoving.
Ortik gives the body a hard stare, but doesn't notice any movement from the body. He does, however, note a strip of leather waving lazily in the eddies in the current, and points out the brass fly at the end of it to his friends.
"Great, Urgathoa. Lady of Disease and Death." Demitri says mostly to himself.
Nalun frowns, nothing that pertained to Urgothoa was good in his opinion.
"So, the good doctors are working for a higher power?" Laughter bubbles out of Karri even as Karri tries to keep Kasdaye's mirth under control.
The swim back to the surface of Korvosa's harbour is arduous and cold. With Ortik being unable to swim, it falls to the rest of the party to carry him upwards. Fortunately, the harbour's waters appear to be free of predators, and before long the party's heads break the surface of the Jeggare River.
As the party makes their way back onto shore, they're greeted by a familiar face.
"Hmm. Isn't it a little early to go for a swim?" Vencarlo Orisini leans on his rapier, his expression haggard and exhausted. "I've been looking for the lot of you."
"Why is that exactly?"
Vencarlo's expression turns sorrowful. "See, there's this young boy I met--his name's Oren. Ausio's lad. He was running through the streets in a complete panic, begging for someone to help his parents. I couldn't get a straight answer out of the poor boy--he was so frightened that I'm surprised he could even speak clearly."
"I helped him reach the Citadel, and he's waiting there for someone to come by." The swordmaster taps his rapier against his shoe. "So, I went looking for the lot of you."
"Well we can help Oren as soon as he get Ortik healed and we report back to Kroft. Thank you for the heads up."
Lyla gets out of the water and looks up to check the sun's position. She squeezes and twists her boneless arms and legs to dry up, as it were wet cloth, a disturbing but effective technique that leaves a puddle below her feet. "I gotta get my body back", she says casually, "but I'll meet you at the Citadel." She looks at Vencarlo. "Walk with me?"
"Good, the lad's safer with Kroft than most places in the Old Dame at the moment," Ortik says weakly, straining his neck to meet Orisini's gaze. "Tell Kroft we'll be along shortly to report." He hangs his head again, panting from the exertion of such a simple feat.
Vencarlo gives Lyla an odd look as she squeezes her arms and legs dry. "...sure. Why not."
He turns and nods for Lyla to lead the way. "I'll meet up with the rest of you at the Citadel, yes?"
-------------------------
When your vision clears, the scene before you looks... quite strange. The moonlit streets of Korvosa seem calmer than they have ever been--there isn't a single soul to be found, save for the two of you. Velaro walks with you, his arm around you like it's always meant to be there. For a moment, you feel less like a vessel for Abyssal power and more like a normal woman; a luxury that many take for granted.
A calm breeze blows past you as the two of you walk through the Heights. The manor homes here are well-maintained, and lights can be seen in their windows, far above the streets below. The shadows around you seem to stretch further than the moonlight allows. You huddle closer to Velaro—his warmth on your arm is as comforting as it always was—as it always has been.
Out of the corner of your eye, you swear you can see someone… something… approaching the two of you. Its features are shrouded in a cloak of shadows that no light can pierce. Your arm becomes numb as you look at the figure approaches, as swiftly as the wind at your back. Before you can react, the ivory knife in its hand buries itself in Velaro’s chest, and he falls to the cobblestones, dead.
You aren’t even given time to mourn before everything shifts and blurs all around you, and you feel yourself being pulled back violently. When you regain your wits, you’re once again walking along the streets of Korvosa, with Velaro on your arm. His jovial expression hasn’t changed at all.
A mocking voice cackles in your ear. ”So predictable. So naive. Have you learned nothing from me? From us?” The growl of Kasdaye’s voice makes your skin crawl. ”Anything could strike from the darkness here.”
The breeze blows past you again, this time chilling you to the bone. ”And when something does strike…”
The figure appears again, shrouded in shadow. The ivory knife glints in the moonlight as it flies toward Velaro.
”…you must have the will to *act.*”
Strength floods your limbs as you stare the figure down. It pauses, as if surprised.
Karri glares at the shadowy form that should be Kasdaye. "You have nothing to-" Before she can finish her words there is a wet *thwack* of a dagger piercing flesh. Slack mouthed with shock, beloved Velaro slumps to the ground. A feeling of laughter boils up, from the stones, from her own stained heart...and again her vision blurs...
Karri stumbles and nearly falls to the ground as she walks along behind Demitri, Nalun and Ortik. In the moment before she recovers herself, she lets out a hoarse whisper, "No, not again!" When her friends look back at her she struggles with the meaning of Kasdaye's latest revelation. He lies, he always does! Finally, she mutters, "It's all wrong that wasn't the knife that took him." A titter in her mind, No, but danger takes many forms. Who next? The handsome father? The slender bountyhunter. Oh, no, someone that all respect - Your dear sewer diplomat! Only we know what fates has stored for you.
Karri straightens and says to her companions, "Let us finish this. I need to return home."
Useit. Harnessit. Might controls everything.
It sounds quite disappointed in you.
"We should talk later." Demitri says turning around.
Lyla walks hastely back to Zellara's shop, slowing down at times to allow Vencarlo to catch up with her. While walking side by side, she strikes up a conversation. "You should be home, you know. Not safe to get out, with this disesase running around... you have a fencing school don't you? Have the Queen's physicians paid you a visit? I wonder how working out..."
Vencarlo wearily shakes his head. "Not yet, but I know it's only a matter of time. Old Korvosa seems to have been hit the worst by this plague--bad enough that I've overheard talk of the place being quarantined."
"I've been trying to help where I can, but it's... well, it's an uphill battle for me. I've little knowledge of how to treat illnesses, so I've focused more on getting as many of Old Korvosa's remaining healthy people out as I can." He looks down at your feet. "By the way, when did you lose your bones? I can't say I've ever heard of that sort of magic before--not even from the Acadamae."
The rest of the party makes haste back to the Citadel, half-carrying, half-dragging Ortik with them as they move. The Queen's Physicians are still moving about, this time without any Korvosan Guards shadowing them. The Grey Maidens escort them on their rounds in groups of four, their once spotless plate mail spattered with blood.
The Citadel is as barren as ever, its training yard bereft of even the most token of guards. The doorway to Kroft's office is wide open, and the sounds of a child sobbing can be heard from within.
The Field Marshal looks up as the party steps through the doors, her exhaustion showing in her slumped posture and bags under her eyes. She breathes a sigh of relief. "There you are."
Lyla can't help but smile, taking Vencarlo's remark as flattery. "Hah, it's a nice little trick, isn't it? I got the recipe from this guy who owns this little a magic shop in the Shingles. Doesn't look like much at first glance, but I could spend the whole day going through his collection of scrolls, some really cool stuff there. I guess some of it is too out there for the Acadamae...", she ponders, imagining the Acadamae's dandies frowning upon such a disturbing spell as skinsend. "In any case, I can't walk around like this for long, might die if I do," she announces very matter-of-factly before changing the subject.
"You said you're getting people out of Old Korvosa... have you turned your school into a shelter? I could ask Althea to help you with that, she's my mentor, fantastic herbalist and healer. I can stop by later, too... though definetely not for a fencing lesson, I have a feeling I'd be hopeless with a rapier in hand," Lyla concludes, chattier than usual.
Reaching the shop, she makes the introductions and leaves Althea and Vencarlo alone while she heads back to her room. After a few minutes she reemerges, her body and skin welded together once more. She bids Althea goodbye, asking if there has been any news about the well-being of her father, siblings and nephews, and then sets out with Vencarlo to Citadel Volshyenek.
"Yes. We got what we needed. And Ortik here got a little more. If you have a healer you can contact, we'd appreciate it. Otherwise we'll take him to the church of Abadar."
Nalun just observes the office...and looks for the source of that crying.
It's easy for Nalun to see where the sobbing is coming from. Huddled in one corner of the room is a small, sandy-haired boy. His once-fine silken clothes are now ragged, torn and spattered with mud and what appears to be fresh blood. He looks up at the party with a look of raw fear in his eyes, pausing to stare at Demitri & Karri.
Kroft purses her lips. "Oh, boy. I think Acolyte Dhatri's around here somewhere--assuming the gutless t&*+ didn't lose his nerve and decide to hide in his home."
She gets up from her seat and starts moving towards the doors. "I'll go see if I can find him. He should still be around the Citadel. In the meantime..." She looks over at the boy in the corner and sighs. "...could you please see what you can do for him?"
"Hah, it's a nice little trick, isn't it? I got the recipe from this guy who owns this little a magic shop in the Shingles. Doesn't look like much at first glance, but I could spend the whole day going through his collection of scrolls, some really cool stuff there. I guess some of it is too out there for the Acadamae..."
"Clearly you've never seen what happens within its walls, then." Vencarlo wryly quips. "Admittedly, I've only second-hand knowledge of the place myself, but from what I've heard, they're prone to doing much worse."
"You said you're getting people out of Old Korvosa... have you turned your school into a shelter? I could ask Althea to help you with that, she's my mentor, fantastic herbalist and healer. I can stop by later, too... though definitely not for a fencing lesson, I have a feeling I'd be hopeless with a rapier in hand."
"I've converted my little school into someplace to hide from the plague, yes. I've been hosting so many people there that it's surprising I haven't run out of food yet--I'm working on getting them out of the city before then." The swordmaster says as he follows you into Althea's shop. "I might just have to take you up on that offer before long."
"And I think I'd appreciate it if you could come by. I need some help there, and I'm not afraid to admit it."
Seeing that you're pressed for time, Althea gives you a quick update on how your family's been doing...
"They've been getting by, though they're plumb scared to come out of their residence. Can't blame 'em, really. Marra comes by often to get what medicines she can from me."
"Thank you. We all appreciate it." Demitri replies to Kroft. He then turns to the boy. "What's your name, son? What's wrong?" He asks looking at the boy no older than Nadia.
The boy looks up at Demitri and sniffs. "O... Oren, sir. I, um... I went to a dinner you hosted once."
"And..." He swallows, his eyes widening before he stares into his lap. "...and..."
He looks like he's on the verge of breaking down.
"Oh, Oren. I'm sorry I didn't recognize you. Did something happen to your parents?" Demitri asks, fearing the worst.
Nalun thinks about who this kind might be
Yeah kid, this here is a guardsman. He'll help you. Nalun says
They tend to host lavish galas for their socialite friends during times of crisis as a means of escaping the worries of the outside world.
Oren nods. "We... we were having a party. Lots of rich people were there. There was laughing, singing, dancing..." He starts to fidget in his seat. "...Mom and Dad were having fun. I-I wasn't. Too noisy for me."
"The... the servants... they-they went to help the caterer bring food in for the party. And... and then..." Oren starts to sob. "...they-they started eating everyone...!"
The boy buries his face in his knees and starts shaking. "...they crawled out... they crawled out and started... biting and clawing and... and--"
He starts sobbing uncontrollably.
"That's.. horrifying. I'm so sorry." Demitri puts his arms around the boy for a hug. "We have to track down those servants and stop them from eating anyone else. And we have to find out who the caterer was that made them into monsters." He says to everyone else. "C'mon. You can stay with Nadia and me. She'll be glad to see you again." He slowly helps the boy to his feet and wipes the tears off his face.
Oren's legs are shaking like leaves as Demitri helps him to his feet. "D-Dad told me to run and get help... I saw h-him and Mom running for the cellar..."
He's about to say more when the Field Marshal's mailed footsteps echo from outside the room. She steps through the door, with an exhausted-looking Acolyte Dhatri behind her. "Good news--he was catching a nap in the barracks."
"Er--yes." Dhatri stutters as he stifles a yawn. "Now, Cressida has told me to waive the fee for this--who's in need of healing?"
As you reach the Citadel, you catch a glimpse of Field Marshal Kroft leading Acolyte Dhatri into her office. You also think you hear the sounds of a child sobbing.