Rose the Dwarf wiped her boot and looked around for something that she could spill to cover the majority of their tracks.
"Go!" she hissed quietly while she held the door.
Hound sniffs to make sure it is Rose.
Very well Hound will head back to the tunnel when the others are ready or assist if something is needed to cover their tracks.
The dwarf gives Hound a look that clearly expressed that she was in no mood for delays or further blunders.
Nahia looks over to Seren and says "I was never attacked by the birds, but I hope my exposure to the gas wasn't too long."
Turning to look at her companions as they leave the rookery, she says "Are the birds dead? This is all for naught if the birds survive!"
The birds vanished into the poison smoke, so they might succumb.
Nahia glares at Hound, saying "Might? Might! We're trusting our entire plan on a might! No, I will not allow this."
Nahia begins back towards the smoke, wrapping her scarf around her face and pulling out a bottle and a small blue sphere. She holds the sphere to her head and small runes within it glow for a moment, and then fade.
Oh glorious Dark Prince, please protect me while I endanger myself to further your cause.
Nahia goes back into the room and locates the bed of the birdkeeper. She hurls the bottle, the glass breaking and the bed going up in flames.
As the birds move away from the fire, clustering on the other side of the room, she gathers her hand close again, and again calls to the spirits. "I call upon you spirits of destruction! Gather in flame!" and again the orange pinpoint of light gather around her hand.
Finding the densest cluster of birds, she thrusts her hand forward again, the spirits swirling away from her spreading intense heat and fire again, birds bursting into flame.
Nahia knows there is little more that she can do, and rushes out of the room, again back to their hiding place, coughing as she goes, and praying that that was enough.
Seren chuckles as she watched dwarf Rose try and cover their tracks. "umm, I think the scorched and bloodied Rookery master may in fact hurt the fact that someone was here... hmm, wait! I can solve that issue!" Seren replies gleefully rushing back after Nahia.
"Feel free to keep holding that door!" She adds as she rushes back up the stairs.
Rushing up behind Nahia she glimpses flashes of red as Nahia lights things on fire.
"Hasn't this been fun?!" She laughs to Nahia before re-entering the smoke and positioning herself over the corpse of Mad Martin.
A serious look crosses her face as energy begins to course through her appendages. She feels the skin begin to peel away from her fingers a little further as the necromatic power feds itself on her body.
She reaches down and touches the destroyed corpse of Mad Martin, driving the power into the dead body. The power expended She moves to the side, nearly tripping over the signal horn. She picks it up with a grin. Hurry up and Rise. I think it may be time to go.
A moment later a flood of water leaps from her hands. Can't leave all this blood pooling around now can we?
RUN, NOW
Intent floods it's mine almost instantly, the impatience of it's master driving it's actions.
It's skeletal feet carry it rapidly down the tower, pausing only a moment to wave at the clustered group of people on the lower floor, it's master unerringly sending it back to an entrance at the bottom of the tower.
The distance from Armory Room2 to the Rookery Room 43 is 150 ft.
Seren moves 20ft per turn.
Nahia Moves 30ft per turn.
I’m assuming you are going together, at Seren fasted pace.
It will take Seren 2 turns to move 160 ft., then 3 more turns to: decompose the corpse, animate it and summon water to clean the place. Then 2 more turns to head back to Armory.
Feel free to correct me if I did any wrong math.
|
Mysty, seeing the fight with the bird man is over moves quickly down stairs.
Everyone downstairs. We don't have time for dilly dallyingshe messages.
Once there she casts magic weapon on each of her weapons. Then she poisons one [the rapier] with Blue whinnis
It looks like we are going to get our big fight after all. Especially if those above don't hurry.
Seren and Nahia run upstairs, to kill the birds and clean the mess, while Rose order the rest of the party to hide in the basement.
Mysty takes the opportunity to apply a dose of poison to her weapon safely, resigning about fighting a big fight.
However, Seren and Nahia returns, accompanied by one skeleton just a the same time, when a great sword strikes at the wooden door, almost breaking it in two.
Unless directed otherwise, Hound returns to the secret room and tunel.
As Seren and Nahia pass by, Rose follows them, sprinting behind.
"Leave yer friend on th' stairs." Rose says in a pretty solid dwarven accent.
Nahia, flinching as the sword flies through the door, bursts into a fit of coughing and practically throws herself down the open trapdoor. Once down below, and once she has caught her breath, she paws open the side of her robes, finding Andros, who seems to be unharmed.
Taking a moment, she bows her head for another quick prayer.
Asmodeus, know that I have done my best for you, and be pleased by what I have wrought.
Nahia falls through the trapdoor, followed by Seren, the skeleton and lastly, Rose, the dwarf.
She passes and closes the trapdoor behind her from the other side, you hear a loud yell.
”This damn door will not hold me!”
Then sounds of wood breaking and something heavy falling in the ground.
”Search the entire place! I’ll see what happened to Martim!” the same voice says.
Hound waits for Rose to make a descion
Witch Level 5
Favored class into skills
Feat: Scribe Scroll
3rd Level spell slot (total 1)
Spells Learned:
* Spit Venom
* Fly
Gained 9 skill points:
Skill - Rank - Total Ranks
Appraise - 1 - 5
Bluff - 1 - 5
Diplomacy - 1 - 5
Fly - 1 - 1
Intimidate - 1 - 1
Knowledge (Arcana) - 1 - 3
Linguistics - 1 - 4 - Sylvan
Spellcraft - 1 - 5
Use Magic Device - 1 - 3
- - - - -
Also, YAY, this has been a level I’ve been really excited about because… I can speak to Andros now and he can speak back!
He also gains +1 armor and +1 int.
"Inn. Now. We're done here." Rose whispered quietly making her way down the tunnel. "We will just have to pray the birds succumbed to the poison. Seren don't get rid of that skeleton yet. I have an idea."
Clearly Rose was not happy, but they weren't out of danger yet.
Once they were a ways down the tunnel and clear of any risk of being overheard, she continued. "We have to assume that someone else knows about this tunnel. Someone will come through, and sometime soon we will probably have soldiers coming to toss the inn. We need to make sure our clothes are completely clean and that we have nothing that can be discovered that could incriminate us. That includes wounds and tears in clothes. What tore you all up so much?"
Nahia picks herself up and begins walking back down the tunnel, following the others. When Rose talks about cleaning themselves up, Nahia nods, pulling out Andros and whispering to him "Do you think you could do that for me, please? We really need to minimize our chances of getting caught."
The little serpent crawls up her arm and begins to bob and sway, before touching his muzzle to Nahia. Suddenly, the dust, dirt, and soot from the evening falls away, leaving clean, fresh clothes.
Birds, seems they were trained to attack on command. Hound will change his clothes when back at the inn and bundle up the bloodied ones for disposal.
"Hound, lose that tabard you grabbed from the armory. Anyone else who grabbed something, drop it. Leave them in here. If they find the tunnel they'll realize the people who attacked them look like them. They will have to waste time and energy investigating their own people. The tension has already turned the factions of soldiers agains each other. If we play it right, we might be able to fire them up enough to start killing each other."
Rose was thinking out loud, already looking for some way to turn this disaster into some kind of advantage.
Hound does as Rose directs, making sure to divest himself of items with any identifying marks.
Seren whistles a little tune to herself, thouroughly satisfied with finally getting to play with magic again. Probably shouldn't be happy, that was a raging disaster, but then it was fun....
She wills her sleeves to simply become little cloth bracers, leaving her rather nude under her breastplate. That should get rid of most of the evidence.
"I've got to disagree about the tunnel. If someone knew about a secret entrance into an ultra secure watchtower, directly below their only fast means of communication, you don't think it would be guarded? Just saying I don't think anyone in the watchtower knows about this tunnel. It's not likely to be found with a casual inspection either. If someone does though, do you really think a skeleton just waiting won't give away our presence?"
Nahia shifts her form, again appearing as the (fairly honest) herbalist. She then nods at Seren and says "We can hope this place isn't discovered, but we should be prepared in case it is. Either way though, I think the skeleton could be put to better use. If we can keep him around for our a later assault, he might be able to use some of the keep defenses against them, on our command. He isn't that bright, true, but it doesn't take a lot of mental capacity to pour a cauldron of hot oil when ordered to."
"Exactly. They might not know about the tunnel yet, but they will probably turn the tower upside down. We have to act as though they will discover it. I'm not planning on leaving the skeleton down here. I'm thinking we could smuggle it out through a window dressed in a cloak or robe, and send it to sew some terror somewhere incriminating. That or stash it somewhere that won't be checked and use it later when we need a big distraction. No reason to destroy it just yet. It might be useful."
"Its your pet though. The decision is yours."
Nahia looks at Mysty incredulously, saying "Do you have a deathwish!? At the least there is the Lord, a captain, a wizard, and an experienced priest, plus well over 50 soldiers and an unknown number of acolytes! We are in no condition to fight a garrison uck huh gasp" Nahia's outburst quickly devolves into a fit of coughing.
Catching her breath, she finishes, more softly, "We are not ready for that. Our best hope at this point is that they do not discover the passage, and believe that the dwarves were the cause of it. If they inspect their room and find the murder evidence as well, it may be enough to throw them off until we can take out the wizard, the priest, and the captain."
|
|
Mysty looks at nahia. I have no death wish, but it was not as if the entire garrison was all there. We could have defended the door, or even opened it and killed those who were there. Don't you understand. We juggle priceless crystals on unsure footing. Sneaking back into the tower is going to be most difficult now. They are on alert. They know they are under attack.
Nahia rolls her eyes and replies "Ah, so the soldiers would have happily marched one by one to death instead of calling for reinforcements and bringing forth the wizard? Oh, yes, how stupid of me to have assumed that our enemy had any measure of intelligence."
Gritting her teeth, she adds "As it stands, we may still be able to catch them off guard and use our tunnel. If we had stayed and fought we would have died, or been seen fleeing through the tunnels. I do agree that we 'juggle delicate crystals', but staying and fighting would have been the equivalent of throwing them to the ground instead of trying."
Turning to leave, Nahia concludes "We don't have time for this, we should get back to the inn in case an inspection occurs."
|
|
Mysty's eyes seem to glow as her anger shows at the witch, her hands flexing. and yet your whole plan depends on their complete and utter blindness, and stupidity. The point was to hurt them, not kill some old codger then flee like naughty school children. Mysty seems on the point of acting on her anger, but instead relents.
this contention serves nothing. We live or die with what we've got. I...apologize nahia, for my words. We indeed have no time for this.
Nahia doesn't look back, still moving towards the inn, as she replies "Actually, this wasn't my plan, it was our plan. And the plan was to kill the damned messenger birds, something that we didn't even assure."
Nahia is quiet a moment, before adding "But apology accepted."
"We will talk about this later!" Rose snapped. "This whole night turned into a giant clusterf@@$. We screwed up and we know it. Blame isn't going to help. We are all at fault. We're alive though. Our first concern is staying that way. If we make it through the aftermath of this we can go over what happened and how we can not ever do it again. Until then, cut the bickering!"
Her form wavered, and like wax melting in reverse, her form stretched and took on her normal stature (which, admittedly, wasn't that much taller than the dwarf she had been posing as).
Hound goes back to his original bald-giant form.
In the long way back the inn, you start picking a fight with each other, until Rose snaps at your bickering.
Sometime later, you reach the inn, and move in silence to your rooms.
At night, you sleep, angry with your allies, for their foolishness and naiveté. You wake up however, hearing a comforting song, the same one you were singing one night ago. For your surprise, the one singing it, is no one else than Andros.
He looks at you and in hissing voice says ”You’re finally strong enough to understand me… I’m glad.”
You talk during the night, and he teaches you a new power.
Corrupt Item
School evocation; Level witch 2
CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
EFFECT
Range touch
Target one object of up to 2 cu. ft./level
Duration 1 min./level
Saving Throw Will negates (object); Spell Resistance yes (object)
DESCRIPTION
This spell infuses an item with the foul powers of hell. The item gains an evil aura, equal in strength to its magic aura. Whenever a creature bearing this item presents it to an evil outsider, he gains a +4 bonus on all Charisma-based skill checks made in relation to the creature. If the item is a weapon, it counts as evil for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction and it deals an additional 1d6 points of damage to any good creature it strikes.
Any good creature possessing the item gains one negative level. This negative level remains as long as the item is in the creature’s possession and disappear when the item is put down or dropped. This negative level never results in actual level loss, but they cannot be overcome in anyway while the item is in the creature’s possession.
What a gleeful night! I could have been better, if your foolish allies hadn’t gotten in your way. That mad man blood was in your hands, and they stole it! But new chances would appear.
You go to sleep, in your room, but you wake up in the night, your body burning, a pain you didn’t knew it was possible. You know the lords of hell granted you a boon.
Quicken the Dead
School necromancy; Level Oracle 2
CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
EFFECT
Range touch
Target undead creature touched
Duration 1 min./level
Saving Throw Will negates (harmless); Spell Resistance yes (harmless)
DESCRIPTION
This spell counteracts the lethargy that sometimes over takes the unliving for a time and imbues a single undead creature with power and vigor. The target gains a +2 bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks.
The night was a disaster, but things could still be savaged. During your prayers to the Prince of Nessus, the knowledge about magic and spells flood your mind.
Dark Blessing
School enchantment (compulsion) [mind-affecting]; Level antipaladin1 , inquisitor 1
CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, DF
EFFECT
Range 50 ft.
Area The caster and allies within a 50-ft. burst, centered on the caster
Duration 1 min./level
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance yes (harmless)
DESCRIPTION
Dark blessing grants you and your allies a spark of infernal power. You and each ally in range gains a +1 morale bonus on weapon damage rolls and on saving throws against compulsion effects
This knowledge is yours, but you know that you can teach Fausto, to use it if you want.
The night passes, you wake up in the morning and feels something is wrong.
There’s a lot of voices in the place.
You look at the window and despair. The Inn appears to be surrounded by Watchtower soldiers! Did they discover you? Was your trail that easy to follow?
|
|
Mysty dresses quickly, and makes sure she is in her child illusion. She also packs up her pack. Looking at Rose, she says May the dark father bless us, it looks as if today is going to be exciting
She wasn't certain what was going to happen. Were they tracking the dwarves? Them? If that was the case, she wouldn't die easily. But? If they were tracking them, why wait till now?
best we play it cool, sister
"Yes. I have an idea. Soldiers roughed me up the other night. We're going to pretend to be asleep. When they come in, I'm going to go into some hysterics. Just play along like a confused child upset that her sister is upset. They're still good people. We can use that."
Rose changed into a different nightgown, one that was white, elegant, expensive, and subtly transparent. She crawled back into bed, arranged herself, and let herself get some extra rest.
Hound heads to Rose's room when he hears the watchmen.
*small knock* Hound. He sticks his head in when Rose let's him in and looks at her inquiringly.
Nahia turns and looks at Hound for a moment. Still upset about the evening, she almost decides not help him, but any way to make it less likely to get caught is something that should be done.
She steps towards Hound and begins gesturing with a hand, chanting "Spirits that float in the wind of life, please, come and grant him your blessed energy..."
Green pinpoints of light start to dance and collect around her outstretched hand, swirling in wind currents that are twirling around her form. The winds and lights follow as she brings her hand closer to Hound, and upon her touch the wind and swirling lights transfer to him, lightly whipping his hair and clothes, before the green lights start to enter his body and fade, soothing his pain and beginning to close his wounds.
- - - - -
Nahia is disturbed by the noise, and even more so by the presence of the guard. Unsure of what her companions are planning, she stops, takes a deep breath to calm herself, and think about what to do.
Ok, I don’t want them knowing that I am a spellcaster, so no preparing spells, in case they break in. I need to do my best to convince them I’m just another humble servant.
Nahia goes to her gear and takes out her holy symbol of Asmodeus. Looking at Andros, she says ”Ok, I want you to take this and hide. Your small size will make it easier for you than me.”
Andros looks back, saying ”Are you sure this is wise? What if you get captured?”
Nahia smiles and says ”Then I’m sure you’ll find me again.” before kissing the serpent on his muzzle.
Moving over to a wall, Nahia loosens one of the boards for Andros, saying to him ”Be sure to move quite away from the opening.” Andros nods before slithering forwards, holding the charm in his mouth.
She then begins putting out various dried herbs and flowers, as well as her copy of The Florilegium. Finally, to compliment the settings, she lays out the silver and sapphire holy symbol of Mitra that she has been carrying for just this occasion.
Ok, Nahia, time to play the part…
Rose let's Hound in and says "Play it cool. You were hired by my father to protect me after he got word that I was attacked. That is why you are in town. Go back to your room and don't resist when they come for you. Last night you were with me until I went to bed, and then you retired for the night because you weren't feeling well. You heard there was cholera going around and were worried you might be catching it."
"When you hear me start screaming try to get to me, but don't hurt any guards."
She numbly heads for the mirror in her room and stares casually at her profile, the circlet hiding her regular appearance.Okay. She takes a steadying breath, eyebrows quirking slightly at the distinct muting of the normal smells in the air, and releases her glamour.
Her legs nearly crumple as she looks over the damage the night had wrought. She had known the pain would not lead to good things, but this was more then she expected. It looked as if the power had been forced down her throat, long black and blue patches of dying skin trailing down her neck.
It could be worse. I'm sure it could have. It's going to be worth it in the end. Asmodeus, I pray to your dark heart that you know what you're doing.
Seren takes another steadying breath, reshaping her image back into the angelic beauty she displays to the rest of the world.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Seren awakes groggily to the noise outside the Inn, the night not nearly as comforting as she would have hoped after such a wonderful evening. She clambers out of her bed and head to the window, a muffled cry of surprise escaping her lips when she shes the watchtower soldiers positioned around the Inn.
Okay maybe not totally unexpected.
She casually shutters the window before sashaying over to her breastplate and mace, all the while still attempting to relearn how to whistle and talk after the event of the prior night. "Ssssk.....sskele...sskeleton." She stammers, noticing the new gravely hints to her voice.
Okay think this through. You probably can't take on all those guards and should go check on Nahia. Maybe not a good idea to go out with your mace swinging. O, maybe we can blame Barnabus! But then I don't get to kill him. Maybe watching him hang will still be fun, or maybe they'll quarter him! That would be interesting.
Seren casually saunters to Nahia's room, lost in thought. She knocks at the door, calling out.
"Nahia you in there? There seems to be something going in that we may need to be worried about." She pauses for a moment, grabbing at her throat. "I don't know if I'll get use to this anytime soon." Seren adds in the new to her voice.
Nahia hears Seren’s knock and gives a quick ”Come in.” Seren sees Nahia kneeling at a red blanket covered in flowers and herbs, a book of flower illustrations in front of her. One thing in particular does catch her eye, the silver and sapphire holy symbol of Mitra from their trials together.
Nahia nods and says, loudly, ”Yes, I’ve noticed the commotion. I hope nothing terrible has happened.”
When Seren gets close Nahia quickly and quietly pulls out the coil of wire and asks the spirits for secrecy again.
Nahia whispers to Seren, ”If they come in, let me do the talking… And are you alright? I know you were enjoying yourself last night but it did end on somewhat of a sour note...”
"Last night was fun. Haven't enjoyed myself like that in a while. sleeping afterwords though. That not so much. That was the painful part." Seren whispers back nodding. "Okay, I'll leave it to you."
Nahia, looking over Seren, remembering how they first met, becomes lost in thought.
I won't be taken like that again. I won't be left to rot in filth, living off of their scraps... So if I might die here, I should at least enjoy myself a little first.
Nahia reaches over to her supplies chest and pulls out a jug of very hard apple cider, a bottle of honey, and a wooden box. Pouring herself some of the cider, she adds just a touch of honey to it. Swirling the drink, she looks at Seren and says, again a little loudly "I'm just having a bit to calm my nerves. Would you like some?"
Drinks prepared, Nahia takes the plain wooden box and opens it to reveal a leather pouch and a long stemmed pipe carved with roses and thorns. Opening the pouch, she lightly stuffs the petite bowl and removes a tindertwig. After taking a sip from her drink, she lights the pipe, slowly puffing small, floating clouds of smoke, enjoying the tastes of spice and lemon and the room note left behind, releasing a long coo that seems to release most of the stress from the last day or so.
Nahia, having gotten so caught up in her own sensations, blushes a bit and turns to Seren, asking "Would you like to try?"
"Oh gods yes." Seren replies to the offered drink. She takes a solid swig of it, shock and despair etched across her face as she feels the liquid flow over her tongue and down her throat with scarcely a hint of the flavours she had come to enjoy. A tear rolls down her face as she lightly places the cup down on a night table.
"Sometimes I just don't know if it's worth it." She sniffles, looking momentarily vulnerable. She reaches out for the offered pipe. "Perhaps this will be better."
Seren takes a long draw of the pipe and holds the smoke in her mouth, desperate for any sensation. A minute later she lets out in the smoke in a defeated sigh. "Or perhaps not."
Nahia is surprised at Seren's... pain. She had seen it before, sure, but never this raw. And it had only been for a moment, but she knew that Seren was struggling with her path. Honestly, Nahia was not at all confident that, in the same circumstances she herself would not be able to handle it.
Nahia takes the pipe back from Seren, and places a hand on her shoulder, saying "Have faith. The sacrifices you make are great, but I am sure your reward will be as well. We just have to keep moving forward."
Nahia spoke the words, and she believed in them... mostly. But as she comforted Seren, Nahia thought about ways in which she might be able to help.