Gaedren goes.. places his materials and equipment in their room and goes back out to the bar. He looks at Shaylee shaking his head. " I am so weak.. and frail.. I cannot do anything right. I'll sleep out here.. don't raise questions. Please. "
"Huh? What did you do?"
" I have to choose one of them Shaylee... And Im too weak to do so. I can't really talk on it.. but... No matter what I will feel grief. This could make tomorrow so much worse. "
"You need to get this figured out. I'm sorry I contributed to this."
Gaedren covers his face and then nods..." I hate to say it.. but you are right. It will be the hardest and most dangerous thing I have done my entire life. "
Gaedren stands up " Wish me luck.. I will need it.. as well as your support "
He goes to retrieve Avarice. " Mistress Avarice... we need to talk "
Avarice, Lily, and Shaylee gather around inside Shaylee's room.
Gaedren gives a long sigh looking at both women. he asks Shaylee to explain her involvement so that both parties are aware. " Alright... I want to say.. that this situation.. needs to be addressed. So I must ask you both.. so it is out in the open... How are we going to solve this? As it is right now.. it can in no way.. go well and could end in lives being lost.. I don't want that. "
Avarice has a hand full of Alchemist's Fire she keeps toying with in her hand making everyone nervous.
She sighs deeply after listening to the whole ordeal.
Then sighs again.
Then again.
"OK."
"Lily, I'm sorry I should have been able to see this earlier and even confronted Gaedren about this today."
"But he said he would be mine, so he is."
"However!"
"You're a human if you didn't know Lily, your life is short, while mine is very much longer. If you didn't already know, so is Gaedren's."
"....I will hesitantly allow him to belong to you, until either you part ways or your death; he will be mine in the end. I've waited 100 years, I can wait a bit more."
"But, I want to... Not now... But at some point I may want to..." Avarice's face goes red.
"You know what I'm trying to say. If I decide I want that, you have to promise to be ok with that one time."
Gaedren seems... absolutely stunned and then thinks on something, " You are... 100 years old... H-How did you come into the world so Young Mistress Avarice? I do have to commend your.. logical conclusion to this.. and.. of course would agree to the terms.. Miss Lily? I do admit now that it is revealed.. I am not Human.. I am an Aasimar."
"Gaedren if you don't want to be handed over to Lily with third degree burns then you need to not talk right now."
" .... " Gaedren nodded, though for some reason he felt conflicted.
".....I... I don't like this. But I understand Avarice. I can't say that when the time comes when you make your...request...That I'm going to be one hundred percent understanding."
"One time?"
Avarice nods.
Shaylee hugs everyone and ushers you out of the room.
" ...... " Gaedren nods and smiles... still not sure if he is allowed to talk.
Lily hugs Avarice and then takes Gaedren back to their room.
Gaedren smiles to Lily and hugs her from behind, " I suppose... we celebrate...? "
Lily turns and kisses Gaedren, and a scene very much like the one similar to a few nights ago plays out in their room, only this time it carries on long into the night.
The next day Gaedren was quite sore in the morning. He awoke untangling himself from Lily who had used him until he had nothing left.. and even then continued. He would shower, reequip and go down stairs to see the condition of the rest of the party.. gingerly. His pelvis hurt.
He asks the party if it was just him that has learned a great deal from the experiences of the tower and if they had gained abilities that they once had not? He also asks Bradford what type of Undead happened to be on 3-C.
"Ghasts, Wraiths, Wights, and what Samara tells me was a Bonestorm."
" I see that is.. concerning. there is little way our group could handle such a floor right now... maybe if we had much more experience... or some sort of... safe delivery method. "
"I've discovered the use of the Laying of Hands techniques taught by my order."
"Mona and I have worked out how to better attack our foes I think."
"I can channel my spells better through my attacks."
"I believe I have learned a great deal about how this tower functions, and how to better prepare for it."
" Alright then, I will ask that ant prepare Blessings as Normal and Perhaps a Cats Grace for our Archer Vartigan as well a two Burst of Radiance's.. We know generally where they are. Being buffed Before we meet them is key. Protection from evil might stop the mind control. "
Gaedren gathers everyone around a table to drawing of a rough sketch of the situation. As he speaks they notice he seems out of breath or to wince every-so-often. Twisting his waist or relying on his hands as he points at positions people are to be at.
" With the help of Mistress Avarice's knowledge of the creatures and my understanding of our resources I have come up with a plan to combat this issue relatively well with what we have. I know of the Ropers' weaknesses, which tend to be fire. I have procured a scroll of Flame arrow and a few oils for that to enchant weapons and arrows. Our main advantage is numbers, we will utilize that. Before we even transport to the room the scroll will be used by Miss Hazel as well as any long-lasting spells.. we can't be too careful. Assuming we get to the stairs relatively unscathed, Vartigan will summon creatures to aid us, a few Stirges and something that can carry a torch. "
Gaedren looks to the Drow to give a nod and then looks to Xant and Samara, then the rest. " Xant will apply a Blessing to improve our morale, then multiple wards against evil on our persons, Lily, Bradford, Himself and Vartigan. He will apply Strength of the Bull to Lily and the Grace of the Cat to Vartigan. Those of Torag I hear have the ability to cast a protective spell to either boost the defensive capabilities of a person or take on a portion of their suffering, this will be cast on Bradford. If possible, remembering where about the Stone Ropers are, open up with a Burst of Radiance Spell. After which Xant will be relatively safe behind the rest. Samara I will need you to Enlarge both Bradford and Lily, this will give them the reach they need to harry the Stone Ropers and fight the larger one on equal footing. When we start the attack I will need you to quicken those two, Vartigan and Miss Lana. And then whoever you see fit afterward. "
Gaedren took a breath, the soreness was surmounting but he paid it no mind he needed to be strong and it was a good pain. " Miss Lily, anything you might think will enhance your capability do so you are going to be striking with that Glaive on the Stone Ropers and the main one, Mona will be left out of this if possible. Miss Lana and anyone else who can utilize a bow shall.. Those who cannot well shall be using the Alchemists flasks I have purchased Those without a bow will have at least 2, this will be used on any Ropers that survived the first few seconds and the main one. The oils will be applied to 60 arrows, Lily's Glaive and Bradford's weapon. It will leave about 36 seconds of use before the attack. I will pass my Bow to Miss Asteria or Hazel, Lily's to the other. "
" The strike will start with Vartigan sending the creature with the torch quickly down the hallway followed by the stirges and possibly to the landing where it will be attacked either on the way or at the end. I will embolden the party with what Advice I can give and Miss Samara will hasten the indicated persons, Xant will use the burst and stand behind Lily, augmenting her with a good blessing from Torag, Bradford will be the front-guard, Lily and Bradford will rush in to combat the Ropers, We will unleash ranged hell upon the two ceiling creatures. Once the Main Roper comes the Stirges, Lana, and everyone else will converge upon it and swiftly deal with it. "
Gaedren takes a deep breath and smiles looking at the rest.
" That is what I have crafted up.. does that sound reasonable? "
Gaedren giving a humble expression and a sweeping look to the people gathered.
"It sounds reasonable enough."
Gaedren points to Xant. " His type can center burst of Radiance it much like Fireball spells "
"Yeah sure if you think it will work." Asteria shrugs.
" I havent been wrong yet and I spent the resources to afford to be wrong and still come out ahead. "
Getting to the stair case, Xant steps out and casts Burst of Radiance straight up.
Gaedren continues his inspiring song. He banes the remaining Roper and throws a Alchemist Flask at it.
Samara moves down the stairs and hastes herself, Asteria, Avarice, and Hazel.
The Roper moves around the corner.
Xant aids Lily.
Bradford challenges the Roper.
"LUG SMASH!!!"