Arena 2
Rollo grins at the group of Elves. Once Gift transports Madame Brophes to the secondary position, the dhampir then begins casting a spell.
He targets he transforming Ogre.
Terex and Blue want to interview those elves?
Terex notes the group watching them carefully. Ugh, elven politics. Or sort-of-elven politics. Whatever these people were. Hopefully they hadn't chosen the wrong side. If there was a right side.
He inwardly rolls his eyes at how unsubtle GIFT was. But he reminds himself she's young. He speaks to her as he swoops behind Armaund. If you're going to evacuate people, get some of the other non-combatants too. We don't want to make it too obvious we know this person in particular is being targeted.
As he 'speaks', he darts down and then vanishes from sight, using his innate magic to turn invisible. Now hidden he soars out near the Madame and sweeps the area with his Blindsense, not trusting the visible threat to be the only one here.
Preparations beforehand:Madame Brophes is happy to have GIFT set up a safety point for her in the event of attack. The most defensible position would be the corner of the Arena where she can activate an emergency defense when needed (Emergency Force Shield).
Presently: Gift touches M. Brophes and whisks her to the safety Location. When Barlow asks about going to the street, she replies "Who knows what's lurking on the stairs and we must show we can handle ourselves, I think."
As this happens, Rollo strips what remains of the illusion from the thing that had appeared some kind of drunk, revealing a half-human, half-protoplasm thing - at which point a horrific odor seems to immediately fill the area (all within 30', IE, Rollo, Terex and Blue, fortitude save 20 or be sickened, a poison effect).
At this point, Armaund steps forward and fires two shotgun blasts into the thing at point blank range but these barely phase it. During this distraction, Ermina (apparently ) creates an illusionary image of M. Brophes where she previously had been standing and the thing lunges through the image, slowed for crucial moments before heading towards the real Madame in the corner - and receiving a serious wallop from butt of Armaund's gun (apparently doing more damage... given the "man"s strength).
Meaning while, Terex senses another person or creature emerge invisibly from the main door and also move hidden among the benches in the direction of M. Brophes.
Meanwhile, the referees have paused the game and the crowd is ... remarkably calm, as if things like this happened everyday (and for alll you know they might). The elves you noticed earlier are staring from across the hall with cool, detached interest. Ermina and her associates have retreated a ways back also.
Arlo looks over at GIFT, nods, then draws his holy longsword, then rushes the otherworldly horror, targeting it for a smite evil.
Arena 2
The poisonous stench carries over the seating area, engulfing those still there. Rollo just ignores it, while concentrating on this mess!
Rollo sighs.
The spawn of yog-sothoth! Well, someone really wants her dead!
The dhampir then casts Heightened Glitterdust on the vile monstrosity!
she scans the area for danger, as her dad moves in, unslinging her rifle and shoots at the thing.
Then she ports back to Madame Brophes.
"Looks like I better stay with you."
Change of plan, staying with Madame Brophes, Arlo has engaged the stink bomb.
Slinging her rifle back.
Ugh... I mean, watch out, there's an invisible being moving behind the benches, Terex 'says' to his fellow party members and the Madame. Move carefully, Blue. They're almost right next to you.
He telepathically indicates their location. I don't think I'd be much good against that... thing, so I'll stay hidden and keep watch.
He flies over the nearby bench, keeping pace with the invisible being and drawing his shocking grasp wand, but not yet striking.
Lucien looks back an forth, searching for the enemy Terex had warned of. Seeing nothin, he instead casts a spell. And disappears.
Barlo lights into the thing, burning it's unnatural flesh with something like a holy light as it screeches like a rabbit dying... And in turn, it lashes out are Barlo..biting him for 17 point damage and then shambling past him toward M. Brophes, manuevering somewhat awkwardly, it winds up still 15 away from the Fey-touched woman (Arlo get an attack of opportunity and is still close enough full-attack also). M. Brophes seems to activate some kind of magic as she steps back. Ermina and her comrades watch nervously just beyond you.
Terex senses the hidden figure moving quick along and under the benches, avoiding the glitter dust cloud and to the point where it winds-up five feet away from GIFT and M. Brophes, at which point, GIFT sees the creature ... which appears to be a skeleton, wearing a gray robe and holding a curved gray blade. This creature inspires an unnaturally strong feeling of disquiet in all who look at it (Which is currently just GIFT Will save 18 or be shaken, if mind-affecting things affect you, M. Brophes isn't yet aware of it). Finally, Minna goes tumbling and stuffs her rapier into one of things strange eyes (which it has several of around it's body) and it responds with a shriek.
The crowd continue to watch calmly and wearily and ... proctors emerge on several sides with barriers, separating the combatants from the rest of the crowd.
She spots the thing and for a moment feels shocked by it, but then her programming kicks in and she acts.
Nomad stepping to M. Brophes she foldspace them away again, this time outside the Arina.
Taking a seat Gift waves at the waiter to take there order, pouring a glass of wine for M. Brophes she says.
"Sorry M. Brophes, but they seem somewhat persistent. My lord will be here soon. And the others will deal with the annoyance. As soon as they give athe all-clear we will head back. But while we wait, what do you fancy, the cold fish plater or the soup-suprese for a starter?"
As the otherworldly horror lurches past him, Barlo curses himself, leaving GIFT to manage the Madam alone. Still, the secret paladin attacks the monster again as it attempts to leave.
Preparations beforehand:Madame Brophes is happy to have GIFT set up a safety point for her in the event of attack.
Arena 2
Seeing that Gift has the Madame well in hand, the Sage decides if it ain't broke, don't fix it fits this situation. The dhampir vaults over the balcony of the seating box to land on the ground . He then continues to move within 30' of the Skeletal Figure.
He cast another Heightened Glitterdust at the area of the Skeletal Figure.
Perhaps, we may come to an arrangement?
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Gift stands guard protecting M. Brophes.
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Terex darts in behind the now-visible skeleton and, whispering the command word, jabs it with his wand of shocking grasp.
Wielding a curved, dark gray blade, The skeletal rogue shoots out like a scorpion at M. Brophes and bounces suddenly an invisible barrier and directs another attack at GIFT but the blade goes wild - the thing broadcasts a hatred of all life but focused on the Madam...
The Shambling horror now also lunges at M. Brophes as well, hurling itself wildly at the force barrier and causing it flicker disturbingly as the M. Brophes looks nervously from within. Minna flails at the thing and Armaund throws a flask of acid at it.
The crowd is calmed down, almost ignoring you as attendants continue to monitor the barriers.
With superior effort, the dwarf continues to wail into the monster with his holy blade.
Seeing the barrier flicker, Terex wishes he had a wand for a good wall spell.
Although... these creatures seem pretty dumb...
Backing off slightly he switches wands to his wand of silent image, and with a quiet command summons up an illusion of a wall of stone blocking off the corner with the Madame in it.
After taking a moment to invisibly evaluate the situation, Lucien opens fire on the shambling horror. Once he reappears, others may notices that the bolts of lightning seem to leap directly from his metal arm.
Arlo's holly-flame burns into the monstrosity and then Blue's lightning finally kills it, causing the remains to collapse into something like offal that then seems to unravel into empty space.... Meanwhile, the skeletal assassin, moving noticably slower, takes a single swing through the illusionary wall of stone that then bounces harmlessly off the force-sphere, which glitters slightly but is holding... Armaund then approaches skeleton and pistol-whips it so hard it flies five feet and flattens against the wall ... yet it overall it still looks intact and dangerous... Ermina and companions are watching with nervous interest, the rest of the Arena is only slightly more quiet than normal...
Barlo rushes toward the skeletal assassin.
Double-ugh Terex broadcasts as the thing collapses into nastiness. Uh, can anybody get between the skeleton and its target? Other than me, it could just ignore me and step over me.
As he 'speaks' the little dragon again switches wands, this time to his wand of scorching ray, which he fires at the skeleton.
Uh, can anybody get between the skeleton and its target? Other than me, it could just ignore me and step over me.
Gift stands guard protecting M. Brophes.
But just as she jumps at the Skeleton dude, Armaund sends it flying into a wall. So attacking now after the others, she ports to the thing and swings around and slams into with a kick trying to send it back into the wall.
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Barlo quickly closes with the skeletal assassin, making the undead threat his new smite evil target.
Lucien floats forward, aiming his metal arm at the skeleton, ready to fire again if Barlo doesn't kill it.
It feels like the horrifying skeleton takes a long to stop completely but slowed and surrounded by Barlo, Armaund, Blue and others, it's eventually reduced to bone slivers and quiet. Then you realize the entire process took maybe 30 seconds, at which point, M. Brophes, Ermina and the other Fey-touched are congratulating you, the Attendants have lifted the barrier and referee is impatiently calling the party to take the field in the briefly postponed 3-ball match.
M. Brophes whispers to the entire group, "I am so grateful to you, Ermina found us some heros. And you see how they treat us (gesturing to crowd), my death would be just entertainment to them. I hope we can reach an agreement for further cooperation. We shall talk in a bit.". And party responds briefly and it's into the 3-ball arena.
Main roll looks like; 1d20 + [physical stat mod] + 1d20 + [mental stat mod] + 10 (skill mod)
Then make a skill roll for the +2-4 bonus.
I would like to talk further sometime, particularly about what we've just gotten involved in, Terex replies to the Madame, not voicing the fact that the crowd's reaction bothered him, too.
Instead he focuses down on the three-ball match, using his small size and skill with stealth to go unnoticed while he silently coordinates the team and positions himself for a big play.
Barlo changes from his dwarven armor to his 3-Ball uniform in the nearby locker rooms in Arena 2.
On the field, the dwarven 'bodyguard' gets into his opponent's heads and fiercely dominates the game, passing the balls back and forth between teammates.
Area 2
Rollo quickly turns his attention to the gambling group of silver clad elves.
The dhampir will attempt to join them; pre-ordering a feast for the continuation of the match.
Will you proper gentlemen join me for refreshments, conversation, while we enjoy the match?
This time out she hits no pone but on the pitch she plays to ball, lobbing balls onto seemingly open spaces only to reappear to catch them to Arlo or Terexa. Then to be next to the goal area and slamming the ball home.
In the arena. So the playing group turns out to be ... Barlo, GIFT, Terex, Armaund and Minna - Armaund being the only human sized player (and he's large but not gigantic ... in this form). Facing you are "Team Xinex", five Aasimar males, all with skin glowing a slight gold color, between 6'8" and 7'5", and strongly built for Aasimar (one of them seems to almost laughs when the party takes the field but after that slip, they're unfailingly professional).
The match begins with each side choosing speed over force, the proud Aasimar seemingly wanting demonstrate skill as well as their obvious strength. But this allows Terex, Gift and Minna to take small ball on head-spinning paths and so scoring repeatedly, while Arlo and Armaund guard them at key points.
The second half of the game involve Team Xinex becoming increasing aggressive and Arlo and Armaund blocking them again and again. Still, the tremendous skill, speed and strength of Xinex allows them to score reasonably often ... the match end with party winning but by a small amount...
On the side lines: The silver-clad elves eye Rollo with a cool, amused look - coming closer, Rollo can see there are three leaders wearing robes with silver over green as well three or four servants in conventional elvish wear, the group covering two large, round tables covered with pastries.
In reply to Rollo's introduction, one of them introduces himself "I am Cartan. I am pleased to meet you lord Rollo, your is performing most impressively. And you seem to have done a service for that group of Fey-touched. You seem to do well in both security and sports. Ourselves, we are primarily gamblers I must admit. I must say, your human seems supremely strong, beyond anything I've seen even with magic. And that small dragon, like a streak of light. One thing to consider is - you win easily this time. Would you consider losing next time? It could be lucrative... or just a change of pace.. All his words have a cool, ironic quality with a certain ambiguity or double entendre....
Once the match finishes M. Brophes, Ermina and companions congratulate the group in their quiet fashion. The Referee distributes a modest purse to the team - 2000 gp equivalent currency and Arena is once again noisy. Ermina mentions, "It has been four weeks we are here and you are the first group we have felt like we could trust. Obviously, it seems we have also acquired enemies...
As everyone mills about after the match, Barlo takes several small roasted chickens from the food table and a large chalice of Nirvanan wine, to sit down and eat after a tough match.
As the dwarf sits down, Barlo's chest begins to rumble. Quietly clutching his chest, the pain quickly passes. Hoping no one noticed, the dwarven competitor continues with his post-game meal.
Arena 2
Rollo engages with the Elves in discourse throughout the remaining afternoon. The dhampir never lets anything valuable to slip; although, he does fish for a bit of allegiance that this Gamblers hold?
Cartan, we are of like minds. I am here for fun; sporting events, gambling dens, raucous parties, and even a bit of undercity shenanigans. I alas, cannot in good conscience consider throwing, or even altering a sanctioned Match, but, other entertainments are available.
The Sage discusses items, mysteries from the Book to see at any other information.
The gift had turned out in her normal Lyotard and biar hands and feet.
Soon as the game started she loves it, this was more like it, speed and power. When it ends she feels almost like it should have gone on.
But she took her winning and then made her way to shalk the hands of each and every opposition player. Congratulating them and a great game and hoping they would have a rematch soon.
Then she shook herself off, stretched, and walked over to her father. Who by the looks of it was just finishing off one dwarf fest. Then stopped as she heard something coming from him that was odd. She had heard it before at the painting.
She sat down and she put her arm around him, head close she whispers with consern.
"Alright pops, what's going on with you and that sound, I know it's not your tummy rumbling, you look like you just finished off a brace of Chickens."
Barlo scoots his chair closer to his 'teammate' so they can a little more private.
"I don't know. The rumbling pain seem to come on when I had any thoughts of Žemėia," said the secret paladin with a little worry in his voice. "Now it seems like it comes on when it wants."
Barlo looks into GIFT's eyes. "Something comin'. Or something's happening to me. Normally I'd take care of any 'personal issues' after a mission. But we're not even at any 'halfway point'. I can't break our cover over this. Barlo's too visible."
The dwarf swallowed hard. "I'll just have to deal with it until we're back with your mother. She's smart. She'll have some idea what to do."
Barlo pats Arlo's daughter on the knee under the table. "I'll be okay."
In a city of secrets such as this one, trust is a rare and valuable thing, Terex replies to Ermina. Four weeks seems swift to be acquiring enemies. Have you any idea why someone would wish you harm?
While he listens to the response, the little dragon mentally connects with <Shimmer>, the thought of this being a city of secrets making him curious if there were planar oddities around the arena as well.
Worried she leans back, still looking at her dad.
He was right mum would know, she always knew.
She nodded but kept close to him after that.
At the Elves' Table: Cartan and his two companions, Moiran and Landon, continue their cool, ironic discussion, making observation concerning several different groups of humans and demi-humans of the many in the large hall... They admit to having been here for several years and hoping to leave once they achieve sufficient winnings ... but they admit their often drives them to postpone this...
One comment: "My friend Rollo, while we are here for the journey, we not here only for the journey. The winnings are especially important. And for that, it is important to have many friends. M. Brophes and company are good to know and even to offer services. But don't limit yourself.
References to The Sad Heart Of The Ruby seem to fall on deaf ears. Perhaps they are too inscrutable to let anything on but Rollo's guess is they are what they appear to be - courtiers with a mercenary spirit. Charming but not trustworthy, charmingly open in their mercenary spirit and happy to use that charm...
At the table M. Brophes and the fey-touched M. Brophes picked up on Terex' telepathic talent earlier and engages him in further telepathic discussion. "Here, it seems enemies are fairly common, so it is not as extreme as you might think. Still, it is an unfortunate state of affair. Like many others, we came seeking our fortune and have so far modestly succeeded. The alliances here can be fierce. Our troubles began when rejected a request for an alliance from one Hanlo Estes. He clearly served some sort of dark power. At the table, Ermina mentions that the Great Gambling Hall is the only real industry of Syranix and supports the great wealth and pleasant life of it's inhabitants.
<Sparkle> gives Terex the impression that each floor of the Great Gambling Hall is actually it's own demi-plane, which naturally it finds quite interesting.
We will need to set up our Mister Estes. Just quite how to get him to lead us to his Masters is a plan we need to start forming.
Rollo will spend the remaining time just discussing things Gambling, while recruiting them as much as is safe for a future lucrative project.
Lucien stands near Rollo during the match, playing the bodyguard. Afterward, he congratulates the others on their performance. "Excellent flying, Terex. You as well Gift. Barlo, Armaund, you two did an excellent job on defense." He will join them for refreshments after, but be careful to ensure someone is always with Rollo. Can't leave the noble without bodyguards, after all.
So, the rest of the afternoon passes pleasantly, with a variety of gentile refreshment - thromnut and plum sandwiches with the crust removed, exotic teas poured from silver teapots, Mordovian mushroom spread on rye crackers and so-forth. The gamblers affect an air of laziness despite the competitive undercurrent. M. Brophes slips you currency the equivalent of 10,000 gp at point as a part of the winnings of the group, from betting on the party. Smoke from various mildly-drugged herb mixtures in various pipes wafts through the large hall...
Hanlo Estes? We have had the displeasure of meeting him before. We also noted him to be a dangerous man. We thank you for a second warning.
Terex does pass this along to the others. Clearly we'll have to be wary in dealing with him, though the fact that he does not seem to know how to pass to the next level suggests that he is not yet as large a player in Syrinax as he would wish. That does, however, leave open the question of who he does serve.
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After leaving the arena complex, Arlo was deep in his own thoughts. GIFT walking close behind her father, still silently worried about her dad. Both Brighthammers lagged behind the group slightly. It seemed oddly quiet outside the arena. Birds held their beaks, traffic was minimal, no annoying buzzing of insects. As the Syranix was holding it's breath. Waiting.
It began low. Like a tiny growl, only to slowly become louder and louder. The grumbling would not stop. Barlo clutched his chest and fell forward onto his knees. GIFT ran to Barlo's side, kneeling next to him.
”Dad! Are you okay?!” The android asked desperstely, not caring for her cover in the moment.
The dwarf looked like he was choking on his words, unable to breathe.
”Love..you!” Barlo choked out, thinking these would be his last words to his daughter. ”Tell..Lyra..thank..you..and..love..her!!” The dwarf coughed.
The rumbling in Barlo's chest grew so loud the other members of the party turned to see Barlo choking on the street with the android next to him, holding the dwarf closely. Rollo and his entourage quickly tried to figure out what was happening.
Barlo stumbled back to his feet, choking with watery eyes of fear and sadness. The dwarf's arms seemed to raise about his head of their own accord, knocking GIFT away from her father. Then, with clawed fingers, Barlo's hands shot back down onto his face, burying deep into his flesh. Oddly, there was no blood or gore. But the dwarf's facial wounds looked more like holes in a stone wall as opposed to dwarf flesh. The rumbling emanating from becoming extremely loud! Barlo's fingers began to tear away the ruined stone rubble that was Barlo's face. Deep cracks in the dwarf's shoulders and torso began to appear. The facial implants the Organization put in Arlo fell to the street floor!
GIFT and the other could only look on in horror as Barlo, no Arlo, ripped his crumbling facade aside, like a demon possessed. From what was torn away, something glowed with a golden light in it's place. With so much of Arlo's feature's removed, the rumbling no longer sounded like an earthquake, but the combined sound of rolling thunder and thousands of hammers being slammed into an anvil, making something new or restoring something once lost.
Finally, Arlo dug his hands deep into his crumbling chest and began to rend it away, like the final moments of a caterpillar emerging from its caccoon. Arlo screamed at the effort, but it couldn't be sure if it was pain or release in that scream. The glowing light that was with Arlo grew brighter as the sounds of clanging thunder rose from with the dwarf paladin. Until a final tug from Arlo's arms ripped the rest of the chrysalis away with a final defiant scream from Arlo.
The light ad thunder were gone. Arlo kneeled on the street, breathed hard, surrounded by his family and teammates, with debris scattered around him. Barlo was gone, and so was the old Arlo those gathered knew. This new Arlo, still clothed in his dwarven armor and magical items, slowly rose to his feet, helped by GIFT taking his father's arm in shock. Gone was the dirty-blonde dwarf scrapper, replaced by a platinum-blonde dwarf of that one stood for a painting that now rest in one of Syranix's fine museums. Arlo Brighthammer, The Defender of Žemėia had returned.