| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"If they had just robbed them, wouldn't they have made it back to the temple by now?" Sercha questions. She avoids carrying that thought to its logical conclusion.
"Unless they took everything they had including their clothes and the priests are too embarrassed to travel in the nude on the open road."
She responds with a nervous shrug at the surprised looks that comment creates. "Not that I would ever consider doing something like that to someone. Anything suggesting otherwise would be entirely unsubstantiated rumors."
Sercha's suggestion causes much hilarity and it is only Shula who catches sight of the body floating face down in one of the pools some three hundred feet away...
Laughing with Search, Lope does not notice the floating body until Shula points it out "Let's be careful... we do not know how it died..."
If the place is dark, the man casts light on his buckler to act as a sort of torch.
Then he moves slowly to check if the body has any signs of being one of the Abadar clerics and any mark that shows when and how it died.
Orisons (4/day)
light
divine guidance
mending
detect magic
Level 1 (5/day)
protection from evil
remove fear
sun metal
bless
obscuring mist
Level 2 (3/day)
burst of radiance
supress charms and compulsions
+1 open slot
Sercha's mirth dies instantly. "Damn, that's not good," she says as her blade slides from its sheath. With a wave of her hand and a muttered phrase, a shimmer of force appears next to her.
Following Lope towards the body, she lets the man examine it while she eyes the surrounding area for concealed attackers.
Shula's lips quirk at Shula's joke. "Have to admit I was thinking more 'robbed and murdered' than 'had their clothes stolen and were too embarrassed to go back,' but maybe-" Then she spots the body. "Or not."
While Lope checks the body, Shula joins Sercha in looking around for potential murderers.
Shula's sharp eyes catch sight of movement just before a serpent with scales like river pebbles, shot through with veins of gold, surges out of the water pool!
[oooc]Everyone up! The snake is twenty feet away in about three feet of water.[/ooc]
"Seems it was a bad day to dress on the new leather knickers" Lope says a prayer to the sun and the metal of his rapier ignites into flames, then he tumbles forward 15 feet over the water trying to approach the snake from a side.
With a thought, Sercha reaches inside herself and touches the part of herself where the magic resides. With a laugh, she then rushes forward to stab at the giant snake.
Victor fires a magical snowball at the snake, then raises his shield as he moves into melee range,
Shula joins Sercha and Lope in rushing towards the giant snake. "How many Abadaran clerics come this way? Because it looks like this thing evolved to eat them."
Lope circles the large snake, which is probably the most sensible way to do it. Sercha doesn't bother with such things, charging straight into the creature's maw encased in magic. Her blade sinks through the scales and into the creature's flesh, as does Shula's vicious kukri slice. Victor's snowball strikes the creature's armoured head, doing more damage as the creature's ambush is brutally foiled.
The snake lashes forward at Sercha, but her magical shield prevents its fang landing. The snake recoils backwards into the water, trying to escape the pain it has been caused.
Lope completes his tumbling in a flanking position and invokes the power of the goddess into his weapon "In the name of the Ethernal Rose! There will be no more cleric chewing in this lake!"
His flaming rapier goes with a precise but rather glancing strike.
Victor moves in to strike!
Sercha stabs as the snake spirals away.
She then raises her hand and it begins glowing blue as she speaks arcane words. With a few steps she closes the distance between her and the giant serpent.
As the creature tries to run away Shula hits it with her kukri to devastating effect. "Not so fast!" Chasing after it to stay on the opposite side of Sercha she slashes at it one more time for good measure.
Shula cuts across the serpents face and then Sercha and Lope fall upon the creature and stab it into a thrashing frenzy as its lifeblood seeps out into the shallow pool.
The face-down body in the pool proves to be a woman, just about recognisable as Dradi Maladus from the description circulated, despite her partially eaten body. A shiny circle on her belt is in fact a +1 returning chakram, and the scabbard it is tied into is a fine example of Taldan leatherwork set with a grinning wolf face worth 100 gp.
Just as you've retrieved the body a weak voice calls out from a cave a little way away and further up the quarry wall. The other abadarian, Festo Mise, is huddled there - cold, weak and wounded, but alive. Once escorted back to Stachys he soon recovers and departs a couple of days later to return Dradi's body to Lotheedar.
Lope steps back as the serpent falls, letting it sink without taking him with it "What a beast... what was that exactly?"
Immediately after that, he helps to drag the cleric corpse to the shore and identify the chakram. Only then, he notices Festo Mise and comes to help providing food and water to the cleric as much as some healing "Was there anyone else with you two? What happened?"
Trying to dry his leather knickers the best he can, he will help return to Stachys with the others "At least this will do for a good tale at the Hall tonight"
With Stachys enjoying a hard-earned break from its monster problem Shula turns her attention to a different problem. Namely Bartleby. Their whole reason for being here is to undermine him and they haven't been doing much of that so far.
She spends several nights sneaking around town and hiding on shadowed rooftops. People who think they can't be overheard are usually the best source of news. Then she takes that information back to the mansion.
The next morning there's a sign on Piscum's tavern door. In large, blocky letters it reads:
WHEN BANDITS WERE STALKING THE ROADS
HE DID NOTHING
WHEN YOUR CHILDREN WERE STARVING
HE DID NOTHING
WHEN STACHYS WAS DYING
HE DID NOTHING
DON'T PAY A MAN WHO DOES NOTHING
SAY NO TO TAXES
The sign is torn down almost immediately, but the town continues talking about it (and the mysterious individual who wrote it) for weeks.
Getting the people talking wasn't the only thing Shula hoped to accomplish with this little endeavor. She hasn't forgotten the seneschal's visit. Quietly she asks around until she finds a guy who knows a guy who has a girlfriend who works near where Guisarne lives. A few clandestine transfers later, draft versions of her protest sign find their way into Guisarne's desk.
Maybe now he'll be a bit too busy with his own affairs to look too closely at theirs.
Having acquired a taste for the locally brewed ale, Sercha issues a challenge to those in the surrounding area to produce their best product and have it judged at a local brewfest that she arranges. Appointing Onara as the single judge of the event relieves her of the burden of debating the finer points of hops growing, grain types, and brewing techniques and allows her to simply enjoy the various offerings and mingle among the locals.
Later in the evening after the discussions have been had and the winner finally declared, musicians appear and a rousing celebratory dance ensues. Sercha makes a point to dance at least once with everyone she considers influential that's made an appearance, including her new companions.
Once the dancing has drawn to a close and the crowd has begun to thin, two of the musicians - both Varisian - linger, moving through the remaining celebrants slowly and carefully as if looking for someone. Their eyes pass over and away from a Kellid woman sitting at a lone, shadow-engulfed table. A purposeful throat-clearing causes their attention to return. As if bored, the woman traces a finger through a small pool of spilled ale on the table. The men's eyes narrow slightly, recognizing the sign she makes.
"Sercha?" one of them whispers. She gives a slight nod and after checking the rest of the room they take a seat at the table. "It's a nice place here," one of them offers. "It's a long way from the city, though."
"It is," Sercha replies. "But this is where the work's at. Glad you could make it. I wasn't sure if you'd want to take a chance on me again after the last time."
"Oh, that wasn't your fault," the other man says with a grin. "The intel was bad - no way you could have known. So ..." He looks around again before turning back to her. "You still working for the Garundi?" he asks. "Nope. This is all me," she replies. "This is something I've been wanting to do for a long time and now I'm in a position to make it happen."
"What's the job?" the first man asks.
"Revolution," Sercha replies with a wink and a smile.
As Shula roams the rooftops she keeps feeling like she's being watched, but can never track down the source of the feeling.
As the duo sway back and forth to the music's tempo, Sercha eyes Victor with an appraising gaze. "So, does your 'friend' only come out in the middle of battle?" she questions with a playful grin. "If so, that must be very boring for her - she never gets to play."
Victor meets Sercha's gaze. "The Shield Maiden is an instrument of vengeance and justice," he replies. "She lives for the glory of battle, to see her enemies driven before her and to hear the lamentations of their loved ones. She does not 'play.'"
Lope embraces the dance without hesitation shaking their bodies with well measured but natural movements, and smiling with vivid eyes as Sercha asserts he was the rose sender "It is not about quantity but quality my dear" he presses her softly against him when she gives him a tug on the ear, holding her a second more before letting her step back and go to play with others.
During Searcha's fest, Lope will engage in poetry and other oratory games showing with small magic games about the bravery of the group fighting in the lake, including the last and final heroic attack by Shulamit.
But he seems unfocused through the soiree.
On the other days, Lope's routines will consist on a couple of hours of swordplay early morning in the courtyard, a good feeding, and then asking questions in town about the Lotheeds, trying to figure out who are their friends and who are not.
During nights, he will attend art circles or just taverns and dedicate his time to read new poetry and show his own while keeping his eyes and ears open to rumors.
With a slower song playing, Sercha leads the two in well-known steps. "I've heard that you and Lollia were becoming close," she says quietly. "So if it's too soon or I'm not your type just let me know, but I'd like to get to know you a little better." She gives Shula a soft smile and quick wink before returning to the activity at hand.
"I liked Lollia, a lot, but we weren't...I don't really do..." Shula struggles with words for a moment, then gives up and shakes her head with a rueful smile. "You want to have some fun? I'm down. You want to be, I don't know, wooed or something? That's not me." Her smile quirks up on one side and her hand (which was on Sercha's waist) drifts an inch or so lower. "If you're okay with that, then I'm all for getting to know each other better."
"I liked Lollia, a lot, but we weren't...I don't really do..." Shula struggles with words for a moment, then gives up and shakes her head with a rueful smile. "You want to have some fun? I'm down. You want to be, I don't know, wooed or something? That's not me." Her smile quirks up on one side and her hand (which was on Sercha's waist) drifts an inch or so lower. "If you're okay with that, then I'm all for getting to know each other better."
There's a momentary flash of disappointment in Sercha's eyes, but it's quickly covered up by her confident smile. "Then let's get to know each other a little better ... later tonight, after the party, in my room at the manor." She winks.
Through the days the group is not working together, Lope profits to move around the wealth circles in Meratt's county pressing up his agenda "Taldor needs to recover its power in the world and for much this is the best nation in the face of Golarion we cannot keep ourselves closed in our borders. We need to open ourselves to Absalom and Andoran markets" the man comments while enjoying a glass of wine at the Bank of Abadar after enjoying the soft play of a young violinist during one merchants encounter organized by the church "And how is it we are not profiting our bonds to our old colony of Amanandar in Tian Xia? We need to build a navy and open sea trade routes to the east."
"I pray young Europia has the sense to change politics that are slowly ditching our economy"
Meanwhile, the man spends his nights at the local taverns gloating over recent successes and showing up his poetry trying to conquer some local hearts "Back home I had to learn to defend myself, for fathers and husbands have a tendency for violence in the North. Is it like that in here?"
He sometimes even shows up a few gestures with the rapier "Fortunately non of them have bested me yet with the blade when they have not fallen to my word" the man brags without remorse.
After two weeks of relatively slower paced activity, and a certain amount of subterfuge, things in Stachys are looking decidedly more cheerful. The hamlet is now a thriving village and people look towards Lady Bettony and her companions as beacons of what the aristocracy could be.
This sentiment is not universally shared however as a message impaled on the dining room table attests when you all arrive at breakfast the next morning. Fortunately the days new is brightened when the abadarian you recently rescued, Festo Mise, returns to Stachys with the news that he has requested an assignment here.
Taking stock of your actions thus far it soon becomes apparent that while Lady Bettony's reputation is growing amongst the locals, there is still work to be done with the aristocracy. Promising beginnings with Baroness Voinum and Baron Okerra need to be followed up on and the regions notable recluse, Baron Telus, may also be worth a visit. Meanwhile this message from the Night Swan suggests that, although you have friends, you also have enemies who may need to be confronted, or worse.
"So we were misled about who the Night Swan is?" Sercha comments, looking over the note. "We're going to have to keep a weather eye out for this person. They've got an interesting point of view that's going to get them dead."
She shakes her head.
"Baroness Voinum and Baron Okerra were at that soiree that Bartlebee threw, right? And we've already talked to them? Then we should pay a visit to the wildcard, Baron Telus. Find out where he stands and introduce him to our lovely selves. If he's going to stab us in the back, it might as well be to our face."
"The grammar is rough, which makes it difficult to read. My believe is whomever is responsible of this wants to put us against the Swan. Let me have this, I will try to find out were this paper was bought and compare the lettering with other messages from the Swan" Lope will take the note and move his contacts when possible to find out if the message is legit or a forgery.
Then he nods to Sercha "Let's find out what kind of mind this Baron Telus has. We can send him a note informing we would be glad to accept an invitation if it is sent to us. Should I dress the brown or the red jacket?"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Lope eventually chooses the red jacket as the small group sets out with Lucretia in tow. Following the South Cassomir Highway the companions find themselves, as dusk falls, approaching a small hamlet that is not on any of the maps. The gentle valley and neatly plowed fields suggest good farming but the hamlet is mostly composed of rough lean-to's or canvas tents patched with branches and all manner of other make-shift dwellings.
Upon seeing your arrival a man steps out to meet you. Obviously once a man accustomed to fine living he is now gaunt and hollow, but manages a smile none-the-less. "Greetings my lady, I am Baronet Caphridius Vort, leader of New Towne, such as it is. What brings you here?"
Upon being told that you are visiting Baron Tellus in Jambis his face pales beneath its tan. "Araig was a dear friend of mine for many years, but I'm sorry to say my lady that that man no longer exists." Pressed to explain he continues. "Araig was cursed, five years ago. Cursed to become a monster. At first the changes were small, he became more paranoid, occasionally angry. But then he became violent, and one day I came back to his house to discuss a missing child and found Araig, Baron Tellus, crouching over the body... he was... We fled that night. Packed up everything we could and fled. It's a hard life here but still better than staying in Jambis anymore. Please my lady,"
He turns pleading eyes to Lucretia.
"Araig was my friend. If he can be saved we would all be grateful, but he is a threat, a danger. If he were... if he died, then we could return home."
Vort doesn't say much more but provides instructions on how to reach Jambis, a few hours further up the road, and offers shelter for the night.
"My good Baronet," Sercha says, stepping forward and bowing. "My name is Sercha and am a representative of the Lady Lucretia." She takes the man by the arm and turns him towards the displaced villagers. "We will do what we can for Araig, but in the meantime, you need to think about a longer term solution for your people. Stachys - the Lady's domain - is growing and in need of ready and capable hands. Your people could easily find a welcoming home there."
She claps him on the shoulder.
"You sound like a good man who wants what's best for his fellow countrymen. I respect that. And if we manage to bring the Baron back from his ... situation, then they your people can discuss whether to rebuild and reoccupy Jambis."
Lope tries to remember any detail he might know that results useful about Baron Tellus or Baronet Caphridius Vort.
"What kind of curse might this be that turns people into monsters?" the mustached Taldan asks, pulling forward the edges of his new red jacket.
While Sercha convinces the Baronet and the villagers, Lope looks around checking the state of the place "The area seems not well maintained. Who is ruling the region while Baron Tellus is incapable?"
Lope will be fine with passing here the night, the more the food and prospects of good company are involved.
Sercha does a fine job of talking up the improvements being made in Stachys and by the time the group settles down to rest in one of the lean-to's that has been set aside for their use, it is clear from the bustle and low conversations that the villagers of New Towne have a renewed sense of hope about the possibility of a new life elsewhere.
Lope's questioning unfortunately reveals little - the villagers are united in their attestation that a 'witch' cursed the baron, but they know nothing more than that and admit that, since Count Lotheed never responded to the Baronet's message about the situation, that Jambis has been left to run wild. New Towne represents the best attempt at civilisation that they have managed - and that isn't much.
-----------------------------------------------------
The next morning you press on towards Jambis and by late morning you approach the ruined village, still dominated buy the baron's fortified manor-house. Thick strands of webbing lie across and between many of the buildings and even from a distance the occasional skittering motion can be made out...
Unfortunately the manor lies at the far end of town and trying to divert around it would take considerable time. It would be safer though, than whatever waits within the ruins...
Lope looks at the webs trying to guess if this is the cause of neglect or a giant spider has dwelled here.
"I am not scared by a hunted ruins, The Eternal Maiden watches for our well being, and going around the town might end not being as much safe as we might hope here anyway..." Lope comments while pointing to the way forward through the ruins.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"That's a lot of webs," Sercha comments, drawing her blade. She follows Lope's indicating finger into the town. "And I don't mind if the Eternal Maiden is watching us as long as she's not staring at my ass. I've heard she's into that sort of thing," she adds with a smirk.
Whether or not Sercha's backside is receiving divine appreciation remains unclear, but as the small group proceeds through the town it become apparent that a lot of small, beady eyes are watching them.
The answer to Lope's question comes when two giant spiders leap from the shadows to confront the group - their shiny abdomens marked with a crimson hourglass.
Thanks to the alert Lope, the party are not caught unawares.
Lope downs his eyes to see the referred body part and smiles "Hard to not be fascinated actually..." his words are though interrupted by the sudden appearance of two rude aracnoides.
Reaching for his rose amulet, he utters a single word of divine power "Halt!" that produces a powerful sound burst among the spiders.
One of the spiders reels at the sound, its legs waving in pain. The other powers forward though and bites hard at Lope. He easily fends off the clacking pincers.
Ducking bellow the spider's legs Lope quickly follows up stepping forward trying to stab his shiny rapier on the stunned spider while opening a flank to the other spider that just tried to eat him "Ha! You will need more than that Webster!" the metal shines with divine magic as he thrusts forward.
Sercha calms herself, entering her mystical focus state before stabbing at the nearest spider.