"Here, let me," Gabriella offers, her nostrils flaring as she watches the blood trickle down Elká's leg. She moves close and places her hand on the inside of the changeling's thigh.
Her eyes close as she intones a prayer to Pharasma and Elká can feel the healing energy radiating from the dhampir's cold hand.
Her hand lingers perhaps a bit longer than would be expected after the healing is complete, but she eventually removees it and turns away.
When she finally looks back at the group her hand is clean.
Ulrich is both impressed and worried about his allies' battle prowess. When asked his opinion, he settles and delights in sharing his knowledge. "Ah yes, these must be soul-bound dolls. Sentient constructs designed from the binding of someone's soul. I should have mentioned that they are resistant to non-magical weapons, and vulnerable to mind-affecting magic, but it seems that is nothing compared to your prowess. Now, as to this rod. This is what is called a lesser extend metamagic rod. It augments one's magic to reach farther than normal."
After wrapping up the fight with the dolls, you continue on. Both hallways wrap around and join each other to the south. Arrow slits 2 feet high and 4 inches wide look over the courtyard to the south and the desolate moonlit landscape around the palace to the east and west. One of the large wooden double doors here is open a crack.
Beyond the doors is a room that might once have been an elegant study. This room has floor-to-ceiling bookshelves along the walls, a pair of heavy desks, and several overstuffed chairs. Most of the books have been shredded, their pages and covers forming small nests. The chairs have all been sliced open, their stuffing removed and likewise fashioned into small nests. An unsteady chair made of stacked books stands atop the larger of the room's two desks. Loose teeth are piled on the shelves, affixed to the ceiling, and heaped on the floors in strange, spiky patterns.
Four tooth fairies flit about, attending to a much larger fey that sits on the book throne. Resembling a gangly humanoid from the waist up and a fleshy insect from the waist down, this child-sized creature has enormous black eyes and a large jaw with a lolling tongue. He has a weak chin and overlarge ears, and he wears a crown made of humanoid teeth and clutches a tooth-studded scepter.
"Step forward, supplicants!" the fairy declares in Common. "Why have you come before the great and mighty Prince Uspid?"
Gabriella gives her companions a meaningful glance before turning to face this self-styled king.
"We've come before you, Prince, with honest intentions of trading teeth for a token to allow us to continue our travels on the Dead Roads. Unfortunately, some of your castle defenses have inadvertently activated and we were forced to deal with them with minimal force."
She presents the bag of teeth she's been trying to trade since they've arrived.
"Ah, yes, of course, of course! You want a stamp. Well, that is definitely something I can give to you. Definitely. I simply ask for one tooth from each of you in exchange."
Uspid shakes his head when offered the bag. "Oh, no. My subjects can scavenge dead teeth aplenty from the plane around us. I prize the warmth of blood and the stench of spit that clings to fresh ones." His long tongue eagerly licks his lips.
Gabriella smiles without warmth. "You actually think I'm going to give you one of my teeth?" she asks. As she continues to smile she extends her fangs. "Think that request through carefully and decide if there's not something else that will serve."
The fairy prince winces a bit and hastily raises his hands. "Okay, okay! You can keep your teeth, provided you perform one small task for me. I recently seized control of this palace here, but my mother, Queen Carnassial, has refused to honor my rightful claim of rulership. I've confined her to the castle's upper level. Eliminate her for me and I will grant you the stamp of passage you seek."
"Your mother ... The Queen ... is still alive? Sure, we'll deal with her, your Highness," Gabbi says, her smile never fading. She looks back at the others with a raised eyebrow.
So he's not the ruler here.
"How do we get there?" she asks turning back to the false-ruler. "And should we give her any message from her loving son?"
Uspid produces a key and hands it to one of his minions, who flutters forward to deliver it to you with a snaggletoothed grin. "This will unlock the door to the gatehouse," the prince says. "You can use the ladders there to get to the top level, then cross the bridge to my mother's chambers. And you can tell her I said, 'Please die painfully!'"
"We will return, your Highness." Alessandra assures the 'Prince', taking the key from the minion with a grin of her own. Outside she glances at her sister and then speaks.
"So, perhaps we should see what the Queen will give us? I love a negotiation!"
Gabriella bows as she takes the key.
"We will faithfully deliver your message," she says. She then gestures for everyone to follow her back out into the hallway.
Once they're out of the Prince's hearing.
"He wants us to help stage a coup," she says with a laugh. "I don't think that's what were here for. I say we ask the Queen herself for our stamp and be on our way."
Ellie looks thoughtful. "I agree there's no point in negotiating with the pretender - but isn't the true queen likely to set us a task? And I can think of the obvious thing for her to ask us to do..."
She shakes her flail meaningfully. "I mean, uh, there's no point having to go all the way there and then come back all the way here, is there? Better to go with a gift already prepared, if you, uh, see what I mean."
"It would be our luck so far to come prepared with a gift already and find out she still has some maternal feelings for the traitorous little bug. No, let's make sure that's what she really wants before we go through the effort."
"It's not that far." Alessandra agrees. "I love your enthusiasm sweetheart, but preparation wins more often than enthusiasm." She steps up to grasp Ellie's hand and whispers quietly in her ear.
"For instance, if I just went in and kissed you, then you probably wouldn't react well. But if I hold your hand to start with and you start feeling more comfortable around me... maybe then I'd have more luck?" Her voice rises softly at the end, making the statement clearly a question, although her dark eyes are confident as she smiles gently at the blonde.
"Uh- wh- ... bu-"
Ellie spends several seconds spluttering and the moment to offer a reply is lost when Alessandra strides away with a grin.
She breathes in deeply, uncomfortably aware of her livid strawberry blush.
"L-let's just, uh, keep moving, shall we? Stay, uh, stay focused."
Her own thoughts however are a jumble of chaos.
She breathes in deeply, uncomfortably aware of her livid strawberry blush.
"L-let's just, uh, keep moving, shall we? Stay, uh, stay focused."
Her own thoughts however are a jumble of chaos.
"Oh, I think you'll find that we're very focused," Gabriella whispers in Ellie's ear, appearing suddenly at the woman's side. She giggles a little as she walks off to join her sister.
"That's what we do," she says, looking back at the Lore-Warden. "We set a goal and exert enormous effort to achieve it." She turns away and continues to whisper to her sister.
Elká just barely manages to not roll her eyes at her companions and, instead, plonks one of the teeth they've collected at the conclave of two. "C'mon, royalty is waiting for us. Do, now. Talk, later. Gods, it's no wonder Roslar's Coffer repeatedly got overrun - the defenders were probably too busy talking to one another. So, who of you charmers wants to have a go at the Queen? I guess that no matter what we do, we need to figure out who holds the stamp."
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Ellie suppresses a startled "Yeep!" as the other one of the Terrible Two appears on the other side of her.
Uh-huh. Coherent. I didn't know that 'Uh- wh- ... bu' was even a word. Now why don't you get a grip?
She looks down at where her knuckles are whitening their grip on her flail. Ha, she'll tighten her grip, alright. Maybe tighten her flail around one of their heads. THEN everyone'll be able to tell them apart.
That is NOT a kind thought, Eldarel Japhol ... You do know that you're dead, right? And that you died younger than I am now? How much longer are you going to be my older brother? ... For as long as you NEED me, so, basically, forever. Anyway, I'm not letting anyone else in your head. It's nice and roomy in here. But that's not the point. The point is, I want you to be careful of those two ... Thanks, but I'd already worked out they're dangerous ... Oh, yes, very dangerous. I think they might want you to have some FUN. Oh, don't look at me like that! Look, you're a fine scholar as well as an able warrior. I'm seriously proud of you, it's a rare combination. But you're missing out on other things ... Well, like what, exactly? ... Well, remember my friend, the one you used to call Auntie Yulia? If I'd lived, she'd have been your sister - if you go through your memory, you'll find that time you caught us kissing? And I told you I was getting something out of her eye? ... Oh. OH! ... Yes. Now go, and live a bit. And somebody might break your heart, but hey - you've got that flail, so you can break their legs ... Hah, and who's thinking unkind thoughts NOW?!
But the voice is gone, if indeed it was ever there at all; although it does not leave Ellie as it found her.
With a renewed confidence, and a mysterious smile, she pushes her way to the front, past the twins. "Let's go, ladies! Time's not waiting!"
"I'd rather have a go at ... " Gabriella begins, but after a sharp glance from her sister, she rolls her eyes. "She should do it," she says with a nod towards Allie. "She's the pretty one."
"And I'm sure the Queen holds the stamp. The repugnant prince in there is ticked that she hasn't acquiesced to his authority. That tells me that she'll still rules here. Even if it's from 'exile'."
Allie is glaring at Gabriella almost before her sister begins, her reflexive sarcasm is generally amusing - but not always helpful.
"I'll go up and have a discussion with her. See if we can do anything else. If you hear screaming, come running!" She says, trying to exude confidence.
Ellie looks incredulous. "You can't possibly be thinking of going on your own! Nothing about these things suggests that they're trustworthy. Besides, who knows how many more animated statues or gods know what else is around."
She looks around, firmly. "We're ALL going."
"You're not going without me," Gabbi says, her tone very close to crossing the line to whiny.
Ulrich sighs and watches the young girls and their antics. Quite the click is starting to get formed. Allisandra and Gabriella are the bullies of the group, though charming nonetheless. Ellie seems to be getting carried along in the terrible two's games. Poor Elka, she has been left out. Ulrich supposes every group has its loners.
Does that mean I am the father of this group? These girls are young enough for that to be possible... Is that my path? Does fate guide me to look over these girls like they were my own? I have no experience in this field, and apart from Ellie, I cannot say that I really want to. Ellie deserves a kind father in her life, and it seems like Elka could also use at least a good friend if not a proper father. Hmmm...
"Golarion to Ulrich! Golarion to Ulrich! Come in, Ulrich!"
Ulrich snaps out of his daze. "Oh, mm yes we will all go. All of us."
You head back down to the courtyard and check out the unlocked door. The handle and lock have been pried off, and it opens with a touch. This room is a stable just large enough for one or two horses. Pegs on the wall hold a few decayed leather straps, the floor is covered with dried grass, and a pungent animal smell pervades the room. Something is rolled up in a large canvas tarp against the far wall.
Gabriella readies her crossbow just in case as she waits for one of the more melee capable of the group to reveal the contents of the tarp.
"H-Hello?" Kamosh squawks nervously
Ulrich loads and readies his crossbow like Gabriella.
Ellie wanders in cautiously and investigates.
Allie waves Ellie back and advances on the tarp. Standing to one side she counts down from three on her fingers and then whips the tarp aside in one rapid motion.
Uncovering the tarp releases a truly frightful stench of decay, emanating from a creature's rotting corpse. The creature has a mastiff's body, a feathery ruff, and a crocodile head. Its mouth is missing all of its teeth.
Searching the rest of the room reveals a few treasure crammed into the bottom of the feed bin--a wand, a pair of ballet slippers, and a small bead that all radiate magic.
Ellie barely reacts to the stench. "Ooh, that looks like an esobok! Yes, look at the structure of the jaws and the setting of the legs, swift and predatory. I remember reading a Manual of the Planes that describes them well, but I've never seen one before. I wonder what killed it? Actually, since it's missing all its teeth, I can guess."
Completely unperturbed by the smell or the body, she searches the rest of the room.
Alessandra on the other hand is caught utterly unaware by the smell and ends up on the floor, dry heaving. This is convenient because she notices the sandals tucked under the feed bin and not convenient because its very hard to speak, point or cast spells while trying not to vomit.
"The slippers help you tread lightly." She explains, once safely out of the room and able to breathe again. "The bead is from a prayer string - it heals I believe. No idea about the wand. Does anyone mind if I take the slippers? I seem to be the one manoeuvring the most right now."
Ellie blinks in surprise as Alessandra collapses. "Oops! Easy, there..." Picking her up as though she weighs nothing, she carries her out the room. "I think you should stay here for a bit till you feel better."
Elká pats Allie on the back as she barges into the room. "You'll live. Poor ... what did you call it, Esobok? Shame I didn't bring my tools along. I reckon all those aspiring halfling cavaliers would love to own a cloak trimmed on top with the Esobok's feathery neck and leathery crocodile-esque scalp. Just imagine it, wouldn't that just look amazing. Do you know if there are bigger Esoboks out there? One, you know, if it just so happened to die, would be big enough for me to wear?"
For reasons most obvious, Elká doesn't object to Allie taking the slippers. Ugh!
Ellie blinks in surprise as Alessandra collapses. "Oops! Easy, there..." Picking her up as though she weighs nothing, she carries her out the room. "I think you should stay here for a bit till you feel better."
"I feel better already, having you carry me!" Alessandra manages to whisper between heaves. At least her sense of humour is intact!
Gabriella puts a cool hand on Ellie's shoulder. "Thank you," she says. For once, her voice is lacking its normal acerbity. Putting an arm around her sister to support her, she watches as the rest continue their investigation of the stable.
"Thought you had a stronger stomach than that?" she asks. Her tone is joking, but there's concern in her eyes.
When you're finished with the stable, you turn your attention to the other door. In addition to the existing lock, it appears the tooth fairies nailed on the lock from the stable on top of it. That one is easy to pry off, and the key Uspid gave you unlocks the second one.
This room contains the remains of a wooden table and two chairs, as well as a ladder leading up. Of more immediate concern is the creature present--the long, sinuous skeleton of a large snake, its head a humanoid skull with a snake's jaws. As soon as you open the door, it begins to slither towards you!
Gabriella puts a cool hand on Ellie's shoulder. "Thank you," she says. For once, her voice is lacking its normal acerbity. Putting an arm around her sister to support her, she watches as the rest continue their investigation of the stable.
Ellie gives the dhampir a sunny smile (perhaps forgetting that vampires dislike daylight). "All part of my job."
There's no hint of sarcasm or insincerity.
"It's another construct!" Gabriella calls out. "It'll try to hypnotize you. Smash it!"
Knowing her crossbow will be almost ineffective, the dhampir fires at the thing anyways. There are much more skilled people in the group at inflicting pure strength damage and she doesn't want to get in their way.
Gabby's bolt strikes the construct but doesn't harm it at all! The creature begins to sway and ripple its bones in a hypnotic display!
Alessandra, seemingly distracted by her rescuer, looks up as Gabbi shouts and is immediately entranced by the writhing construct.
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Elká shakes her head with disdain while charging past the Dhampir sisters to make sure no one becomes snake food today. "Oh look, Ellie dear, the sisters are enthralled by a boney snake."
The snake's charms - like Elka's innuendo - is completely lost on Ellie as she charges at the new threat.
"Not a snake, actually. Or undead. It's a necrophidius. Someone or something made it."
She readily identifies the construct - and her flail is the perfect remedy.
"...and I can unmake it."