Byron stands protectively over the body of his sleeping 'friend'.
"Now, I don't want to come to blows, but you need to leave my friend here alone..."
Stanley cocks his head in confusion, before putting together the spellcasting and the behavioral change in some of the more violent members. "Despite the fact that the two of you," he indicates Colgrim and Byron, "are under magical compulsion of friendship, causing you to act this way, I agree. We can reach a peaceful resolution. If you two left standing," now indicating the spellcasters, "would call off any of your allies, we can open a reasonable discourse to discuss terms of agreement. I am more than willing and eager to work with other groups bent on taking down the corrupt government. As long as the citizens do not bear the brunt of the rebel's violent attentions."
Iolana grinds to a halt, morningstar in mid-swing. "What--you--but I--" Hearing Stanley's explanation, she grits her teeth. "Shelyn's sweet succor, man, will you never let up with--" She turns to the spellcasters.
"You have the next minute in which to make your case for why we shouldn't deliver the justice that the Dottari are too lax to bring you!"
There is no need to be that harsh. We've got snarled up in that blasted bureaucracy from Thrune. Hellknights pretty much run everything and we've been hung out to dry ever since Westcrown stopped being the capital.
If the spellcasters do stand down, even if temporarily, Leeka makes her way to the sleeping tiefling.
The spellcaster smiles at the offer of diplomacy. "Bloodshed has been rather one-sided. Perhaps parlay can be had? Mayhaps you would like to meet with Palaveen, our proper leader, to discuss terms?"
He watches the group intently with his offer.
"I'll wake up our friend, Byron," Leeka whispers. "You go help Colgrim with the negotiations."
Leeka will take as long as possible to wake up the tiefling.
Aye, we can parlay, but let us all go together and keep our weapons in their sheathes.
Dario pulls back. "Seriously? These Bastards have killed several people. They need to answer for that." He sighs.
"Where is this Palaveen? Perhaps we can come to some agreement. You drop your spell components, and I'll do the same along with my weapon."
Colgrim nods. We'll give them a chance, but I'm not fool enough to let ourselves be bushwhacked.
Stanley just looks at Dario plainly, "We also didn't allow for much time or opportunity to parley. However, despite my preferences, I am actually against going in unarmed or unprepared. I feel we should all be ready in case there is intent of a double-cross."
"Oh, I'll be ready to be double-crossed by these devilborn," Iolana says grimly, hefting her mace meaningfully. To the tieflings, she adds, "Bring us to your leader. And stay where we can see your hands."
Unfortunately, one Tiefling wakes the other, despite Leeka's protests. "I cannot go to Palaveen without my brother, it will cause quite the stir. Certainly you understand this, little slip."[b] The last words are used rather disdainfully.
The two smile as they look at Dario, [b]What kind of foolery is this? We haven't a need for the components you speak of. The two almost sneer at the thought of using spell components.
The pair walk you into another room, roughly 30 by 25, with a doorway near the southwest corner, and an alcove to the southeast (roughly 15x15). The entrance you come from is in the northwest corner.
The pair smile as you enter the room "Allow us to introduce ourselves, I am Ostengo, and this is Vethamer, that strapping Tiefling over there is Dravano, and those three are our newest recruits... pardon me while I have forgotten their names. They'll earn their names soon."
At this point Vethamer, who is very unhappy looking calls out to the door. "Palaveen, we do seem to have guests. Please be so kind as to grace us with your presence.
A closer look does show that, in fact, neither has a spell component pouch.
Spellcraft DC 5
Colgrim bites his lip at the slip comment but stays his hand, making sure to mark that tiefling if he tries anything.
Leeka quickly slips the shuriken she was about to drive into the sleeping tiefling's throat back into her pouch and backs off, not saying anything in response.
Out of the southeastern door steps a tiefling. He's most certainly a tiefling, with horns out of his head, a tail that follows him and a cloven-hoofed foot (oddly, only one is cloven). Beside him stand a pair of skeletal wolves. He openly wears the symbol of Asmodeus across his chest, holds a morningstar in his hand and is wearing a fine breastplate.
Ostengo smiles, Allow me to introduce Palaveen. Leader of the Bastards of Erebus... lost children tossed from the warm bosom of hell and cast into this squandering kingdom!
Palaveen, unimpressed with the display, looks across the party and begins speaking in a terribly condescending tone.
"So, you are the ones suppressing Tiefling freedoms, today? Who has sent you? The lost Dottari? Or are you paid assassins?" He sneers. "You come here looking for battle. We come here looking for survival."
He stands there, and, as a group, you realize he is certainly their leader, with a fine morningstar, commanding two skeletons. The large Tiefling, and the Two spellcasters, and six other tieflings all stand here... This is a bad place to be. You are outnumbered nine to six... Eleven if you count the wolves. You have killed more members of this gang... which they are certainly aware of..
Byron/Colgrim (DC 16 Spellcraft, Stanley correctly identified)
Party HP Track:
Colgrim: 18/24
Byron: 14/15
Iolana: 4/15
Dario 15/15
Leeka 18/18
Super Secret GM Stuff:
Prior Room Tiefling 3: 6/10
Prior Room Tiefling 4: 9/9
Prior Room Tiefling 5: 11/11
New Room Tiefling 6: 8/8
New Room Tiefling 7: 9/9
New Room Tiefling 8: 10/10
Skeleton Wolf 1: 9/9
Skeleton Wolf 2: 9/9
Ostengo: 15/15, No potion, not TFB. Charmed Colgrim
Vethamer: 15/15 Charmed Byron
Dravano: 24/24
Palaveen: 33/33..
Colgrim glances around with a keen eye. Most certainly out numbered, he was certain that his tiefling friend wouldn't betray him but he didn't know his feelings towards the others.
Best to let Stanley and Iolana handle negotiations since they are the chatty types. He thinks.
Stanley can only hold up a finger as a point of contention as this Palaveen speaks, being improper and rude to interrupt. Once the tiefling finishes, he sets the tone from his end, "Now this discussion will go much smoother if we are all honest with both ourselves and each other. While I admit that we came on very strong in our assault, you cannot act like you are entirely the victim here, as you have preyed on the weak of this fair city."
He continues, "We did not come here to suppress anyone's freedoms, quite the contrary, we have come to free the people from tyranny. Word we have garnered is that your people have been taking liberties with some of the poor citizens of Westcrown. This is where we take exception. If your issues come from an oppressive government regime, then it should not be the lesser and downtrodden citizens that bear the brunt of your adolescent rage. We came, initially to put a stop to those that would harm the innocent, but some of us, especially myself, would like to find partners in arms against a greater foe."
"We, calling ourselves The Free Citizens of Westcrown, wish to stand up and oppose the ruling elite, return this great city to one of splendor and equality. If you take umbrage at the actions and decisions of those in charge, then work with us to put your efforts toward bringing down corruption. So that even you, the Bastards of Erebus, can walk the streets freely with your heads held high, without risk of unreasonable persecution."
Dario looks back and forth between Stanley and the tieflings. Why do I get the feeling this will end badly? Still, his rapier remains by his side.
"Do you fight for others' freedoms or only tiefling futures? Would you work with us to free other people from tyranny?"
"Please help. People out there say 'tiefling' with the same scorn he had calling me a 'slip'. We can help each other."
Heap scorn upon me because I work with the Dottari, but we've ended up with little to no power to actually do anything in this city. The Hellknights are more interested in the law of Thrune and the streets at night are taken over by those beasts who are more intereste din terror.
Stanley:
Byron shrugs, clearly unimpressed by the Tiefling leader's words.
Once a bandit, always a bandit... I just wish my dear friend had enough sense to get out whilst the going is good.
Iolana's eyes narrow when Palaveen steps from the other room. She opens her mouth to speak, but is cut off by Stanley's speech. She listens to the others' statements with a disbelieving face, then turns back to the tieflings.
"I will say what the others will not," she says, her voice low and flat. "We fight for the freedom of all Wiscrani. Which means..." She drops her shield to the ground with a clatter and takes a two-handed grip on her morningstar. "Which means you have the next thirty seconds to rip that cursed star from your neck and hurl it from you to prove your willingness to work for that cause. When that time is up, I will smash it while it still rides on your chest."
Dario smiles at Iolana's comment. Quite perceptive.
"She's right. Tell me, how's Asmodeus favor your anti-slavery, freedom-loving agenda?"
Stanley pinches the bridge of his nose in frustration. Here he was trying to find a mutually beneficial means of coming out of this, and instead others 'help' him by threatening and insulting. "Let's not bander hasty words, powered by our emotions, get the best of us. We are here for the city itself, and as I understand, it is not the church of Asmodeus that oppresses them. It is the ruling houses. There are many a city that are accepting of the presence of followers of Asmodeus, like Korvosa just to name one off the top of my head."
Iolana snorts mirthlessly. "And in those depraved cities, do the bootlickers of the Archdevil keep no slaves? Perform no blood rites? Tell me that. And tell me what is left of their faith without them."
She doesn't remove her eyes from Palaveen.
So I reckon that a big part of us helping you not getting the heel of Thrune on your necks anymore is stopping your thieving and killing. I don't expect the lot of you to start lugging barrels at the docks but look at it this way, if you keep this up, then you are more than likely to get Hellknights down on you and they will kill every single one of you without a word spoken and you will be nothing more than a note on a report sheet jammed in some filing room.
Palaveen smiles at Iolana's commentary. "And what, deny my birthright?! We are the right leaders of Cheliax, ruled by Asmodeus himself! Pitiful humans, you are the oppressors here, not the chattel you should be! A short chant a second later, and Palaveen is nowhere to be seen, other than his voice echoing "Kill them all. But keep the priestess for me. She will learn who her master is before she dies."
With that, the group enters combat a third... potentially deadly third time!
The first tiefling jumps onto Colgrim, grasping at him with his large, thick claws, scraping loudly across Colgrim's shield, while both of the spellcasters withdraw from the party's reach behind the lesser tieflings. You have no idea where Palaveen has gone.
Iniative rolls:
Dice Rolls
Dravano Attack Colgrim
Dravano Damage Colgrim
Party HP Track:
Stanley: 8/12
Colgrim: 18/24
Byron: 14/15
Iolana: 4/15
Dario 15/15
Leeka 18/18
Super Secret GM stuff.
Prior Room Tiefling 3: 6/10
Prior Room Tiefling 4: 9/9
Prior Room Tiefling 5: 11/11
New Room Tiefling 6: 8/8
New Room Tiefling 7: 9/9
New Room Tiefling 8: 10/10
Skeleton Wolf 1: 9/9
Skeleton Wolf 2: 9/9
Ostengo: 15/15
Vethamer: 15/15
Dravano: 24/24
Palaveen: 33/33, invisible
Leeka sticks with Byron, "We work together," she says.
HP 18/24
AC 19/T12/FF17
Current BaB: +2
Saves: F6(8)R2(4)W3(5 spells)4/6
In Hands:Dwarf axe,Shield
Focus attacks, friends! Colgrim hacks at the large tiefling in front o fhim.
Taking advantage of Leeka's dirty trick, Byron hustles forward and attempts to finish-off the same tiefling.
Dario moves into flanking position with Colgrim and drives the point of his rapier at the tiefling who jumped on the dwarf.
Stanley has a decent idea of how the leader went unseen but not unheard, so he tries to keep an ear on the voice and where it might be. He is prepared to try and put this one out as soon as he makes himself known. "I tried to resolve this peacefully, but alas, now we are forced to deal with you harshly. As their leader, that was a very poor decision."
Iolana smirks, looking satisfied, when Palaveen disappears. Hefting her mace in two hands, she actually laughs out loud, and calls out to the vanished leader: "I had a master once, Palaveen. But he bled and burned easily, and you will too. The Everbloom watches over me, and her light shines on your evil desires. I once wore chains, but now I stand free. There are no chains on me."
As she speaks, a steady, white light blooms in the center of her rose pendant and blossoms around her, and she strides forward surrounded in the aura of her goddess, casting about and listening for the disappeared tiefling leader.
Byron and Leeka's double team works on one of the tieflings. The effect is brutal, and takes him down immediately. Colgrim's distracting swing gives Dario an opening, but as his rapier hits, it scrapes across the finely wrought breastplate.
The Tieflings then begin their counter attack. The two spellcasters, each having heir fill with Stanley and Iolana cast Magic Missile on each of them. Dravano whirls on Dario, attempting to tear Dario apart, with one claw connecting quite well, but the other missing the mark as he whirled around.
At this point, two skeletal wolves run up to Colgrim, attacking him as well, but having little effect.
The remaining tieflings attempt to tie up Byron and Leeka. The first pair attempts and fails to get Byron, although they will be able to flank him next round if he is not careful. A trio of tieflings attempts to get the 'little slip' her own medicine with two attacking and one aiding another, two manage to hit the poor halfling.
Stanley:
Dice Rolls
Plus modifier if aid is successful
Party HP Track
Stanley: 12/12-2 Magic Missile
Colgrim: 22/24
Byron: 15/15
Iolana: 8/15-2 Magic Missile 6/15
Dario 15/15-3hp, 12/15
Leeka 18/18-1hp-5hp, 12/18
Super Secret GM Stuff:
Prior Room Tiefling 4: 9/9
Prior Room Tiefling 5: 11/11
New Room Tiefling 6: 8/8
New Room Tiefling 7: 9/9
New Room Tiefling 8: 10/10
Skeleton Wolf 1: 9/9
Skeleton Wolf 2: 9/9
Ostengo: 15/15 1 spell remaining
Vethamer: 15/15 3 spells remaining
Dravano: 24/24
Palaveen: 33/33, invisible, 10 feet north
HP 22/24
AC 19/T12/FF17
Current BaB: +2
Saves: F6(8)R2(4)W3(5 spells)4/6
In Hands:Dwarf axe,Shield
Colgrim readjusts his grip and hacks at a Tiefling that is harrying Byron, they can't let their heaviest hitter go down.
Leeka moves with Byron, doing her thing, flanking if possible.
Iolana's eyes narrow and her lips purse as she looks around, frustrated at her inability to locate Palaveen. "Coward," she says coldly to the empty air. "Let us show you what the followers of a true god, not a jumped-up devil, can do."
Turning, she charges at the nearest spellcaster she has a path to! Her morningstar goes wide, but even as she engages the tiefling, she keeps her ears open for signs of Palaveen....
Byron adjusts his position to take advantage of Leeka's skills, and (hopefully) avoid an easy flank...
Dario winces at the slash from Dravano, but the Professor bravely stands his ground, dancing and thrusting his rapier at the tiefling, hoping to tie up the man while the others can even the odds.
Stanley still wants to find this Palaveen, so he grabs something to maybe help when he does show. All the while he is prepared to try his first tactic.
The group has some moderate success, with Byron taking a tiefling down, while Dario finds that weak spot from earlier.
Then the reprisals happen. The spellcaster Iolana charged, Vethamer, takes his 5' step back, and casts magic missile... into her face (an unpleasant sensation, and a broken nose results), while his companion, Ostengo casts yet another Magic Missile at Stanley. A short chant and a moment later shows Palaveen appearing again, resisting Stanley's attempt to put him to sleep, casting and having a glowing Red Rod appear next to Stanley, which strikes Stanley soundly as he had just finished his hex!
The skeletal wolves fail to bite at either Iolana or Colgrim, who have evaded their bites several times, while the pairs of tieflings trying to attack Leeka and Byron succeed only in a grazing blow on Byron, with Leeka being very able to dodge their attacks.
Dravano, roaring with rage at Dario's impunity tears into the Arhaeologist, slashing violently and ripping into Dario's flesh with both claws before rending them outwards in a spray of blood!
Dice Rolls:
Tiefling 4 Aid Tiefling 5 attack Byron
Tiefling 5 Attack Byron
Tiefling 6 Aid Tiefling 8 Vs. Leeka
Tiefling 8 Attack Leeka
Wolf 1 Attack Colgrim
Wolf 2 Attack Iolana
Ostengo Cast Magic Missile at Stanley
Vethamer Cast Magic Missile at Iolana
Dravano (6 from Dario)
Palaveen Visible, casts Spiritual Weapon.
Byron dodges the groups half-hearted attempt to bring him to flanked.
Party HP:
Stanley: 10/12-2 Magic Missile 8/12 -2 Spiritual Weapon 6/12
Colgrim: 22/24
Byron: 15/15-1 from Rapier 14/15
Iolana: 6/15-5 Magic Missile 1/15
Dario 12/15-8 from Dravano's claws 4/15
Leeka 12/18
Super Secret GM Stuff:
Prior Room Tiefling 3: -16/10 (20 Nonlethal... barely above dead here)
Prior Room Tiefling 4: 9/9
Prior Room Tiefling 5: 11/11
New Room Tiefling 6: 8/8
New Room Tiefling 7: -12/9 (21 nonlethal)
New Room Tiefling 8: 10/10
Skeleton Wolf 1: 9/9
Skeleton Wolf 2: 9/9
Ostengo: 15/15 1 spell remaining
Vethamer: 15/15 3 spells remaining
Dravano: 18/24 (6 from Dario)
Palaveen: 33/33, invisible, 10 feet north
HP 22/24
AC 19/T12/FF17
Current BaB: +2
Saves: F6(8)R2(4)W3(5 spells)4/6
In Hands:Dwarf axe,Shield
Colgrim keeps trying to help Byron, flanking with whoever he can.
Nodding his thanks to Colgrim, Byron wallops another one of the Tieflings.
With Colgrim and Byron now working together, Leeka moves to get a clear line at one of the spellcasters (whichever of the three she has best line to) and readies for him to cast.