Nearly down, Dendillion keeps Chark up for the fight.
The thug shouts at Haldan, spittle flying as he brings his club down, down, and down again:
for
for
MISS
"Ha! You look stupid!!!!"
ROUND 2:
Stallit: So many hits
Dendillion (78/78): Go
Thug: ATK
Haldan (2/76): Go
Tiny (106/108): Go
-----Þóðᛞrekkr (71/71): Go
Charlie (93/99): Go
-----Goliath (37/71): Go
Chark (31/71): Go
-----------------------------
Location: Celestial Menagerie
Thug: 36
Stallit: 52
Haldan finds his lack of HP to be less funny than the rest of his day. He casts Invisibility and strides north in a circle around Tiny.
Tiny tumbles into a flank on the thug and claws him twice, while the cute little puppy also bites twice.
Haldan beats a hasty retreat, now invisible.
Tiny and Þóðᛞrekkr rip into the thug. His cries start angry, but end in agony. Still, somehow, he's still up. Covered in blood, something keeps this one fighting when the other grunts fled.
ROUND 2:
Stallit: So many hits
Dendillion (78/78): HEL2
Thug: ATK
Haldan (2/76): INVS
Tiny (106/108): Crit
-----Þóðᛞrekkr (71/71): Hit
Charlie (93/99): Go
-----Goliath (71/71): Go
Chark (31/71): Go
-----------------------------
Location: Celestial Menagerie
Thug: 93 (d4 Bleed)
Stallit: 52
Chark lets fly with another spell, sending a jolt of fire-red electricity leaping between the two foes.
She then gives a touch of Sarenrae's blessing to Charlie.
Chark's spell only lightly harms the thug, but catches Stallit unawares.
ROUND 2:
Stallit: So many hits
Dendillion (78/78): HEL2
Thug: ATK
Haldan (2/76): INVS
Tiny (106/108): Crit
-----Þóðᛞrekkr (71/71): Hit
Charlie (93/99): Go
-----Goliath (71/71): Go
Chark (31/71): LIT
-----------------------------
Location: Celestial Menagerie
Thug: 98 (d4 Bleed)
Stallit: 52
Goliath and Charlie stay on Stallit. "Pin him to the wall Goliath."
HP 93/99
AC 24 (26 w/ shield)
Wooden Shield 12/12; [AC Bonus +2: [Hardness 3] [HP/BT 12(6)]
Snarecraft Snares Used: Biting Snare x3
Focus 0/1
Hero Points 1/3
Goliath
HP 71/71
AC 23
Only Charlie's first arrow wounds the man, who seems like he's got plenty of fight left in him.
Full of confidence, and frustrated, Stallit focuses on Chark, hoping to stop the woman from healing the others, "Why are you doing this the hard way? Even if you win, some of you will die!"
for
for
"SEE?!"
He then turns on Goliath:
MISS
ROUND 3:
Chark (31/71): Dying 2
Stallit: Crit
Dendillion (78/78): Go
Thug: TBD
Haldan (2/76): TBD
Tiny (106/108): TBD
-----Þóðᛞrekkr (71/71): TBD
Charlie (93/99): TBD
-----Goliath (71/71): TBD
-----------------------------
Location: Celestial Menagerie
Thug: 98 (d4 Bleed)
Stallit: 62
Still playing a jaunty tune to slow Stallit down with mirth, Dendillion laters more bardic music to hurl bits and bobs at the lawman.
Dendillion keeps the rogue lawman in check, but his bits and bobs bounce off the man's half-plate.
The thug risks a step into a flank, unbothered by Chark's threat. He keeps his eyes turned on Tiny for a pair of powerful swings:
for
for
ROUND 3:
Chark (31/71): Dying 2
Stallit (Slowed 1): Crit
Dendillion (78/78): Miss
Thug: ATK
Haldan (2/76): Go
Tiny (64/108): Go
-----Þóðᛞrekkr (71/71): Go
Charlie (93/99): Go
-----Goliath (71/71): Go
-----------------------------
Location: Celestial Menagerie
Thug: 99 (d4 Bleed)
Stallit: 62
Tiny flurries the thug.
Tiny does his best to patch up his own wounds.
Finally Tiny whistles for Þóðᛞrekkr to step up and take a bite out of crime.
Tiny strikes hard, but misses with what would have been the killing blow. He quickly patches himself up a bit, but Þóðᛞrekkr can't close the deal either.
ROUND 3:
Chark (31/71): Dying 2
Stallit (Slowed 1): Crit
Dendillion (78/78): Miss
Thug: ATK
Haldan (2/76): Go
Tiny (84/108): Hit
-----Þóðᛞrekkr (71/71): Miss
Charlie (93/99): Go
-----Goliath (71/71): Go
-----------------------------
Location: Celestial Menagerie
Thug: 112 (d4 Bleed)
Stallit: 62
Charlie and Goliath continue to press Stallit against the coner of the room giving him no way out.
HP 93/99
AC 24 (26 w/ shield)
Wooden Shield 12/12; [AC Bonus +2: [Hardness 3] [HP/BT 12(6)]
Snarecraft Snares Used: Biting Snare x3
Focus 0/1
Hero Points 1/3
Goliath
HP 71/71
AC 23
Stallit proves that he's no pushover. Using armor and reflexes, he avoids injury from arrow, tooth, and claw!
ROUND 3:
Chark (31/71): Dying 2
Stallit (Slowed 1): Crit
Dendillion (78/78): Miss
Thug: ATK
Haldan (2/76): Go
Tiny (84/108): Hit
-----Þóðᛞrekkr (71/71): Miss
Charlie (93/99): Miss
-----Goliath (71/71): Miss
-----------------------------
Location: Celestial Menagerie
Thug: 112 (d4 Bleed)
Stallit: 62
Haldan takes aim at both enemies, launching scorching rays at both of them. He then casts Shield.
Haldan's bolts take both enemies by surprise, especially Stallit who turns right into it at the worst moment!
ROUND 4:
Chark (31/71): Dying 2
Stallit (Slowed 1): TBD
Dendillion (78/78): TBD
Thug: TBD
Haldan (2/76): TBD
Tiny (84/108): TBD
-----Þóðᛞrekkr (71/71): TBD
Charlie (93/99): TBD
-----Goliath (71/71): TBD
-----------------------------
Location: Celestial Menagerie
Thug: 129 (d4 Bleed)
Stallit: 84
Chark stops bleeding for the moment.
"Who's next? Surrender now and I'll give the survivors the comfiest cell in the city!" He continues to weild his bastard sword with practiced and deadly skill. He steps over Chark's body and swings at Dendillion:
for .
"Move you knave!"
ROUND 4:
Chark (31/71): Stable, Unconscious
Stallit (Slowed 1): Havoc
Dendillion (30/78): Go
Thug: TBD
Haldan (2/76): TBD
Tiny (84/108): TBD
-----Þóðᛞrekkr (71/71): TBD
Charlie (93/99): TBD
-----Goliath (71/71): TBD
-----------------------------
Location: Celestial Menagerie
Thug: 129 (d4 Bleed)
Stallit: 84
Wounded and now in the thick of things, Dendillion whistles a quick note to erect a magical shield for future oncoming blows.
He continues to play as well, a consummate performer who never misses a beat. More bits and bobs fly out, most a distraction for the one the bard aims at Stallit's head.
Dendillion casts a spell of shield as blood drips from his body. His spell hurls a bob competently, but it careens off the man's armor.
On his last leg the guard just goes all out on Tiny:
Closed
It appears that his death may be after a weak attempt.
ROUND 4:
Chark (31/71): Stable, Unconscious
Stallit (Slowed 1): Havoc
Dendillion (30/78): Miss
Thug: ATK!
Haldan (2/76): Go
Tiny (84/108): Go
-----Þóðᛞrekkr (71/71): Go
Charlie (93/99): Go
-----Goliath (71/71): Go
-----------------------------
Location: Celestial Menagerie
Thug: 130
Stallit: 84
Tiny tries to finally finish off the thug.
Þóðᛞrekkr follows with a pair of bites.
Tiny's opening blow is lethal. Stallit spits, but doesn't seem fazed. "You have no idea. None."
ROUND 4:
Chark (31/71): Stable, Unconscious
Stallit (Slowed 1): Havoc
Dendillion (30/78): Miss
Thug: ATK!
Haldan (2/76): Go
Tiny (84/108): Kill
-----Þóðᛞrekkr (71/71): Miss
Charlie (93/99): Go
-----Goliath (71/71): Go
-----------------------------
Location: Celestial Menagerie
Thug: 129 (d4 Bleed)
Stallit: 84
Goliath continues to corner Stallit and Charlie flings an arrow in the direction of escape anytime Stallit tries to get away.
HP 93/99
AC 24 (26 w/ shield)
Wooden Shield 12/12; [AC Bonus +2: [Hardness 3] [HP/BT 12(6)]
Snarecraft Snares Used: Biting Snare x3
Focus 0/1
Hero Points 1/3
Goliath
HP 71/71
AC 23
All pressure turns to Stallit. He spits blood, fearless in the face of the odds, uncaring about death. Only a bite from Goliath finds purchase.
ROUND 4:
Chark (31/71): Stable, Unconscious
Stallit (Slowed 1): Havoc
Dendillion (30/78): Miss
Thug: ATK!
Haldan (2/76): Go
Tiny (84/108): Kill
-----Þóðᛞrekkr (71/71): Miss
Charlie (93/99): Miss
-----Goliath (71/71): Hit
-----------------------------
Location: Celestial Menagerie
Stallit: 97
”It worked before, I’ll try it again.”
Cast Shield.
Haldan goes after the thug's corpse, and misses, elliciting a laugh from Stallit, who promptly curses and turns to cut down Dendillion:
for When the bard doesn't fall he tries to shove him out of the way:
He then moves to escape!
ROUND 5:
Chark (31/71): Stable, Unconscious
Stallit (Slowed 1): Flee
Dendillion (16/78): Go
Haldan (2/76): Go
Tiny (84/108): Go
-----Þóðᛞrekkr (71/71): Go
Charlie (93/99): Go
-----Goliath (71/71): Go
-----------------------------
Location: Celestial Menagerie
Stallit: 106
Haldan seems unfazed by the laughter.
And casts shield.
"Stallit, this is enough! S..s...stop already." Charlie flings another couple of arrows.
HP 93/99
AC 24 (26 w/ shield)
Wooden Shield 12/12; [AC Bonus +2: [Hardness 3] [HP/BT 12(6)]
Snarecraft Snares Used: Biting Snare x3
Focus 0/1
Hero Points 1/3
Goliath
HP 71/71
AC 23
Before he can get anywhere, Haldan drops Stallit with a shock....
But where is Dusklight?
It's a good question.... where IS Dusklight?
Chark gurgles.
Not trusting himself to be able to staunch the blood flow in time, Dendillion rushes over to Chark and begins digging through her backpack. He retrieves the saint's balm she showed him one time, then carefully applies it to the space around her wound.
Chark's eyes flutter open, and with a cough she sits up. Thank you, Ringmaster, she says with a wry smile.
She composes herself a bit, then touches a tattoo on her arm and sends forth a burst of bright whitish flame from her hand washing over the room, the warmth from the flame knitting flesh together.
Chark (38/71)
Dendillion (33/78)
Haldan (19/76)
Tiny (101/108)
-- Þóðᛞrekkr (71/71)
Charlie (99/99)
-- Goliath (71/71)
After the healing, the team suddenly becomes aware that it's quiet, extremely quiet. Even in off hours, that's never true in a circus....
"I'm getting the feeling that, with all the commotion, good ol' Mistress Dusklight has, as the farmers say, flown the coop."
"I'm getting the feeling that, with all the commotion, good ol' Mistress Dusklight has, as the farmers say, flown the coop."
"There is still more room to search here. She couldn't have g..g..gotten far. We can pick up her trail." Charlie grimaces at the though of the MIstress out there eager to strike at them from the shadows. He nods to the door to the west, using his bow to slowly open the door and peer inside.
Tiny nods, staying close with Charlie.
Chark purses her lips. I am torn. On the one hand, letting Dusklight slip through our fingers here is abhorrent. On the other, we are not in proper condition to remove her.
Chark will take 10 minutes to patch up Dendillion and Haldan.
This large room is decorated with colorful curtains and low, comfortable furniture. An exquisitely carved mahogany four‑poster bed stands in one corner, piled high with luxurious satin sheets, plump pillows, and a damask coverlet in midnight blue. Circus posters showing Mistress Dusklight’s acts over many years—as an acrobat, an animal tamer, and a ringmaster—adorn the walls in gilded frames.
In the room are but two figures whom you know either personally or by reputation. The first is Mazael, a well-arm bodyguard and "pelvic affiliate".
The other is your nemesis. for some a torturer, for others a mystery. The inscrutable and cruel Mistress Dusklight herselg!
They both clearly look spooked, and based on their posture and positioning, have assumed that this is about to be a final stand.
“You,” Mistress Dusklight hisses, the corners of her mouth drawn back into a hideous snarl. A low growl rumbles in her throat as she narrows her eyes in anger. “You don’t know when to stop, do you? Do you think killing me will make you better performers? Will your Circus of Washed‑Up Wonders fare better without my competition?” Suddenly, her demeanor changes. Her eyes widen and she clutches at her chest, an expression of feigned terror on her feline face. “Help me Mazael!” She screams. “Assassins!”
“I won’t let you hurt her,” the man says solemnly. “Leave now, or I’ll end you!”
Never having been the talker Tiny stares back and cracks their knuckles.
Maezel, your steadfast heart is to be admired; but it is devoted to one who does not deserve it – has never deserved it. Mistress Dusklight uses you, as she uses all her "pets."
Tiny cracks his knuckles, and Mazael sneers at Chark's insinuation:
(Scout)
(Search)
(Detect Magic)
(Seek, Keen Eyes)
(Search)
Dusklight weaves a spell and suddenly a cloak of swirling colors shrouds her. She also begins to sing a song designed to push Mazael to courageouly defend her!
ROUND 1:
Mistress Dusklight: Magic
Chark (31/71): Go
Mazael: TBD
Tiny (84/108): TBD
-----Þóðᛞrekkr (71/71): TBD
Dendillion (50/78): TBD
Haldan (38/76): TBD
Charlie (93/99): TBD
-----Goliath (71/71): TBD
-----------------------------
Location: Celestial Menagerie
Dusklight: (Cloak of Colors)
Mazael: (Inspiring Anthem)
This spell is harmless, and this is by design; we do not seek any harm to you, Mazael, Chark says, sending a wave of rainbow-hued magical light washing over the area in heatless flames.
She then conjures up a disk of force for protection.
The effects couldn't be more different. Dusklight laughs it off, while Mazael is utterly dazzled.
With a lover's warcry, Mazael lunges forward at Charlie
for
for
ROUND 1:
Mistress Dusklight: Magic
Chark (31/71): Razzle
Mazael: ATK
Tiny (84/108): Go
-----Þóðᛞrekkr (71/71): Go
Dendillion (50/78): Go
Haldan (38/76): Go
Charlie (62/99): Go
-----Goliath (71/71): Go
-----------------------------
Location: Celestial Menagerie
Dusklight: (Cloak of Colors)
Mazael: (Inspiring Anthem)
"Stop this madness, Mazael! You must see Dusklight for who she is, by her actions! I'm sure you've seen how she treats her riggers. To her they're nothing but slaves! Chark has the marks to prove it!"
Dendillion tries, but he doesn't get through to Mazael, "Liar! You speak words born of jealousy!"
ROUND 1:
Mistress Dusklight: Magic
Chark (31/71): Razzle
Mazael: ATK
Tiny (84/108): Go
-----Þóðᛞrekkr (71/71): Go
Dendillion (50/78): Fail
Haldan (38/76): Go
Charlie (62/99): Go
-----Goliath (71/71): Go
-----------------------------
Location: Celestial Menagerie
Dusklight: (Cloak of Colors)
Mazael: (Inspiring Anthem)
"She t..t..tortured us and those around her." Charlie pleads with Mazael. "I was lucky to have found Goliath chained by her and have been chased by her ever since f..f..freeing him." Charlie backs away as Goliath blocks the doorway with his powerful frame.
◆ Stride
◆ Hunt Prey (Mazael)
◆ Command Goliath
◆ Goliath Stride
◆ Goliath Strike
HP 62/99
AC 24 (26 w/ shield)
Wooden Shield 12/12; [AC Bonus +2: [Hardness 3] [HP/BT 12(6)]
Snarecraft Snares Used: Biting Snare x3
Focus 0/1
Hero Points 1/3
Goliath
HP 71/71
AC 23