With a shrug, Sasha pushed herself away and began walking backwards, trying to keep her eyes on Alis' face and not her blouse. "Sooo, does close mean something different back in Silverwake because I think this is kind of the opposite..."
Her gaze dipped towards Alis' pendant again.
"Up!" Alis pointed to her eyes. "Well it's like how you and Mal set traps on The Shiv, but in reverse."
"Oh!" Sasha brightened, her eyes snapping back up to Alis' face. "So it's like you're the bait and we're figuring out how far out we need to set snares so the tiger can't steal the meat? OK, that makes sense. But how come you wanted me to be the one to help, isn't... Lureene better with... magic–"
As she backed away, speaking rapidly, Sasha's voice trailed off until she stood strangely silent. With a contented sigh, the tall woman bit her lip and gazed fondly at the buxom Princess, lost in a daydream.
MAP: Arrowhead Citadel, (Round 244 / 2:39db)
A soft gasp escaped Amhranai as she lowered the medallion and closed the conduit to the energy she had just released. The gems sprinkled like dust across the clouds of the medallion seemed to lose their luster as if a light had gone out. Studying the bodies before her, the elf replaced the medallion around her neck, being careful to leave it on top of her clothes and armor for easy access. These went down almost too easily. Perhaps the witch did not have much time to devote to their reanimation.
Ears twitched at the mention of her name, head swiveling about to where Alis stood behind her. That makes things easier. Although I question the wisdom of testing its range with the human, she seems vacant enough as it is that you'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference.
Mentally noting how far away Sasha was when her eyes lost focus and her words trailed off, Amhranai said "Onward then? Time is running short. Are these the stairs that will take us up or do we need to head back? "
"These are the stairs," Alis answered, stepping a bit closer to Sasha. "According to the maids, they lead up to the officer's quarters on the 6th floor. But–"
"Uugh," Sasha shook her head and gave a yawn. "Man, you know I could really go for a slice of pie, or some maybe some jerky even."
Suddenly noting that all eyes were upon her, the archer froze like a deer caught in a bulleye lantern. Slowly, she turned to look behind, shoulders slumping. "Crap, I didn't make it to the fireplace! Do I have to start over now?"
"Indeed you do. We'll be waiting on the stairs for you."
Alis shook her head and waved for Sasha to come closer. "You did great! Just try to stay within about 30 feet of me, ok?"
Turning back to Amhranai and the others, Alis continued to explain even as Sasha beamed from the Princess' praise. "We need to head up to the great hall on the next floor up. Hidden behind the officers' table is a secret stair. It–"
She arched an eyebrow at the sound of Sasha humming thru a mouthful of food nearby.
"–leads to the magical laboratory on the 7th floor..." With a crook of her finger, a plate of bacon began sliding away from Sasha and towards the rest of your group, the ranger keeping pace with it. "...or so I'm told."
Of course there's a hidden staircase! "Let's be on our way then. Same marching order as before?"
"Yeah, same as before." Darvesch says reservedly. "Apologies for being hasty again everyone."
"MMMF!" Sasha crammed another few strips of bacon into her mouth even as she held up a finger for everyone to wait. She quickly looked about, growling before she snapped her fingers and snatched up an open sack of flour.
With an enthusiastic nod, the ranger flitted past the dead bodies and began tossing handfuls of flour everywhere until the whole base of the stairs, half the hallway, and most of herself was covered in the powdery white stuff.
Completely flummoxed by Sasha's behavior, Alis held up her hands. "What in the name of Heaven, Sash?!"
The dusty huntress wiped her hands and mouth off on the now-empty sack.
"Grease, silly!" She jerked a thumb towards the stairs before she started dusting herself off. "Rummy might have taken out the dead guys, but..."
She gave Darvesch a subtle wink... that was impossible not to notice. "Good luck walking up greasy stairs right?"
"Anyway, we should get going. Come on!"
Sense Motive Checks:
Lureene watches as Sasha tries to mitigate the effects of the grease on the stairs and can only shake her head.
It seems like I have learned something new about Sash...or maybe I just never noticed this about her before....
Shrugging helplessly to Alis (who is the only one to notice) she takes her position at the rear of the group, her elemental trailing behind.
Should I think of a name for it?
"No need to apologize Darvesch, just, uhm, be...careful"
Amhranai's fingers twitched as her face grew hot. She was usually able to mask her emotions fairly well, which turned out to be a useful trait on the battlefield, but found herself increasingly exasperated by the human ranger. At least she didn't shoot me earlier but she is really testing my patience! This isn't funny anymore, Iscandu!
Her mouth opened once and then again before the elf shut it firmly, making her way through the swiftly thickening substance on the ground. "Use salt next time," she muttered as she passed the flour-covered ranger and took the first two steps up together before stopping to clean off the sludge that had collected on her boots.
"Wait salt?" Sasha's self-satisfied expression crumbled. "But– I–"
She sighed even as Alis gave her a tentative pat on the arm and hopped up and over the sludgy mess. "Fvck."
Turning to the dwarf, she held out her hand and pleaded quietly, "Well I knew it was white stuff!"
Darvesch stops to clean his boots, after passing through the flour mixture with Sasha's help. "It's fine, Sasha. You meant well." He smiles at her before continuing on behind the group.
It wasn't long before Amhranai had reached the landing for the great hall. Although the stairs continued to ascend, to the north four everburning chandeliers hung from a 25 foot tall vaulted ceiling, their glow revealing the vast hall that filled the entirety of the fourth floor.
There were not quite two-dozen tables here. The majority were lined with benches, the remnants of this morning's breakfast not yet removed, while to the east a trio of tables with nicer table settings and actual chairs denoted the officers' tables. Where the other walls were lined with great hearths, as if the equator could ever get cold enough to need them, the wall behind the officers was decorated with hanging tapestries — shields and suits of polished armor mounted between them.
Unlike the third floor barracks, here there was actual evidence of a defensive stand. Arrows and crossbow bolts littered the area just inside the landing while there were further bloodstains on the stairs leading up.
Sasha turned to the rest of you and whispered, "Looks like the bad guys fought your guys here for a while then went higher up."
Perception Checks
Stealth Checks
Survival Checks
MAP: Arrowhead Citadel, (Round 255 / 2:39db)
As the group pauses at the landing Lureene's voice echoes softly where her invisible form is bracketed by the party. Keeping her voice pitched low so only the party can hear her, she responds "'Lis, the girls said the secret stairwell was on the EAST wall, correct?"
"Yes." Alis looked at the invisible succubus and nodded. "Mariezza said it's behind the center tapestry."
Sasha turned to the rest of you and whispered, "Looks like the bad guys fought your guys here for a while then went higher up."
"And it looks like the witch kept them from pursuing Big O. She didn't seem to get hurt either." Taking note to remember the witch may be using some defensive magic along with whatever else she may be wielding, Darvesch remembers why they're there. "I don't mean to be pushy, but I think it would be prudent of us to get those hostages to safety as soon as possible."
Big... O?!
A golden eyebrow arched at Darvesch's reminder. "Well if his earlier display was any indicator, he's keeping them close enough to load onto the trebu– wait a..."
She stooped down and picked up a number of bolts and arrows that lay right in front of the landing. Unlike those that had missed to either side and had their heads and shafts smashed against the stone walls, these were mostly intact, and some still had threads of white cloth on them.
Holding them up, she hissed, "These hit, but there's no blood or flesh on them. Since when does a witch not bleed when she's shot?"
As the rest of you looked, it was exactly as Alis had noted. Other than a few scraps of punctured fabric, there was no residue of any sort on the tips of the projectiles.
Knowledge Checks
K: Arcana DC
Lureene pales as she realizes what the Princess was saying (of course only Alis noticed the look on her face). She turns to face Alis, "I think this witch is not mortal!" softly replying to her. "If she has demonic or diabolic ancestry in her, then it would explain many things!"
"I'm under the impression it's more than mere ancestry. Until we see more, I can't be sure. For now, let's just take this as a clue that, whatever she may be, this may be more than we've dealt with before. Just be wary, and keep eyes and ears open for the hostages." Darvesch sighs, trying to release some of the rage building up. "Kahn, grant me the focus I need to remain on task," he silently prays to himself. "Let's continue onward."
The Princess nodded in silent agreement with her friend and her cousin.
Why would an immortal this powerful team up with a guerrilla leader?
As Amhranai led the way to the east wall and Sasha helped herself to a biscuit, the scenes depicted on the tapestries came into view...
Theme: Holy Martyr
The tapestries were a triptych. They depicted the colossal statue of an elven woman of angelic beauty clad in resplendent armor. The regal figure stood atop a large plinth at the base of an impressive waterfall that billowed down behind her like some diaphanous cape. The cliff faces to either side of her had been carved and inlaid with silver to resemble great celestial wings.
The woman's hands rested atop the crystal pommel of a fantastical blade with a guard like stylized eagle wings, and she wore a crown of laurel upon her alabaster brow. Depicted in the foreground at the base of the tapestry, was a vast armada of elven warships under full-sail, and a flowing script bordered the pieces.
(No rolls needed for citizens of Ilmarond or Silvaurea.)
"Oh wooow!" Sasha was breathless, eyes big as saucers. "She's sooo pretty! Is she the goddess of elves?"
"No, Sash...she is not a goddess, at least not yet." She replies in a faraway voice, remembering her meeting with the Princess. "That is Larathiel, the Princess of Ilmarond!"
"Uhmm..." Alis held a finger up and looked to Lureene, but a low whistle from Sasha cut her off.
"Damn I guess good looks must run in the family," Sasha mused. Still not letting the Princess get a word in, she quickly asked, "Say Lissi, do you have a statue like this too? Oooh, any other siblings you're not telling us about? Any brothers?"
"That is Auriel, Queen of Silvaurea. She did what no one else was willing to do to stop Raukan Zaal and serves as a reminder that you cannot take without giving. There is always a cost." The elf's voice is a whisper, her eyes held captive by the triptych. She inclines her head in respect and then continues on towards the east wall.
Alis laid a hand on Lureene's shoulder. "They do look remarkably similar, El. Anyone that's seen the monument and Larathiel would say as much. The fact that she wields the same sword... well, don't feel badly, there's no way you could have known. That was built long before any of us were born..."
Although her smile and warm demeanor hid it from the others, Darvesch could not mistake the slight sigh Alis gave. Better than anyone else, he too knew what it meant to be far from home...
Bluff Checks
Sense Motive Checks:
While it was totally obscured by the center tapestry, the hidden stairway could not remain hidden from those who knew where to look. Even as Darvesch and Amhranai searched for signs of a hidden activation switch, once Alis (or more importantly Mariezza's necklace) came near, the illusion of a solid wall faded and a heavy iron door swung inward on silent hinges.
Although it was dim, sunlight could be seen from further up the stairs. Without a word and moving now as quietly as they were able, the six ventured within.
Perception Checks
Stealth Checks
MAP: Arrowhead Citadel, (Round 263 / 2:40db)
As they continued to advance, the six passed a wide window overlooking the eastern side of the citadel. About forty feet below, were the lower battlements, while the steps leading up to the main entryway were now well over 100 feet down.
Sunlight from higher up informed Amhranai that there must be another such window further along the stairwell. With the exception of noise from the city proper, the tower itself was eerily quiet.
Stealth Checks
MAP: Arrowhead Citadel, (Round 265 / 2:40db)
At the next landing, Amhranai discovered a curious sight. To the west extended a dead-end hallway leading into the heart of the tower. It was seemingly devoid of any doors or windows. It was only as Alis' dancing lights rounded the stairs that she could make out the scrape marks on the dusty floor that denoted the presence of secret doors.
The stairwell itself continued to lead further up.
Stealth Checks
MAP: Arrowhead Citadel, (Round 268 / 2:39db)
Pausing for a second before they continue, he points to the scrape marks on the floor and whispers "Do you think it's possible the hostages are behind one of these doors?"
He analyzes the floor for possible tracks in the dust, hoping to find evidence of the hostages.
Lureene's voices echoes quietly from nowhere, "It is possible Darv, but is this where the laboratory is located?"
Inspecting the dusty floor, Darvesch could clearly make out the footprints of a boot sized for a tall woman leading to and from the north side of the hallway . It appeared that the only path they had been taken with any regularity was towards the stairs leading up. Possibly with daily frequency over a long period.
The other secret doors did not appear to have been used any time recently.
Isaac shook his head and whispered, "These are the officer's quarters, Lureene. The laboratory should be the next floor up."
Lureene reaches to touch his arm reassuringly, "Ohhh, right Isaac. I guess we should head up there. Darv, did you find anything?"
"It looks like those two rooms haven't been used recently. But this one has. A lot." He says as he stands at the doorway of the frequently used room. He looks for the crevice in the wall separating the door, and tries to get a grip.
"I'm going in." He pauses for a moment before opening the door.
It took only a moment for Darvesch to locate the hidden switch on the back of the false wall that caused the door to swing open towards him.
Within, he found a luxurious bedchamber containing a four-poster canopy bed, armoire, chest of drawers, writing desk, and a large hearth. Morning sunlight streamed thru two windows in the northeastern wall, and there was a door in the room's southwest corner, evidently adjacent to the secret door at the end of the hidden hallway. Yet in spite of the expensive furnishings, something else caught the dwarf's attention.
Sitting on the edge of the bed with a vacant look in her eyes, was a strongly built half-elven woman. She had shoulder length blonde hair, and appeared to have gotten half-way thru donning a hauberk of elven armor. Lying at her feet were a buckler and a bastard sword that was still in its sheath.
Although Darvesch was no elf, he was still Frændi to royalty. The warrior had spent enough time amongst Ilmarond's armed forces to recognize that the insignia upon her pauldrons marked her as this installation's Master Chief.
MAP: Arrowhead Citadel, (Round 271 / 2:41db)
"Alis! Quick! Come closer!" He tries to whisper-yell to his Frænka.
Amhranai cast a glance back at Alis before crossing the room to the seated half elf. Eyes trained on the woman, the dark-haired elf crouched, lifting the blade and buckler from where they lay on the floor and walked backwards to the others, armaments cradled in her hands. "Just in case."
"Thank Heavens some people are still alive," Alis murmured. "Amh, just set those on the table there. Isaac, come with me. The rest of you? Stay nearby, keep watch and don't spook her."
To better reveal her royal circlet, the Princess whisked off her showy hat, golden locks swiftly swept behind the tips of her ears. With her broad-brimmed red tricorn hanging over the hilt of her rapier, she bent a knee before the dazed woman and gently squeezed her hands.
"Master Chief, Master Chief, the citadel has been compromised. Arrowhead and your new Governor need you. Wake up!"
Taking a cue from his superior, Isaac quickly hiked up his sleeve to reveal his own insignia. While they had met only in passing, the young Marshal recognized the woman by her rank "Ardagnir, it's Hlokenar. We're here to help. Are you injured at all?"
"Unngh... what the–" The woman gave a start at the sound of strangers in her bedroom, but Alis' gentle grip upon her hands prevented the Master Chief from making any sudden moves. "Who are– wait... Hlokenar? Governor?"
Alis released the woman's hands and regained her feet, presenting her signet ring as she spoke. "Yes, I'm King Aramandil's step daughter, Alissariel, and this is Major Hlokenar, the Marshal. We just arrived from a battle at Reaver's Shiv to find Arrowhead's trebuchet firing on the city!"
"Blood and damnation," the woman swore beneath her breath. "Your Highness, I'll see that those who were asleep on watch answer for this. First though, how bad is the situation that has a Princess and the city guard sneaking in thru my back door?"