Bahram looks into Alledueces's empty mug, sniffs it some and gives Alledueces a midly disapproving look. "I hope this is going to be your only mug tonight?" as he raises an eyebrow.
"Might need your wits about you."
"Sorry Nihlune. We're a little excitable. Feel free to cut in anytime." he continues sheepishly.
He tucks into his stew and wolfs it down, as if he hasn't eaten the entire day. Well, some days, the work eats you."Good stuff," he says between mouthfuls."You ought to try some. Should fill you up abit. as he grins at Nilhune.
"Well, Alledueces, there was no way you could have known about Amigail's father. You can only make plans on what you know off." He replies. "Besides, life's like that, full of oopsies. You learn from it. Might want to find a good time to tell her you're sorry. "
"Alledueces - what have you heard about the going-ons in the city? I know sailors talk a lot after they have a round or two."
Basila looks greatly saddened by the contents of the letter."I..I wish there was something I could say Ami. Never will I say a word to anyone. But can father do anything?"
As you are speaking a composed Vasaro reemerges from the kitchen and comes to stand by both of you. "A request for a meeting has been sent to Dalmone. I made certain to encourage him to get back to us. I'd expect his reply within a day or two. Best to do is to take some peace in the friendship around you right now. Everything will be alright. No sense you two standing here while everyone gawks at you go sit down"
Crossing the taproom he sits down by Lanarial's table. "Different times my friend." he looks over in Basila's direction. "It seems both happiness and sadness follow me everywhere. Tell me how long will you be in the city, Lanarial? We have rooms here if you need one. Do not worry about the coin. You saved my life when things looked grim. Still tell me more of what has gone in your life. Your talents must come in useful when engaging the enemy at sea. But what is your plan. Will you always be the ship mage or is there something more you dream about?"
Amigail thanks the tavernkeeper and his daughter for their kindness before asking Basila to bring her a pitcher of ale and a large mug. The young woman then takes a seat at the far end of the bar to be alone with her thoughts.
Lothenlieth smiled, something tight in his chest unknotting at Basila's kindness. He took her words to heart, and drank sparingly, organizing his thoughts.
Lanarial smiles in earnest at his friend, the years since they parted ways melting away like the frost in the morning sun. "I had only thought about the rest of this month, planning to stay here and visit with you. I went to sea to escape the nightmares from my captivity. The endless days of sun, sky, sea and waves had the calming effect I so desperately needed. Having this magic helped in some ways, but tended to alienate me from the rest of the crew more often than not. For the most part that was fine by me - the silence suited my troubled thoughts."
After a few moments his far-away gaze returns to Vasaro, and he takes a deep drink from his mug. "I appreciate your offer of lodging and will happily take you up on it, but I insist on paying or working! Perhaps my magic can be useful here, too! See, I can clean tables without even being near them!" Lanarial whispers an arcane phrase and points at a dish rag across the room, making it move in a circular motion on the bar and mimicking Vasaro's act of polishing the wood. "I have completed my contract on Wasp, and so am free to stay or go as I choose. I have a bit of coin saved up; perhaps I will visit the forest and see the land of my birth. But for now I am satisfied to enjoy your company for as long as you'll have me!"
He gives his old friend a warm pat on the shoulder, and asks how he has been, knowing there were tough times for the man, but apparently some good times as well.
"Did you see that?" he tells Nhilune and Alledueces. Bahram points at the dish rag doing the polishing by itself. "That is so cool. Imagine if the herbs could sort themselves into the right cabinets without me doing anything. That would be awesome!"
Wait... Bahram, havn't I seen you use magic around the shop. You create water from thin air for your herbs all the time. And you taught me how to detect magic, create light and cure minor wounds.
When Basilla brings the tea and stew that Alledueces ordered he will ask her quietly I noticed the elf over there paying a little more attention to Amigail then would seem decent. Do you know who he is. Maybe an admirer, or maybe someone we should keep an eye on?
"Watering is one thing. It just saves me trouble with a bucket. Eh...detecting magic is just like smelling cinnamon. You give a good sniff. But imagine. Herbs sorting themselves out. Thats like. Wow," he gushes.
"Which one? Larnarial?" he looks at Lanarial. "Oh, he's someone I've helped from a long time back."
"Or did you mean the other one?" he looks at Lothenlieth. "No, I don't know him. Why don't you ask them both over? They might know something about people going missing at night. Get Amigail as well if she isn't too busy."
"Yes times have been rough but as of late they are getting much better. My wife and child died almost a decade ago while she was giving birth to him. It is a day that has pained me so, but seeing Basila now it brings me joy knowing that she has turned out just like her mother would have wanted her.
I often wonder if I am wrong to have her working here in the bar but it allows me to keep an eye on her and I do believe she rather likes it. But she is all I have left Lanarial. She is my greatest treasure."
"Father we need to bring another keg up from the cellar."
"Excuse me Lanarial. Basila does not like it when I keep her customers waiting. If you are so inclined to trade labor for room and board then I will not complain. I could use a hand time to time and it might let Basila do more activities befitting a Taldan lady." Vasaro gets up and leaves for the kitchen passing by Basila who is tapping her fingers against the counter top.
Vasaro is gone no more than ten minutes when you hear a commotion at the front door. There is a rush of footsteps and a series of high-pitched yips and growls. This noise precedes the appearance of three small reptilian humanoids, followed by two armored men wielding scythes and a woman in dark, blood-red robes.
As you quickly come to your senses and move to defend yourselves, you see that two of reptilian humanoids carry smoking wooden batons and the other one carries a small bulging cloth bag. As the creatures prepare to throw their items at you, the robed woman draws a glass vial from the folds of her robe and shouts an order: “For the glory of the Scythe Mother! Kill them all!”
ROUND 1
When Alledueces realizes what's going on he pulls out his lute and starts playing a song to inspire confidence in his allies.
Little ditty about Bass and Jassaro
Just some good folks who own the "Pike and flagon "
Bass is the waiting gurrl
Jassaro is the man behind the bar.
Suckin' on some ale and drinking some mead
When in through the door come some scaly guys lookin to be mean
Come on guys it's time to get up off your comfy seats
Let's beat up these scaly guys and send off these creeps
And say a
"Oh yeah life goes on
Long after the thrill of drinkin is gone"
Say a, "Oh yeah life goes on
Long after the thrill of drinkin' is gone,
Amigail straps on her buckler and moves toward the intruders while drawing her trusty falcata. She steps between the little monsters and Basila , telling the waitress to get to safety behind the bar.
Lothenlieth grins so savagely it's almost a snarl. A raging beast has been slumbering inside him, begging for release.
And now he could give it free reign.
Lothenlieth rolled over the table in a fluid motion, drawing his blade as he came to his feet. He had never done this in combat before, but now was as good a time as any. He drew upon his magical power, shunting it into his blade.
Swift Action: Enhancement Bonus +1, 1 point spent from Arcane Pool, lasts 10 rounds
Lothenlieth then moved to the nearest reptilian humanoid and attacked, plunging his rapier towards the monster.
Lanarial shouts an arcane word and thrusts his closed fist towards the closest reptilian. A barely visible force leaps from his hand and moves at the speed of sound to strike it in the chest!
He grabs his darkwood shortbow that was propped up next to him and assumes a ready stance...
The cult priestess throws the glass vial towards the middle of the room whereby it hits the edge of a table and immediately shatters dispersing whatever contents it contained.
The other cultists stand by her side with weapons ready keeping close watch on your actions.
Alledueces' tune begins to uplift you all as he plays an upbeat song that fills you with confidence and with unseen speed and accuracy Lothenlieth stabs his black blade deep into one of the reptilian creatures. The blow is so precise that creature dies instantly without even making a sound.
"Urgh, what was that?" as he breaths in the foul miasma of the glass vial, and feels considerably weakened. "Don't let her get another shot!" as he pulls himself out of the chair with the aid of his quarterstaff and hobbles towards the cultists."Varaso, get Bassie into the kitchen before all hell breaks loose."
Amigail grits her teeth as whatever was in the vial begins to affect her.
Lothenlieth groans, effected by whatever was in the vial.
The cultist locks eyes with you Nhilune and you feel your hex wrack his body.
The reptilian humanoid adjacent Lothenlieth steps in front blocking Lothenlieth's path to the cultists and at the same time draws a sickle which he slashes at Lothenlieth.
The creature misreads Lothenlieth's position and completely misses him.
The other reptilian humanoid smiles a toothy grin at the lame Bharam and steps to block access to the cellar staircase. Drawing a sickle as well he tries to slash at Bahram, but this attack misses.
Vasaro emerges from the kitchen and seeing the battle that has begun grabs at Basila who is coughing as she tries to get behind the bar. The two take cover behind the bar.
ROUND 2
Amigail moves toward the little monster near Lothenlieth and swings her falcata at the invader.
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Lanarial comes around the table and stops at the corner of the bar, repeating his magical force punch but this time aiming at the woman in the robes.
The falcata's heavy blade not known for it's graceful strokes hacks the reptilian creature's arm from the rest of its body. As blood sprays out from the missing appendage the creature drops to the ground twitching as it dies.
Lanarial throws another arcanic punch at the priestess and just as it seems like it will hit the punch deflects off another invisible force surrounding the priestess.
The two men flanking the priestess watch as another of the reptilian creatures drops and stay their ground as your party draws closer.
The priestess begins to chant some unrecognizable words and raises an amulet bearing a two headed vulture from under her robes.
"Laranial, please help me keep them safe."Bahram sees his chance possibly disrupt whatever the priestess is doing. He moves in front of Lothenlieth.
At least Laranial will stop that reptilian humanoid...
He pulls out some coloured sand from a pouch in his belt and throws it at the two men and the priestess."Stop there right now!" he yells as them as the sand becomes a rainbow coloured cone.
Alledueces hops off his stool and moves toward the fight. Even though he stops playing and singing the effects of his song linger in the minds of his allies.
Then he looks at the enemies and says...Don't you know it's rude to interrupt our good times... maybe you should take a nap.
Then he casts Sleep Spell.
Not missing a beat Alledeuces rushes forward and begins to incant a spell, his voice growing stronger as he unlocks each phrase.
Identifying the immediate danger Bahram ignores the reptilian humanoid and makes for the cultists. Seizing the opportunity the creature swings at Bahram with his sickle and completely misses. It hisses as Bahram ambles away.
Reaching into his pouch Bahram throws the sand into the vicinity of the cultists and immediately the vivid colors drop the two men flanking the priestess. The priestess remains unfazed even as she locks eyes with Nhilune.
Lothenlieth moves after the spell goes off, taking up a position between the now unconscious men. He lunges with his rapier, hoping to score a hit.
However, his awkward positioning makes the blow skew away from his foe...
From the safety of the bar Vasaro looks over the edge of the counter.
"By Aroden's gracious blessings it looks like things are <cough> <cough> in hand Basila." he ducks back below the counter and you hear a slew of coughing.
ROUND 3
The reptilian humanoid vexed by Bahram's ability to get away from it moves up to engage Lanarial and swings his sickle.
The creature once again fails to connect.
After moving , Amigail stands over the unconscious guard and hacks at the dark priestess.
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"پس یاپپانگ کتا اپنی ایڑیوں کے بل پھر پر نپ کرنا چاہتا ہے؟ ویسے, اس پری واپس کاٹ کے لئے تربیت یافتہ ہے" Lanarial calls out in a strange language.
He draws a masterwork longsword from a well-worn scabbard at his side and strikes at the kobold, the years of martial training as a youngster and refined as a sailor demonstrated in the efficient blow.
Amigail moves quickly seeking an advantage now that the priestess' guards have been incapacitated. She cuts down with the falcata but the priestess' armour is able to turn away the blade.
The kobold is no match for Lanarial's martial skill and with one stroke he finishes off the creature.
Now the sole person standing amidst her group the priestess steps back and holds up her unholy symbol bearing the image of a doubleheaded vulture. "Bear witness to the Scythe Mother's judgement!"
Lothenlieth grimaces as he feels his life energy is being ripped away. He will cast shocking grasp, then take a 5 foot step towards the enemy and attempts to hit with the spell.
He was more damage than he thought, and his attack missed. He held onto the charge, hoping to be able to survive long enough to make another attack.
Bahram takes the worst of the blast, unfazed. He looks in the direction of Varaso and Basila, worried on how they might be after the blast of dark energies. Part of him wants to check on them. She'll kill us all if she isn't stopped. He thinks.
"Nhilune, help me check if Varaso and Bassie are all right," as he wades in with his quarterstaff.
Aledueces finishes working the magics to cast sleep.
The effects of Aledueces song are starting to fade but still affect his allies.
Alledueces ends the last verse of his spell watches as nothing happens to the priestess.
Glaring at Nhilune as they lock eyes the priestess breaks the gaze just in time to turn her attention to the threat of Lothenlieth's blade striking down on her. She easily sidesteps his errant swing and then blocks Bahram's staff with her sickle.
From behind the bar you hear a cries of pain. "Bahram...anyone help. Basila she is not breathing!"
ROUND 4
Taking the long way around , Amigail repositions herself a bit behind the evil priestess and again brings her falcata to bear.
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