"She says that he would come if she invited him. I don't think she is discussing some kind of compulsion. She thinks we can ambush him and with her help we can remove him before he teleports away. Apparently, he gave half of a copper piece to that floating monster. And in return it kept the Corbies in line. Do we want to try and ambush this Kikonu now?" Byron asks.
"I might prefer to rest first. Is that safe, milady? What else is in this castle that might try to kill us?"
Byron will relay Zaraleva's question.
Zaraleva smiles at Byron. "She understands me just fine, I believe."
Adrian remains nervous, but slowly nods. "If we can, we should rest then. The fact that he could teleport will make things harder for us if things go wrong... so we'll go with the Harry's plan."
Lyraesel silently studies the harpy, waiting for her response.
To Zaraleva’s questions she shrugs and her thoughts channel to Byron to be spoken.
She answers somewhat reluctantly after a moment. “He has been cruel to me for the last time. He thinks I will still help him, and the look on his face when he realizes he is trapped will be all the sweater.
"So be it, then. Anyone want to cast a spell or drink a potion?"
She looks for a sniper's nest that she can use for cover and then loads her crossbow, pointing it at the door (then down at the floor, because that's safer.)
"How long will it take him to get here if he is called?" Lyraesel asks, looking at Zaiobe.
She would let you know that he would be here immediately, teleporting into the middle of the room. He likely has used the last of his magic and will be unable to escape again. As you all begin preparing for the ambush she pulls her bow and readies her self pulling arrows that begin to burn as she knocks them.
Byron draws his greatsword and moves to stand near where he will teleport in.
"If you please, Byron, let us shoot first, so we are not firing into melee."
"Good idea." Adrian stands back, letting the others proficient in bows to take their shot first before he goes in.
With a silent nod, Lyraesel utters a few incantations in druidic, natural magic flowing through her body, emphasizing the muscles of her athletic frame, her jaw lengthening slightly as her canine teeth extend, becoming sharper and stronger. Drawing her sickle she nods again indicating her readiness.
Shall we just say Aiko readies to strike after Z&Z fire?
Byron will step back and prepare to charge in.
With everything prepared Zaiobe closes her eyes for a second and as she does there’s a moment of silent anticipation until suddenly the Tengu appears. His wings unfold as the small cloud of smoke dissipates, in his hands is the chained weapon with a ball on one end and a sickle on the other.
“I’m glad you are willing to let things go Zaiobe. We have more important things to… “ He doesn’t finish his sentence as suddenly all of you strike!
Init Order: Lyraesal, Winsome, kikonu, Zaiobe, Kelda, Adrian, Byron, Aiko
Taking advantage of their flat-footed opponent and their readied actions, Zaraleva and Zaiobe open fire!
Aiko suddenly becomes a blur of motion as she lunges toward the leader of the corbies!
As the tengu appears, Lyraesel pounces, racing forward to deliver a powerful slash with her sickle
Try as he might, he thought that the group would go through with their target's speech before talking. Thus, he isn't able to capitalize much besides rushing over to deliver a massive punch to his head.
Byron charges in and slashes!
Winsome tosses one of his remaining gold coins at the tengu. "T-t-take that!" he shouts, trying not to visibly tremble.
Zaiobe immediately steps back and sends a flaming arrow at Kikonu with a wicked grin on her face.
Shrieking in pain as the attacks come in, you see he suddenly looks panicked as the flame hits him. Kelda runs up the moment he appears and swings her sword hoping to end the fight.
Kelda’s blade finds Kikonu as he is frozen in terror and she stabs him. Spitting in his face as he gasps his last breath.
She pulls the blade and the king of the castle perishes.
Adrian was prepared for a long, drawn-out fight between them. Until that didn't happen. To which he blinked... then sighed in relief.
"That could have gotten worse." He then turned towards the harpy. "Thanks for the help. I wasn't sure if we could trust you, but you held up to your deal."
Zaraleva bows to the harpy in appreciation, assuming Byron will continue the mental discussion. She then casts Detect Magic and searches the tengu body.
Cleaning the blood from her weapon, Lyreasel's golden eyes turn toward the harpy, giving her a nod of appreciation.
"Tell your companions to choose a place more suitable to ambush Kikonu. This room is far to small for all of us to wait in, and I need somewhere where I can spread my wings to take flight. Somewhere outside would be more suitable, the courtyard below maybe, and I will join you there."
"She thinks this area is too small to do the ambush. I think above the gate house to the south we would have enough room to ambush this Kikonu." Byron relays to the others with his suggestion.
"Then we should go now." Lyraesel says eagerly.
Picking a path backtracking along the area's they'd already slain the cast;e's denizens, Lyraesel leads her companions to the gatehouse the harpy had chosen for the ambush.
Following Lyraesel's lead you soon arrive on the windswept battlements. Zaiobe soon swoops down to join you. She looks to Byron and the words form in his head "When you are ready I will call for him"
Winsome shakes his head, though his determined expression indicates this is just a knee-jerk reaction to danger and not a refusal to participate. He reluctantly prepares himself for battle.
Yes, the battlements are U1, the two guard towers are U2.
Adrian elects himself to stand next to Winsome and Kelda as they prepare for the ambush.
Let's do what we discussed: Shooters shoot first on arrival, then melee charges in.
Flatfooted or not, this is not her moment to shine.
Lyraesel readies herself, casting spells to better her fighting, and drawing on the power of her wolf brethren.
Zaiobe's eyes take on a faraway look as if she's talking to someone you cannot see. After a few moments her gaze returns and she communicates with Byron "He is on his way."
A few seconds pass when there is a whoosh of displaced air as Kinkonu, a demonic looking Tengu with fiery eyes, appears on the battlements in front of Zaiobe. "Zaiobe, my love, I knew you would come around. You..." his words trail off as he realizes that the two of them are not alone on the battlements. His eyes flash red as the reality of his predicament sinks in "Traitorous b*%%#!" he shouts "I'm going to kill you for this, and then I'll deal with your conniving lackeys"
Initiative:
Surprise Round:
Winsome tosses one of his remaining gold coins at the tengu. "T-t-take that!" he shouts, trying not to visibly tremble.
He follows up with a second coin a few seconds afterward, then backs away carefully behind the frontliners.
Dammit. With their cover blown, he decided to let loose with one of the crossbows they received from the castle in their first trip there.
In a feral crouch when Kinkonu arrives, Lyraesel steps in biting at the back of the demonic tengu's leg, attempting to take him to the ground in the process.
Byron steps back and stabs at Zaiboe!
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Already prepared for this, Aiko takes a simple shuffle-step (5') and slashes downward with her naginata.
Winsome fires his coins at Kikonu, one of which strikes it's target while the other misses the demonic tengu. "What is this?" Kinkonu says to Winsome "Do you think that throwing money at me is going to save you? I'll tell you what...I'll kill you last"
Adrian fires his crossbow at Kikonu but, startled by the sudden appearance, his bolt sails harmlessly overhead.
Zaraleva fire her crossbow as well but, much like Adrian's before her, her bolt sails over the battlements into the courtyard below.
Lyraesel sinks her teeth into Kikonu's calf, drawing blood but is unable to bring the Oni to the ground. Kikonu looks down at the Druid and smiles "Sit, Girl!" he shouts. "That's a good girl." he says in a more normal voice.
Byron takes a step back so he can wield his spear. as he thrusts forward his spear pierces the feathered hide, as Kikonu hisses in pain. He glares at Byron "After I finish with Zaiobe, you will be the first to die"
Hattori steps up, whisper quiet, and slashes at Kikonu with her polearm, the blade draws a bloody welt across his black feathers.
Kelda begins pounding her chest and soon her eyes widen and a bit of froth appears on her lips. Enraged she charges across the cobblestones as she draws her blade.
Zaiobe launches herself into the air as she draws her bow and knocks an arrow, which bursts into flame a soon as she draws it back.