Guillaume dashes up the hill, then looks around like he lost something. "Where...where'd he go? The masked guy? He slipped my grip, then he was just...gone." the big tiefling says, brow furrowing as he looks around.
The halflings glance around warily at the Bloodrager's call, but they don't look reassured that their position is now safe.
Sercrutio carefully moves to the edge of the cliff and whispers down, "Careful, don't move yet friend"
The Shrike sprints up and over the hill to the cliff looming over the halflings.
Fellzir double moves to approximately "there" on the map.
Leora urges Jed toward the water but her brother shakes his head. "Let's just wait a tick, Lee..." He responds nodding up to Sercrutio.
"Just wait a little more."
Fellzir double moves again, assuming left is downstream and that he can take 10 on the athletics. Please let me know if I am mistaken on either.
While the halflings still hesitate, The Shrike descends down the slope in the cover of his invisibility.
Feeling certain that they are in danger if they stay, Leora takes it upon herself to shove her brother into the stream, her momentum carrying her in after him.
"The spell cannot affect objects carried or worn by a creature."
And you handed the rope to Jed. You can assume he dropped it when she shoved him, but it won't stop them from going in the water.
They paddle to stay above water and begin to be swept away downstream.
Is anyone wounded?Aurelius channels a cure light wounds and touches those who seem hurt.
Sercrutio grabs the rope and carefully hops down
He then tosses the rope at the halfling sister. "Careful! Here's a rope!"
Just as Leora is about to plunge into the water, The Shrike uses the defenseless moment to strike, breaking his invisibility.
The Shrike's hit lands soundly and Leora cries out in pain and fear. It doesn't stop her progress of pushing Jed and herself into the river, however. Jed seems shaken out of his peaceful state of mind as they both paddle to keep their heads above water casting wary eyes toward their attackers.
Sercrutio's rope lands with a splash and begins to coil around the bruised halfling girl, but she jerks free of the animated rope just before it can cinch down around her.
Sercrutio steps closer and expresses his irritation, "Fine! You chose this method! Sutura labalis!"
Fellzir moves down the hill and up to the river's edge trying to coax the halflings back out of the water.
Aurelius moves to the shoreline and tries to grab Jed.
We're on the most recent map with a river running through it.
Grumbling to himself, Guillaume attempts to jump down to the waterside.
...but he misjudges the stability of the rocks badly, and ends up sprawling on the ground. "Ow."
Jed begins to make muffled cries of alarm as his lips are stiched shut by Sercrutio's spell.
Then Aurelius grabs the halfling and begins to lift him out of the water. His sister clasps hold of his foot and pulls, lending what aid she can as he struggles to get free.
They succeed and splash back into the water, now making a sincere effort to flee, swimming away from the river bank.
Sercrutio sighs and shouts, "MOMEN TELUM!" Four darts of light materialize and shoot from Sercrutio to slam into each halfling in the water with little explosions.
Not getting wet here
Aurelius eyes glow as he speaks with magical force at the fleeing halfing
"Just give up, you're doomed already. You have no chance of escape!" The Shrike cries after the halflings.
Jed grabs onto the rock and starts pulling toward Aurelius, meanwhile Leora falls unconscious and slips below the surface of the water.
"Oops," Sercrutio says, looking at the sinking halfling.
Charles lets out a weary sigh.
"Needs must, I suppose. Drowning is far from a pleasant way to go, and they do look like children... I would not be able to sleep soundly..."
He then pats his lizard companion.
"Rebecca, I would be most grateful if you could retrieve that halfling."
The compsognathus lashes its tail in irritation, but nonetheless leaps into the river to retrieve Leora.
Guillaume stands up, then begins plodding towards Aurelius, hoping to use the current to help him cross.
I am wearing plate armor, no swimming for me
Aurelius muses as he 5 foot steps towards Jed and tries to grab him
Rejoice for you are out of the water
Aurelius' scoops Jed out of the water holding tight to the squirming halfling. Jed glares and makes muffled sounds of protest as he struggles weakly, failing to wriggle free.
Rebecca makes her way easily and pulls the sodden mess of bedraggled Leora from the river by her tangled locks. Then she proceeds to retch up a clump of halfling hair while casting a baleful look at Charles.
After ensuring the halfling's life has been saved, a conflicted expression crosses Charles' face, but he keeps his mouth shut.
Sercrutio looks across the water thoughtfully, "You know, I'm really glad I stitched his mouth. That is going to make the trip back a lot more peaceful."
"Damn runts. More trouble than they're worth..." The Shrike curses at the captured halflings, and is tempted to give them a hard kick. But best leave the merchandise as undamaged as possible. After all, they're not too badly beaten so far.
"Let's sack them, deliver them to the Nidalese man and get our money."
"Yes, let us go."
Guillaume scowls most of the way back to town, water squishing from his boots with every step. This better have been worth our time.
Fellzir confirms that neither is dying and ensures they won't suffocate in the sacks. When they are delivered, he says simply, "As promised. Now tell us more about this unusual reward."
Nicolae and his two guards wait outside of town so as not to be observed in this exchange of halfling trafficking. He is very pleased to receive both once and future slaves, alive and intact. He hands over a heavy purse containing 600 gold and a black metal urn which radiates a faint magical aura of conjuration and enchantment. It has a heavy lead stopper that bears the image of countless gaunt humanoids piled on top of one another in a torturous melee.
"It's called a Discord Bottle. Open that up in a crowd and it'll cause a Hell of a confusion. It releases a poison gas that will cause folk to attack anyone near them. And it recharges after a time. Good luck setting things to rights here. Thanks again!"
And with that, he loads his cargo into a pair of large whicker baskets and sets up the road to Nidal before anyone misses said cargo.
*********
Sercrutio shows up to the Historicum in the early evening, as requested. He is dressed in his academic finery that he wore when he attended the academy."How goes your exploration of the knowledge held here in Kantaria? Anything good?"
The Kantaria Historicum is a combination library and bookstore owned and operated by a couple of septuagenarians scholars, Anselm and Gebhard Mathis. They keep a kettle hot and a selection of teas available for refreshment.
"Good?" Zaine asks with a chuckle. "Unlikely, but interesting, nonetheless. How goes it with you?" He asks with interest.
Sercrutio shrugs, "Good and bad. I have managed to be useful to Madame Viorica and her patrons. But, I haven't had any free moment to continue my studies." He then presses further before a sip of tea, "Interesting? Do tell."
A somewhat bitter taste still in his mouth, Charles moves to spend some time with the proprietoress of the inn.
"Guillaume, do you want to go spar with the lady? I can heal you up afterwards or simply wait outside if you find yourself in a grapple."
Fellzir, not having a good opening to return to the manor, thinks this might be a good plan and that his presence will help Guillaume if it's somehow a trap or something goes wrong.
"May as well, I guess." Guillaume says, and heads that way.
Fellzir follows Guillaume, head on a swivel looking for hound archons and other potential threats.
A job well done, although I prefer... more worthwhile targets.
Aurelius opines
May Zun Kuthon blessings come only with your consent.
He says to Nicolae, with a polite smile.
Zaine goes into some detail on a particular bit of arcane lore and sits back to hear Sercrutio's input.
***
Jallia greets her visitors and offers refreshments.
***
Later that evening the call goes out, a pair of halflings did not report back to the Labor Guild and searchers are inquiring after them.
Sercrutio listens intently to Zaine in order to fully demonstrate is arcane superiority.