After a few seconds, one of the individuals approaches the doorway.
Your readied shot strikes your target squarely in the chest, and it fades away into shadow. A moment later, your real enemy lashes out with a short blade.
Raising an eyebrow as the fellow seems to fade away into shadow, them quickly return, Elek Feints with the Estoc. Feinting toward the man's throat, he tells the cannon "shèjí" he fires at the silent man repeatedly while thrusting the estoc at his face.
You quickly dispatch your opponent with relative ease, leaving the room empty. Glancing in, you see an elegant-looking woman step out of the far room. She's wearing a floor-length black dress and a masquerade mask. She's also wielding a pair of shortswords glowing with an eerie ashen flame.
Watching the fellow in the mask fall, Elek moves around the doorway looking in the room, making sure it was clear. Confident that he wouldn't be jumped, he steps into the room, seeing the woman at the far end. Clearing his throat to make sure the sound was still deadened, he looks at the woman in the mask. Reaching and touching his lips, he lifts his hand in a shrug. Gesturing towards her, then himself he points towards the other room. Mouthing the word 'Parley'? He again points towards her then himself, turning back through the door he moves to the far side of the entry room.
As he moves, he weighs out the chance of her using a spell to make the entryway void of sound also. Weight the chances of soundlessness against needing to command his cannon, he shakes his head. Deciding it wasn't worth the risk, he tells the cursed prosthetic 'Chéngwéi sānchā jǐ." As the prosthetic becomes the trident, he turns his back to the door, hoping the woman would at least speak with him.
As you move toward the entry, the other three masked individuals reappear around you, swords already poised to stab.
Fortunately, you're able to dodge the initial attack, but the assault continues.
Meanwhile, the masked woman stalks toward you.
Dodging the attacks he still steps out of the room to see what she will do.
Shaking his head as he dodges the attacks, Elek lifts the cursed trident hand, "You boys should have stayed in the other room and let me talk to the woman." Not wanting to get flanked, he feints at the assassin between him and the door with the trident. Following up the feint with repeated attacks with the estoc and trident.
[ooc]AOO Feint attack: Expert Feint/Unlikely Feint/Feint strike/Fatal opening Feint +2 Human Bane Trident Hand, Attack: undead bane Estoc/Dual opportunity Human Bane Trident Hand Two weapon attack: undead bane Estoc/Human Bane Trident Hand+ bleed and leg cutter DC 19 PA, TWF, sneak, fatal thrust
As you dispatch one of the assassins and move toward the door, the masked woman waves her hand, and a wall of whirling blades appears to block your way. The other two assassins continue to attack.
As the second assassin drops, Elek notices the wall of blades. Turning towards the woman in he other room, he frowns wondering if she can read lips. "We should talk."
He returns his attention towards the assassin nearest the door. Feinting with the trident towards the mans throat, he thrusts the estoc repeatedly at the mans chest and trident towards his face. After the attack he steps towards the last assassin and the masked woman.
As your dispatch your target, the remaining assassin creates an elaborate symbol with his empty hand, and a wave of energy washes over you.
The masked woman simply watches, content to let you come to her.
Turning towards the last assassin, Elek frowns as the fellow casts his spell. Feinting with the trident towards the man's groin, he thrusts the estoc repeatedly at the man's chest and throat. While thrusting the trident towards his gut.
Turning towards the masked woman, lifting his blade and trident questioningly, "We going to talk or what?" Telling the cursed prosthetic "Chéngwéi dàpào" it becomes the adamantium and mithril cannon as he lowers his hands.
You dispatch the last assassin as the woman continues to watch. She appears to have no desire to leave the room.
Looking at the woman through the doorway, Elek realized a couple of the assassins wounded him. He smiles at the woman and shrugs. Sheathing his estoc he reaches into his magical pack and draws out his healing wand, wondering what she will do if he just stands there healing himself.
The woman quietly watches as you heal yourself.
Watching the elegant-looking woman awaiting him in the 'silenced' room, Elek loaths the idea of shooting her before she's shown any threat other wielding a pair of shortswords glowing with an eerie ashen flame. Tucking the wand away, he draws his estoc. Shaking his head, he looks at her, hoping she can read lips. "I'd rather talk, you've no reason to die for Harrigan."
Lifting the cursed cannon, he puases, telling it " Réncí." Then pointing it directly at her he commands, " Dàn mù" Firing a two shot non-lethal barrage at her.
The barrage bounces harmlessly off the woman's chest. With a dismissive shake of her head, she casually walks back the way she came.
Raising an eyebrow Elek watches the woman begin to walk away. Telling the cursed cannon, "Chéngwéi sānchā jǐ" as it begins to turn into the trident, he follows her into the room.
Raising an eyebrow Elek watches the woman begin to walk away. Telling the cursed cannon, "Chéngwéi sānchā jǐ" as it begins to turn into the trident, he follows her into the room.
As you enter, the woman points her swords at you, and a wave of negative energy washes over you.
Shaking his head, as he coughs up a little blood, Elek moves closer to the masked woman. Shaking his head, "A pity." He feints with the trident at her masked face, while thrusting with the estoc and following up with an attack with the cursed trident.
The woman's surprisingly agile, but your speed is sufficient to strike her. She's tougher than she looks, though, and your damage is quite a bit less than expected.
Still, the blood from her wounds causes her to slip. When she hits the floor, she disappears! A split second later, she reappears several feet behind you and unleashes another wave of energy.
Feeling the wave of energy wash over him Elek shakes his head. Turning towards the woman's new location, not sure if she can read lips or not he adds, as he moves towards her. "You really should surrender." Feinting again with the trident at her thigh, he thrusts the estoc at her face and throat, while thrusting the trident at her gut and groin.
Only one of your attacks connects this time, but instead of blood, the wound bleeds ashen gray flame, searing it shut. For the first time, the woman strikes out with her blades.
Raising an eyebrow as she heals herself, Elek smiles as she brings the blades into play, he first misses by a wide margin, the second glances off her armor. Feinting again with the trident at her throat, he thrusts the estoc at her chest, while thrusting the trident at her face.
Once again, the wounds you inflict bleed gray flame, but this time, you notice an almost imperceptible delay between your strike and the emergence of the wound. As soon as you realize this, the woman turns semitransparent and partially insubstantial. You've been fighting an illusion!
Suddenly, an enormous tail emerges from the sinkhole to your right. Whatever creature dwells below has clearly sensed your presence ... and is hungry.
Taking advantage of this distraction, the masked woman reappears immediately behind you, apparently completely healed.
"Blast?" Cursing as the 'tail' stings him, Elek realizes he's been fighting an illusion. Turning to the real masked woman he blurts out, without thinking about the 'soundproofing' "Really you have a monster in a hole?"
Realizing he needs to finish the woman then deal with the monster, he steps away from the monster and feints again. Thrusting the human bane cursed trident at her throat, he thrusts the estoc at her chest, while thrusting the trident at her face.
The tail appears to belong to some sort of monstrous scorpion, but it's much larger than anything you've heard of.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- -
You strike the woman twice (once in a vital organ), but the attacks aren't as effective as expected. Of course, at this point, the question of what is and isn't real is beginning to become rather pressing....
As the woman starts her attack, a shadowy figure appears behind you, but you realize it's an illusion and ignore it. Oddly, the woman didn't appear to cast a spell before that happened.
Feeling the scorpion poison taking effect, Elek Hopes he's out of range from the creature. Ignoring the masked womans shadowy figure he thrusting the human bane cursed trident at her chest. Turning he estoc towards her groin he thrusts stabs repeatedly, while thrusting the trident at her face.
Only one attack connects this time. Despite her injuries, your opponent continues to fight.
This time, one of the attacks narrowly misses you - and strikes your shadow. Strangely, this hurts.
"Ow!" Feeling the attack hit his shadow Elek flinches and looks towards the open door for the briefest of seconds. He knew there were ways to manipulate shadow, but he'd not learned them. Resetting his feet he feints with the human bane cursed trident at her neck. Turning the estoc towards her chest he stabs repeatedly, while thrusting the trident at her face.
Only one of your attacks connects ... but it catches your opponent in the neck. She collapses to the floor.
Seeing the woman fall, Elek sheaths his estoc, and picks up the woman swords dropping them in his pack. Then grabbing hold of the woman he attempts to drag her out of the silenced room into the room he came in. Making sure he stays near the back wall to avoid the scorpion tail.
Dropping the woman this side of the door he draws out the summon monster wand and calls a Hound archon, pointing to the woman, he asks, "Is she still alive? Can you tell me what is going on with the sound in that room?"
As he talks he pockets the summoning wand and draws out the Wand of restoration, and begins tapping himself.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
When you grab the woman, instead of expensive fabric, you feel chain links. Dragging her out of the room, you then summon a Hound Archon.
As the archon begins to examine the woman, a rift opens behind you, and a serious-looking outsider steps out. Sealing the rift behind him, he looks at you with an angry gaze. "Elek Kardforgató, what is so important that you must continuously stop my soldiers from battling the forces of Hell? Your summoning is weakening our position."
Loot
grayflame shadow wake shortsword x2
Realizing the material of the dress wasn't cloth, Elek makes a mental note to take the dress whether she's dead or alive. Seeing the rift open up, Elek looks from the hound archon to the serious looking outsider. Frowning at the fellow's question, Elek answers, "Every now and then there is something I'm unable to do, so I ask for their help" Gesturing towards the woman, he continues. "I promise it normally has something to do with stopping someone evil." He frowns as he continues. "Besides one of these fellows told me technically their not real - my spell creates a copy out of magical energy." He shrugs a little asking, "If it's a problem, can't you get the magicians to stop making the wands?"
The outsider's glare deepens. "The woman on the ground has clearly already been 'stopped,' so I fail to see how this is an good use of heaven's resources. Your ship is right outside this building. Don't you have people with medical training on board?"
It extends a hand. "You don't deserve this wand any longer. Destroy it or turn it over to me for proper disposal. Refuse at your own peril."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Furrowing his brow as the celestial killjoy lectures him, Elek realizes, no matter what the hound archon had told him, he clearly did not understand how these things work. Trying to justify his actions Elek gestures (making sure he doesn't appear to be threating either of the celestial beings) towards the 'silent room' "I did not summon the archon here for the woman, but to help me understand the 'silent room' and to fight the giant creature in the pit."
Lifting his cursed prosthetic, showing it to the celestial. "My curse gives me limited use of magics, but I must be able to speak to it, I have no other control. So I must figure how to breach the room." He gestures towards the wound where he was stung. "I'm badly poisoned, and even with magic, by the time I'm healthy enough to fly her to my ship it may be too late for her. That's why I asked the Archon to help her before he helps me determine the room and arachnid. I've no reason to let her die just because she serves my enemy."
Returning his gaze to the higher celestial. "As for having a good use of heaven's resources? What on this plane does? Why would you let these wands be made? Is defeating a captain who does evil just for the sake of evil a good use? Would trying to thwart the interests of the devil-ruled Chelish count? What if my ultimate goal was to incite rebellion within the very realm of Cheliax, would that count? What constitutes a good use of heavens resources?"
Looking at the Celestials extended hand, he shakes his head, "By trade I am a pirate, I take what I can when I can. Often, I base my actions on how I perceive my prey; being kinder to those who seem to be good and harder on those who seem to be evil." He looks the Celestial in the eye. "I justify my actions with a charter, but make no mistake, I know I'm not 'good' and I take what I want if I can."
He gestures towards the Archon. "I select your 'hounds' because I know they are good and trustworthy and will do the right thing, I've never asked them to do evil." nodding towards the extended hand "But this, this seems more like piracy. You've no jurisdiction over me. But you come here, demanding what you want, threatening me with consequences, how does that make you any different than me?"
As you conclude your speech, the angel laughs evilly and fades away into nothingness. From outside, a familiar voice calls out to you. "Thanks for the distraction, Lady Nightshade. I'll take it from here." As bolts of fire begin flying toward you, the wizard you fought on the Wormwood reveals herself outside.
'Thank you for the distraction?' As he celestial creature disappears, Elek realizes he'd been dupped, looking past the whirling blades as he's struck twice by the bolts of fire. " Bù réncí Dàpào" Summoning the cannon, he points it at the 'unconscious' Lady Nightshade, "Fēngbào bèi bóhuí" dismissing the storm outside the door. In a feint, he asks, "Then I should kill her first?" But snapping the cursed cannon up fires repeatedly through the barrier of whirling blades towards the 'captain.' As he fires, he tells the hound archon, "Make sure that masked woman is unconscious or dead."
Unfortunately, the archon reports back that it has no idea whether the masked woman is unconscious, dead, or sleeping.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- -
Despite your successful feint, only three of your shots connect - and one dissipates harmlessly when it strikes the woman. She retaliates by conjuring a magical hailstorm inside the building, indiscriminately striking everyone inside.
Your summon sustains quite the beating
Frowning as the ice storm starts about them, Elek shakes his head, knowing he was too wounded to try and be kind, he tells the archon "Then coup de grace is the only answer. Do it now before she wakens." In a feint, he tells the captain, "Nightshade? Where is the spy, I'll kill her first." Lifting the cursed cannon he fires repeatedly through the barrier of whirling blades towards the 'captain.' As he fires repeatedly, looking for the two spies.
Only one of your shots connects, but it manages to pierce her magical defenses. With a grunt, she retaliates with a barrage of force missiles.
Unable to stop the force missles, Elek feels them rip through his armor and body. Sighing he realized he'd need to regroup and figure out what he did wrong after he leaves the battle field. If he's able to leave he battle field. Moving towards the wall behind the steps, as he reaches into his rucksack, drawing out a scroll, he tells the archon, "Stay in front of me, protect me if you can."
Opening the scroll of dimension door, he looks at the writing, then attempts to read it. Hoping a forty five degree angle will put him high enough and far enough that he will be able to use his ability to call on the wind. He turns to the Archon, telling him, "If this opens, follow me through. This is no place for either of us to die."
You fail to activate the scroll, but at least you're out of view of the evoker.
"Blast!" Cursing, he looks towards the archon, "It didn't work. This may be it, magical clone or not, it's been a pleasure." Weighing the chances of appearing into someone on the deck, he decides to teleport to a less occupied space, and hope he can warn his crew in time. Focusing again on the scroll and attempts to open a dimensional door to his cabin.
Immediately after you finish reading the scroll, you find yourself standing in your cabin on the Revenge. The archon isn't with you - likely because the duration of the summoning spell has expired.
As Elek moves towards the deck he informs everyone that he was fighting three wizard types and to keep a keen eye out. Finding Iryani on his way he adds, "I was fighting three casters, I believe one is dead, the other is Lady Nightshade and the other was the captain on Harrigan's ship. I think NIghtshade was invisible and I think the other was an evoker." Frowning, he confesses. "Yeah, Nightshade was one of the entertainers I hired. I assume the other one, Isawyn is there as well."
As they move towards the upper deck, he asks her. "Do you have anyway of detecting someone invisible or illusions? They used a ton of those."
Reaching the bridge, he looks towards Sandara, "I've been stung by a giant scorpion then jumped by at least three spell users. Can you help heal the wounds while I heal the damage the poison did?" Shaking his head, he calls to the crew, "Keep a keen eye out, they were able end my storm and attack invisible. Hopefully I didn't draw them towards the ship. But if they do we'll fight them off!"
Iryani nods. "I can put a spell on you that will allow you to see invisible creatures for almost an hour. I have no way to counter illusions, so I can only advise that you question anything unusual you might see."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sandara begins healing you as you talk. "If they were able to end your storm, that probably means they have a weather mage. I don't have any way to help with that - especially since ending your storm means their mage's magic is stronger than your own."
As Sandara heals him, Elek continues tapping himself with the wand, listening to his officer's recommendations. Making a mental note to 'question everything' he frowned, 'Question everything. Seeing invisibility would help immensely, we'll do that just before I leave." He frowns, looking towards Sandara. "They also have Cut-Throat Grok imprisoned, she's in a poor way."
Looking from his officers towards the castle again, Elek shakes his head. "The women were tough, but what really got me was the scorpion poison. As long as I avoid the scorpion and am able to see whoever is invisible." He shrugs, "I guess we'll see." He pauses for a moment an asks, "did anyone see Lady Isawyn do any magic? Maybe we can figure ou her specialty." Shaking his head, "Anyone have any other ideas in dealing with illusionist or evokers, or wizards in general?"