Aiyana whispers, "Well done Darven. I believe my great-grandfather installed this chamber as a bolt-hole, insurance against the threat of an insurrection in the city. Look's like it is finally seeing some use..." There is a small break in her thought, as she looks around. You then hear her voice from inside the room. "There should be a latch somewhere here, it will open up this stone wall into the master bedroom...let's see..."
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You hear your companion pull a latch, and the stone wall slowly grinds open. This opulent bedroom contains two beds, each bearing ornately carved wooden headboards, which are rare and valuable in a subterranean city. Two nightstands, one bearing a chamber pot and the other bearing a silver tea service, stand beside the beds. The floor is covered in a thick, shaggy rug of brightly colored geometric designs, and the domed ceiling is painted with a mural that resembles a starry night sky—another luxury in a city that has never seen such a sight.
On one of the beds, you notice a figure, entirely wrapped from head to toe in dark tatters which dance unnaturally around her. She lies on the bed, arms completely spread, and seems to be enjoying the extravagant quilt atop the bed. "Who's the greatest villian of all, villian of all..." A curiously joyful song, which immediately stops as the secret door to the postern slides open. She immediately sits up, a magical floating rapier immediately stands at attention by her side, "What? Who's there!"
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Darven tries the crowbar on the door, but is unable to get a good angle. He tries again, this time feeling Will's hands guide him towards a better angle at which he can put more pressure on the door. After another moment, the old locked door pops open, the vaacuum inside releasing a breath of stale air.
This small chamber is dusty and cramped. A narrow alcove contains a large barrel with a small knapsack atop it, a blanket, and rusted bucket. It looks like no one has stepped foot into this space for a very long time.
"Don't clean much, do you?" Pietro says to the space he imagines Aiyana to occupy.
You hear your companion pull a latch, and the stone wall slowly grinds open. This opulent bedroom contains two beds, each bearing ornately carved wooden headboards, which are rare and valuable in a subterranean city. Two nightstands, one bearing a chamber pot and the other bearing a silver tea service, stand beside the beds. The floor is covered in a thick, shaggy rug of brightly colored geometric designs, and the domed ceiling is painted with a mural that resembles a starry night sky—another luxury in a city that has never seen such a sight.
On one of the beds, you notice a figure, entirely wrapped from head to toe in dark tatters which dance unnaturally around her. She lies on the bed, arms completely spread, and seems to be enjoying the extravagant quilt atop the bed. "Who's the greatest villian of all, villian of all..." A curiously joyful song, which immediately stops as the secret door to the postern slides open. She immediately sits up, a magical floating rapier immediately stands at attention by her side, "What? Who's there!"
"DON'T MINE ME! I'M JUST THE HOUSE'S CONTRACTUAL HAUNT. BOO! BOO! AND ALL THAT." He steps closer to the bed, while trying to heave his voice at the stone wall. "BE OUT IN A MOMENT. JUST HAVE TO SLAM SOME DOORS, AND RIFFLE SOME SHUTTERS. MIND THE OCCASIONAL COLD SPOT."
"SAY, YOU AREN'T MY GREAT, GREAT, GREAT, GRAND NIECE, AIYANA ARE YOU?"
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The woman is taken back, almost frightened but not quite. She immediately stands, taking hold of her rapier and swings it around in front of her, just missing the skin on Pietro's nose, as if she is swatting away a fly. "Ummm, no one told me this place was haunted!" She settles down, a little bit, but still mistrustful of the voice in front of her. "Grand niece! Yes, that's right, it me, great...great, great...ah, great? grandfather?"
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The woman is taken back, almost frightened but not quite. She immediately stands, taking hold of her rapier and swings it around in front of her, just missing the skin on Pietro's nose, as if she is swatting away a fly. "Ummm, no one told me this place was haunted!" She settles down, a little bit, but still mistrustful of the voice in front of her. "Grand niece! Yes, that's right, it me, great...great, great...ah, great? grandfather?"
"UNCLE! GREAT, GREAT, GREAT, GRAND UNCLE! NOW, WHERE WAS I? OH YES, IT IS EVERY MAN'S LOT TO WANDER FAR IN LIFE AND IF HE DOES NOT SPEND IT FRUITFULLY HE IS DOOMED TO DO SO IN DEATH, WANDERING AN WITNESS TO LIFE WRAPPED IN THE--err... the um--THE UNCOMFORTABLY TIGHT BREASTPLATE HE FORGED IN LIFE." He rattles about the room in his armor. "I MADE IT IN LIFE, STRAP BY BUCKLE, PAULDRON TO PAULDRON--AND BY MY OWN FREE WILL I WORE IT." He wails, and thrashes.
Then Pietro pauses dramatically. "WOULD YOU KNOW THE WEIGHT AND UNCOMFORTABLE CHAFING OF THE ARMOR THAT YOU BEAR YOURSELF?"
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While Pietro keeps the dark tattered caligni occupied, Telos sneaks a peak into the next room. This comfortably appointed lounge has a large stone fireplace, though its ashes are currently cold. Opposite the fireplace is a comfortable sofa upholstered in some kind of fuzzy hide. A number of rag piles that appear to serve as bed rolls are scattered throughout the room, and the malodorous stench of unwashed bodies is heavy in the air.
Looking through the rich furnishings in this chamber are three dark creapers. The doors leading to other parts of the estate seem to be closed.
Then Pietro pauses dramatically. "WOULD YOU KNOW THE WEIGHT AND UNCOMFORTABLE CHAFING OF THE ARMOR THAT YOU BEAR YOURSELF?"
The dark woman looks a little confronted, as she pulls on her mithral chain shirt, indicating her confortable she is wearing it, "Oh no, dear Uncle. This is specially fitted for my physique! If you are looking for such relics of the past of which you speak, you should check the armory. You remember where that is, don't you, dear Uncle?"
You get the feeling that this is a test, possibly because she knows the armory is empty.
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Telos isn't entirely paying attention to the conversation going on in the room that he's peaking out of. Seeing the three dark creepers, he wants to let the others know but realizes he doesn't have an easy way to do so.
How are these things not hearing the... boisterous conversation with this woman?
Taking a risk, Telos turns back away from the door out and casts See Invisibility.
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"OF COURSE! IT'S OVER THERE." Pietro points invisibly.
"Then go! Be gone, Uncle! Find the darn relic yourself!" Not sure what she was expecting, but the dark woman spits back at Pietro.
The woman turns quickly, "Huh? What was that?"
"Arcane magic?" She grabs her rapier, and casts her own spell, "What is the meaning of this, show yourself, INTRUDER!"
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"OF COURSE! IT'S OVER THERE." Pietro points invisibly."Then go! Be gone, Uncle! Find the darn relic yourself!" Not sure what she was expecting, but the dark woman spits back at Pietro.
"'RELIC?'" Pietro says scratching his head. "WHAT RELIC?"
The woman turns quickly, "Huh? What was that?"
"Arcane magic?" She grabs her rapier, and casts her own spell,
Pietro starts.
"What is the meaning of this, show yourself, INTRUDER!"
"WHAT!? WHERE!?" He casts about, concerned that the place might be truly haunted.
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The next few seconds pass by extremely quickly, before you know it, the woman on the bed has cast haste and mirror image, right as Pietro takes to the door leading out of the room, and breaks the lock and handle on it to stop anyone from coming in or out.
Before you know it, it is time to react.
'Surprise Round'
Pietro (Invisible, MoG)
@ Darven (Invisible)
@ Seward (Invisible, See Invis)
@ Telos (Invisible)
@ Will (-)
+ Aiyana (Invisible)! Callivarus, the Shadow (haste, images 7)
! Dark Creepers (green, pink, red)Everyone may act! (Will go to round 1 in 12-16 hrs)
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As soon as he's settled quietly in a different corner he sends another arcane message to Pietro.
Feel free to knock her out when you're ready. Careful though, you only get one shot and the invisibility ends.
"GHOSTS! WAIT, HE ISN'T DEAD AGAIN, IS HE?"
Pietro uses the might of the gods granted to him by Cayden Cailean . He bounds to the door hoping not to step on any errant, invisible halflings. Depending on how it seems to open he either throws his bulk against it, or holds onto the handle.
As the team quickly reacts to the now very suspicious and aggravated enemy, Aiyana also jumps into action and casts blindness on your new foe, "For your crimes against the Bleackshore Council, you will now be taken into custody!" Such a show of emotion almost immediately drops your companion out of invisibility.
The spell has no effect, on the now alert opponent.
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"You little **!" She exclaims, as Telos's spell takes immediate effect and quickly dispels her haste. Still, the dark tattered woman places one hand on her hip, while the other images around her move around in strange ways. "So you're with the Council? I personally rounded up your puny resistance members. It appears a few must have evaded my might..."
Not sure how many opponents are around her, she goes for a target she can see, "Halfling. I think you've got this all wrong. Can't we be friends?" She defensively casts charm monster on Telos.
A good thing that Pietro is holding the door, as he feels many pairs of small hands trying to pull the door open from the other side, and enter the room.
As Aiyana appears from invisibility, in her haste she knocks over one of the barrels in the postern. An annoyed skeleton of an undead snake slithers out, and bites on the caligni, but misses.
Round 1
Pietro (Invisible, MoG)
@ Darven (Invisible)
@ Seward (Invisible)
@ Telos (See Invis.)
@ Will (Invisible)
+ Aiyana (-)! Callivarus, the Shadow (images 7)
! Dark Creepers (green, pink, red)
! Necrophidius (red)Everyone may act!
Only the last arrow from Will manages to hit it's mark.
Seward unloads some arrows into the woman. "Do we want her dead or alive?" he asks.
Darven instead tries to take out the snake harrasing Aiyana. "Who cares, just knock her out!" he responds.
Only Pietro remains invisible, holding the door so no one else can come inside.
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Aiyana sighs, "Please do your best to keep her alive!" as she tries to take out the snake.
The snake, beaten heavily by the fighter, starts to rattle it's tail, moving it's head side to side in a hypnotic way. It is almost impossible to keep your eye's off of.
There more ruckus on the other side of the door.
She says something in undercommon, probably giving a command to whoever is behind the door trying to break through. The dark figures, taking some hits, she frowns. "Not today!" She quickly snaps her fingers, and goes invisible.
Round 2
Pietro (Invisible, MoG)
@ Darven (Invisible)
@ Seward (Invisible)
@ Telos (See Invis.)
@ Will (Invisible)
+ Aiyana (-)! Callivarus, the Shadow -29 (images 2, invisible)
! Dark Creepers (green, pink, red)
! Necrophidius -25 lethal (red)Everyone may act!
"Guys...what's...going...on..." She cannot take her eyes off of the snake.
"Will, guide my bow, where is she?"
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The enemy grumbles, there goes her plan of tumbling through your quares and escaping. She instead puts her hand on Sewards chin and xasts hold person. "Be a dear and hold still."
Darven cuts down the snake, leaving their flank well protected, but more importantly dispelling whatever trance the creature was holding his team under.
Round 3, everyone to act.
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Will manages to take out the remaining images the creature had cast upon herself, as the final arrow sinks into the woman's torso. Barely limping away, she get's hit by another elemental attack from Telos.
The arrows sticking out of the woman like a needle cushion, she stumbles backwards as the powerful swing rends a deep wound in her side.
She falls to one knee, barely standing, "Mercy! Please! I surrender!"
Round 4, everyone to act!
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Pietro! What do you say to letting that door fly open right when I tell you to?
He thrusts his hands forward as if to send an explosive incantation through the portal. He backs up to the wall directly opposite the door. If the cleric agrees, Telos starts a countdown...
Telos looks at the surrender proceedings with disappointment.
Are you sure? What if these guys don't surrender?
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"Huh? What? Oh those guys, i wouldn't worry about them. They were more interested in seeing the insides of a wealthy home than do any real damage. You know, investigate the whereabouts of the the resistance groups, ya-da, ya-da. But hey, looks like you came straight to us, and i didn't even have to move a finger..."