With no spells that would work on such swarms (not without being a colossal waste of the arcane power), Valeria repositioned and tried to take out the swarm attacking Kavell with another Flame Arc, hoping that any damage to the aasimar would be superficial at best.
As focused as they are on attacking Kavell, the swarm doesn't notice the gulf of flames streaking towards it until it's far too late. The ravens squawk and fall to the ground in droves, their feathered bodies catching fire and filling the room with an odor of burnt feathers.
The last tengu in the room tries to stab Friday.
And manages to nick him.
Stepping forward into and over the fire pit he brought his glaive into play on the Tengu. He wasnt comfortable using the weapon to try and pick off precise ravens attacking the painter in a swarm.
The tengu flinches as the glaive cuts deeply into his sword-arm.
Clucking his tongue Friday steps to the side and lunges at the remaining bird man.
Friday puts the last tengu down easily.
The raven swarm, seeing the burst of flame erupting from Valeria's hands, flies out the open doors to the north and disperses into the sky.
The three tengu ninjas were each carrying:
--1 masterwork wakizashi
--1 murky grey potion
--1 deep purple potion
--1 shinobi shozoku (counts as masterwork leather armour; gives a +2 circumstance bonus to Stealth checks when worn)
"Damn! I....still can't see ant all!" Kasha says, gingerly touching her damaged eyes.
--1 shinobi shozoku (counts as masterwork leather armour; gives a +2 circumstance bonus to Stealth checks when worn)
"The birdfolk are dead and the swarms fled," Friday informs Kasha to attempt to put her at ease.
"Hold still."
He began setting down his glaive as he approached Kasha. He pulled out his waterskin and moved closes. First he would have to clean her eyes out to see what he was dealing with then he would do what he could to solve the problem.
Cleaned Bandaged and well hopefully better he gripped the holy symbol of Shelyn and channeled posive energy to help heal the wounds of everyone.
"Those birds flee, no doubt to seek their master. Should they return or again in the future do not hesistate to use whatever magics are necessary to end them... Even if I am in the way. My celestial heritage provides me some protection from them."
He began as he picked up his glaive looking about with a stone looking face. He was doing his best to control the anger that seemed to be gripping him. The ones responsible for harming innocents at the temple to Shelyn in the town had to be nearby.
"Thank you!" Kasha says, the gratitude clear in her voice as Sly chitters happily. The little leshy gives her a salute wth is spear before Vanishing.
"When I find the person commanding them, I'm nake them suffer for this."
"Sorry Kavell, I just don't like the idea of blowing up my friends."
As she spoke, she started weaving a spell before her but, instead of casting it, the pattern of energy collapsed in on itself and rushed into her chest. Had anyone with spellcasting knowledge be watching, they would have recognised the gestures as the ones for haste.
"Haven't had to use that trick in a while."
"Sorry Kavell, I just don't like the idea of blowing up my friends."
"If it would keep you and Kasha safe, then feel free and confident to do so regardless of mine and Kavell's safety." Friday offers.
As they gather up the gear from the corpses of the dead tengu Kasha takes a resolute breath. "Well they definitely know we're here, and with the birds fleeing to whoever their master is, they know we're still coming, so let's not give them any more time to prepare." she says moving in the direction the group had seen the surviving ravens flee.
Friday follows after the determined Shamaness.
The ravens flew out the northern entrance to Ravenscraeg and are scattering to the winds. They don't seem inclined to turn back.
Friday clicks his tongue. ”Where to now?”
"I guess we head further into the house then to find our answers."
He began with a deep sigh.
With a nod, Kasha leads the way forward, sickle drawn, body in a prdedatory crouch.
"Check the side rooms I'll move to the stairs and make sure nothing interrupts."
With a nod, Kasha tries the door of the closest room.
Kavell storms up the stairs and takes up a position at the top, looking down over the great hall. From his position, he can see two more doors to the north: one to the northeast and one to the northwest.
Kasha opens the door to reveal a guardroom identical to the one she sent her leshy to investigate before. This room appears to have more mould growing in the corners, marring the otherwise weathered stone of the room.
The shamaness' eyes take in the mould in the corners of the room, assessing the significance.
"The room has been unattended but nothing out of the ordinary." the shamaness says aloud as she moves to the next unexplored room.
Friday nods as he stays in step with Kasha.
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
Ten sleeping pallets lie neatly arranged about the room Kasha opens the door to. At the foot of each is a small locker for personal belongings. An iron trap door sits in the floor near the east wall.
Sitting on three of the pallets are three humans clad in dark blue bodysuits, their faces concealed by dark blue wraps of fabric. Two of them look up at Kasha and Friday, a bit indignant at having their meditations interrupted. The third one's eyes widen to the size of dinner plates and the colour drains from the skin they can see.
A fourth ninja emerges from a side room, visibly limping. He looks over at the open door, sees Friday, and his eyes widen to the size of window panes. Without saying a word, he backs into the room he just vacated and slowly closes the door.
A strangled whimper of fear comes from the third ninja.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The predatory battle spirit bound to Kasha catches the scent of fear. "You fight us, you die as the others did, you help us, we let you leave, and as long as we never see you again.....live."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
These type of reactions from opponents were the ones Friday was most amicable towards. "She is most wise, and much more benevolent than I. I'd listen." he adds, even with his voice quiet and flat he was in a good mood.
The terrified ninja starts slowly crawling underneath his pallet as the other two ninja snort derisively and rise.
"What, you think that just because two of us decide to be cowards, that means you have what it takes to fight a Frozen Shadow?" One draws his wakizashi. "A true Shadow does not fear death. Only failure."
The frightened ninja peeks out from under his pallet, pulls his veil down so his mouth is visible, and mouths something to the party.
He seems to be saying "I'm not with them."
"Same difference." Friday tells the two standing ninja. Noticing the one under the pallet Friday winks in confirmation at him.
"You've made your choice." Kasha says, taking a step backward to give Friday a clear path.
The ninja chuckles. "Yes. I choose your deaths."
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Kasha begins casting a spell, an intricate movements tracing sigils in the air, punctuated by an inaudible shriek.
Friday rolls his eyes as he steps up to greet the ninjas.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Hearing the trouble... or at least Kasha chanting magic he moved down the stairs prepared to help.
"Whats the trouble?"
He called out.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
"Ninja shaped and annoying," Friday calls back
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
"Did they say that cliche thing about ninjas only fearing failure?"
He called back readying his glaive.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Friday sighs. Then after a beat calls back. "Yes."
"This is such bull," Valeria said, still pissed at real ninja actually following the stories to the letter rather than just being the Tianese equivalent of spies.
Frustratingly, she had no applicable spells and didn't want to risk getting close to them.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
The boasting ninja gets hit in the spot where it clearly mattered to him the most--the mouth. Friday's spear goes through his mouth and out the back of his head. His eyes widen in surprise before he dies in moments.
The other ninja starts screaming in terror as bats flood into the room and start biting at him.
He flails and eventually falls to the floor in a quivering, weeping ball.
The ninja under the pallet peeks out again. "Call the bats off! Please call the bats off! We'll talk! We'll talk!"
Friday pulls his spear back and shakes any loose gore free. As for the bats? He figures Kasha would call them off when she felt like it.
"Slide your weapons out from under the bed first." Kasha answers fiercely.
The hiding ninja shoves a wakizashi, siangham, shortbow and a quiver of 20 arrows out from his hiding place.