As per slack: Move action to Sense Motive.
Having taken Imistos' measure... Corran begins to sing an old song. It's a pub song, and one he knows from a book of Halfling stories that somehow fond it's way into his hands when he was 10. He always liked it. He weaves threads of magic into the words and he stands a little taller, trying to look impressive.
"Oh you can search far and wide,
You can drink the whole town dry,
But you'll never find a beer so brown,
As the one we drink in our hometown,
You can drink your fancy ales,
You can drink them by the flagon,
But the only brew for the brave and true...
..Comes from the Green Dragon!"
Bardsong to Fascinate. DC14 Will Save. I have one round of performance left after this.
Words fly in the stand off. Trant grips her sword but makes no move...
Once the bardsong enters the mix, Imistos pushes the tip into her throat, "You can't talk me out of this you stupid human. You have NO IDEA what's going on. None!"
Round 2:
Imistos: Readied action
Corran: Sgt. Al Powell
Ianthe: Go
Aurelia: Move
Trant: Readied
Kenton: Go
Xavien: Go
Leo: Stable at -1
Corran looks at his sister and ever so slightly shakes his head.
So you have chosen your fate, then, Kenton says grimly. Very well. YOUR SINS AGAINST MOTHER TALDOR SHALL STAIN YOU FOR ALL TIME! YOUR HANDS ARE UNWORTHY TO TOUCH LADY GAEL URBAEN!
The call to action strikes a chord deep within Lady Gael. She feels her blood rise. The issue is that she's spent her short life in court, not in combat.
Round 2:
Imistos: Readied action
Corran: Sgt. Al Powell
Ianthe: Go
Aurelia: Move Action
Trant: Readied
Kenton: Move Action
Xavien: Go
Leo: Stable at -1
Lady Gael, do not worry. You can handle this situation. Remember that you are Taldor.
"Lady Gael! You are a woman of the court, and have spent your life surrounded by men who do not deserve their positions of power. Don't let yourself stay a prisoner. Break free!"
Kenton's appeal to patriotism steels her resolve. She misses all of Lady Aurelia's speech, all except the last two words, break free!
Without a thought she drives her leg into Imistos and tries to gain separation: She gains a foot of space and tries to make for cover!
Imistos, not to be foiled, jabs at her as she flees:
for He draws blood, but the wound is superficial. . She runs opposite Lady Aurelia.
Trant rushes forth to protect her!
Lady Aurelia's eagle, unable to follow the conversation... because it's an eagle... obeys the arcane dweomer which summoned it, and flies directly at the halfling:
for
Round 2:
Imistos: Readied action
Corran: Sgt. Al Powell
Ianthe: Go
Aurelia: So. Many. Words.
Trant: Close
Kenton: Move Action
Xavien: Go
Leo: Stable at -1
Kenton: Move Action
Kenton moves in toward the traitor, his blade at the ready. Your life is now forfeit.
Ianthe wiggles her fingers and makes the appropriate gestures for her spell.
For the shadows of the auditorium behind him, voices and shouts ring out. Imistos is this way! Come on! We've got him now! He won't get away this time!
Kenton closes in as Ianthe tries to bamboozle Imistos:
"FOOLS! I know your tricks. I've watched you! Stupid b#+$&."
Round 2:
Imistos: Readied action
Corran: Sgt. Al Powell
Ianthe: Ghost Sound
Aurelia: So. Many. Words.
Trant: Close
Kenton: Move Action
[b]Xavien: Go[b]
Leo: Stable at -1
Xavien straightens from where he stooped over Leo's unconscious form, and in three great strides makes it to the doorway.
"Tis true," he says to Imistos. "I have 'NO IDEA' why you thought stabbing a dozen armed and angry Taldan patriots in the back was a sensible move. Care to explain your seditious folly?"
To the three remaining nobles, he issues an instruction that brooks no argument. "Get behind me."
The nobles all rush in. Even Lord Plaston gets away unscathed as Imistos isn't ready.
The angry halfling angrily stabs at the eagle blocking his path!
, but it's pathetic!
Trant rushes into the vacuum, longsword ready:
for
Round 3:
Imistos: ATK
Corran: Go
Ianthe: Go
Aurelia: Go
Trant: ATK
Kenton: Go
Xavien: Go
Leo: Stable at -1
Aurelia's eagle continues its assault, claws and beak working to rend flesh.
And because an unarmed foe is the best kind of foe, she weaves a spell that conjures a translucent grease which begins to form on Imistos' weapon!
The eagle is completely foiled by Imistos's guard. Aurelia greases the halfling's blade and he drops it!
Imostos gives a string of profanity. He looks to the rapier, then to a dagger at his hip, then to the party, and finally to his ring.
Round 3:
Imistos: ATK
Aurelia: Grease!
Corran: Go
Ianthe: Go
Trant: ATK
Kenton: Go
Xavien: Go
Leo: Stable at -1
Xavien seizes the momentary opening to get behind Imistos before he can re-arm himself. "Only a fool throws a crown after a penny," he says with a grim frown, lacking his usual levity. "Have a taste of your own medicine." He stabs him in the back.
Kenton follows after Lord Xavien, happy to see the blade has fallen from Imistos' hand and he is no longer armed. He takes an advantageous position to prevent escape.
With a full scowl, he repeats himself. Your life is forfeit.
Kenton rushes forth as Xavien nicks Imistos's side!
Round 3:
Imistos: ATK
Aurelia: Grease!
Trant: ATK
Kenton: Double move
Xavien: Hit
Corran: Go
Ianthe: Go
Leo: Stable at -1
Ianthe grasps her new Pearl and invokes the memory of a spell to return.
Corran moves to stand beside Aurelia and draws his falcata and buckler.
The Agents of Taldor close in on Imistos. The halfling looks about, opens his ring, and bites down on the pill inside:
It doesn't work right away, but it does work fast. Imistos's mouth begins to foam. He spits out a final curse, but it's too garbled to comprehend.
Within seconds, he's dead on the floor...
As you take in the aftermath, Trant moves to the east, "Look, this way leads to the surface!"
The party strips the three halfling corpses of their valuables. This is, after all, war.
Imistos carries a few interesting things:
The two guttersnipes combined have:
Corran moves to Lady Gael.
My Lady, are you all right? Have you been injured?
Based on what transpired, he wants to check in on her, sure, but Corran now things that Lady Gael Urbaen was the target of a larger plot, and he wants to know why. ALSO... She's fine and he's flesh and blood after all. But mostly interact, make a good strong impression and try to get a read on her.
"It's but a scratch, really." Indeed, the wound seems minor. Her fear is much deeper though.
The quartet of nobles all look defeated. It must be well after midnight at this point, and the events have nearly broken their hearts and minds.
Trant's words rekindle a modicum of hope for them.
"Oh, thank the gods," Aurelia says, completely drained of her magical powers. "Now to find out just what has become of Taldor."
Aurelia sheathes her sword and draws forth the wand they found earlier. "Let's not dally here, as the last thing we need is more trouble finding us."
As Imistos falls, Kenton glowers a moment more before begging Dame Trant's pardon — Your leave, just a moment more, my lady — and turns to Jowuan Zubari. You identified yourself when we met as an acolyte of Abadar, my good man. Can you use your divine energy to heal us? I expect this will cost me, as Abadar commands, and I am quite willing to foot that bill.
After, Kenton lets the nobility move toward the exit first, then hefts the body of the now-deceased Imistos to bring to...
What authority is in place now? he wonders to himself. It is clear this scoundrel is part of a larger plot — against Princess Eutropia, certainly; but his actions toward the Urbaen family suggest the plans run much, much deeper.
The unholy symbol belongs to Thamir Gixx, the halfling god of greed and opportunity. He is mostly revered by cutpurses, assassins and mistreated halflings. Halflings often associate him with Norgorber, be it as a friend, minion, or slave.
Corran's got nothing on the "Dignified Repository", but he thinks he knows something of Gael, or rather her family. House Urbaen is new money, but a LOT of new money. Thus far they've resisted the siren call of minor corruption, at least that's their reputation. A dead heir would have been a terrible blow for them. While the motivation for Martella is clearly strategic and ideological, the motivation for Gael was likely pure profit.
I'll want a roll for Brotherhood of Silence as well please.
Jowuan stutters in his answer, eventually nodding. He reaches down to Leo and casts his lone spell,
Brotherhood of Silence.... an open secret. It's a multinational thieves guild, and rumor has it the guild was formed in Oppara. The leader of this organization is known as the Masked Marquis, although the true appearance, gender or race of this mysterious individual is unknown. Indeed, the secret is so well kept that many even doubt that he is just one person.
Corran moves to Lady Gael's side and offers his arm.
My Lady, I am Corran Clement. It seems that this party is winding down. The venue is dank, the food is middling and there's no music anywhere. And let's not talk about the staff! Might you allow me to escort you home now?
A slight jest at the circumstances
She looks at Corran, eyes wide, "I.... Oh my. I.... Corran? Corran. Make me a promise. Allow me to return to my family, and allow me to return with your reward. Then allow me peaceful time to recover. By the next twin night allow me to spend an evening with you."
Xavien frowns at the note.
But he chuckles at Corran and Gael's antics. "Lady Martella was heading towards a safe house a few minutes ago. Perhaps we should endeavor to do the same. Stay close, everyone! We shall make it through the night yet."
He scratches at the shadow of stubble on his chin, thinking on where to go once they reach the surface.
"Lady Basri, Lady Clement, would you mind checking that Imistos labeled his bottles correctly? It is not above an assassin to mix them up..." he adds absentmindedly.
As you return to the senate building from below, you discover the grounds of a charnel house: the bodies of civilians, Lion Blades, military personnel, and even the Ulfen Guard still lie where they fell. A few combat-fatigued soldiers wander the halls taking records of the dead, posing no real danger to you. The soldiers calmly direct you to leave the senate building, which is currently on lockdown due to the recent “political turmoil.”
You pick up tidbits of new information from the soldiers and from from passersby on the street after you leave: surviving senators have fled to their respective strongholds, while the Ulfen Guard has secured the imperial palace and refuses to admit anyone until the matter of succession is cleared. Both Grand Prince Stavian III and Princess Eutropia are missing in the aftermath of Stavian’s attempted slaughter. The city proper seems to be in a tenuous state of peace, but the issue of succession is already beginning the divide the aristocracy into a dozen different camps, each insisting its candidate alone has a right to the throne....
The nobles whom you escorted thank you profusely. Since the streets proper are peaceful they immediately return to their abodes, reiterating their commitment for reward. As you formulate your own plans, curriers return. In all you find yourselves heavier by an astounding 120 Platinum coins.
Corran accepts Lady Gael's terms! Of course Lady! The time away may madden me with anticipation, but I'll manage.
To Ianthe and the others: We should check on our houses and holdings. And then we need to find Martella and This Repository.
Lady Trant looks at you all. For a moment it seems as if she might actually hug someone, but in the end she extends her arm for a clasping of wrists, "I.... I have my father's estate to put in order. I owe him that. I also owe you. You've changed my life for the better. You will be able to call upon me once things with the House are settled. May... Aroden watch you upon his return."
Trant takes her leave...
Kenton will gladly accept Dame Trant's gesture of friendship. Consider any debt you might have incurred already paid, he says with finality. Friends do not owe. They do because it helps another friend. He bows. At your service.
After Trant departs, he turns to his companions. You lords and ladies must see to your Houses. Leave checking in with Martella to Leo and me, and let us meet again on the morrow.
"I could sleep for a fortnight," Aurelia says, exhaustion evident in each word. "But I admit I am loathe to let the two of you track down Lady Lotheed alone. She communicated through the badges recently, so we know she is well enough. Join me at my home this night, so that we can proceed together when she next reaches out."
Xavien, too, bows to Trant. "We shall see you again soon. 'Til then, be well and on your guard."
To Kenton (and Aurelia), Xavien shakes his head. "I cannot permit that. Each of us have been identified as targets, per the guild's note; as such, we must be as a bundle of arrows. Together, we will not break."
"I would offer my rooms at Hôtel d'Ilsa as a refuge, but I fear that none of our usual abodes are safe right now. I have pondered where else we might lay low..."
"Ah! Perhaps the local Pathfinder Lodge would take us in. Lady Gloriana seemed sympathetic at the Gala. If she still lives..."
Kenton nods, admonished. I had forgotten about the badges, Lord Xavien, he says, somewhat flushed in the face from embarrassment. And your strategic wisdom is well taken. Of course, yes, while this series of skirmishes may be win, the war for the crown has just begun. I would beg your pardon.
Yet still, you must learn of your family's well being, even as we seek some sinicure. He pauses. I hope Uncle is...
The party continues to talk as Lord Xavien moves to the local Lodge. Upon approaching a familiar voice emerges from an alley. The owner, a woman, bloodied but unbroken raises her hands to signal peace. Once she hits the moonlight, you make out the Lady Gloriana...
"If you're looking for refuge with us, I'm afraid to disappoint you. I've spent most of the evening smuggling agents and resources out. We're fleeing to Andoran mostly, some to Qadira. Some of my agents have been on the look out for you. When they reported you coming this way I wanted to meet with you.... as I have bad news."
She reports that she knows that the Dignified Repository is the safehouse, but it also seems to be crawling with men, and NOT Martella's. On top of that it seems the situation is bad for the Pathfinders. They long find themselves doing everything EXCEPT actually adventuring to ancient dungeons. This means all but a small handful remain; her bodyguard and a token team.
"I can spare my team to help with external forces, but they're not an army. It looks like they're laying siege waiting for her to come out. Get some rest. You can stay in the lodge. There's still food and water. Let's go first thing in the morning."
Kenton nods, admonished. I had forgotten about the badges, Lord Xavien, he says, somewhat flushed in the face from embarrassment. And your strategic wisdom is well taken. Of course, yes, while this series of skirmishes may be win, the war for the crown has just begun. I would beg your pardon.
Yet still, you must learn of your family's well being, even as we seek some sinicure. He pauses. I hope Uncle is...
"Let us not talk of begging or of pardons, my good man," Xavien replies with a smile, slapping Kenton on the back. "You were kind to offer, and it has been a long night."
"As for my family, I may be a Karthis, but trust when I say there is little love lost between my family and me. They would probably be glad to see my name in the night's casualties list! That would put an end to their embarrassment." He chuckles. "Come, let us make our way to the Lodge."
* * *
"You are most kind, Lady Gloriana; we gladly accept your invitation. It has been a trying night for us all, and I am grateful for your organization's staunch resistance."
The Lodge has largely been cleared out. All that remains for supplies are the things that are ubiquitous among Pathfinders.
I'd love a treasure split to shop. Is there a way I can help that happen?
-Can the PF Society accept two small mithral shirts for one Medium sized one? I have a weight problem and a Mithral Chain Shirt would solve it.
-And we should look for a wand of CLW.