"I have to agree... getting OUT of here seems to be of prime importance right now... let's just get to an exit and get out and down... we can find someplace to hole up I hope when we are free and clear of the attack."
Vantrag levels a glance at Vicalan, she's not liking his tone but at the same time recognizes the wisdom in what he's saying.
"I hadn't realized their condition was so dire-- you should have said so before. Absolutely, escape is our only option, in that case."
She starts moving out the room quickly with the others, holding her crossbow at the ready.
You exit the room to the smell of burning and blood. The doors in the hall leading to the meeting chamber are all open and the bodies of the house guards left to patrol this area are lying all over the place along with the occasional enemy body.
Vantrag leads the way.
He could have pointed out the obvious yet he thought it best to reserve it to the most immediate.
"I suggest anyone that can pass for a drow don the enemies robes and a mask. Those that can not should stay in the rear carrying the slumbering bodies."
He beginning to understand why this house was targeted. They were lacking much, in Sshamath even the lowest guards could cast a spell or two and was well versed in tactics. Only slaves were ignorant and even then well trained for what use would they be otherwise.
Calas uses his sleeves of many garments to disguise himself as one of the intruders. He also kept his mouth shut for the moment. While the others may want to talk, Calas didn't want to give himself away. He stayed near the back, near Hall. If someone attacked them, he wanted as many people between Severance and the foe as possible. If they attacked from the rear though...
Hakk will take care of them.
The disguise wouldn't hold up to scrutiny. He was carrying a priestess of house Kewadin after all. However, hopefully it'd make the enemy pause.
Nathaniel stays next to his mistress, guarding Calas' back as it were.
An excellent initiative! Saeras noted and switched back to disguising himself as one of the invaders, this time trough his fashion-changing bracelets and a spare mask.
And for one of the carried priestesses he still had his illusionary trick. He gently placed his hand on her forehead, with the permission of Calas and Vantrag of course, and she too changed into one of the assailants.
Then, lastly before moving out, he simply threw his cloak over the last of the sisters. While not as clever as the other tricks this one might buy them a few moments at worst!
"Just remember to check up on them under the veils once in a while ..."
"Good thinking, Saeras," Vantrag says to the taskmaster as he applied his glamour to the appearance of the matron mother.
She takes up a disguise of her own from one of the fallen enemies, and while she dons it, addresses the others.
"I know of a secret passage that evacuates the house. It goes into a side tunnel, which is most likely already blocked, but there's also a minor teleport spell at its end that can be activated to send us down into the marketplace below. If we can get there, I know the key to activate the spell. The issue is that the entrance is in the matron's chamber -- which is likely to be ransacked and definitely under our enemies' attention. Still, it is our best chance to get out."
As he listens to the noble drow, Nathaniel assumes that from her tone that she is in charge now.
Not understanding the language has made things interesting, if not painful at times.
I may need to learn this tongue, although the odds of completing that task prior to death seems...unlikely.
Whispering to Calas, Nathaniel states, I don't understand your native tongue. I know only common and orc.
Calas gives the half-orc a careful look before whispering back in common.
"We're following Vantrag. She is leading us to a secret passage. We expect opposition, so be prepared"
Nathaniel cracks his knuckles, grinning wickedly.
Good, I need the exercise. Serving here has made me lazy., he whispers back.
"My mind is always at your service, madame matron." Saeras replies with a graceful bow.
He himself was getting a bit impatient to get out of this death-trap, but projected calm as well as he could.
Calas looked at Saeras sharply. He'd called Vantrag matron, yet the matron wasn't dead yet. Calming himself, Calas turned away as he thought. Obviously, the commoner was trying to gain favor with Vantrag. With the eldest daughters and the matron either dead or incapacitated Vantrag had a good chance of being the matron too.
I hope this isn't an elaborate plan to set Vantrag as the next matron... I don't object to my aunt. Just not at the cost of family. If it is though, why?
"Lead the way aunt. Quickly, please," Calas said with a worried look at Severance.
"The matron and your sister don't have much time."
Noticing the exchange between Calas and the fancy drow, Nathaniel thinks:
Seems to be something starting between them two...or continuing?
As the group heads down the hallway, in the direction of the matron's chambers, Vantrag falls into step beside Saeras for a moment and gives him a sharp look. "Do not call me Matron," she says, "You show a lack of faith in my mother and sister if you assume I am already bound for the position. 'Ma'am' is sufficient if you want to address me with a title." She spoke evenly, she wasn't trying to put him on the spot but neither was it meant to be a private conversation.
And I have no desire to actually become the matron, she thinks to herself. May Lolth preserve my betters, because I would make her a disappointing servant!
Vicalan speaks softly behind the pair.
"You should all be more concerned about leaving here alive."
Such endless nonsense, what did it matter when you were marked for death. Surrounded by enemies with a pair of dying on their backs and still they squabbled. Even if they survived and their council destroyed their enemies, what was left of their house. Matron of nothing, their rank was lost. They would be forced to begin anew if they were not absorbed by another. At least that was the way he saw it.
Vantrag leads the group through the secondary halls and back passages of the house toward the Matron's chambers. Thankfully, Drow vanity has produced a very low visibility route from the main hall to the chambers, though to say it's convoluted is a severe understatement. It takes nearly three times as long to get there as it would using normal hallways, and getting through the spaces afforded with a large half demon and two bodies without getting noticed isn't easy.
There is a plus side. Your impromptu disguises deter any serious investigation and most patrols don't approach you.
On the down side, you see most of the rest of the house in various states of dead or dying as you go. You notice a few batches of slaves and a couple captured Drow of the house, but no one important. Everyone important is dead save your merry band.
You finally arrive at the doors to the Matron's chambers and find your first major roadblock. There is a checkpoint, and they're searching all comers...
The checkpoint consists of five heavily armed Drow, four with masks and one without. He is the lightest armored of the group and has a great plume of hair dyed in purple streaks.
Azzra'el hisses between his teeth... softly tells the others what he knows
His left hand twitches slightly, itching to draw his sword and prepare for combat, but he dare not put the matron down... He gently puts her over his right shoulder, as Calas did with Severance, freeing his left hand for fighting, but he holds off on drawing his sword just yet...
Luckily in the back, Hakk hopefully will stay out of sight of the checkpoint.
Right then, mage first, Let me know when to start peppering him.
He said simply stepping to the side to be out of direct sight to check his weapon to ensure she was ready to go and then casting his shield spell upon himself.
Yes, I know of him, Vantrag replies to Azzra'el, signing instead of speaking aloud in order to be as stealthy as possible. His magic bends minds and causes pain. He is a formidable foe.
She looks at Vicalan. What do you suggest we do? Since you have offered many opinions so far, she signs with a sarcastic look. She was irritated by his need to constantly criticize her decisions.
Nathaniel follows Calas' lead. He notices the check point, unconsciously flexing his muscles.
Vicalan gave a slight wicked smile below his mask. He sign's back, yet his is more fluid, a by product of his magical expertise.
"As I see it, you have one option with a few methods to go about it. Get pass them. You can forget any sort of magical deception, even a novice can and will see through that if not the spell directly. Magical aura's will give that away at close range. It is why I bothered with the mask and robe to begin with. Whoever has the greatest skill in matters of deception should speak for our group and attempt to convince them of our pressing need to get pass them. We should expect them to fail, their purpose is largely to get us close to the enemy and lower their guard. If they are successful, best be sure it is no ruse. If not as I suspect. Once Marisis is as close as we can get him, quickly kill him. Do not give him even a moment to react or attempt a spell, gang up on him and do not let up until he is dead. The other four are secondary targets but none can escape."
He looks at the two dead weights that are the sleeping nobles.
"Allow Nathaniel to carry the nobles, if or more likely when battle begins he can drop them in the back with me and miss Vantrag. Remaining to protect them and us while the rest take care of the enemy mage and soldiers. Is that acceptable miss Vantrag?"
He ends the stream of gestures with a flick that is unrecognizable. Ego was a weakness, in this city it seemed more like a disease. He hoped he remained immune, he would certainly take advantage of it.
Calas nods to Azzra'el when he passes along the information. Then walks quietly as Vantrag and Vicalan sign back and forth.
Damnit... I should have paid attention to those lessons.
Whispering to Vantrag, "What are your orders ma'am?"
Azzra'el signs back to Vicalan, "The half-orc is likely one of our better fighters... we might want him up in front a fight... You and Vantrag and perhaps I might be best protecting the matron and Aunt Severance."
Vantrag will take this opportunity to drink her potion of mage armor.
You should be the one to deceive them, she gestures at Saeras. Perhaps tell them you want to join their side.
Vicalan quickly cut's in quietly.
"Do not show yourself to be anything but a servant of their house. At best they will capture you, more likely they will kill you, if they think otherwise. Which is also the reason I wanted the half orc in the back. One look at him and they will know something is wrong if he is not in chains. By carrying both bodies, it explains why he has his hands free and the reason he is still alive. With two of us behind him to make sure he does not attempt escape or betrayal."
By all the gods was their no sense in these drow, did they live oblivious to the ways of their own people. Even being from another city he knew enough about the way of things here.
"good point... " he signs and moves to Nathaniel and as gently as possible, hands the matron's still form to the half orc.
"Be gentle with her, please... " he whispers in common.
Nathaniel easily hefts the matron.
Crap! I'm a dead orc!, he thinks.
He positions himself as Calas directs, ready to defend them.
Ahh, Marisis. I have heard some about him. Saeras quickly fills in the gaps in his knowledge with Matron Just madame Vantrag's information and his own assumptions. It takes a special character to specialize in that, a little sadistic bend. Something to pull?
"Ah, so my way of words does please you madame!" Saeras couldn't help but steal a small chuckle. He was going to walk up to five armed people intent on murdering his entire 'house' (well, not technically ... Yet!) so a little fun could be had before the end.
Walking up to Nathaniel, Calas gestures for him to hold Severance as well.
"You are to protect Severance and the matron while we deal with these pests," he whispers. Then after a moment consideration he adds. "Stay away from the fight, near our Ranged fighters."
I hope I got those gestures right. If not, I just entrusted the potential future of our house to a slave...
Nathaniel frowns upon hearing his inclusion of this matter.
If any dare come near. I am just as lethal without my hands!, he quietly growls.
With a deep breath Saeras headed down the corridor towards the small cluster of guards and, currently protected in their care, Marisis Vandree. He came to a halt a few steps away from them and snapped into a crisp salute.
"Magister Marisis. We have found a prize in dire need of ... persuasion." he gestured back towards the rest of the party, hoping to appeal to the assumed weakness. "Would you do us the honours?"
With a bit of luck, he doesn't feel the need to bring any grunts with him just down the hallway ...
Quietly, in the back, near the hlaf-orc slave, Hakk will watch over the still forms that the the half-breed holds.
With a grimace he turns away and readies his wand to target Marisis as soon as the fighting breaks out.
Too bad the corridors are too narrow and full of family to allow me to charge into the fray as soon as it starts.
I relish the chance of spilling more enemy blood!
A small growl escapes from his lips, but Hakk quickly silences it in the dark.
NO! The chaos must not take control now! There will be a time and place for it! Just not now. The hunt for
revenge and the slaughter of the guilty MUST abide for now.
Marisis looks to be on alert and waves you forward. One of the guards whispers something in his ear. He smiles and nods. Bring them! I am responsible for the chamber of this worthless house's Matron, but I would be happy to assist you from here.
Saeras counters, But, Sir, they are weak. I fear moving them any more will kill them and any information they have!
Marisis waves his hand. Then let them die. Come, I could use another guard at this post.
Ah, it is never so easy! Saeras thinks to himself as he unravels the threads that threaten to pull his mind into a bad position. But as he couldn't show open defiance, he still approached - just made sure to stay out of range.
"Yes my liege." he replied meekly and met the command with downturned eyes. But if things were easy, I had been the lord of this city long ago! "Just a shame to waste such an opportunity. Imagine if it were us that found the wretched matron herself my liege; the prestige. The power! I can stand watch for you ..."
You don't think your magic took hold. His behaviour doesn't change. However, he does react strongly to the news of the Matron herself being here. You mean she wasn't killed in the Hall! Stay here, idiot! You two, come with me! He stalks off down the hall with two of his guards on his heels.
Vicalan whispers before holding a spell for the first enemy that draws a metal weapon.
"Remember go for the mage first, ignore the soldiers unless they try to flee. We don't need company."
Normally he would not repeat himself, yet these people had failed to inspire competence. At least not all of them.
Nathaniel grins under his black beard. He watches the mage step forward in his direction.
Deflect Arrows (Combat)
Source PRPG Core Rulebook pg. 121 (Amazon)
You can knock arrows and other projectiles off course, preventing them from hitting you.
Prerequisites: Dex 13, Improved Unarmed Strike.
Benefit: You must have at least one hand free (holding nothing) to use this feat. Once per round when you would normally be hit with an attack from a ranged weapon, you may deflect it so that you take no damage from it. You must be aware of the attack and not flat-footed. Attempting to deflect a ranged attack doesn't count as an action. Unusually massive ranged weapons (such as boulders or ballista bolts) and ranged attacks generated by natural attacks or spell effects can't be deflected.
The character takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks.