"Oh, that one. That's a recent development. Turns out, working with the law is more profitable than against." After thinking for a bit, she continued, "The other reputation is a little longer and more sorted. And I don't think I want it chronicled just yet, Bookworm."
"Yeah. Yeah, I can empathise."
Sensing he's killed that topic...
"Ophelia offered you a place didn't she?"
By the time you have gathered all the information you could and met back up, the sun had set, leaving The Shingles an even more sinister-looking place than before. Most of the free running children have returned home, as have anyone without the means to defend themselves. Those who remain are the stupid, the drunk, and the cutthroats who prey on them and may themselves be stupid. There are too many threats lingering for anyone to remain for too long; creatures more mundane than the mystery monster stalk the rooftop district as well, but large spiders can be struck down; he can't.
Now that we're all back, how did everyone do today? Anastasia and I spoke to a great many people, most of whom had only second hand knowledge, and a great many who were simply making things up wholesale. I suppose that to be charitable, I should concede the possibility that they were just repeating what they'd heard someone else fabricate first.
The important thing though is that we did find one first-hand witness who actually saw the beast with his own eyes. He was not entirely sober when we spoke, but I do believe that his account is accurate. Unfortunately, while I find some of the details damningly familiar, I cannot quite place them to provide us with a name.
He, and the gang that hired him, were recently attacked by the killer on their way to some no-doubt illicit and immoral activity. His account was rather florid, but I believe the salient details are as follows: The killer has a disturbing laugh - they heard it well before it allowed them to see it. It can either move too quickly to be seen, or can possibly turn invisible or teleport; they lost sight of it several times. It may be that magical light interferes with this ability - the survivor cast Light, after which time it didn't disappear from sight again. It can kill a man quickly - probably with a single blow. It wears some manner of cape. It has jet black skin, and its body very strangely proportioned, at least as compared to a human. It has horns that are larger than its head. The hands are large, but the body wiry. The scar that it left on the survivor was clean and straight; it looked more like a surgical scar than a combat wound.
The cape, along with the descriptions of the behaviour sound very familiar to me, but I can't put a name to the description. I must say it is quite vexing; perhaps my age is finally catching me up.
Anyhow, perhaps the rest of you had better results than we did, or can do more with our survivor's information than I have?
Anastasia stood next to Walther while he recapped their encounter. She had nothing else to add. Once Walther's summary was over, she turned to the others, "What have you all learned?"
"Ophelia and I believe it to be Spring-Heeled Jack. He's a dark and evil fairy, able to jump quickly and hide in shadows. Most of your description, Walther, covers the situation quite well. We will need to get him in sight, keep light trained on him, and hold him in place."
Ophelia nods to reenforce Shang and Walter's recounts. "The immobilizing eggs you showed us earlier would be our best bet, I think."
Laznist scribbles furiously as everyone talks, the tension lines around his eyes easing as the burning sun finally starts to slip below the horizon.
"I thought I'd found some good leads - but Dara worked out who was making things up. I'm a worse man than you Walther, and I think they were doing it themselves to sound important."
"Capability wise, I've got some things prepared, but nothing to make light. My two biggest things I can help with are this: I can burn stuff down, and I can ward people from weapons about as well as a chain shirt can - and being a ward it doesn't hamper movement."
Laznist pauses
"Mostly I can burn stuff down. Don't stand in front of me."
What's the night going to be like? Misty? Rainy? Dry? Windy? Windy and dry?
"I've also got amazing night vision. Picked it up as a kid working in the alleys below. "
Now Laznist is making things up. That's a lie.
Ophelia nods to reenforce Shang and Walter's recounts. "The immobilizing eggs you showed us earlier would be our best bet, I think."
"Sure, sure... but don't those things cost about three months wages?" Laznist asks nervously
"Ophelia offered you a place didn't she?"
"She did. However, I'm wanting to see what we get out of this first before I accept." The Dwarf responded.
After listening to her new comrades, Dara piped up. "Well knowing that is all fine and dandy, but does anyone have ideas how to draw it out? Regardless how we take it down, we need to find it first."
It's a clear, dry night, and the moon is bright above you. The perfect kind of night for a rooftop hunt.
Well, we know of at least one case where it attacked an armed group. So perhaps just going into its hunting area while being obviously looking for a fight will cause it to come for us. And if it doesn't, we may be able to find its lair; even fairies have to sleep somewhere.
"I can conjure light -" she gestures and a small Dancing Light appears in her palm "- but I don't think this is nearly enough to startle anyone."
Well, we know of at least one case where it attacked an armed group. So perhaps just going into its hunting area while being obviously looking for a fight will cause it to come for us. And if it doesn't, we may be able to find its lair; even fairies have to sleep somewhere.
Anastasia nods she didn't have a better idea and no one seemed to object, "So I think this is our plan. Any objections? If not let us go."
"No objections - remember we want to be challenged by this Jack guy, not random gangs."
"You think we might get enough out of this to make a difference?" there is hope in Laznist's voice
"You think we might get enough out of this to make a difference?" there is hope in Laznist's voice
She just answers with a slightly mischievous smirk.
"No objections!"
You set out through The Shingles, the half-moon hanging sinister above you as the poorly lit streets gain an eerie sheen under the moonlight. Small bands of thugs look for marks, but when they set their eyes on an armed, mismatched group of people, they decide better of making you their next targets.
About an hour passes of uneventful wandering before the echo of sick, rapsy laughter rings out. You can tell it's not close, but it carries well, as does the chilling, unsettling tone of it. Shortly after, several screams of total horror fill the air, coming from only a hundred or so paces behind you and around a corner.
The Dwarven Burglar pulled her crossbow and moved towards the commotion, her form practically melding into the shadows as she moved.
As the chilling laughter pierces the air Laznist starts, then with the speed that suggests long practice he shrugs off his coat and his left hand flashes through a warding against danger.
"They're playing our song" he mutters, followed by a brief incantation.
You're not in combat yet, so take any actions you need to and it'll be fine.
"Then we must dance !" Ophelia continues and retrieves her whip, a sharpened, coiled wire. She starts to head towards the screams - keeping her eyes open for any sight of the monster they are chasing.
Shang pulls out a small earthenware flask from underneath the folds in his robelike garment. Quickly, he unstoppers it with his teeth, spits out the cork, and downs the contents of the flask in a single gulp. Almost instantly, it looks as if he convulses momentarily before settling back. He becomes twitchy, a little distracted, but moving with a bit more speed and jumpiness.
"Let's go find this thing!"
That certainly sounds like it will be our quarry. Keep careful watch of our surroundings; don't forget to look above yourselves. It's highly mobile, and likes to attack from behind and presumably from above as well. Shang's eggs may well be the key to defeating Jack. It's probably faster than any of us - don't be afraid to duck, dodge, or flinch from it - better to overreact to a feint than be stabbed. Ophelia, your dancing lights are not as bright an effect as a light spell, but they may still be worth trying.
Walther continues reviewing tactics and what the party knows of Spring Heeled Jack for a few seconds as he hurries along with everyone else, while checking that his crossbow is ready to fire.
Anastasia stops instantly after hearing the screams. This creature is demented she thought to herself. Anastasia quickly unsheated her shortswords and warily made her way towards the chaos of the night.
When you round the corner, you find three corpses slumped on the ground, and you finally see for yourselves the grisly carnage that the fey creature is capable of with only a knife. The level of gore and mutilation managed in the short time it took you to arrive is unsettling and honestly more than a little frightening.
The billowing of his cape flutters in the corner of your vision, and his laughter continues to echo as he vanishes for a moment.
Ophelia recoils from the scene and quickly blinks her eyes a number of times - trying to filter away the grisliest details. Her porcelain face coveys disgust and fury. When her voice rings out it is as cold and foreboding as a funeral bell:
"Remember - the thing doesn't actually teleport - it just jumps. Go for the kneecaps and shatter the bone. I will see if the cantrip attracts it or not"
She gestures as she step closer to the scene and the dancing light once again appears next to the corner where the creature disappeared.
Hearing that laughter, seeing the bodies - everything I'd heard started to jumble up. Part of my my mind was telling me about the Paralyzing Gaze we'd heard about... but all of my instincts were screaming at me to find it, before it landed behind me.
Like taking down a giant. Dara thought to herself, with a smirk.
Laznist catches the creature dashing up onto a roof, but then it hops up to a higher-standing roof and disappears. The rapsy, sickening laughter around tells you that he's still here, only assessing the new situation from a safe position.
Following his own advice, Walther turns as he walks, attempting to watch all directions, focusing on rooftops, alleys, and anything that something might try to conceal itself behind.
.
Dara kept her eyes peeled as well, loading her crossbow and hoping to get one clear shot.
Anastasia is disgusted by the creature's actions. Still hearing it's wicked cackles through the night.
Shang pulls out an egg and waits for the right moment to strike.
Initiative order is:
Shang - 27
Anastasia - 18
Laznist - 18
Jack - 16
Dara - 12
Ophelia - 9
Walther - 2
Anyone able to spot Jack sees that he has very quickly moved behind you to a high ledge nearby, licking his lips and preparing his knife.
Failing to spot the monster Ophelia instead follows the gaze of her more keen eyed companions. That allows her to focus her attention in the Jack's general direction atleast - better then nothing even if she still can't see it.
Reciting what they knew about the creature in a low voice she started to weave an enhancement around herself and her friends. She traced faint lines in the air with her open hand and finished with a slow pirouette to spread it over them all.
Peering around as if blind in the darkness, Laznist prepares to unleash gouts of flames
Not 100 % sure if we have LOS and is in range if he is above us, but we should definitely have it during his movement though... Consider this a Readied action if necessary.
I have visisons him soaring over our heads and being BBQd as he goes...
Haven't cast defensively because he should be further than 5ft away
Burn an Arcane Point for +1DC.
Standard: Cast Burning Hands. CL=3, DC=17 damage=
Move: grip longspear
Shang stops to savor the memory of a sound heard long ago, nods in the understanding of his position, and braces for the egg toss.
Touch Attack roll:
Anastasia readied her shortswords and kept an eye on Jack.
Jack leaps from the building, landing easily behind the group and laughing at them. On the way, down, he dodges the bulk of the fire from Laznist, screeching as what does hit him nips at his heels, burning the lower portion of his tattered pants. Shang's egg misses him entirely.
Opening his mouth wide, he unleashes his own plume of flame.
With his breath weapon spent, Jack ran a few paces away from the group, then leapt again, deftly reaching another rooftop.
eyah. I was going to try Commanding Jack on my turn, but I think I better hit myself with a CLW instead. That fire breath business was painful.
With the creature landing behind them, Dara turned around just in time to see a gout of flames coming towards them. While the Dwarf managed to dodge the fire, it still burned her a little. The Burglar then took aim an fired her crossbow.