Tessenarin looks at the creepy dolls as well.
"I do not like the look of these things. They look like dolls. And they are talking. That is not right."
"They're not evil, macabre as they may be. Might this be magic?" Either way, Vinas has no intentions of becoming a "patient." He raises his longsword and looks to the others.
Conditions = Heroism (1/60m)
Weapon Equipped = Crossbow
Silver Blanch, Cold Iron Bolts = 13/15
Normal Bolts = 4/5
Crossbow: Attack: BAB +2, Dex +3, Masterwork +1 Damage: +0 (crit 19-20 x2)
Melee: Attack: BAB +2, Str +0 Damage: +0
Grit = 2/2
Aishe looks at the dolls and shudders a bit. Is there anything not creepy here?
Hoping for the best, and really hoping no one has to lose another tooth, he looks to the others for answers, but they’re all looking around.
Shrugging, and breaking inside a little, he shoots the ‘dentist’!
(point blank, heroism) (point blank)
”That’s not right. No more teeth.”
"Is there anything I can do right?"
Vanyan nods, knowing the feeling exactly.
”I’ve felt like that before. For about 5 years in the Society. You get used to it,” Vanyan tries to comfort Tess.
* * *
Feeling more heroic than he has ever felt in his life, Vanyan watches the macabre act with sick fascination.
Know (Arcana)
”That’s just sick. You know that there is a sliver of someone’s soul bound into each of those dolls? This is what they did in life. This is *what* their souls want to do. Dolls really don’t have the need for dentristry...this is all...so messed up,” Vanyan tries to explain what the others have already probably figured out.
Vanyan doesn’t stop Aishe from shooting the thing...he might too given the horror that seems to be soul bound into these dolls.
|
As the doll surgeon asks for the next patient Aishe rockets a bolt into it's wooden chest with a dull thunk. The tiny doll rocks back, Gripping tiny daggers the dolls rise and begin to attack! A third and more damaged doll crawls out from underneath the bench.
Vanyan (15/15; heroism)
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Soulbound Dolls (Red -5)
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Aishe (15/16; heroism)
Tessenarin (13/13)
Atium (21/24; raging 25/28; Cha Dam 1; heroism)
Vinas (23/24)
"That answers that!" Vinas grins a bit preparing for the combat. It's not a smile of hubris, but one of comfort despite the situation. It feels good to have purpose.
Round 1
Happy to hide in the back for the moment, Vanyan delays heroically.
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Vanyan hides as the dolls shamble around the balcony, the injured surgeon doll calls out from the edges of the balcony. "Sleep now. It'll all be over soon." It begins to release some magic.
Vanyan (15/15; heroism)
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Soulbound Dolls (Red -5)
----------------------------------------
Aishe (15/16; heroism)
Tessenarin (13/13)
Atium (21/24; raging 25/28; Cha Dam 1; heroism)
Vinas (23/24)
Spellcraft
”Oh no, forced sleep! If that gets off, we all might end up with no teeth at all! Aishe! Shoot that one!”
Round: 2
Conditions = Heroism (1/60m)
Weapon Equipped = Crossbow
Silver Blanch, Cold Iron Bolts = 13/15
Normal Bolts = 4/5
Crossbow: Attack: BAB +2, Dex +3, Masterwork +1 Damage: +0 (crit 19-20 x2)
Melee: Attack: BAB +2, Str +0 Damage: +0
Grit = 1/2
”No. No, that won’t do.”
Aishe prays to Abadar for a steady hand* and he shoots red again!
(point blank, heroism) (point blank)
Afforded an ease of moment granted by the quicksilver metal of his armor, Vinas rushes around to a doll and makes a quick cut of the longsword:
THREAT
for
Atium smashes the doll directly in front of him. Really tightening up on the grip of his axe. Hoping to use enough force to outright destroy it or maybe knock it off the balcony.
Round 1
Vanyan comes out of delay, looking right to follow Atium, then left to follow Vinas. He decides to follow Vinas, his longspear readied.
He moves 30’ behind Vinas and tries, through cover, to aid Vinas’ next attack...
vs. DC 10 to aid
...and succeeds heroically, which he totally is.
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Aishe sends another arrow into the wooden doll, though it doesn't seem to do much more than a scratch.
Atium rushes one side while Vanyan and Vinas rush the other, effectively splitting the forces. Atium's axe smashes into the wood, getting caught as it bites deep. Vinas' longsowrd lops off half of the dolls upper body as it looks strangely at him, the tiny dagger gleaming in the light of the continual flames.
Vanyan (15/15; heroism)
----------------------------------------
Soulbound Dolls (Red -5) (Yellow -11) (Green -17)
----------------------------------------
Aishe (15/16; heroism)
Tessenarin (13/13)
Atium (21/24; raging 25/28; Cha Dam 1; heroism)
Vinas (23/24)
Tessenarin, without a target to be able to attack, delays.
|
|
Tessenarin scans for a target he can get to as the dolls come in close, stabbing at Atium and Vinas.
The daggers barely nick the pair as Aishe and Atium feel a magical slumber come over them. Their eyes grow quite heavy.
Vanyan (15/15; heroism)
----------------------------------------
Soulbound Dolls (Red -5) (Yellow -11) (Green -17)
----------------------------------------
Aishe (15/16; heroism)
Tessenarin (13/13)
Atium (21/24; raging 25/28; Cha Dam 1; heroism; 1 NL)
Vinas (23/24; 1 NL)
Round: 2
Conditions = Heroism (1/60m)
Weapon Equipped = Crossbow
Silver Blanch, Cold Iron Bolts = 12/15
Normal Bolts = 3/5
Crossbow: Attack: BAB +2, Dex +3, Masterwork +1 Damage: +0 (crit 19-20 x2)
Melee: Attack: BAB +2, Str +0 Damage: +0
Grit = 1/2
Aishe fights to keep his eyes open.
(heroism) vs DC 12
He fights off sleep, takes a 5’ step back, and tries again to damage the red one.
(point blank, heroism, cover) (point blank)
Doing no damage yet again, he reloads a normal bolt.
Vinas takes a quick swing as the doll draws near: , but he wasn't expecting the little thing to be so aggressive. He readies himself with a different stance and swings again hoping to finish the job: for
Round 2
Vinas tries again to help Vinas.
vs. DC 10 to aid
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Vanyan tries to help but ends up knocking Vinas' blade to the side during his initial attack. Vina's back swing chops the wooed doll in half as it falls inert once again.
Aishe shakes off the sleep and sticks another bolt into the doll, though it doesn't seem to hurt it at all.
Vanyan (15/15; heroism)
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Soulbound Dolls (Red -5) (Yellow -11)
----------------------------------------
Aishe (15/16; heroism)
Tessenarin (13/13)
Atium (21/24; raging 25/28; Cha Dam 1; heroism; 1 NL)
Vinas (23/24; 1 NL)
Tessenarin takes a double move the other direction trying to get behind the dolls to attack.
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Tessenarin rushes around the backside as Atium is surprised with how close the dolls are getting and has a hard time fending them back.
Atium collapses to the ground as his eyes roll into the back of his head. He instantly begins snoring. One of the tiny wooden dolls climbs up and over him, gripping tightly at his clothes as it closes on Aishe while the other climbs up Atium's leg and stabs down into his thigh with the sliver of a dagger.
Atium feels the little pinprick in his leg as his eyes flutter open in pain.
Vanyan (15/15; heroism)
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Soulbound Dolls (Red -5) (Yellow -11)
----------------------------------------
Aishe (15/16; heroism)
Tessenarin (13/13)
Atium (21/24; raging 25/28; Cha Dam 1; heroism; 2 NL; prone)
Vinas (23/24; 1 NL)
Round 3
Vanyan double moves up (40') trying to get behind the creepy little dolls.
"Atium is down. No wait. He's up." I've been there. I know that feeling. It's not fun.
Tessenarin makes a double move and ends up right behind Vanyan. "These dolls are more deadly that I thought they would be. We must dispatch them quickly before we all fall asleep and lose our teeth... or worse."
Round: 3
Conditions = Heroism (1/60m)
Weapon Equipped = Crossbow, Morning Star
Silver Blanch, Cold Iron Bolts = 11/15
Normal Bolts = 4/5
Crossbow: Attack: BAB +2, Dex +3, Masterwork +1 Damage: +0 (crit 19-20 x2)
Melee: Attack: BAB +2, Str +0 Damage: +0
Grit = 1/2
Aishe, seeing he’s somewhat alone on his front and as his crossbow is doing no damage, tries something different. He takes a step back down he stairs (if he can, he 5’ steps back and down), draws his morning star and swings!
(heroism)
I wonder... "My morning star seems more effective against these things than my crossbow. Perhaps it's the bludgeoning?" he asks out of ignorance.
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Aishe steps back, drawing his morningstar as he shatters the little wooden doll. Tessenarin and Vanyan move around the large room for backup. Aishe is surprised that his morningstar seems to get through the soulbound dolls natural resistant to all weapons unless they are magical.
Vanyan (15/15; heroism)
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Soulbound Dolls (Red -5)
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Aishe (15/16; heroism)
Tessenarin (13/13)
Atium (21/24; raging 25/28; Cha Dam 1; heroism; 2 NL; prone)
Vinas (23/24; 1 NL)
"Dammit! Heads up!" Vinas hussles over
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Atium shakily stands to his feet, knocking the little doll free before it stabs him again.
Atium hacks down at the little good guy doll.
and misses...
The red eyed doll slashes left and right in the air.
Vanyan (15/15; heroism)
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Soulbound Dolls (Red -5)
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Aishe (15/16; heroism)
Tessenarin (13/13)
Atium (21/24; raging 25/28; Cha Dam 1; heroism; 2 NL; prone)
Vinas (23/24; 1 NL)
Round 5
The nobly heroic and brave warrior known as Vanyan double moves towards combat with the evil vicious dolls.
Round: 5
Conditions = Heroism (1/60m)
Weapon Equipped = Crossbow, Morning Star
Silver Blanch, Cold Iron Bolts = 11/15
Normal Bolts = 4/5
Crossbow: Attack: BAB +2, Dex +3, Masterwork +1 Damage: +0 (crit 19-20 x2)
Melee: Attack: BAB +2, Str +0 Damage: +0
Grit = 1/2
”Hey, maybe my morning star is magical. I never really checked. I picked up off a raider on a caravan I was working with. Never did use it really, until now. Maybe after the battle one of you could check?”
Happy, he moves up the stairs and swings again at the remaining one on Atium!
(heroism)
He over-reaches and his morning star swings wide into the wall. "I should practice more with this weapon."
Atium looks at the doll. Seeing how small it is, he takes a step back so he can get the length of his arm swing to help.
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Atium chops down into the damaged doll sending arms and legs clattering down the stairs.
The red-and-white striped pole on the stage catches Vanyan's eye as he feels the hum of magic radiating from it.
The hallway leads further 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 are open a crack.
Vanyan (15/15; heroism)
Aishe (15/16; heroism)
Tessenarin (13/13)
Atium (21/24; raging 25/28; Cha Dam 1; heroism; 2 NL)
Vinas (23/24; 1 NL)
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Spellcraft -
Vanyan takes the rod for later, thankful that he thought to search the area with Detect Magic which he totally would have done while examining Aishe's morningstar, which is totally not magical.
"Nope. That's not magical. It isn't even well made," Vanyan demonstrates that you can unscrew Aishe's mace from the handle, then screws the top back on. "I think that one is made by slave halflings down in Cheliax."
"Sometimes them slave halflings carve nudie carvings into the grips because they think it's funny when a holy crusader uses one of their weapons and there is a giant phallus carved into the handle," he looks at the grip carefully, but fails to find anything weird. "Yeah, it's normal. Completely and utterly normal. Like me."
Vanyan hands Aishe's morningstar back to him. 'I read about it in a Chronicle. Anyhoot, those doors look ominous, don't they?" Vanyan stands to the side of an arrow slit so that it's hard for him to be shot out of them.
"A rod and a stone, both of which could be powerful, and we know not what either does. Is there no way to find out?"
Vinas moves to the door and tries to peak in as subtly as possible:
"Both seem beyond my skill to recognize. Perhaps with more practice, I will be better at identifying such things. Do you hear anything?"
"Thanks for the info Vanyan. Halfling made huh?" Aishe puts away his morning star, satisfied it did it's job well at least.
He checks his crossbow, loads a bolt, and follows Vinas to the door. He looks over his shoulder and listens.
Tessenarin steps back from the door, puts away his axe and draws his bow, waiting for Vinas to open the door.
”Probably halflings. Halfling slaves, probably. But I ain’t no weaponsmith,” Vanyan replies to Aishe as they walk to the doors.
Vanyan pulls out 3 good rocks and gives them a good magicking before the doors are opened.
Atium hears more of the utter cow manure that Vanyan is verbally shoveling when he talks about Aishe's Morningstar.
He moves closer, and looks the weapon over with his eyes. Trying to pick up on some of the maker's marks. He uses his eyes so as not to bring up awkward questions or having to give awkward answers.
Seeing that it's not magical, or masterwork, or made by halflings- Atium is satisfied. He doesn't say a thing, just noting the "rambler" needs to know about everything and be involved in everything.
He hefts his axe and makes his way to the door, pulling out his necklace with a bull totem attached to it. rubbing it and speaking to it, and placing it back under his armor.
He waits for Vinas.
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Investigating the strangeness of what the melee weapons seemed to be doing as they bypassed some of the creature's natural resistances the group comes up with little more than it being an oddity.
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?"
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"Why have you come before the great and might Prince Uspid?"
Vanyan looks confused as if he is thinking of something.
Uspid? Or did he mean '*cuspid*' because that is a ridiculous name for a tooth fairy. Or a brilliant one.
He waits for others to speak, not rushing forward.
You know, I was wondering if you ever need rare and exotic teeth. Do you ever need a bounty hunter? Because I’m thinking, as long as you fairies deal with me on the straight up and up, I could do some freelance hunting work for you and your ToothPalace Queenie.
That’s an arrangement we may want to sort out. It could bring in some very rare and coveted teeth to you and yours.
Atium steps into the room.
So, I told the other fairies this earlier and I'll *Supplicant" this to you Prince.If you need rare and exotic teeth, I can be your bounty hunter out there in the real world. Just need permission to continue down this road and a decent payment. You Fairies have been straight up so far.
Let's keep things friendly and I might be able to bounty hunt some really rare and fine items you can add to your crown.
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Prince Uspid leans forward on his throne of books. "Interesting! You came all this way to my Palace for work?" He seems quite pleased.
"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.
”What!? No!” Vanyan squirms in response, not as anxious as others to give away his good teeth for nothing. He needs his teeth to eat food...something he liked to do everyday. ”We’re not going to pay you for letting us do work. You should be paying us!”
Vanyan crosses his arms.
”That’s not how work works at all. Besides, not all of us want work. We want to leave.”
Aishe agrees, "You shall not have our teeth. Er, you shall not have more of our teeth. Is there nothing else you require good sir? Nothing else we can do for you?"
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”That’s not how work works at all. Besides, not all of us want work. We want to leave.”
"Ah, yes, of course, of course! You want a stamp."
Aishe agrees, "You shall not have our teeth. Er, you shall not have more of our teeth. Is there nothing else you require good sir? Nothing else we can do for you?"
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."
Vanyan narrows his eyes at (c)Uspid, listening the fey's words.
Sense Motive
"Why does it matter if your mom approves or not? Who cares what she thinks?" Vanyan asks.
Atium blows breath out the side of his mouth.
Parent issues. I can sure relate.
Killing seems a bit drastic. You mention *Eliminate*. What if we convince her to *approve*? That sounds a bit softer and more up our alley.
"You want us to.... kill your mother? That's horrible. How can you possibly want you own mother dead?"
Vinas quietly seeks out this monster's aura, though he expects the worst.