"We're fighting?" Amphtiryon said, somewhat bemused. "I thought that this was a grab and run type situation." He hoped that Varocles had some divine magic to incapacitate the barbarian he was facing. While he really wanted to stand side by side with the dwarf, he could see two more barbarians coming in quickly. So he moved to cut them off, so that only one could come in. It was better to have two 1v1 fights than a single 2v3.
Amphitryon walks up, whilst making commentary and lands a solid hit on green. In turn, Green taps into his and throws a punch at the shadow warrior.
Orange moves into the flank, , taps into his own rage and throws a punch at him as well.
Their stalwart leader moves forward, chucking his magical javelin at Amphitryon.
The formerly blinded thug takes another swing at Aika, activating his
The other thug next to Aika tries to break free of his bindings, also tapping into his rage.
Yellow-11 Nonlethal, Blue-46-Raging, Red-Raging, Green-Raging-22, Orange-Raging, Black-Raging, Yellow-Raging, Varocles-10
AOO:
Varocles steps to flank Orange with Amph and says, "get this one first!"
Seeing Aikaterine change form, Kyronai hopes that this means she can hold her own for a moment while he checks on the fighting he's heard from where he's last seen his brother and Varocles. Taking a few steps over, he sees the two of them in the midst of the enemy.
Drawing his bowstring and conjuring another magical arrow -- this one a shadowy bolt -- he unleashes it at the thug between Amphytrion and Varocles. When it reaches his target, the shadow expands to encompass all of the combatants in a 20 foot radius.
Thankfully the swing misses her and the thug at her left is hardly able to defend himself yet. She lays into him, hoping to send a clear message to the other. Since they don't seem to be having the same consideration for her and are trying to deal lethal damage, she does too!
"Right." Amphitryon said. His shield and spear were a blur, as he moved from opponent to opponent. A parry here, a javelin blocked there, a riposte, he was fighting for his life and it showed. With his opponents raging, it was a contest against skill and training versus blind rage and raw power.
Varocles hits with his opportunistic swing but misses with his followup while Kyronai edges the battlefield to the party's advantage. Aika hits with all her swings save one claw that leaves a mark in the side of the building.
Blue angrily and blindly swings at Varocles
He misses due to lack of sight. Red swings at Troll-Aika with his meaty fists.
Amphitryon finishes off the poor sap that doesn't even see his death coming and only existed long enough to provide a flank. The leader, not wanting to deal with the darkness, moves and tosses his weapon at Troll-Aika.
Green wildly throws hands at Amphitryon.
Black continues the attack on Troll-Aika
Meanwhile Yellow continues trying to break free.
Yellow-11 Nonlethal 11 lethal, Blue-46-Raging, Red-Raging, Green-Raging-22, Black-Raging, Yellow-Raging, Varocles-10, Aika-31?
Aikaterine feels the pummeling of the raging fists strike her and she lets out grunts in a troll-like tone as she is struck. When the weapon is thrown into her side, an altogether different troll-like sound is heard; one more like a scream.
Blood drips in huge pools at her feet and she is forced to fight the enemy nearest her.
In desperation, she hopes to strike the man punching her unconscious before she flees. In such a small size, she can't outrun him, that is clear in how fast he came upon her. After her flurry, she steps back out of sight from the range of the throwing villain.
Glad to have escaped what could have been a very painful blow, Amphitryon held to his training and stabbed away at the berserker. The darkness was proving to be quite useful. Once they had the situation under control and only the leader was left, he could use faerie fire on the man and then drop some darkness. All they had to do was survive until that point.
Varocles swings away at blue...
...and nearly drops his trident!
"How is everyone doing?"
"Grellp mmeee!" she calls out in a troll-like voice. The Canopy Troll, unfortunately only has a smidge of a language capability and is closer to a monkey than a fully functioning troll that can speak fluently in giant if educated. On top of that, Aikaterine hasn't really ever had to talk as one of these before, so it comes out oddly.
Hearing Aikaterine's guttural plea, Kyronai darts back around the corner towards her. He pauses to fire black bolt at the same man Aikaterine has bloodied.
Troll-Aika lays into yellow, leaving him with many wounds from her claws. Varocles fumbles a bit with his weapon as he tries to perform triage in the mayhem. Kyronai easily drains the life from his target. Blue continues blindly swinging at Varocles.
Red pursues Troll-Aika with just fists, not flips.
Amphitryon cuts his attacker in half before Green can mount anymore offense. The leader continues to ignore the people protected by darkness and throws his weapon at Aika.
Black moves up and throws a jab at Troll-Aika.
Yellow continues his attempts to break free.
Yellow-11 Nonlethal 27 lethal 1 negative level, Blue-46-Raging, Red-Raging, Black-Raging, Yellow-Raging, Varocles-10, Aika-42?
Kyronai finishes his rush to Aikaterine. He places his hand on her shoulder, raises his bow, and the two of them disappear!
...And reappear in the building next to Varocles and Amphitryon.
Unfortunately, by the time Kyronai comes around the corner, Aikaterine has taken a few more blows, and once again, the leader has thrown his weapon into her, however, this time, there is no sound. No scream can be heard.
As the two dimension door into the darkness, only those able to see in the dark can see that Troll-Aikaterine is not unconscious, but rather, dead. The troll body still possesses the gilded gladius and will retain it until the duration of her spell has passed.
Varocles looks at Aikaterine, and states "I have no power to aid her in this condition."
He keeps attacking blue...
After what seems like an eternity, Aikaterine takes in a gasping breath. Perhaps the wind was knocked out of her? However, she is still not getting up but is alive.
Aika is seemingly still alive, mostly due to the fact that she is still bleeding out. Kyronai still valiantly steps into the fray just long enough to get Aika out of there. Varocles avenges her defeat by slaying his foe who was on his last legs. Their leader seeing the landscape change and not for the better decides that regrouping is the tactical choice. "This isn't the last you will see of me. I will not rest until I grind you underneath my sandal. Next time, it won't just be her that falls." The man yells at you before whistling to his men to retreat.
[/spoiler=Loot]
3 sets of +1 Hide Armor
6 potions of Cure Critical Wounds
90 gold worth of various coins.
[/spoiler]
Varocles moves to Aikaterine and presses his hand against her head, casting cure light wounds as he does so.
Once she is revived, she should drink some of those CCW potions!
Fearing that the man would turn around to finish the job, Amphitryon kept his shield up and stood between Aik and the threat until Varocles could get her back on her feet. As much as he wanted to rush over to her, he was professional enough to know that the best thing he could do was ensure that the threat to her was well and truly over.
With the magic rushing through her body, Aikaterines eyes flutter open but see nothing as she is in an area of darkness. The mage can still feel that her enlarged troll-like claws are covered in blood. Immediately she reverts back to her form and looks around in a confused manner. Sounds of rustling and running are heard in the distance and then next to nothing.
"Ahh..ow." she simply whimpers as she remembers the pain she endured previously and even still bears the wounds of. If the darkness is dispelled she will of course partake of the potions should Varocles not be willing to heal her further. As she reverts back before them, the gilded gladius is on her belt.
"I did what I could to keep them from getting it from me. They were so fast!" she explains.
Once feeling a bit better, she will unfurl a scroll and cast her infernal healing scroll, the blood being taken from a demon she herself helped defeat.
Varocles nods at the elf woman, "glad to have you back with us."
3 sets of +1 Hide Armor
6 potions of Cure Critical Wounds
90 gold worth of various coins.
Added this to the loot shoot. We already had one potion of CCW, but Aikaterine also just drank one, so the total on the loot sheet is 6.
*********
I'm sorry. This is terrible. I'M terrible. Just the worst. But... why were we trying to get this sword?
For a ride to where we want to go.
A few mere moments later, there are only some bruises and scratches remaining of her various internal wounds.
"Thank you greatly, Varocles," she expresses kindly to the man for reviving her. When they are ready to return to the ship, she will follow in tow. Hopefully, in their haste, they will get there quick enough to avoid trouble on the way.
Cyrene follows the rest of the group, still somewhat confused about why there was a fight and how Aikaterine got so hurt.
I thought the plan was to run. She muses. The men probably couldn't resist a fight.
Still she has the gladius and that's the most important thing.
”A good profit was made. Though the price was almost too steep.” Amphitryon said, looking at Aik. ”Let’s get out of here before more come. And I can carry the blade. If there is any here who should be the target for their retribution, let it be me.”
"Well...yes. That was unfortunate," she replies to Amphitryon as she hands over the gladius. There is a look of disappointment on her. "I was hoping the Tauren to be a little less formidable than they were and we could abscond with this sword easily before hunting down Pietro. I apologize." She still doesn't even know that it was Kyronai who rescued her.
Varocles will cast detect magic and see if the sword is magical.
Yes, it is magical.
"In any case, I don't think we should sell the weapon here. Any merchant with this very recognizable blade would probably end up dead if such formidable foes see it for sale. We can hold onto it until back at base or in a different city." She looks to Varocles for confirmation as they head out. "So, where should we start looking for Pietro? A hall of records?"
"The blade is definitely magical."
"It seems disingenuous to be asked to find this sword, decline to do so, and then turn around to find the sword and sell it to someone else. We are representatives of the gods, after all."
Addressing Aikaterine: "Perhaps, but keep in mind that we don't know if Pietro or any of the names on that list are here in Sparta. We only know that Poseidon directed Varocles here for further information. We might have more luck finding out about the group that calls themselves the 'Prometheans.'"
"These weren't light-handed rogues or simple cutthroats. They nearly killed me. Me. I've toppled rogue organizations in my spare time, and this is who he sends us after for a ride on a ship? I'd say we earned every coin of that item. I have no qualms about selling it and then telling him where he can go buy it with the money he made off of you." She then sighs, "But perhaps you're right..." she says as she begins moving swiftly down the road. Perhaps they can find an actual, functioning brewery or tavern to gather some information?
"Right! That's the way of it. If the Captain wants his damn sword, he can buy it from us now that we have it! We'll end up making a profit on this trip."
So concerned with money. City living isn't good for people. Cyrene concludes, staying well out of the discussion. She has her bow, gifted by Artemis herself, there's no need for anything else.
Thankfully Aikaterine seems to have a plan, How did they manage before we joined them? so Cyrene follows the other woman, who she respects as a skilled hunter - even if her preferred area does seem to be these 'cities'.
"Should get it appraised first." Amphitryon offered. "Enchanted is a very broad term. It is hard to negotiate when we don't even know the value of what we hold."
Yea, there is a tavern appropriately called the Garrison. It is a lot larger than most taverns, three floors tall, all for serving drinks.
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"Of course," she replies with an interesting smile toward Amphitryon for the thought. "We can do that anytime though. I wouldn't mind getting in and out of here as soon as possible."
It is clear as they walk that she is in pain, though she tries to hide it. And though mostly healed, she is covered with blood. Even her clothing has holes from her wounds from earlier. Amphitryon will notice even her smile fills with blood from her lip as she smiles. She must have taken the injury to her face after unconscious because she wasn't ready for the blood to fill her smile. Embarrassed, she hides this and looks away only to spit in a very unlady-like way onto the ground off to the side and behind of the group. The spit is red in color.
She will pull out her spellbook, prep a spell, and then cleans herself up. With a wave of her hands and a simple arcane utterance, she casts a prestidigitation spell to render her clothes clean. While there are some slashes in her side still, she wraps a shawl about herself to hide this. Her hair, a complete and utter mess now, is wrapped up in a loose bun and cleaned of blood as well as they walk.
Now that the trail she had been leaving is gone, they will shift direction and find information on the tavern. Eventually, she returns to the group after talking to a nearby merchant.
"There is a tavern called "The Garrison". It may be decent for finding some information...and it's quite large, so there is a good chance locals will be there who may know something."
Varocles gestures to Aikaterine's clothing, "I can mend those tomorrow if you wish."
"Yes, please!" she offers up with a nervous chuckle, as the offer reminds her of losing her fight once more; which evidently she is trying to forget by forging ahead.
”Its a good look though.” Amphitryon said. ”Magic heals all scars and all damage. But until then, nothing is worn better than a wound earned.” He smiled, and continued ”Ive got my arse kicked so, so many times. And what I’ve learned? Walk with your head up high and you’re a hero. So chin up. If anything you look like a Silverstar Company* veteran.”
* The mercenary company he and Kyronai come from, as a refresher as it’s been awhile since it was mentioned
Aikaterine smiles at Amphitryon's attempts to cheer her up and his regaling of old losses. It strangely did make her feel better to think of him getting the snot kicked out of him. She does seem to walk a bit brighter after that, and lingers a little bit closer to the half-elf.
When they get to The Garrison tavern, she observes it to ensure it is not somewhere they are supposed to be, but otherwise will enter.
The group arrives at The Garrison without incident and it is as Aika was told. The building is three stories tall and in immaculate condition. Walking inside, you all notice that despite it being the middle of the day, the place is still rather busy, though you can only observe the first floor of course. There is a pair of tables seated by eight very obviously members of the Spartan military while the rest have a scattering of civilians. There is a halfling tending bar as a few half elves wait tables.
Cyrene wanders away to look at the other two floors and report back on their occupants. Once again though she finds herself confused as to exactly what the groups purpose is.
Why does work for the Gods involve so much drinking and so little work? She wonders before returning to the table to pass on who she has observed on the other floors.