Hearing her plea for help, Nasir reassures Viralane.
"Don't worry you are safe here. I need to help end the threat she poses to you and everyone on board. She won't get past me."
Nasir winks at Viralane and draws his sword as he steps into the fray. He comes up next to Corla flanking her between himself and Frantino and takes a swing at Corla and her images.
[dice=d20 roll]1d20
Yazhi ignores the risk from moving near Corla, and runs around to flank. Ayita 5-foots. Assuming all goes as planned, both attack...
The two Corlas lash out as Yazhi moves by them!
MISS!
Yazhi leaps and bites at the two Corlas!
One of the Corlas disappears as Yazhi bites her!
ROUND TWO
-------------------------------------
Roscoe -
CORLA -
Ayita -
Yazhi -
Frantino -
Ezranadir -
Viralane -
Nasir -
Doc Hatfield -
may go!
STATUS
-----------------------
Roscoe ||
Ayita ||
Yazhi ||
Frantino || -12+5=-7hp
Ezranadir ||
Nasir ||
Doc || -9-5+12=-2hp
ROUND ONE
-------------------------------------
Roscoe - magic missiles at Doc!
CORLAS - rush and attack Frantino!
Ayita - attacks, misses
Yazhi - attacks, hits one of the images
Frantino - chops and hits one of the Corlas
Ezranadir - casts Flare on Corla
Viralane - retreats down the steps, cowering behind Nasir
Nasir - steps up to Corla and swings, misses
Doc Hatfield - lifelink Frantino +/-5; CLW himself; moves, draws club
STATUS
-----------------------
Roscoe ||
Ayita ||
Yazhi ||
Frantino || -12+5=-7hp
Ezranadir ||
Nasir ||
Doc || -9-5+12=-2hp
With his spells seemingly off-target, Roscoe tries dividing a spell among all the remaining images of Corla.
"Quit your trickery!" he exclaims.
Ezranadir casts Hideous Laughter & calls out, "Hey Corla, did you hear that Viralane fell through the floorboards? ....She was just going through a stage!"
"Ha! Funny!" replies Corla, but doesn't ACTUALLY laugh.
,
Roscoe's magic missiles topple the small halfling over! Corla grunts as the missiles hit her and she falls prone amidst all the heroes.
She reaches up with her kukri, slashing at Nasir's... backpack straps!
Viralane shouts at her protector, "SHE'S TRYING TO TAKE YOUR BACKPACK!"
Nasir can tell from her poor attempt, that she's trying to protect herself while still fighting.
ROUND TWO
-------------------------------------
Roscoe - magic missiles corla!
CORLA - prone; attempts disarm vs Nasir; fails?
Ayita -
Yazhi -
Frantino - Attacks prone Corla; hits bigtime!
Ezranadir - casts Hideous Laughter; corla saves.
Viralane -
Nasir -
Doc Hatfield -
may go!
STATUS
-----------------------
Roscoe ||
Ayita ||
Yazhi ||
Frantino || -12+5=-7hp
Ezranadir ||
Nasir ||
Doc || -9-5+12=-2hp
Nasir takes a swipe at Corla as she attempts to slash the backpack.
Nasir takes a swipe at Corla as she attempts to slash the backpack.
[dice=Scimitar AoO]1d20+11 [dice=Dmg]1d6+4
MISS
[dice=+2 halberd w/ PA]1d20 + 9 + 2, [dice=damage]1d10 + 11
In conjunction with his attack, Frantino will spend a second point of abjuration mental focus for another mind barrier.
Ayita and Yazhi go after Corla again. Flank, outflank, precise attack
[dice=Ayita attack] 1d20 + 4 + 7
[dice=Ayita damage] 4d6 + 4[dice=Yazhi attack] 1d20 + 4 + 7
[dice=Yazhi damage] 2d6 + 6
HIT! She staggers under Ayita's attack, but Yazhi grips her in her jaws and shakes, tearing Corla's flesh. (Even more) blood spurts from her wounds. She falls unconscious and dying to the deck.
Frantino stops his attack once Ayita and Yazhi hit Corla until she stops moving.
Frantino quickly reviews the actions of the last minute in his head. How did Viralane know that Corla was trying to get Nasir's backpack? Did either or both of them know that we have something extremely valuable in there? How? Can Viralane be trusted? I'm not so sure, she could just be putting on another act.
"We need to see what Viralane is doing downstairs, especially since Corla seemed to be targeting Nasir's backpack." Frantino gives Nasir a knowing look with a slight nod at the backpack. "I also need to confirm that Alden is still locked up."
Frantino moves to the top of the stairs and looks at Viralane.
If he doesn't see her making any offensive or suspicious actions he'll try to move past her to the bottom of the stairs. "Excuse me, I need to check on the prisoners."
Nasir runs over to Viralane once Corla drops.
"Are you okay? I knew that we would be able to subdue her, but this is still frightening to a delicate actress such as yourself."
Nasir looks over at Ayita's ministrations, then turns back to Viralane and carefully brushes some disheveled hair out of her face.
"It looks like she will live and we can get some answers out of her. Did you know that your hireling was so dangerous? She could have killed you!"
Nasir wraps Viralane in his arms, brings her on deck, and finds her someplace to sit.
"Come. Sit. The fresh air will do you good. Seeing real combat up close is very different than stage acting. Your first fight can be scary."
How did Viralane know that Corla was trying to get Nasir's backpack?
"We need to see what Viralane is doing downstairs, especially since Corla seemed to be targeting Nasir's backpack."
Frantino moves to the top of the stairs and looks at Viralane.
Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22
If he doesn't see her making any offensive or suspicious actions he'll try to move past her to the bottom of the stairs.
Viralane blinks at Frantino, impressed with his combat prowess. She seems to be a bit shaky, having just watched a bloody battle.
Frantino gives Nasir a knowing look with a slight nod at the backpack. "I also need to confirm that Alden is still locked up."
Viralane makes way for the halberd-wielding Frantino as he walks down below to check on Alden.
When Frantino gets to Alden's quarters, he finds him still locked in. Upon opening the door, Alden (a bit green with seasickness) looks at Frantino. "What's going on up there, brother?" He looks at Frantino's halberd of doom and the blood dripping from its blade. "Ah. Is it my turn, then? You are more brutal than I remember, Frantino."
If we're out of initiative and Corla is still bleeding, Ayita casts "stabilize" on her.
No, Yazhi! Ter says from above, as Yazhi licks her chops clean of tasty blood and takes one little tiny step towards Corla...
Ayita's magic stabilizes the dying halfling.
Nasir runs over to Viralane once Corla drops.
"Are you okay? I knew that we would be able to subdue her, but this is still frightening to a delicate actress such as yourself."
Nasir looks over at Ayita's ministrations, then turns back to Viralane and carefully brushes some disheveled hair out of her face.
"It looks like she will live and we can get some answers out of her. Did you know that your hireling was so dangerous? She could have killed you!"
Nasir wraps Viralane in his arms, brings her on deck, and finds her someplace to sit.
"Come. Sit. The fresh air will do you good. Seeing real combat up close is very different than stage acting. Your first fight can be scary."
"Oh, by the Gods, you are right! Real combat up close IS very different than stage acting," Viralane says, breathing out with a woosh. "What's in your backpack that she would try to steal it?"
|
"What's in your backpack that she would try to steal it?"
Hatfield interjects: "I'd bet tha mos' valuable item in Nasir's backpack is The Birth of Light and Truth. It's tha principal holy book o' Sarenrae!"
Then, making sure to stand between Viralane and Nasir, the oracle calls out: "Eddi! Ye alright, friend? Let's get a look at ye. Right here, if ye please."
"Ezranadir, was Eddi bamboozled by tha arcane?"
Captain Antefalle looks at the chaos around her. Crew members are shouting at Eddi, others struggling to get a look at the dying halfling. Things are... in flux.
shout a few of the crew. They jostle about, some shouting, some shoving back and yelling at the others,
"Eddi, go below and let one of the arcanists examine you," says the captain. She motions at one of the crew who takes Eddi by the elbow.
"C'mon, let's go sit down, Elbows," the crewman says quietly. "These fellows can find out if'n you were bewitched by that halfling."
"Can you look at him?" the captain asks Ezranadir, quickly. "Perhaps somewhere away from hot tempers?"
Captain Antefalle gives a look to another crew member, whom the heroes recognize as a longtime member of her crew. They both put their backs to the starboard-side railing. Antefalle's hand drops to her blade.
she shouts.
Hatfield interjects: "I'd bet tha mos' valuable item in Nasir's backpack is The Birth of Light and Truth. It's tha principal holy book o' Sarenrae!"
Then, making sure to stand between Viralane and Nasir [snip]
Nasir wraps Viralane in his arms, brings her on deck, and finds her someplace to sit.
the oracle calls out: "Eddi! Ye alright, friend? Let's get a look at ye. Right here, if ye please."
Heal: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
As the crewman walks Elbows past Doc, Elbows looks at Doc, confused. "I said I did it. But. But. Why did I say that?" He's very confused and somewhat forlorn. You can't figure out WHY he confessed, but he clearly didn't seem to mean it, if you believe his words. Your (very) cursory glance as he walks by reveals no physical harm or other indications of poisoning or influence.
"C'mon, man. B'fore things get uglier up here," says the crewman guiding him downstairs.
Roscoe takes a section of rope from his pack and moves to tie up the now-stable Corla. He also checks her for any gear, especially any material components he might keep from her grasp. Finally, he finds a piece of cloth to act as a gag.
"If we're going to get some answers out of her--first we need to secure her. She's dangerous!" he says.
"Oh, by the Gods, you are right! Real combat up close IS very different than stage acting," Viralane says, breathing out with a woosh. "What's in your backpack that she would try to steal it?"
Nasir shrugs. "I carry a lot of things in there. Since she didn't tell us what she was after, I have no clue what she would have wanted."
Nasir laughs trying to lighten the mood for Viralane. "Was she so hungry that she wanted to take my travel rations? They are filling, but not as tasty as what we've been served on board."
Nasir pats Viralane's hand. "Don't worry yourself though. My friends and I have the situation under control now. But tell me, what did she do to you to make you so scared of her? It almost looked like you were under her control."
Hatfield interjects: "I'd bet tha mos' valuable item in Nasir's backpack is The Birth of Light and Truth. It's tha principal holy book o' Sarenrae!"
Bluff: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Viralane says, "How odd. Corla always seemed more of a Secrets and Knives sort of woman, not a Goodness and Light type."
"What did she do to you to make you so scared of her? It almost looked like you were under her control."[/b]
Viralane smiles and looks away, uncomfortable. "She... she knew my secret shame. I... cannot sing anymore! You saw it in Sandpoint.
"After beginning my career as a singer and eventually gaining fame across the Inner Sea, I found myself headlining a melodrama beloved by the Thrune regime of Cheliax, Luculla Storms the Gates of Hell. There, I caught the eye of a man named Regemus Thrune, a minor cousin of Cheliax's queen. He was powerful and beautiful and rich. We entered into a torrid love affair. My nights on the stage made him enamored of me. And our nights together after each performance made me enamored of him.
"But, Regemus' wife, Chara, caught us entwined in bed one night. She ran Regemus through with his own rapier and, as his lifeblood pumped from his heart all over our naked bodies, she called out to the Whore Queen Ardad Lili for vengeance. With the attention of her Infernal patron, she cursed me: should I take to a stage, each performance would draw ridicule and derision, rather than the accolades I am used to."
"I test the curse's boundaries whenever I can, in out of the way places. And Corla is always there to see me fail."
Ezranadir goes below decks with Eddi & the crewmember. He examines him closely.
[dice=Knowledge Arcana]1d20+14
Ezranadir (and Doc, when he arrives) examine Elbows. There is nothing that suggests poison or other intoxicant that might influence Elbows' behavior.
When casting detect magic Ezranadir sees nothing. No magic or lingering auras.
But from his extensive knowledge of the arcane, Ezranadir knows that a weak spell's aura would only last for seconds, and thus be undetectable by now.
Alden, from his quarters' door, watches Ezranadir cast detect magic.
"Hmm. What are you looking for, elf? If you released me, I could help." He sticks out his hands, encased in the anti-casting gloves.
|
Alden, from his quarters' door, watches Ezranadir cast detect magic.
"Hmm. What are you looking for, elf? If you released me, I could help." He sticks out his hands, encased in the anti-casting gloves.
Ezranadir turns to the prisoner, "And just who might you be to be bound and shackled thus? What type of services can you provide if I did free you?"
Ezranadir turns to the prisoner, "And just who might you be to be bound and shackled thus? What type of services can you provide if I did free you?"Alden, from his quarters' door, watches Ezranadir cast detect magic.
"Hmm. What are you looking for, elf? If you released me, I could help." He sticks out his hands, encased in the anti-casting gloves.
"Ha! He hasn't bothered to tell you?" the half-elven man says, nodding at Frantino. "I am Frantino's brother, Alden. I was the Headmaster of the arcane Order of Resplendence in Roderic's Cove, until Frantino and his band of murderers showed up and slaughtered us all without a thought. You should know whom you associate with, brother elf. They put on a kindly show, but... But..."
He chokes up a bit. "The corpses of my fellow Order Philosophers say differently. The stove-in face of my Mistress, Corstela Rostrata, haunts me to this day, speaking to me, 'Beware, Alden Kaddren. Your good heart will be your undoing!'"
"Now, I assume they mean to sell me to the Sihedron Council in Magnimar, where I will be punished for learning what they arrogantly deem 'Forbidden' Thassilonian magic." He raises his head, proud. "But I will die a scholar, full of knowledge. Not some ignorant muggle, afraid of the world's magical heritage!"
Frantino snorts at Alden's story. "Oh, shove your lies back in your piehole, Alden. Ezranadir, this is my brother, long ago banished from Magnimar by my family for his misdeeds. He was sent by his new allies in Roderic's Cove to work with a group of bandits to murder us after we found success where they could not, and he nearly succeeded, too. I am returning him to my family in Magnimar to make them aware of his growing list of ever more serious crimes, so that they can punish him as appropriate for his misdeeds. Now sit back down, Alden, we're nearly to Magnimar. You need to get ready for your reunion with Aunt Zimandi."
Frantino snorts at Alden's story. "Oh, shove your lies back in your piehole, Alden. Ezranadir, this is my brother, long ago banished from Magnimar by my family for his misdeeds. He was sent by his new allies in Roderic's Cove to work with a group of bandits to murder us after we found success where they could not, and he nearly succeeded, too. I am returning him to my family in Magnimar to make them aware of his growing list of ever more serious crimes, so that they can punish him as appropriate for his misdeeds. Now sit back down, Alden, we're nearly to Magnimar. You need to get ready for your reunion with Aunt Zimandi."
”Ah, yes. Aunt Zimandi, the family’s Final Silencer. My misdeeds? My misdeeds? Don’t worry, I shall go to my death screaming my knowledge to the rooftops. Or at least the dungeon ceiling. Until Aunt Zi cuts my head off with another of those Sihedron Blades all of you Reapers use to silence the secrets of Ancient Thassilon!” he says, looking at the halberd Frantino carries.
Alden looks at Ezranadir. ”Beware, mage. Beware. And tell the halfling to beware as well. They’ll certainly find a way to get that medallion off his neck.” Alden makes a cutting motion across his neck as he says it.
”Ah, yes. Aunt Zimandi, the family’s Final Silencer. My misdeeds? My misdeeds? Don’t worry, I shall go to my death screaming my knowledge to the rooftops. Or at least the dungeon ceiling. Until Aunt Zi cuts my head off with another of those Sihedron Blades all of you Reapers use to silence the secrets of Ancient Thassilon!” he says, looking at the halberd Frantino carries.
Alden looks at Ezranadir. ”Beware, mage. Beware. And tell the halfling to beware as well. They’ll certainly find a way to get that medallion off his neck.” Alden makes a cutting motion across his neck as he says it.
to figure out what Alden is raving about now
"Tone it down, drama queen! And here I thought Viralane was the only actress aboard. If I thought a simple death would have sufficed, I could have let Cove justice proceed. Aunt Zimandi is now the family matriarch, after Grandpa and Grandma didn't return from an expedition to Viperwall a few years ago. And you well know that our family of wizards has neither the authority nor stomach to execute our criminals, not when magical means of rehabilitation are an option. Banishment obviously didn't work to temper your cruel streak, I wonder what favors she might call in to try other methods. Either way, I look forward to providing testimony and then moving on with my friends to deal with far more important matters than your pathetic existence, "big brother"."
Viralane smiles and looks away, uncomfortable. "She... she knew my secret shame. I... cannot sing anymore! You saw it in Sandpoint.
"After beginning my career as a singer and eventually gaining fame across the Inner Sea, I found myself headlining a melodrama beloved by the Thrune regime of Cheliax, Luculla Storms the Gates of Hell. There, I caught the eye of a man named Regemus Thrune, a minor cousin of Cheliax's queen. He was powerful and beautiful and rich. We entered into a torrid love affair. My nights on the stage made him enamored of me. And our nights together after each performance made me enamored of him.
"But, Regemus' wife, Chara, caught us entwined in bed one night. She ran Regemus through with his own rapier and, as his lifeblood pumped from his heart all over our naked bodies, she called out to the Whore Queen Ardad Lili for vengeance. With the attention of her Infernal patron, she cursed me: should I take to a stage, each performance would draw ridicule and derision, rather than the accolades I am used to."
"I test the curse's boundaries whenever I can, in out of the way places. And Corla is always there to see me fail."
Nasir shakes his head knowingly. "It always dangerous to tangle with a married man especially when his wife consorts with devils. I suppose you are lucky to only cursed to lose your singing voice. I can think of a variety of much harsher and permanent punishments she could have inflicted...but nevermind that. We Kelish can be hot blooded at times.
You should seek shelter in the Dawnflower. I know that there are priests of Sarenrae that who have her favor and can remove curses. Unfortunately, there is not even a shrine to her in Magnimar, so you may have to travel much further to seek her aid. As much as Gregory C. Hatfield jokes about me having a copy of The Birth of Light and Truth, I am not holy enough to carry such a sacred book. However, you should seek one who is. Perhaps I can inquire at the Kelish embassy on your behalf when we get to Magnimar. Would you like that?"