Aurelia once more returns to her own feet. To Corran she says, "Next time, we do this differently okay?"
"Only a little worse for wear," Xavien dusts off his friends' blouses and jackets. "And soon made right enough once again."
Aurelia once more returns to her own feet. To Corran she says, "Next time, we do this differently okay?"
"Agreed. Next time, I am on top."
Aurelia once more returns to her own feet. To Corran she says, "Next time, we do this differently okay?""Agreed. Next time, I am on top."
Aurelia arches a single brow at this, but says nothing.
The Duchess says nothing as the party fixes up their wounds. The cherub stays in its triggered position...
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Aurelia once more returns to her own feet. To Corran she says, "Next time, we do this differently okay?""Agreed. Next time, I am on top."
Ianthe blanches and grimaces.
I think I threw up in my mouth a little bit.
"We can find you two a room once we are done here," Xavien chuckles, stepping back into the office.
"Well, Duchess, here we are. Care to grace us with your company?"
Corran can't quite figure out what they're talking about, but... Okay.
"Yes, Milady, can we meet?"
The party steps in. There's no sign of the Duchess at all, only a painting. Alternating bookshelves and paintings line the walls in this large, warm space. Warm colors, plush carpeting, and overstuffed furniture all combine to give the illusion of warmth, while the scent of tobacco hangs faintly in the air. The large portrait of Veleto Lotheed stares down from the western wall.
Kenton follows Xavien into the room, his hand on his rapier but deliberately not drawing steel. At the sight of the portrait and no Duchess, he frowns slightly as he studies the room carefully.
"Very sequestered, I would say," Xavien remarks, turning to face the painting. "Hello, dear Duchess."
"I suspect we've fallen victim of a magical trap."
Aurelia will attempt to detect magic using a simple spell she knows
The painting turns to face Xavien, "Hello love. Now that I have you here... You will stay here, yes? You would not deny an old woman, would you?" she steps out of the painting to stand toe-to-toe with Xavien...
Aurelia is impressed by just what she's seeing unfold, confident that some magic is at play. She thinks back to her education...
Aurelia doesn't think this is a spell. Clearly this is caused by magic, but it's not a spell. She's likely some time of construct, but what, she does not know.
Her gait and comportment imply that she's ready for combat... and skilled enough to assume victory.
Ianthe takes her own measure of the acrylic creature before her.
"I would be loathe to do so," Xavien smiles, inclining his head. He scans the figure before him.
Xavien can't quite figure out what he's dealing with either, and it's far beyond Ianthe's knowledge.
"The thing is my dear children, you've come into my house armed. You're hedging your bets now, wondering what I am and what I'm all about. The fact is, if you were on my side, you'd be more.... eager and less careful." She draws a rapier with the grace of a much younger fencer.
"Now, get out of my house."
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Sense Motive:
Arcana:
"Then let's stop hedging. We're here to remove Bartleby from power. He has forsaken his position and his duty to the people of this land. Moreover, Eutropia Stavian is the rightful ruler of Taldor, not the traitorous High Strategos. Bartleby Lotheed has forsaken his oaths to both Grand Princess and Country. I'd prefer to not shed any Taldan blood, or paint and canvas, in your case, but if The Count will not step down, then we shall take him down. I assure you, we could not be more eager. Declare yourself friend, Lady, and aid us, or stand in our way and we'll see if my love of art will be enough to restrain me. I doubt it."
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Ianthe stands tall next to Corran.
What my brother said!
"Well Corran, you've got more balls than most of Taldor." The change in "her" language comes with a change in tone. It's harder, sharp like her blade. "I like you Corran, that's why I'm going to kill you last."
ROUND 1:
Ianthe (31/37): Go
Kenton (43/50): Go
Corran (25/28): Go
Xavien (57/58: Go
Aurelia (26/32): Go
Duchess Lotheed: TBD
-----------------------------
Location: Palace of Birdsong
Tromp l'oeil:
"A pity," Xavien remarks in disappointment at her turn. "But I suppose a dance with blades is still a dance."
He steps behind the duchess and cuts a vicious slice along the way.
Ianthe pulls out her new wand and sends a series of eldritch bolts at the old biddy.
Kenton's blade is in his hand in a blink, and he moves forward to a position opposite Xavien. We would prefer you on our side, my lady, he says, but I see that you have made your choice.
Xavien reacts first, slashing her with his blade. The visual is an uncanny valley that it's simply off. The blade sinks in as if she was made of dense mud, but there is no blood. A couple moments afterwards, blood appears as if painted on. There is neither emotion nor grimace of pain on her face.
Ianthe's missiles strike her, forming slight cracks. Unfortunately, Kenton's swing is easily dodged.
ROUND 1:
Ianthe (31/37): MM
Kenton (43/50): Miss
Corran (25/28): Go
Xavien (57/58: Hit
Aurelia (26/32): Go
Duchess Lotheed: TBD
-----------------------------
Location: Palace of Birdsong
Tromp l'oeil:
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Corran begins an oration.
[Inspire Courage. Tack +2 Damage onto Xavien's swing, so sayeth the Lords of Initiative.]
"Why Am I so drawn to thee, Lady Fair?"//"Thou art the very picture of disdain.//Every moment gazing at your CHEAP FRAME//Is more than anyone should have to bare..."
Corran puts some extra emphasis on the word frame to pass along a hint.
Aurelia steps away from the construct, hands moving in arcane gestures as she does so. Murmuring a series of unintelligible words of magic, she creates a layer of grease that coats the weapon of the duchess.
Corran weaves a song both inspiring and belittling.
Lady Aurelia greases the Lady's weapon, but a moment later she draws it, and the arcanist sees that it's simply part of her.
Kenton quickly realizes too that the Duchess easily handles foes on both sides, not feeling the need to worry about the war on two fronts . She immediately assumes a fencer's en garde and pressures Kenton "Low-born fool!"
MISS
THREAT
for
ROUND 2:
Ianthe (31/37): Go
Kenton (43/50): Go
Corran (25/28): Go
Xavien (57/58: Go
Aurelia (26/32): Go
Duchess Lotheed: TBD
-----------------------------
Location: Palace of Birdsong
Tromp l'oeil:
Moved by Corran's words, Xavien spares a look at the portrait on the wall.
I am indeed a fool, Kenton retorts, yet I have more depth than the mere painted lady I see before me. He matches her dance and mirrors her stance.
"That frame would make good kindling for an evening fire, would you not agree?" Xavien asks the room at large. "Bartleby has wrecked this home already. What of one more?"
Meanwhile, he smashes Koriana into the back of the painted lady's head.
THREAT
DOUBLE THREAT
TRIPLE DAMAGE
Corran maintains the, "song" but moves to attack the frame and picture left behind.
"O! This garrish thing is much! Far too big.//Let us trim the fat pigment of this pig"
Choppy choppy the frame and painting.
Xavien steels a quick look to see that the duchess has fully removed herself from the painting. When Corran references destroying it, a twinge of fear flashes across her face.
Kenton and Xavien both land direct hits!
ROUND 2:
Ianthe (31/37): Go[/b]
Kenton (43/50): Hit
Corran (25/28): Go
Xavien (57/58: Standard
Aurelia (26/32): Go
Duchess Lotheed: TBD
-----------------------------
Location: Palace of Birdsong
As per slack...
Ianthe directs her wand to the picture frame, as dictated by her brother.
Corran and Ianthe both target the frame. Corran finds it supernaturally tough, but Ianthe's spell works! Fear splashes over the duchess's face, "NO!" Her attention turns towards the siblings
ROUND 3:
Ianthe (31/37): MM
Kenton (43/50): Hit
Corran (25/28): Hit (No DMG)
Xavien (57/58: Standard
Aurelia (26/32): Go
Duchess Lotheed: TBD
-----------------------------
Location: Palace of Birdsong
Frame: 7
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Seeing her magic work against the frame, Ianthe exclaims, "Corran, your idea worked!"
As the Duchess focuses her attention of her and her brother, Ianthe exclaims, "Corran, your idea worked."
Aurelia grins. "Ah, I see now. Well then, let's apply some pressure."
The arcanist performs some mental gymnastics, her concentration reorganizing the stored arcane power she's learned to harness within her. She then channels some of that power into her next spell, creating a quartet of magical missiles that target the picture frame.
Aurelia follows suit. The fear stays painted on the Duchess's face. Unexpectedly though, her mouth turns to a crooked grin. "Carr! I need you!" A new sound grabs your attention - unnerving childlike whimpering and sobs.
The door behind Ianthe opens. It's some awful looking creature, and it's making all the sounds. The thing resembles a gray, emaciated child, with cobwebs and dust for clothes and a fox skull for a head.
The duchess steps to Corran and drives her rapier at his heart:
for
Drawing blood once.
The sounds of sobbing overwhelm Ianthe.
ROUND 4:
Ianthe (31/37): Go
Kenton (43/50): Go
Corran (25/28): Go
Xavien (57/58: Go
Aurelia (26/32): Go
Duchess Lotheed: TBD
Carr (Religion to ID): TBD
-----------------------------
Location: Palace of Birdsong
[ooc]
DM’s Tracker
Frame: 22
Kenton continues his focus on the painted lady, without much success.
Corran yelps at the sudden attack and swiftly switches to a defensive stance, doing his best to remember his lessons.
[Stop song, but it lingers for two more rounds. Remember everyone BUT Ianthe, +2 to hit and Damage]
Corran goes full defense, hoping that he's ticked off the Duchess enough to, ahem, "Tank", as the youth say.
"<ugh> Is that the best you have, Duchess? You know, the point of this particular work seems to be Hags can't swordfight. The work of an amateur to be sure."
Xavien arches an eyebrow at the new arrival...
...but cannot place the creature. "No matter," he mutters. He steps to the painting and drives his blade deep into its canvas center, hoping to finish what Corran and the Ladies have started.
She easily parries Kenton's attack, "How bourgeoisie."
Corran hopes to draw her ire will Xavien makes a MASSIVE slash in the frame. It's far more important to her than the Taldan bard.
ROUND 4:
Kenton (43/50): Miss
Corran (25/28): Defense
Xavien (57/58: Hit
Aurelia (26/32): Go
Duchess Lotheed: TBD
Carr (Religion to ID): TBD
-----------------------------
Location: Palace of Birdsong
Frame: 35
Puzzled at how the picture frame is still not destroyed, Aurelia hurls yet another trio of force missiles at it.
Ianthe sends another round of arcane might at the picture frame.
for
MISS
The three missiles slam into the frame destroying it! The "duchess" roars in fury, "You stupid fools! You damn fools!" She, however, isn't destroyed along with it. Ianthe immediately hits her with her own missiles.
She stabs twice at Aurelia
for
for
Her fury affects her attack
The little freakish thing tries to bite Ianthe:
for while the touch is not terrible, Ianthe can feel it trying to drain her of... something...
ROUND 5:
Ianthe (29/37): WILL + Go
Kenton (43/50): Go
Corran (25/28): Go
Xavien (57/58: Go
Aurelia (8/32): Go
Duchess Lotheed: TBD
Carr (Religion to ID): TBD
-----------------------------
Location: Palace of Birdsong
Frame: Destroyed
Ianthe suddenly feels as though she ran an endurance race. Her breath is hard to catch.
for
MISS
The three missiles slam into the frame destroying it! The "duchess" roars in fury, "You stupid fools! You damn fools!" She, however, isn't destroyed along with it. Ianthe immediately hits her with her own missiles.
She stabs twice at Aurelia
for
for
Her fury affects her attack
The little freakish thing tries to bite Ianthe:
for while the touch is not terrible, Ianthe can feel it trying to drain her of... something...
ROUND 5:
Ianthe (29/37, Fatigued): Go
Kenton (43/50): Go
Corran (25/28): Go
Xavien (57/58: Go
Aurelia (8/32): Go
Duchess Lotheed: TBD
Carr (Religion to ID): TBD
-----------------------------
Location: Palace of Birdsong
Frame: Destroyed