Heather and Emerion: The ogre's mace glances off Emerion's shoulder into a guard position that's just too low. He doesn't buy Emerion's feint, but the sword still slides easily over the ogre's forearm and into his stomach. As Emerion draws out his blade, the ogre snarls and the mmorningstar swings out to his left and smashes back across into Emerion's sword-arm. (5 hp)
Heather's shock forces a grunt from her assailant. Suddenly her hand is free, but he maintains his hold across her chest. She feels each of the buckles of his leather armour digging into her back. Incredibly, she hears the sound of steel sliding over leather. "Enough, o' that, Heather." His breath smells of mint over sour milk. In front of her she sees one of the men step clear of her webbing while the other still struggles inside it.
Then a sheet of scaly leather blocks her view and she and her attacker are knocked sideways by the impact of something scaly, muscly-hard and boney. Heather's head rings. Heather! Heather!
Istas:
Telisha is a teenage girl with dark brown hair common to the Varisians who make up about half the population of Trail's End along with Shoanti. She lies in the family's only bed with a few threadbare blankets drawn over her. As you come in the first thing you hear is the coughing. Deep hacking coughing as her body tries to clear her lungs. Splotches of an angry red rash cover her face and arms, appearing in irregular shapes and sizes. Blood spots the blankets under her chin.
Tauni, "Istas, thank heavens you're here. Telisha's in terrrible shape and I think Mina and FLora are getting it too."
Telisha is burning up, distinctly hot to the touch. Her skin is getting a dry paper-like texture that you might find on someone ten times her age. Some of the red blotches are starting to swell and whiten, like pregnant boils. You have never seen anything quite like this.
"Heather!" Emerion shouts, but dare not take his attention off the brute.
Desperate to deal with the brute he keeps fighting defensively (AC21) and using his feints and thrusts to wear the brute down.
Improved Feint: (vs. highest of 10 + his Sense Motive score or 10 + his BAB)
Attack: (vs flat-footed if the feint succeeds)
Damage: + Sneak Attack (if the feint succeeds)
For DM:
"Istas, thank heavens you're here. Telisha's in terrible shape and I think Mina and Flora are getting it too."
"I came as fast as I could," the priestess assures her Varisian friend, "How long ago did she start getting sick?"
Even as she talks and asks questions, Istas focuses intently on the girl's condition. Her words to Tauni are designed primarly to keep her talking and occupied.
Telisha is burning up, distinctly hot to the touch. Her skin is getting a dry paper-like texture that you might find on someone ten times her age. Some of the red blotches are starting to swell and whiten, like pregnant boils. You have never seen anything quite like this.
"This is very unusual," Istas announces, "I cannot say for sure what may have caused this...but, I'm certain the Pharasmen can cure her. No illness...even one from the Pallid Princess herself...is beyond my Lady's ability to heal."
Once again, thoughts of Urgathoa and the derro she and Stannus interrogated spring to mind. 'Could this be the first sign?' she wonders, 'It's a good thing I warned the Bishop.'
"Do you know if Telisha ate anything unusual...or if she went anywhere unusual recently?" she asks, "I'd like to understand the potential source of this problem. If it's virulent enough to also affect Mina and Flora, it could be a bit more serious than a routine illness."
She looks at Sinner and then at Tauni. "We may need to move them to the Grey District."
Jeorik will accompany his uncle wherever the senior Vandor wants to go. AFterwards he might go shopping (sans money) to see if there is anything he really thinks he might want to spend his coins on.
FW: I run the spoilers to maintain some mystery to the PCs individual lives, but I'm very inconsistent. My rationales for whether I spoiler or not are pretty random and quirky. If I take the time to write PCname only: then I'm pretty serious that responses (if req'd) should be spoilered and other players should keep out. That is fine.
Kenan: ** spoiler omitted **
CrimsonDM
Kenan points to the restless girl on the bed and goes to shake Dashani's hand, "I be a practising street healer."
"The sick girl be Brienna, she has dat high temperature and a worsening rash since dee last evening. Dee rash is turning into boils which I do not recognise. There are no obvious wounds, cuts or grazes that may account for this, well none dat I be foinding. Good to have a true priest of the Bank to help."
Kenan smiles in understanding at Tayce and Donitello, remaining confident despite the sudden turn around, while he steps away from the bed so Dashani has room.
Jeorik: A shout goes up from the barge. Two of the small boats cut loose and begin rowing hard downstream. Beyond them you can see a diver break the surface and wave. The two boats catch up to him just as they're beginning to round the big bend in the river.
Dorman spits over the side of the bridge. "Well, that's a lucky fool. They'll have a hard pull now to get back up here."
With that the old merchant is ready to go to his office.
Emerion: Your rapier point again drops low and the mace follows a bit too far. You flick the point up and thrust over his forearm into his chest again. The "ogre" looks at you with empty eyes. The morningstar drops to the ground as his hands reflexively grab for your blade.
Heather: The scaly leather waves violently in front of your eyes. In the space of a heartbeat you can see the two men in front of you, leather, the second man cuttings free, leather. Something clouts you in the forehead, then the cheek. Soemthing pointy rips a long gash along the back of your head. You marvel at the intimate feeling of warmth following the blood oozing along your scalp. The leather slides back over your head a final time. The two thugs are staring at you in disbelief.
Then your attacker goes limp and drops to the ground, nearly pulling you down with him. You spin as his clutching arm drags across your chest. Sitting on the man's head is a pseudodragon.
Istas:
Tauni looks concerned. "To Grey? Is it really that bad?" She has obviously interpreted you in the gloomiest manner.
Kenan:
In the background, Donitello is still arguing with Tayce. He tells her she can't afford Abadar's healing.
Ishani looks up at you. "May we speak outside?"
CrimsonDM
For DM:
Tauni looks concerned. "To Grey? Is it really that bad?" She has obviously interpreted you in the gloomiest manner.
"Not necessarily, no," Istas tries to reassure her, but the stoic Shoanti doesn't really have much of a bedside manner, "What concerns me is that I haven't seen anything like this before. Also, it's potentially contagious if your other daughters are showing symptoms. And I'd like for someone at Grey District to also examine them." Despite Istas' words, she leaves her real reason...her dreams...out of her explanation.
Heather shakes her head to clear it..looks towards the two thugs who are seemingly stunned..dashes the blood from her eyes and draws her wand..she points it at the two men.
"Whose first for a lightning bolt?" she hisses.
Bluff
at the same time her mind is sending..
"Majenko..is that you?"
With a kick and a wrench Emerion pulls he blade from the dying man and darts across to the main fight, blocking the way to the alleyway and the escape of the two ruffians, while ensuring he does not intrude into Heather's line of fire.
"Whose first for a lightning bolt?"
Sense Motive:
"And second for a light stabbing," Emerion adds with a chuckle, the point of his blade aimed unerringly at the heart of the one who has freed himself. Although his gaze is locked on that one, he listens carefully for the sound of any further foes behind him.
Intimidate:
Perception:
Heather:
Heather and Emerion: The pseudodragon reaches out one claw to daintly flick away the knife lying by the hand of the man on whose head he sits.
The two thugs emerging from the webbing suddenly stand still. "So now what?" one of them asks.
Kenan:
Istas:
"Now..now you walk away..go back to Eels End and tell Barvasi to keep looking behind him because, one day, I'll be there.."
Heather smiles..it's not a sweet smile more that of a predator who know's where it's prey is.
"Let them go" she says to Emerion
The two men rapidly turn to leave and are already a few steps away when...
Heather:
Heather sighs.."him too Majenko..just let them go I doubt they will try again soon.."
She turns to Emerion.."go on say it..nice company I keep..Barvasi will have to be dealt with at some point..but not tonight..escort me home Emerion in case he has more idiots watching my apartment"
"As you will," Emerion steps aside, wiping his blade clean with a flourish, but does not sheath it until both of the men are gone.
"go on say it..nice company I keep..Barvasi will have to be dealt with at some point..but not tonight..escort me home Emerion in case he has more idiots watching my apartment"
"Of course I shall," Emerion nods. "My dear, you are injured," he produces a clean kerchief and presses it to the blood at the back of her head. "And I owe you, sir, a debt of gratitude," he adds to the pseudodragon with a slight bow. "Your aid was most appreciated. I do apologise for taking so long to reach you, Heather - that great oaf proved too stupid to know he was dead." He glances at the fallen half-orc.
"As it is, the cur has ruined a perfectly good coat - and I shall have the price of my tailor out of him at the very least," Emerion quickly searches the fallen corpses and takes what he can, folding it into the cloak of one of the men.
"Think you that Barvasi will have sent curs like these after your other friends? They should be warned at the least," Emerion points out. "I can do that for you, if you will - Barvasi I have heard of, but he knows nothing of me, I think."
CrimsonDM
For DM:
Tauni grimaces. "Telisha is too weak to walk that far. We will need help or a litter." Sinner, who's real name is Sabo, volunteers, "I've got some silver, mother. I found it." He roots around the pile of clothes that serves him as a wardrobe and pulls out a curiously carved box. He sildes it open to reveal a handful of silver coins.
Istas exchanges a look with Tauni at the boy's revelation. Although many among the Shoanti appreciated raiding and stealing from rivals and adversaries, she knew enough that the Varisians had earned such a reputation in Korvosa as outright thieves.
"And where did you find this box with so many silver coins?" she suspiciously asks.
Heather and Emerion: Majenko, the pseudodragon, hops lightly off the sleeping man's face. (Heather you recognize him as Simon Barr, Barvasi's knivesies champion.) The little dragon stands on his hind feet with his paws out in front like a begging dog then arches forward in a sinewy bow of his own to Emerion. His thoughts echo bell-like in your heads, "Thank [b]you[//b], sir. Heather and her friends helped me once. I am happy to help her. "
Turning out the ogre's pockets reveals nothing extraordinary. 5 gold, 7 silver, the mace, a dagger, a pair of brass knuckles, a small waterskin filled with some strong alcohol, a cheap necklace (10 sp).
Majenko watches curiously as you rifle the corpse. When you're done, "Share? Only fair?"
"Naturally," Emerion chuckles. "Would you prefer the coin? I can fence the goods."
Istas:
"And where did you find this box with so many silver coins?" she suspiciously asks
"Uhh, a friend gave them to me." The awkward pause and rushed delivery make it easily apparent the boy is lying. The boy's face goes instantly flinty.
Tauni says sardonically, "Sabo is lucky. Whenever we're really short of cash, he always finds something." Over the last two words her tone becomes pleading.
Kenan:
Jeorik:
"And exactly what do you intend to do with the coin Majenko..hoard it and sleep on it as if you were Kazavon himself"
Heather's smile speaks volumes
"Tell me oh mightiest of Dragons would you like to live under my eaves..I can promise you good food and comfortable surroundings"
CrimsonDM
DM:
Jeorik takes a few gold coins and visits local fletchers. He buys some nice looking arrows, twenty or so silver tipped arrows ("I always wanted some of these"), and then visiting a shrine he purchases another potion of cure light wounds in case things heat up with the guard again.
Heather and Emerion:
"Naturally,...Would you prefer the coin? I can fence the goods."
"Shinies on the string, please. Easy to carry." A slow pause, then in a rush, "And a yellow shiny."
A search of Simon reveals a beltpouch with 30 gp and 17 sp, a very fine dagger, another more workman-like one, a sap, and an ivory holy symbol of Gorum.
"And exactly what do you intend to do with the coin Majenko..hoard it and sleep on it as if you were Kazavon himself"
"No, well yes. I will add to the family hoard and the silver shinies .... I have a friend who will like it. What will you do with yours?"
"Tell me oh mightiest of Dragons would you like to live under my eaves..I can promise you good food and comfortable surroundings"
Majenko sits up a little straighter, and arcs his wings so that the mid-span claws nearly touch over his head. "Can my family live there too?"
Emerion counts up 35gp, 24sp, the necklace and the dagger.
Appraise: is the dagger masterwork?
Emerion solemnly presents the necklace and a sail to the small dragon.
"By rights, at least ten more sails are yours," he tells the dragon. "I shall see what I can get for the dagger, and share it between us. If you are to stay with my Lady here, I shall leave it with her for you to collect at your leisure."
Heathers face breaks into a broad smile then takes on a wary cast.."How many would we be talking about Majenko..I'm not sure I could cope with dozens of Pseudo dragons..but a few friendly pairs of eyes around the place would be most welcome."
"Emerion..put the silver to use amongst the poor would you..let some good come from this incident.
"You are a woman after my own heart, Heather," Emerion replies with a bow.
"Let's go - I don't trust those two who fled as far as I could pitch them into the bay, they could return with friends. Speaking of friends, what of yours? Would Barvasi target them, and should they be warned?"
"Aye..but let me get home and change into something more practical first..then I'll take you to find my friends..first to the grey district to find Istas..then the Merchant quarter and Jeorik.
"Lead on, oh beacon of beauty in a world of shadows and darkness!" Emerion grins.
"Grey, hmmm? Sounds like a grave matter ..."
Heathers face breaks into a broad smile then takes on a wary cast.."How many would we be talking about Majenko..I'm not sure I could cope with dozens of Pseudo dragons..but a few friendly pairs of eyes around the place would be most welcome."
"Just a few, well several, maybe a dozen, or a score. My family's not very big. Of course they would want to see your place. I think it's nice, but everyone would need a look."
Kenan:
He sets to work in the kitchen. With the help of the younger children , he soon has water boiling and a sage-like aroma begins to fill the house.
While he works, Donitello has a go at him verbally. Ishani remains calm and assures him that the infusion will cost nothing. By the rules of his order he must charge for healing spells, but he may share the fruits of man's knowledge for free.
As the Abadaran priest finishes up, he asks you, "Have you heard of more cases like this recently?"
"A score..well I suppose I could deal with that..."
Heather winces at Emerions pun.."Please..until you have fought the restless dead in the catacombs of Grey..don't make jokes about it my friend"
"Oh I assure you, I have skewered the walking dead on my blade before tonight," Emerion replies, serious for once. "I have nought but admiration for the keepers of Pharasma who ensure the dead walk only in their corner of the city and not ours," Emerion talks as they walk, his eyes and ears watching for any signs of assault when they arrive at Heather's apartment building.
"If your friend there is a priest, perhaps they could provide some healing for us? That cur didn't injure me seriously, but I'd rather be fresh if I have to get into another fight tonight."
"Aye she's a Priestess but you will find her somewhat different to the usual followers of Pharasma...she..well I'll let you see for yourself"
"Fair enough," Emerion waits patiently while Heather changes and then they head off together toward Grey district ...
CrimsonDM
Instead he gives Tayce a gold piece, "look see, can you be doing me a favour and getting some good food, beef or chicken and decent vegetables so that you be making a good rich broth for all of us. Need to keep your strength up, the wurst thing that can happen be that you and Donitello is so busy you forget about yourselves, isn't it?"
"I'll see what I can do for her, just like Ishani is, so that's got to be better for her, hmmm."
Kenan takes out his healers kit and applies a slave and thin bandages to the most serious areas of the rash, looking to subdue the dangers of open wounds that may occur soon.
"There let's give that a chance. It be a fair job."
Kenan:
Spoiler:As the Abadaran priest finishes up, he asks you, "Have you heard of more cases like this recently?"The effusion finished, Ishani makes ready to leave.
Jeorik;
Inside the shop it's warm. There's a good fire going in a pot-belly stove, and the chimney draws unusually well so it's not smokey. The owner is pleased to see you again. "Mister Dorman, good to see you again. SAy, that's not you that helped capture the Sabor wench is it?"
"Silver points, eh? Going hunting the sewer wererats?"
Emerion and Heather:
Now, Heather's dressed and you're on your way to Grey. Majenko tries perching on her shoulder, but he can't find his balance. His claws alternately grip and relax, causing deep scratches, and sometimes his wings flare out, occasionally whacking her in the ear.
"You seem a little unsteady there my friend," Emerion offers his left arm to the small dragon, "would an arm-perch be better? at least until we can make my Lady here a shoulder pad you can grip more easily."
Heathers apartment is half of the top floor of an old tenement building..originally designed for 2 families it is quite spacious for a single person but her books and other research materials take up a great deal off space..there is ample room under the eaves and around the roof for a colony of 12 to 15 pseudo dragons..with relatively easy acess through the windows.
Heather winces as Majenko ties to perch on her shoulder..
"I don't even think a pad would help Emerion..he's just too heavy...Majenko we will have to find some way to let you travel with us..but for now I ask you to use your own strength to stay aloft."
Heather changes her shirt again..her outfit is much as it was when on guard patrol breeches and boots with a half skirt coat which still does not disguise her female form.
"Let's go."
"Lead on, My Lady," Emerion smiles. He has reversed his outer clothing so that they now show black, rather than the brighter frippery.
CrimsonDM
For DM:
"Uhh, a friend gave them to me." The awkward pause and rushed delivery make it easily apparent the boy is lying. The boy's face goes instantly flinty.
Istas frowns at the boy, making it clear to him she can discern the truth and doesn't approve. Times have become so harsh in Korvosa lately. And, with the manner in which the Grey Maidens seem to have usurped the Field Marshall's office in criminal matters, she fears what they might do if one of them came across Sabo in the act of stealing.
Tauni says sardonically, "Sabo is lucky. Whenever we're really short of cash, he always finds something." Over the last two words her tone becomes pleading.
"Blessed by Desna, no doubt," the priestess offers in a clipped tone.
"Put your money aside," she explains, "I'll see if we can find a litter to bring your sick one to the Pharasmen. Better that, than to hand all your coin to Abadar's church. Also, I have a treatise on disease that recently came into my possession which I want to consult on her illness."
With that, Istas makes arrangements with her colleagues in the Grey District to bring the sick child into the temple of Pharasma for care. To those who ask, she explains the child's sickness may reflect the work carried out by Urgathoa's followers and she asks them to summon Father Corvin so she may speak with him.
Kenan:
Outside an even smaller house than Tayce Saldado's stands a Shoanti woman, quite tall, with a lean, athletic physique. She wears the robes of a priestess of Pharasma and a hand-me-down traveler's outfit inherited from another acolyte who recently passed away. A silver chain about her neck holds a medallion depicting Pharasma's comet, whose tail spirals into infinity.
Istas:
Jeorik:
Heather, Emerion:
Jeorik walks along the streets, his newly purchased goods in tow.
"Wait up one moment, my lady," Emerion turns and steps carefully down the alleyway. "Ho friend," he calls to the fallen figure, "you'll not be able to breath water." He tugs the fallen figure by the shoulder, rolling it over, expecting to see the slack features of the victim of a mugging or a drunkard ...