Esmaralda giggles and waves at the Road Keeper that now favors her.
Kiley shakes her head and covers her eyes with her hand.
"Do I even wanna know how you do this," she asks Esmaralda. Her tone is a low whisper, but there's a hint of a laugh to it.
"It's all about batting those eyelashes girl!" she replies to Kiley.
After several moments filled with seducing smiles, Esmaralda tells the Road Keepers, "Remember gentlemen: if we get rid of that ghost for you, your camp will be safer for it. What your boss don't know won't hurt him... I'm pretty sure that fighting ghosts wasn't part of the deal when you signed up for this job right?"
After half a minute or so, the four Roadkeepers turn back to you. One clearly doesn't look happy, but the Charmed bandit says, "It shouldn't be a problem for you to look around. Taking care of ghosts would be helpful. Just remember to knock before going into the Stone House. Mother Nightthrush is in there."
"Thank you very much gentlemen!" says Esmaralda, heading for the Stone House. She knocks, asking, "Mother Nightthrush? can we come in?"
Breathing a sigh of relief while trying to make it not-so-obvious, Henric tips a hat to the guards. "Will do. Thanks for understanding, gents." As they walk past, he lowers he voice so as not to be overheard, as he says to the others, eyeing Kiley specifically. "We were told about this Mother Nightthrush. Apparently she's got some kind of powers and probably very dangerous. This could go badly, if it came to a fight inside. I'm sure that these guys will come running if she calls."
Tellanya nods at the road keepers and smiles, "all the best to you!" she says, cheerily. She waits with the others and tries to think about what she knows about the stone house, now that she can see it up close.
Kiley stifles a snort of laughter and waits patiently for the charm to work. She smiles and waves at the boys as she passes, figuring less is more in this case.
"Henric's right. If things do go poorly, we may wish that we did ambush the bandits instead of sparing them," she says once she makes sure they are out of earshot of the group.
Seeing Esmaralda walk up and knock, Kiley can't help but shrug.
"So, how polished is your silver tongue," she asks the taller woman.
"There is no one in this world too barbaric or despicable that would place them below appreciation for basic decency and respect, my dear," answers Esmaralda to Kiley's question. "You will find that no polishing or fake pretense is required when you accept this fact deep down in your heart. Everyone had a mother, a sister, a brother, a father or a friend at some point in their life. A person that provided support in a moment of need. And for those that didn't, you will find that the opportunity to make a friend can sometimes be the strongest impetus for change."
The door opens slightly, revealing an old woman's face. She looks annoyed and says, "Who are you? What are you doing here? You should leave." Seeing the four Roadkeepers outside, her face grows angry, and she says to them, "We'll talk about this later."
"Please, Mother Nightthrush, do not blame these courageous men. They have not failed their duty, but have been gracious enough to allow us to discuss a grave matter with you. A matter of great importance which you need to be informed of. May we come in for a few minutes? The road from Roderic's Cove has been long, bumpy and exhausting..."
Kiley closes her mouth as she hears the door begin to open. She hadn't meant it the way it had apparently came out, but it appears that she'll have to wait to explain that.
"Perhaps we can repay your hospitality with a song or a tale, as a stranger to a stranger," Kiley says. Her slight accent becomes a little more pronounced as she hopes Mother Nightthrush holds to at least some Varisian customs.
"There is nothing of which I need to be informed from you. As for them not failing at their duty, you're knocking on the door and talking to me, when they are supposed to keep all away from here. So, yes, they have failed. Now, turn around and leave at once - or else. You lot make sure they do." Mother Nightthrush shuts the door in your face.
The guards outside look at each other, and the one that was not happy the others were convinced to allow you to look around smirks at the others as he says, "Well, you heard Mother Nightthrush. Best you leave now - or else."
Henric winces slightly as the door slams shut. He turns around, half-facing the guards, but looks to his allies. "Well, I guess you all heard the man. 'Or else.'" He shrugs, half in apology, half as a "what are you gonna do" type response, before he turns to the guard that spoke .
he yells out, pointing his staff at the guard as a lance of fire reaches out to touch him.
Despite his outward bravado, Henric's nerves get the better of him, and he completely misses the mark.
Camellia sighs as she throws out a perfunctory slash at the closest Roadkeeper, the same one Henric blasted at. "Guess after all that you still get what you want, Ira."
Hells yes! Let's do this
Tellanya steps away from the foes slightly, behind Kiley, "after you, young lady. Though perhaps the spirits will guide your swordarm?" She gestures, and her eyes glow briefly, and a ghostly troupe of cheering humanoid figures rings their area briefly, cheering on the party. These spirits seem to show up next to each of Tellanya's companions and whisper helpful things like his left side is a little less defensible than his right and I believe in you, good job! intermittently as they flicker in and out of existence. Each is dressed in an ancient style, and seems to be smiling happily, though oddly. It's difficult to focus on their form for very long, and the effect is strange, but it does seem to help a little.
Kiley jumps at the slamming door and slowly turns with a look somewhere between disappointed and upset. She starts to reply to Henric's statement when she jumps again as he spins and unleashes balefire on the bandits.
"O-ohoooookay! We're doing it this way," she says as she starts fumbling for her sword.
A little surprised by his own brazen actions, Henric forward next to Camellia with his staff in hand and takes a defensive stance before trying to smack the thug with it.
Henric winces slightly as the door slams shut. He turns around, half-facing the guards, but looks to his allies. "Well, I guess you all heard the man. 'Or else.'" He shrugs, half in apology, half as a "what are you gonna do" type response, before he turns to the guard that spoke. "Fuego!" he yells out, pointing his staff at the guard as a lance of fire reaches out to touch him. Despite his outward bravado, Henric's nerves get the better of him, and he completely misses the mark.
Tellanya steps away from the foes slightly, behind Kiley, "After you, young lady. Though perhaps the spirits will guide your swordarm?" She gestures, and her eyes glow briefly, and a ghostly troupe of cheering humanoid figures rings their area briefly, cheering on the party. These spirits seem to show up next to each of Tellanya's companions and whisper helpful things like his left side is a little less defensible than his right and I believe in you, good job! intermittently as they flicker in and out of existence. Each is dressed in an ancient style, and seems to be smiling happily, though oddly. It's difficult to focus on their form for very long, and the effect is strange, but it does seem to help a little.
A little surprised by his own brazen actions, Henric forward next to Camellia with his staff in hand and takes a defensive stance before trying to smack the thug with it. However, his nerves still get the better of him and he misses.
Camellia sighs as she throws out a perfunctory slash at the closest Roadkeeper, the same one Henric blasted at. "Guess after all that you still get what you want, Ira." Hells yes! Let's do this! Despite the perfunctory nature of the slash, the warrior nearly cuts the bandit down.
Most of these Roadkeepers may have been willing to let you look around, but once the fighting started, they knew what to do. The one nearly felled by Camellia moved away from her to start circling behind Henric, while another moved up to try to get closer to Kiley and Esmaralda. A third circled around the fire and moved up to Henric as well.
Henric receives a small cut from the wounded one and fends off the other attacking him. Kiley, still fumbling her sword out, takes a gash to her thigh
The final Roadkeeper, still under the effects of Esmaralda's hex, says, "Wait, hold on, let's stop this. Guys, come on."
Stryn steps behind the one that attacked Kiley and stabs with his rapier.
He sticks a hole in the guy's hamstring.
You hear the sounds of spellcasting inside the stone house.
Red - 1/10
Yellow - 4/10
Green - Charm Hex - 2 rounds
Henric - 28/30
Kiley - 17/26
Damn, what a whimp. All that build up and these chumps nearly go down to that? That swing was like a 2/10
Camellia doesn't exactly disagree with Ira, and she follows with yet another basic swing, hoping that the scoundrels figure out what's good for 'em and skedaddle.
"Recommend you step behind me, Hen. 'ts what I do."
Henric gives Camellia a bit of a lop-sided smile, "And this is what I do." He steps back, though in the opposite direction, focusing his energy through his hands, blasting the two thugs with a fan of flames.
Esmaralda giggles and looks longingly at the Roadkeeper still under her hex.
She then steps behind Camilla for protection, and launches a spell at her favorite Roadkeeper.
"You seem to understand common sense. Protect me kind Sir! Help us fight your friends and I'll see that you are well rewarded in Roderic's Cove!"
Kiley bites down on a scream as her leg threatens to buckle from the blow. Her blue eyes glimmer with fire as she finally pulls her sword free and sizes up her opponent. Seeing Stryn return the favor to the man, Kiley goes for the kill while he's distracted.
Mindfully, Tellanya steps slightly away from Kiley and Stryn, and strikes out with her longspear.
However, her heart is obviously not in it. She smiles at the road keepers.
Kiley bites down on a scream as her leg threatens to buckle from the blow. Her blue eyes glimmer with fire as she finally pulls her sword free and sizes up her opponent. Seeing Stryn return the favor to the man, Kiley goes for the kill while he's distracted - and gets it, felling the Roadkeeper.
Esmaralda giggles and looks longingly at the Roadkeeper still under her hex. She then steps behind Camilla for protection, 5-ft step and launches a spell at her favorite Roadkeeper. "You seem to understand common sense. Protect me kind Sir! Help us fight your friends and I'll see that you are well rewarded in Roderic's Cove!"
The Roadkeeper smiles at Esmaralda, buoyed by her words. He says, "Right, and if I knock them out I can keep them from getting hurt too badly!"
Mindfully, Tellanya steps slightly away from Kiley and Stryn, and strikes out with her longspear. However, her heart is obviously not in it as she misses. She smiles at the road keepers.
Camellia says, "Recommend you step behind me, Hen. 'ts what I do."
Henric gives Camellia a bit of a lop-sided smile, "And this is what I do." He steps back, though in the opposite direction, focusing his energy through his hands, blasting the two thugs with a fan of flames.
Both prove to be quite agile, evading the worst of the flames, but even that is too much for the already injured one as he goes down.
Damn, what a wimp. All that build up and these chumps nearly go down to that? That swing was like a 2/10. Camellia doesn't exactly disagree with Ira, and she follows with yet another basic swing, hoping that the scoundrels figure out what's good for 'em and skedaddle.
The charmed Roadkeeper steps up to the other and says, "Sorry, buddy, but hopefully this will keep these folks from killing you." He swings his short sword with the flat of the blade.
The charmed bandit misses, and the other says, "You idiot, that...witch...cast a spell on you. Snap out of it!" As he says this, he tries to move away from the group in a defensive stance.
Stryn looks to the others to see if the plan is to pursue this one or not.
You hear the sound of someone spellcasting inside.
Red - dead
Yellow - dead
Green - Charm Hex 2 rounds, Charm Person 3 hours
Orange - 7/10
Henric - 28/30
Kiley - 17/26
After she strikes out at one of the fleeing enemies, she moves over to the last foe still standing and tries to spear them.
Esmaralda smiles and laughs heartedly , addressing the charmed Roadkeeper "Your so-called 'friend' is now calling you an idiot? Well, well... I'll let you be the judge of who really has your best interest at heart then!"
"Careful, y'all near the door. Don't know what's going on inside." With her hands full, Camellia makes the judgment that trying to open the door herself is a worse idea than simply going after the remaining (uncharmed) Roadkeeper. She strides after him and slashes with distinguished precision and strength across his whole front.
"Probably nothin' good," Kiley growls as she turns and tries to ram her sword through the gap between the planks of the door and hopes that Mother Nightthrush isn't expecting a blind attack like this one.
Henric moves over next to Camellia and (if he still stands) attempts to knock out the remaining thug.
Otherwise, he just grimaces at the sight of the slaughtered body.
"Careful, y'all near the door. Don't know what's going on inside." With her hands full, Camellia makes the judgment that trying to open the door herself is a worse idea than simply going after the remaining (uncharmed) Roadkeeper.
"Probably nothin' good," Kiley growls as she turns and tries to ram her sword through the gap between the planks of the door and hopes that Mother Nightthrush isn't expecting a blind attack like this one. There isn't quite enough room between the door slats for her greatsword, but she doesn't let that stop her, driving her sword through with the sound of cracking wood. The door arrests much of her momentum, but she still feels the blade find some purchase as Mother Nightthrush gasps in shock and alarm.
Esmaralda smiles and laughs heartedly, addressing the charmed Roadkeeper "Your so-called 'friend' is now calling you an idiot? Well, well... I'll let you be the judge of who really has your best interest at heart then!"
The charmed Roadkeeper says, "Zaro, that's not nice. Come on, let's just go along with them."
After she strikes out at one of the fleeing enemies, she moves over to the last foe still standing and tries to spear them. Her heart still isn't in the fight, however.
Henric moves over and attempts to knock out the remaining thug, but his staff gets tangled in his own feet and he misses.
Camellia strides after the Roadkeeper and slashes with distinguished precision and strength across his whole front, felling him with a cry.
The last Roadkeeper looks sad and says, "Zaro, you should have just surrendered, buddy."
Stryn moves up next to the doors.
Mother Nightthrush steps away from them.
Red - dead
Yellow - dead
Green - Charm Hex 2 rounds, Charm Person 3 hours
Orange - dead
Henric - 28/30
Kiley - 17/26
"No way! ha ha! **CACKLE** your buddy's not going to fall, friend! we'll try everything we can to keep him alive! everyone deserves a second chance!"
Esmaralda rushes to Zaro's side and begin to apply nearby herbs to the last wound inflicted by Camilla.
"What's your name by the way?" she asks the charmed Road Keeper, adding, "Any chance you can assist us in talking down Mother Nightthrush nicely? looks like she holed herself in. We wouldn't want a nice old lady to go down the way Zaro did right? Unless she's not really nice... what do you know about her? what is she like and what does she do here?"
Kiley gives a grim smile as she feels her sword find purchase. She doesn't think about how badly it could have gone and instead takes a few steps back before trying to barrel through the door.
Unfortunately, her injured leg buckles and robs her of her momentum just before she reaches the door.
Camellia hustles back to the door. She's not super excited about clustering up, but better her in the front than one of the squisher folks.
Damn, that was great. Good hit, Cam! I would have gone with a horizontal slash across the neck instead of a diagonal, but we can't all be perfect.
Tellanya shakes her head and wanders northeast a bit until she is standing near Kiley. She looks down at the young woman's wounds and says, "spirits bless you - I will heal you as soon as I can." She smiles kindly.
Henric makes his way back to the hut with the others, but keeps his distance.
Kiley gives a grim smile as she feels her sword find purchase. She doesn't think about how badly it could have gone and instead takes a few steps back before trying to barrel through the door. Unfortunately, her injured leg buckles and robs her of her momentum just before she reaches the door, and she bounces off with only a sore shoulder to show for it.
"No way! ha ha! **CACKLE** your buddy's not going to fall, friend! we'll try everything we can to keep him alive! everyone deserves a second chance!" Esmaralda rushes to Zaro's side and begin to apply nearby herbs to the last wound inflicted by Camilla.
"What's your name by the way?" she asks the charmed Road Keeper, adding, "Any chance you can assist us in talking down Mother Nightthrush nicely? looks like she holed herself in. We wouldn't want a nice old lady to go down the way Zaro did right? Unless she's not really nice... what do you know about her? what is she like and what does she do here?"
The Roadkeeper responds, "My name is Rodrigo. I might be able to help with that, although Mother Nightthrush has strange powers. That's actually her wagon there," he points, "but she's been sleeping in the Stone House. She leads the Roadkeepers, so I don't know if you'd call her a nice old lady. Some of the others killed a traveler in the woods, and he came back as some kind of undead monster that's repelled by roads. She had us make a road around the tree he was killed by, but otherwise leaves him there as a warning to us not to kill people in the woods. The exception is here at camp - we're supposed to kill people who won't leave the camp when we tell them. You're too nice for that, though."
Tellanya shakes her head and wanders northeast a bit until she is standing near Kiley. She looks down at the young woman's wounds and says, "spirits bless you - I will heal you as soon as I can." She smiles kindly.
Henric makes his way back to the hut with the others, but keeps his distance.
Camellia hustles back to the door. She's not super excited about clustering up, but better her in the front than one of the squisher folks. Damn, that was great. Good hit, Cam! I would have gone with a horizontal slash across the neck instead of a diagonal, but we can't all be perfect.
Stryn waits with the others outside the hut.
Those outside the door don't hear anything inside the hut.
Green - Charm Hex 2 rounds, Charm Person 3 hours
Orange - dying
Henric - 28/30
Kiley - 17/26
Esmaralda tries to recall something about 'undead that are afraid of roads' while Rodrigo talks...
...but cannot recall anything on the subject.
Tellanya focuses a moment, and a ghostly hand materializes above her own as she gestures. The hand descends through her own, and touches Kiley. She smiles at the young woman, and nods, "it is your time! Seize the day!"
"Thanks," Kiley says. She rotates her shoulder and seeing that it's not too badly hurt, tries the door again.
Unable to do much from where he is, Henric calls out, "Stryn! Watch Kiley's back!"
Kiley waits for Tellanya to heal her leg.
Esmaralda successfully stabilizes Zaro - miraculously, as she manages to get the wounds bandaged. Rodrigo says, "You're a really good healer."
Tellanya focuses a moment, and a ghostly hand materializes above her own as she gestures. The hand descends through her own, and touches Kiley. She smiles at the young woman, and nods, "it is your time! Seize the day!"
"Thanks," Kiley says. She rotates her shoulder and seeing that it's not too badly hurt, tries the door again. This time, she bursts through the door, revealing...an empty stone room. There's a pallet in one corner with a lit candle in a silver holder and a stack of three books next to it. A set of crumbled stairs leads up to what was once the second story, its opening covered by a thatched roof to keep the elements out.
The spirits whisper, "This is right, but also wrong. The path leads here, then disappears and leads nowhere. They must be found. It is written."
"Uh, where is she," Kiley asks as she looks around with her sword at the ready. After another moment of nothing, she puts the greatsword away and pulls out her short sword to have a blade in hand while she looks for their missing opponent.
Tellanya searches around, ”yes - they said this is the right place - but the path ends. There must be another path somewhere. Or there will be. Maybe there was?” She looks confused a moment. ”I could ask one of the dead people outside if they have any more information” she adds this last part cheerfully as her eyes are wide and she looks around the room, spear in hand.
Esmaralda and Rodrigo catch up with Kiley and Tellanya after a few moments. "Everyone. I'd like to introduce you to Rodrigo. He's kindly agreed to help us for the next few hours. Rodrigo, please share with everyone what you told me about Mother Nightthrush."
"Uh, h-h-how will you ask?" Kiley's voice shakes and her shoulders tighten as they hunch in. Thankfully, Esmaralda walks in with her new friend and commands everyone's attention.
"Okay. Mother Nightthrush has strange powers. That's actually her wagon there," he points, "but she's been sleeping in the Stone House. She leads the Roadkeepers, so I don't know if you'd call her a nice old lady. Some of the others killed a traveler in the woods, and he came back as some kind of undead monster that's repelled by roads. She had us make a road around the tree he was killed by, but otherwise leaves him there as a warning to us not to kill people in the woods. The exception is here at camp - we're supposed to kill people who won't leave the camp when we tell them." Rodrigo lays out exactly what he told Esmaralda.
Tellanya looks around the Stone House for Mother Nightthrush, and finds that in one corner of the house is a secret door that opens to a stairwell leading down.
"The path has returned." The spirits again speak their approval.