Ianthe incants words of power and launches a corrosive bolt at the invisible foe.
Ianthe doesn't get lucky, burning only the wall.
With a level of bravado only magic can bring, Kenton lets fly with his blade. Ke thrusts into the air, drawing blood once, but only once.
ROUND 5:
Aurelia (32/32): Glitterdust
Xavien (48/69, Fast Heal 2): Go
Ianthe (37/37, CON -1): Melf's
Kenton (48/48): Hit
Gul: -3
???: TBD
Corran (28/28): TBD
-----------------------------
Location: Palace of Birdsong
Inspire Courage
Bartleby: 13 (3 Images, Shield, Haste)
Xavien's brief pause not yielding a visible foe, he digs into a pocket for a small vial of bright-green liquid, which he promptly hucks at the doorframe in front of him. SUCCESS
The pressurized capsule bursts on impact, spraying globs of bright-green dye in all directions (5' radius from right-hand edge of the door frame).
Meanwhile, Xavien keeps singing for all he is worth.
"By oppression's woes and pains,
By loved ones in servile chains!
We will drain our dearest veins,
But they shall be free!"
You may accept Inspired Rage as a FREE ACTION at the BEGINNING of your turn. If so, gain the following:
+2 Str
+2 Con (+1 hp/lvl, +1 on Fort saves)
+2 Will saves
-1 AC
May use the Reckless Abandon rage power (+2 attack, -2 AC)
Cannot use Dex-, Int-, or Cha-based skills (except Acro, Fly, Intimidate, Ride)
Cannot use abilities that require patience or concentration
You are NOT fatigued when the song ends
You CAN choose to cycle in and out of the raging song round by round
Xavien splashes some ink on the man, but a moment later, it doesn't matter. Count Bartelby Lotheed appears, or rather four of him appear. He's moving preternaturally fast. He thrusts at Kenton twice, channeling arcane electricity down the blade of a bare sword cane:
for
for
"I'll cut your heart out you commoner piece of s@@*!"
ROUND 5:
Aurelia (32/32): Glitterdust
Ianthe (37/37, CON -1): Melf's
Xavien (48/69, Fast Heal 2): I Don't Know
Kenton (14/48): Hit
Gul: -3
Bartleby: ATK
Corran (28/28): Go
-----------------------------
Location: Palace of Birdsong
Inspire Courage
Bartleby: 13 (3 Images, Shield, Haste)
It all happens so fast... Bartleby appears and stabs poor Kenton!
"Kenton! NOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Corran draws out the nooo as long as it will go, and traces some invisible pattern with his fingers. Bartleby hears it as an Ear-Piercing Scream
Bartleby gets the honor of a Fortitude Save for Half Damage. If he fails the save, he takes full damage and is Dazed for 1 round.
DC15 Fort
Sonic Damage
Corran's spell takes Bartleby by surprise, hurting and dazing him!
ROUND 6:
Aurelia (32/32): Go
Ianthe (37/37, CON -1): Go
Xavien (48/69, Fast Heal 2): Go
Kenton (14/48): Go
Gul: -4
Bartleby: Dazed
Corran (28/28): Go
-----------------------------
Location: Palace of Birdsong
Inspire Courage
Bartleby: 20 (3 Images, Shield, Haste)
"Lay the proud usurpers low,
Tyrants fall with every foe,
Liberty's in every blow,---
Let us do or die!"
You may accept Inspired Rage as a FREE ACTION at the BEGINNING of your turn. If so, gain the following:
+2 Str
+2 Con (+1 hp/lvl, +1 on Fort saves)
+2 Will saves
-1 AC
May use the Reckless Abandon rage power (+2 attack, -2 AC)
Cannot use Dex-, Int-, or Cha-based skills (except Acro, Fly, Intimidate, Ride)
Cannot use abilities that require patience or concentration
You are NOT fatigued when the song ends
You CAN choose to cycle in and out of the raging song round by round
Xavien seizes the opportunity, hammering Count Lotheed twice with Koriana's cold edge.
Aurelia's cheetah, with its prey visible, takes advantage of the now visible foe to bite at the foe.
Going for the sure thing, the noblewoman of House Basri creates a quartet of magical missiles. With a gesture she hurls them at the dazed Bartelby.
The cheetah completely misses on all its attempts. It fails to even strike the mirror images.
The frustration continues when Aurelia's magic missiles slam into a momentarily visible shield of pure energy.
Xavien manages to score a single hit. His impressive follow up only destroys one of the images.
ROUND 6:
Aurelia (32/32): Thwarted
Ianthe (37/37, CON -1): Go
Xavien (52/69, Fast Heal 2): Hit
Kenton (14/48): Go
Gul: -4
Bartleby: Dazed
Corran (28/28): Go
-----------------------------
Location: Palace of Birdsong
Inspire Courage
Bartleby: 44 (2 Images, Shield, Haste)
You are an ignoble, beslubbering cockerel, Kenton says through gritted teeth, and a disgrace to the Lotheed name. You are challenged, knave.
Kenton gives Bartleby a shove with all the might his free hand can muster, trying to push him into Lady Clement's web spell.
Kenton dashes forward with a POWERFUL shove that strikes only an image, which quickly vanishes.
The cheetah completely misses on all its attempts. It fails to even strike the mirror images.
The frustration continues when Aurelia's magic missiles slam into a momentarily visible shield of pure energy.
Xavien manages to score a single hit. His impressive follow up only destroys one of the images.
ROUND 6:
Aurelia (32/32): Thwarted
Ianthe (37/37, CON -1): Go
Xavien (52/69, Fast Heal 2): Hit
Kenton (14/48): Image destroyed.
Gul: -4
Bartleby + 1 Image: Dazed
Corran (28/28): Go
-----------------------------
Location: Palace of Birdsong
Inspire Courage
Bartleby: 44 (2 Images, Shield, Haste)
Ianthe focuses her will on her heirloom family ring on her right middle finger, using it to recall and cast spell.
and with a word and a gesture, Count Bartleby finds himself disarmed!
ROUND 6:
Aurelia (32/32): Thwarted
Ianthe (37/37, CON -1): Grease!
Xavien (52/69, Fast Heal 2): Hit
Kenton (14/48): Image destroyed.
Gul: -4
Bartleby + 1 Image: Dazed
Corran (28/28): Go
-----------------------------
Location: Palace of Birdsong
Inspire Courage
Bartleby: 44 (2 Images, Shield, Haste)
Corran lets out another Ear-Piercing Scream. Fort Save or damage and Daze for 1 round. Success means 1/2 Damage and no Daze. DC15 Fort.
Trying to keep the Count on his heels, Corran rocks the count again!
The spell leaves him unable to even level a quip or barb.
ROUND 7:
Aurelia (32/32): Go
Ianthe (37/37, CON -1): Go!
Xavien (52/69, Fast Heal 2): Go
Kenton (14/48): Go
Gul: -4
Bartleby + 1 Image: Dazed
Corran (28/28): Go
-----------------------------
Location: Palace of Birdsong
Inspire Courage
Bartleby: 51 (2 Images, Shield, Haste)
Aurelia lets the cheetah continue its assault.
Deciding that the battle is in the front, Aurelia draws her sword and casts a protective spell that encases her torso in magical armor.
The cheetah moves in on the dazed count. the bite snatches only the illusion, but the claw connects with the already bloodied man. With a gargle he drops. Count Bartelby Lotheed, eldest son of Count Mercater Lotheed, and Sir Gul Gusairne now lies dead at your feet.
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Suddenly you have a vision! You're guarding a duke. You stand on the parapet looking down. Suddenly you see a man burst through the crowd. He rips a crossbow away from one of the guards. He kicks the man down and takes aim at the duke. There's no time. You can't get there. there's nothing between a quarrel and chaos. With a single breath you relax and take aim. The man shoots! You squeeze the trigger. your own bolt hurtles forward, striking the would-be-assassin's bolt and knocking it out of the air! Dignity's Barb grows stronger.
Suddenly you have a vision! You're at a ball, on a mission. you have a feeling of gravity, that this mission is both vital, and nearly impossible. You flit about the ball connecting with enemy after enemy. None know your game. Each time you touch them, their suspicions melt and their smiles grow. You will succeed in your mission, you always do. The Envoy Ring grows stronger.
Suddenly you have a vision! The enemy has brought a pyrohydra! all seems lost as you are confident that you're going to die in this Army of Exploration.
Nevertheless, your duty is your duty. You close distance as the beast rears its head and breaths fire upon you. Holding sword and shield high, the flames wash over and past you. There is no burn at all! you then swing the blade for the hydra's heart. The Korian'a Blade grows stronger.
Suddenly you have a vision! You move through the ballroom opposite your other number, other Lion. He's busy flirting and making friends, you're busy studying. You evaluate each and every person with a practiced and magically enhanced eye. That's when you spy it! The debutant by the fountain holds the phylactery! The The Subtle Mask grows stronger.
"A good fight!" Xavien laughs, pocketing the keys. "And brave men, though foolish to the last." Once quite sure that Gul is dead, he hacks off the seneschal's head with a single clean sweep of Koriana's Blade. He allows the head to drain for a few moments, then wraps it in some old furs and stuffs it away. "Per the Four Hoods' request," he explains to a quizzical Kenton.
Reaching for Bartelby's two potions, he takes a whiff of each.
Xavien also searches both bodies thoroughly to make sure that Gul is not also carrying a key, and neither is carrying the deed to the Palace.
Aurelia looks through Bartelby's items...
And then Gul's...
Aurelia looks through Bartelby's items...
Spellcraft (Bartelby's clothes): Unknown
Spellcraft (Blue potions): Cure Moderate Wounds
Spellcraft (A wand of slightly melted copper): Wand of Corrosive touch (12 Charges)
Spellcraft (A wand of ash): Unknown
Spellcraft (leather belt with a silver belt buckle): Unknown
Spellcraft (delicately engraved silver headband): Circlet of Persuasion
And then Gul's...
Spellcraft (wand made of simple willow): Wand of Cure Light Wounds (34 charges)
Spellcraft (A magical breastplate): +1 Breastplate
Spellcraft (A magical light crossbow): +1 Light Crossbow
Spellcraft (A magical cloak of blueish green and red trim): cloak of Resistance +1
Xavien takes a fair bit of time, checking parts that are.... he's thorough, but there's no key.
"Per the Four Hoods' request," he explains to a quizzical Kenton.
Rather literal, I'd say, Kenton muses, but nonetheless it is what they asked, so.
He frowns when Xavien finds no deed, however. This is all for naught without it. Though, I suppose it makes sense not to have it on their person.
Once Lady Basri and (presumably) Lady Clement finish poring over the spoils, he sets off into the rooms unseen so far, looking for an office of the late Count Lotheed or that of the late Sir Gusairne.
"Before you go wandering off," Xavien smiles at Kenton, tossing him one of the potions. He downs the other himself.
Having spent time on the more mundane magic items, Aurelia examines The Book of Harms.
Kenton looks confused but then laughs a little at Xavien's jest. Duly noted.
Aurelia finds the spellbook... locked.
The party takes stock of the situation, as well as Gul's head. Then it's off to search the rest of the Palace. there's little left. The objets d'art and liquid money have largely been looted. There are no guards left.
It all comes down to the central office on the second floor, not far from the scene of your final fight. The door is locked, but it doesn't take long to open.
Darkwood paneling reaches high up to a frescoed ceiling depicting First Emperor Taldaris’s noble conquest of Cassomir. A desk, carved from dark purple wood to look like owls with their spread wings supporting the work surface, occupies the center of the room, while plush, burgundy chairs surround the remaining space. A family portrait on the western wall depicts a dozen scowling nobles—a teenaged Bartelby among them—and a single hound, though the dog is clearly a later and more amateurish addition to the otherwise high quality artistry.
Everyone jumps back when a scream erupts without source. A terrified and ghostly figure appears. After a few more screams, he calms down to address you and tell you his story...
Mercater Lotheed, father of Bartelby and Martella, was the former Count Lotheed and steward of Meratt. While arrogant and greedy, he was also a dutiful aristocrat of Taldor and competent administrator who resented his family’s long history of abusing the county and their power. His many years spent correcting longstanding issues with county infrastructure eventually led him to uncovering records regarding his “uncle,” Panivar Lotheed VI. In time, he came to suspect that Uncle Panivar was not the sixth man to bear that name, but rather the first, still alive after centuries and posing as a succession of descendants. His research soon attracted Panivar’s attention, and the elder Lotheed dispatched his loyal sahkil, Ehlers, to literally scare the aging man to death.
After some discussion, you conclude that YOU slayed Ehlers in the tower, after it nearly did Ianthe in.
As Mercater was slain in a pique of emotion, on the cusp of discovery, his soul refused to rest soundly, and he now remains tied to his office. His shame at his own undead state has prevented Mercater from appearing before his children, but he has attempted several times to point servants and visitors to the secret compartment in the floor, only to frighten them off. He now points YOU there since you don't seem to be so easily frightened.
Inside is the Deed for the Palace of Birdsong. Also there are a variety of birth certificates, death certificates, newspapers, royal announcements, and travel documents dating back 300 years. the certificates are forgeries, while the other papers all feature announcements and sketches related to six men bearing the same name and very similar description....
The ghost turns to you, If you ever prove this, I'm sure I'll be able to find some bloody rest.
Once the Palace of Birdsong is secure, Prince Eutropia and Martella Lotheed begin their journey to the county of Meratt from Cassomir. Their arrival a week later gives you time to rest.
The princess’s arrives to a warm homecoming with a hope for positive change in the future. There's a traditional Taldoran ball, far from the blood of the civil war. For a moment at least, there is time to relax.
The morning after the ball, you're summoned to a private meeting. You're not told with whom, but given the formality, you have an idea...
"I cannot thank you enough for what you have done here. Taldor owes you a debt for your bravery and resourcefulness. While war is expensive, loyalty should be rewarded. I have secured for you each a roll of 100 platinum coins. Additionally, I have had the deed for the Betony estate transferred to you. Glory to Taldor!"
Martella pulls you aside after the meeting...
"There's an irony in war. Often the people who affect the largest change get the smallest praise. Most of the work you've done here will go unsung. Know that YOU have changed the face of the war. Here, take this. I have but one, but I want you to have it."
She hands you a cloak, sky blue and of fantastic quality. The edges of the cloak are lined with silver symbols of protection.
She spends some time with you, going over the state of the civil war to keep you up to date.
For now, you have time to relax and enjoy the fruits of their labor—a tidy estate, a thriving village, and the comforts of a nearby palace.
Aurelia finds the spellbook... locked.
"Let me have a moment with it," Xavien offers. He examines the book carefully, as it may be trapped.
"Let's see if one of Damian's little keys might do the trick. Ooh, this one should fit the bill."
Corran takes a stab at some of the magical items, relying on old myth and histories...
- Playing Cards.
- Headband
- Bartelby's Clothing
- Ash wand
- Leather belt with rampant tigers
Corran's first priority for downtime is a visit to The Crabbe Estate for as long as is appropriate. There appears to be interest from Sepsinia and her mother for an alliance by marriage. I need to know if there's anything there. So I'd like to make arrangements for that--a social visit to learn as much about Sepsinia as I can. Because of her previous curse, we know very little about her. Corran intends to amend that, and see if this is a good match in temperment. We can also feel for the Crabbe's loyalties and see if this is also a good social and economic match.
Corran genuinely doesn't know how to feel about this. He feels the pangs of something [Story Feat] but needs to investigate. With potential open war on the horizon, there may not be another chance.
If anyone else in the party is willing, he'll ask for a companion to accompany him--perhaps Ianthe? He will not ask Aurelia--for more reasons that confuse and alarm him, he doesn't think clearly while she's around.
Ianthe looks through Bartelby's items...
Spellcraft (Bartelby's clothes):
Spellcraft (A wand of ash):
Spellcraft (leather belt with a silver belt buckle):
Ianthe will happily accompany her brother to the Crabbe Estate to learn more about her potential sister-in-law and to try to strike up a friendship with her.
She will review the playing cards, having missed them in her initial studies.
Aurelia will excuse herself from any social visit with the Crabbes.
So, Panivar Lotheed is a guy who's been creeping around since at least 4418, pretending to croak every once in a while, leaving all his possessions to namesakes, and assuming their identities.
Kenton shakes his head. It doesn't seem possible...
"Lots of whispers about ways to do that. Undeath being the, 'Classic', answer here. It's almost silly--this is just the sort of thing that happens in stories. Magic, Curses, un-death, Fell-Bargains... Anything is possible. Taldor is an old nation with old enemies."
"Lots of whispers about ways to do that. Undeath being the, 'Classic', answer here. It's almost silly--this is just the sort of thing that happens in stories. Magic, Curses, un-death, Fell-Bargains... Anything is possible. Taldor is an old nation with old enemies."
Kenton nods. Reasonable. I believe we should bring this to Lady Lotheed's attention and ask her counsel.
After another moment, he continues. And did anyone learn from Her Highness exactly to which house she has bequeathed the Betony estate?
Not really paying attention to the conversation, Xavien takes the circlet from Bartelby's brow, setting it upon his own locks. "The Karthis family lost this circlet in a drunken card game centuries ago... fitting that I should be the one to reclaim it. How do I look?" he asks, flashing a dazzling smile.
"Very dashing, Xavien!"