wow, I gotta get towards the door, doublemoved.
Silver decides that storming through one entrance en masse is probably the better way to go than splitting up and hustles towards the southern door where the rest of the group has congregated.
Inside, Green flashes Wymarc and Lucky a wicked smile. She pulls out a potion, chugs it down...and vanishes from sight.
______________
Wymarc
Joe
Silver
==============
Green
==============
Lucky
==============
Orange
Yellow
==============
Lauranna
==============
Vinius
Active Conditions: Bless
Environmental Conditions: None
Lucky is UP!
|
"Dammit, they've got potions of invisibility! One's already vanished."
Wasting no time, Lucky barrels towards the slaver with Wymarc's arrow sticking out of him. The smell of brimstone grows strong as the flames of Hell lick Lucky's sectioned-staff.
"YOU'LL GO DOWN AND STAY DOWN, TREACHEROUS SLAVER SCUM!"
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Eager to level the playing field Lucky charges in toward the nearest foe - Orange - with what must look like all the powers of Hell at his command. His sectioned-staff, awash in flame, slams into Orange's skull with a loud *CRACK* and the thug drops like a stone!
"Cheese and rice!" Yellow exclaims. "I'm askin' Dulm for a raise after this!"
The thug whips a dagger at Lucky...
...which misses and *thunks* into the wall behind him. Then the goon moves towards the bar, drawing out a scimitar as he goes. He pauses and makes a beckoning motion towards Lucky.
"Come get some!"
______________
Wymarc
Joe
Silver
==============
Green
==============
Lucky
==============
Yellow
==============
Lauranna
==============
Vinius
Active Conditions: Bless
Environmental Conditions: None
Lauranna is UP!
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"Come get some!"
"Did someone say 'dim sum'!? I love dim sum! Is there tea?" calls Lauranna coming around the corner.
"Hey it's that one girl." she says pointing at Vinius. "What are you doing here? I'll never forget that one time, we were doing the thing, at the place with all the stuff. Do you work here. How's the dim sum?"
"Scuse me. Is that seat taken?" she says to the man in yellow.
"Hey it's that one girl." she says pointing at Vinius. "What are you doing here? I'll never forget that one time, we were doing the thing, at the place with all the stuff. Do you work here. How's the dim sum?"
"Wonderful...this is already a s&++ sundae with sprinkles and here's the cherry on top," Vinius grumbles as Lauranna points and calls out to her. She steps around the bar and adopts a defensive position, a sap in her hand.
______________
Wymarc
Joe
Silver
==============
Green
==============
Lucky
==============
Yellow
==============
Lauranna
==============
Vinius
Active Conditions: Bless
Environmental Conditions: None
Wymarc, Joe and Silver are UP!
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Joe rushes through the door and past Wymarc, taking a moment to helpfully skewer another clove of garlic on the elf’s notched arrow. ”There, now you just have to shoot it down their throat... Ah! There are more of them!” The philosopher makes a pushing motion with his hands as is to ward off any lycanthropic influences. ”Bad! Bad dog!”
Though Yellow talks a good game he's no match for the powers of Joe Public, Lycanthrope Slayer! As the magic hits him his jaw goes slack and his eyes glaze over. He doesn't even react when Wymarc sinks a garlic-laced arrow into his leg!
______________
Wymarc
Joe
Silver
==============
Green
==============
Lucky
==============
Yellow
==============
Lauranna
==============
Vinius
Active Conditions: Bless
Environmental Conditions: None
Silver is UP!
Silver doublemoves, cause he has to get closer to the action.
Silver continues to hustle closer to the action, apparently of a mind to get up close and personal with the slavers.
Of Green, there's still no sign...but you're sure they're still around somewhere.
______________
Wymarc
Joe
Silver
==============
Green
==============
Lucky
==============
Yellow
==============
Lauranna
==============
Vinius
Active Conditions: Bless
Environmental Conditions: None
Lucky is UP!
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Unwilling to play into whatever plans Vinius and her remaining goons might have in store for the party Lucky does not charge forward into the fray. Instead, he chugs a potion for further protection and then makes a single step forward.
Yellow continues to stand dazed; not entirely helpless but quite unable to act.
______________
Wymarc
Joe
Silver
==============
Green
==============
Lucky
==============
Yellow
==============
Lauranna
==============
Vinius
Active Conditions: Bless
Environmental Conditions: None
Lauranna is UP!
Taking Lauranna's hesitation as an opening Vinius darts forward, slipping past her dazed buddy Yellow as she draws a small wand from her pocket.
Assuming Lauranna doesn't crack her skull - or even if she does - Vinius gives the wand a little flick as she speaks the activation phrase...
"Klaatu barada n...necktie?"
but nothing happens.
"....Wonderful."
______________
Wymarc
Joe
Silver
Lauranna
==============
Green
==============
Lucky
==============
Yellow
Vinius
Active Conditions: Bless
Environmental Conditions: None
Wymarc, Joe, Silver and Lauranna are UP!
Having decided to forgo his bow for something a little more 'hands on', Wymarc draws out a fine sword of elven make and proceeds to make a Vinius-kebab with it! The woman's eyes widen with a brief look of surprise...and then she slumps to the ground, slowly bleeding out.
Though the threat of whatever magic Vinius had been trying to activate has been taken care of, Joe decides to make extra sure as he rushes up and delivers a wash of bright colors and lights over the unconscious Vinius and her goon in Yellow!
But this time Yellow sees it coming, more or less, and manages to shrug off the magic!
______________
Wymarc
Joe
Silver
Lauranna
==============
Green
==============
Lucky
==============
Yellow
Vinius
Active Conditions: Bless
Environmental Conditions: None
Silver and Lauranna are UP!
Move over and last adamatine bullet at yellow
Silver sets up, takes aim, and fires at Yellow, leaving a nice gaping bullet wound in the thug's chest. And before he can really even react to this new state of being Lauranna puts him out of his misery with a roundhouse swing of her earthbreaker.
Following this comes the sound of footsteps rapidly heading towards the rear of the building and then you all see the door behind the bar swing open - seems like your invisible foe has decided to cut his losses and make a break for it!
Not willing to let any more slavers get away if he can help it, Lucky gives chase and beelines towards the open door at the back. As he reaches it he can see that it leads to what must've once been the pub's storeroom but is now partially open to the elements due to the collapsed northeastern corner.
Furthermore, he gets the distinct sense that he's almost certainly just behind his quarry even though he still can't actually see them!
______________
Wymarc
Joe
Silver
Lauranna
==============
Green
==============
Lucky
Active Conditions: Bless
Environmental Conditions: None
Wymarc, Joe, Silver and Lauranna are UP!
|
|
Lucky doggedly pursues the invisible slaver...
|
|
Silver sets up, takes aim, and fires at Yellow, leaving a nice gaping bullet wound in the thug's chest. And before he can really even react to this new state of being Lauranna puts him out of his misery with a roundhouse swing of her earthbreaker.
Lauranna turns around, and looks down at the man.
"Oops!" she squeaks.
She attempts to stabilize him with a touch.
Though most of the group seems content to let the remaining slaver flee, Lucky is determined to bring each and every one to justice in some form or fashion. As the door leading back out to the street opens the halfling dashes up and jabs his spear at the most likely place the thug will be...and connects! There's a yelp of pain and now a very visible blood trail to follow - try as he might to get away, the remaining thug is inevitably tracked down and captured/put out of his misery like the rest of his friends.
While Lucky chases down the remaining slaver the rest of you can turn your attention to the ones that you've already put down, with Lauranna making sure to stabilize Yellow and probably Vinius too.
Now that you're pretty sure the primary threats in the compound have been neutralized you're able to take the time to look around a bit. Among a stack of papers sitting on a nearby table you find substantial incriminating evidence against Phlegos Dulm, such as lists of people to bribe and businesses to harass. There are also receipts on the table for a variety of strange ingredients.
Despite the ingredients initially appearing innocuous you recognize them as ingredients for a fast-acting poisonous concoction - whose symptoms are identical to those displayed by the bards Kaba, Kora, and Kitt at Roderus' retirement party.
Furthermore, the sacks of coins scattered about each contain a specific amount which correlates to payments documented in the papers on the table, including one designated to Vinius Borr for 'special services rendered at Roderus retirement party.' All of this, combined with the presence of Vinius herself, should be more than enough to clear poor Zig of any wrongdoing.
|
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”Whoa man, that’s, like, dangerous stuff there,” Joe remarks as he sniffs the pouches of herbs and chemicals on the counter. ”You could knock out a camel with this stuff - maybe they wanted to make werewolf-camels for quicker transportation in the desert, and they needed to subdue the creatures first?” He shakes his head. ”No, you’d be more likely to just kill the camel - this stuff is potent. Would have the same symptoms as those performers, if you’re curious.”
|
Wymarc nods to Joe. ”Nice find. We knew Dulm poisoned ‘em...now we have the proof...should be enough to free poor Zig...
“We should go check and see how Frack and Frick...or Frick and Frack...are doing in the other building...they may need help...”
He’ll make his way out of that building and head towards the one to the south...
As Wymarc heads back out to check on Frick & Frack he sees the goblin duo peep out of the southern building's northernmost door. When they spot Wymarc heading their way they both give him an enthusiastic thumbs up and wave him (and anyone else who cares to go with Wymarc) over.
"We all clear here!" Frick (or is it Frack?) grins. Frack (or maybe it's Frick) nods in agreement.
"Yeah, we beat thugs up good! Slaves all here and okay too, just tired," he adds. "You guys do good too? Find anything to help Zig?"
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While Lucky chases down the remaining slaver the rest of you can turn your attention to the ones that you've already put down, with Lauranna making sure to stabilize Yellow and probably Vinius too.
As Lucky recovers from his bloodrage exertion, he concentrates on binding the captured slavers.
"Feels good... putting you bastards... in chains. If I were like you... you'd be sold to the highest bidder. I'm not like you. But you'll get your just desserts, don't you bloody worry."
"Wait. They have a dessert menu?" Lauranna sighs in exasperation. "Again, terrible customer service. If I had known I wouldn't have ordered the dim sum."
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Frick and Frack cheer when Wymarc informs them that there's now evidence a-plenty to clear Zig's name. Once you finish securing your captives in the northern building you quickly head to the southern building, discovering another three slavers bound and/or unconscious after receiving a thrashing from the goblin duo. The slaves themselves seem tired and a bit malnourished but otherwise uninjured and extremely happy to be rescued from their predicament.
With Frick and Frack's help, you escort the rescued captives, the captured slavers, and Vinius, back to Roderus’ lodge. As his true last act as Venture Captain he ensures that all of the freed slaves will receive assistance in returning safely to their homes - or wherever else they might wish to go. He also agrees, once the evidence has been presented, that young Zig should go free and Vinius should take his place in jail for her part in the plot. When the local guard become involved the captured poisoner sings like a canary and tells all she knows of Dulm and his dealings. Presented with overwhelming evidence of his crimes a formal warrant for Dulm's arrest is issued...yet it turns out that there's no trace of him to be found. Apparently word got out that his days in Katapesh were numbered and the despicable Dulm was able to flee the city.
While this development is certainly unfortunate and pretty damn galling, it does at least put an end to his schemes in Katapesh, his association with the Pathfinder Society, and his feud with Wulessa Yuul - who is now the sole acting Venture Captain in the city. One of her first orders of business is to extend a formal pardon and apology to poor Zig for his incarceration. She's also very interested in hearing the details of the goblins' involvement in bringing proof of Dulm's crimes to light, which inevitably leads to a meeting with Yigrig Moneymaker himself. By all accounts, it's the beginning of a beautiful friendship and partnership between Yigrig and his goblin connections and the Pathfinder Society.
And what's the best way to celebrate a new beginning?
With another inn-shaking party!
But with less explosions and poisoning.
Maybe.
______________
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When Wulessa Yuul mentions another inn-shaking party, recalling her earlier outburst at the last party, Wymarc smiles, arching an eyebrow...
”Ma’am, perhaps you could wear that outfit you mentioned during Roderus’s retirement, just in case this bash turns out to actually be *that* kind of party???”