Seducing the Swan isn't a goal in itself, but she has no objection and if she's reading her companion right there may not be any objections from the other side either.
"As for our targets, it's a matter of reclaiming the Palace for the royal family, its rightful owners. Only Lotheeds in residence and their pet toads need be a consideration for us."
Although this Panivar Lotheed sounds very interesting. Cyrene shifts a little in her chair as a deep, intense thrill pulses inside her. The thrill of a Hunt.
"So," She says lightly once she has herself back under control. "Do we have an accord? I think we'd enjoy working together..."
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With no spell left that can reach that far, nothing to help Valeria against the swarm, and not confident she can actually hit the Spider Prince with her crossbow, Diana opts to keep concentrating on her illusion, bringing the flames closer to the Spider Prince and hoping to distract him or scare him enough to help Lope and Tryphilla.
"Lope and Tryphilla, don't worry about the flames! You know they're my specialty, and I've made sure that they can only affect the Spider Prince."
She then loads her crossbow - the illusion will hold for a bit if she tries to shoot, and an improbable shot is still better than doing nothing.
Valeria moved away from the spiders and tried to shoot the Baron again but the indignity of it all hurt her concentration so she didn't account for the bits of web in the way and the bolt got deflected.
<--- MISS
Lope's sword crackling with power came crashing down upon what was once Baron Araig Telus and cauterized it's way through flesh leaving him writing in pain.
<--- FAIL
Meanwhile Lope's conjured sphere of fire rolled over the remaining spiders setting fire for them. They tried to scuttle away leaving tiny trails of smoke before they curled up and died en masse.
Coming from the other direction to Lope, Triphylla suddenly appeared behind him as she pounced on the Baron, her claws futilely scrabbled to get hold, but as was often the case under the effects of the mutagen, it was the taste of blood flesh she really craved. Her wickedly sharp teeth took a sizable chunk out of the ettercap. Beneath a surprisingly tough hide the texture of his flesh was gross, like a sort of gore filled sponge. The greenish blood made her mouth taste of copper and bile and bits of it got stuck up her nose and in the moment she loved it and wanted more!
Diana concentrated on the illusion fanning the flames which caused the Baron to shirek. Fear and adrenaline gave him surprising strength and one of his claw like arms, still crackling with with eldritch lightnings from his spell, slammed into Triphylla's face as she bit down. He tried to claw her again and deliver a bite of his own but she was too low down for him to connect considering he was fending Lope off too!
<--- HIT
<--- MISS
<--- MISS
Environment: Webs are difficult terrain. Except near the glow stick, low light (20% miss chance)
Damage Log:Round: 1
Spider swarm was hit by Lope for 6 (total damage taken 6)
Spider swarm was hit by Tryphylla for 1 (total damage taken 7)Round: 2
Baron was hit by Valeria for 6 (total damage taken 6)
Valeria was hit by Spider swarm for 4 (total damage taken 4)Round: 3
Baron was hit by Lope for 14 (total damage taken 20)
Spider swarm was hit by Lope for 8 (total damage taken 15)
Baron was hit by Triphylla for 17 (total damage taken 37)
Triphylla was hit by Baron for 24 (total damage taken 24)Totals:
Spider swarm: 15 damage
Baron: 37 damage
Valeria: 4 damage
Triphylla: 24 damage
COMBAT ORDER:
Baron Telus
Valeria <----- WE ARE HERE
Lope
Triphylla
Diana
Valeria, Lope, Triphylla and Diana are up.
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Lope looks up at the roaring flames consuming the webs "You sure Diana? Because those look like we need to get out of here pretty quick!"
Seeing the baron shocking badly at Triphylla, he presses on with an attack directed at the non-man's heart.
Finding a vital point on the baron's defense, the Aldori pushes for a kensai perfect strike.
With a move of his free hand, Lope pulls the flaming sphere closer to the baron.
Valeria curse when she missed and reloaded once more before firing off another bolt from Dignity's Barb.
Having been thoroughly shocked by only one of the three attacks, Triphylla realizes she had taken the Baron far too lightly as an opponent. This was a deadly foe, and if she and Lope could not kill him quickly he would make her into lunch. But the realization that she could easily be dead already causes her to fight with considerably less ferocity.
Seeing Tryphilla take the brunt of the beast's attack, Diana moves closer and tries to trip the monster with one of her remaining spells.
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Valeria took note of how hard Tryphylla was hit by the Baron and quickly moved in to assist. She chanted a healing spell and, when she reached her companion, discharged glowing golden light into the halfling.
Valeria casts a much needed heal on Triphylla, restoring some of the color to her blood splattered cheeks.
<--- HIT
Lope's swordplay continues to be on point, spotting an opening he thrust into the baron's chest leaving an ugly looking wound.
Triphylla savagely attacks the baron, but with surprising adroitness he dodges and parries her blows and her bite.
<--- PASS
Diana casts a spell which makes a portion of the ground terribly slippery, the baron wobbles slightly but the claws in his malformed legs dig into the ground in a shower of sparks and he recovers.
Snarling at Lope, one of the baron's claws goes to the crude crown on his head as he steps toward him and snarls in a high pitched voice, "DIIIIIIEE!!" A reddish gem set into the crown flairs into brilliance and a sudde searing beam spears out at Lope!
Environment: Webs are difficult terrain. Except near the glow stick, low light (20% miss chance)
Damage Log:Round: 1
Spider swarm was hit by Lope for 6 (total damage taken 6)
Spider swarm was hit by Tryphylla for 1 (total damage taken 7)Round: 2
Baron was hit by Valeria for 6 (total damage taken 6)
Valeria was hit by Spider swarm for 4 (total damage taken 4)Round: 3
Baron was hit by Lope for 14 (total damage taken 20)
Spider swarm was hit by Lope for 8 (total damage taken 15)
Baron was hit by Triphylla for 17 (total damage taken 37)
Triphylla was hit by Baron for 24 (total damage taken 24)Round: 4
Triphylla was healed by Valeria for 12 (total damage taken 12)
Baron was hit by Lope for 12 (total damage taken 49)
Lope was hit by Baron for 11 (total damage taken 11)Totals:
Spider swarm: 15 damage
Baron: 49 damage
Valeria: 4 damage
Triphylla: 12 damage
Lope: 11 damage
COMBAT ORDER:
Baron Telus
Spider swarm
Valeria <----- WE ARE HERE
Lope
Triphylla
Diana
Valeria, Lope, Triphylla and Diana are up.
Shaking her head, she said, "When I was much younger my family were wealthy and we got to travel. My father thought it was educational to see other countries and cultures. One year we visited some distant relatives in Galt. That was a mistake, albeit a formative one. There was a purge of some sort and everyone in the town, us included had to watch a handful of wretches being dragged to the guillotine. As much as I despise the monarchy, I've seen first hand what could happen to Taldor if too much change happened too fast. We'd tear ourselves apart."
She looked you in the eye as she told you, "This is why this is so hard, ultimately you're asking me to choose a side in the coming civil war. Still in the end I'd rather die than see Pythareus crowned so I choose the lesser of two evils. We have an accord..." She offered her hand to shake on it.
Having narrowly avoided disembowelment on the previous trio of attacks from the Baron, Triphylla is given a new, if temporary, lease on life thanks to Valeria's healing. Now with the Baron turning its back on her again she goes for the kill, perhaps foolishly.
"You first, villain!"
Seeing that Triphylla was alright for the moment Valeria decided to do something that just might help them get through this in one piece. She prayed and gestured and unleashed a spell upon the Baron to cause him difficulty speaking! She then quickly moved back a bit to get a bit of distance from him.
Lope shouts in pain as the baron's crown blasts him irremediably "Argh! Tricky bastard!"
Seeing the baron moving away, Lope takes the chance to load his blade with electricity "With your refusal to concede you are forcing me to use my best tricks too!" the aldori maneuvers around the column and spellstrikes.
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Diana closes in with the party. With Triphylla healed up and with everyone finally in range, she opts to cast Haste, hoping the added speed will help the rest put the beast down.
"So, I'll tell Bettony what's going on and make sure Voinum gets the word too. If you want we can stage something good - I'll play the assassin and you can be you, help bolster your fame a bit? Let me know what you think. I'll be back in Lotheedar soon, just use your network like normal. If you want me specifically just leave a heart somewhere nice and obvious. Any reason, professional or personal."
She leans in to kiss the other woman's cheek and then makes her departure, fully intent on getting out of Cassomir as quickly as possible - always leave them wanting more. Besides, Lope may be about to face off against an assassin - Cyrene needs to be there.
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Valeria attacks the baron's mind, hoping to make him stutter and stumble any spell casting. This should have worked but the extensive mutations made his mind surprisingly alien and Valeria's thrust recoiled in horror at what she glimpsed within.
<--- PASS
Lope opted for a more direct approach, charging his blade with crawling lightnings of his own. He went into thrust but the baron contemptuously batted his blade aside with a claw like arm.
<--- HIT (but misses due to AC)
Succumbing to bloodlust, Triphylla went full beast mode. Making her fingers into a knife edge, she slammed her right hand in between his ribs, using the leverage this gave her, she forced her left hand up into an eye socket. Finally she pulled herself up and chomped down on his throat, savaging it like a wild animal as greenish blood sprayed everywhere!
<--- HIT
<--- HIT
<--- HIT
A filthy cloak with golden thread that needs a thorough scrubbing before anyone with a ounce of self respect would do it.
The baron also wore the House Telus signet ring, which isn't magical but could potentially be valuable.
You notice a door to the west has opened and just outside a small crowd of disreputable looking men stare at the spectacle in disbelief. One of them points and cries, "They've slain the beast! Perhaps we can go home now!?"
Triphylla hacks and spits and calls on the spellcasters for a dousing of water to clean off. "Gah. What does that to a man?" she says as she shakes the punctured eyeball off her claw.
Of the Baron's items, she can't make heads or tails of the crown, but she spots the cloak for what it is. "A cloak of resistance! Would anyone else claim it? I happen to think I would do well to wear it."
"Well, that masterpiece of dissection gives good credit on your abilities Triphylla" Lope cleans the blood and meat splattered all over his outfit still not used to the halfling feral outbursts.
"The cloak suits you well. Go ahead and serve yourself." he also identifies the other two items, offering them for whomever wants them.
When the door opens, Lope turns around to look at it, his blade still crackling with the non discharged electricity "You can probably go home. The thing is, who are you and why are you here?"
Diana runs over as Triphylla calls, doing her best to avoid looking at the butchered remains of the beast.
"I can't conjure water, but I can clean that off you with a spell. And that filthy cloak as well, too. Just give me a moment."
With some simple gestures and a few words, Diana magically cleans away the filth with her cantrip.
"There, should be decent enough to wear now, go ahead. You can never have enough magic protection. As for the crown, seems to be exactly what we saw during the fight- it can shoot a beam of searing heat once per day."
Diana studies the newcomers closely as Lope questions them.
"Odd. Wasn't expecting to see anyone else here. Didn't the staff move away as well?"
"Thank you!" Triphylla says to Diana for the magic to clean the gore and grime. "And thank you," she says to everyone as she dons the cloak.
Refreshed, she turns to the crowd and follows Lope with another question. "Do you happen to know how the Baron came to be like this? Is there evil magic yet working somewhere in this house?"
A man behind the one who spoke pushed his way forward and rather stiffly he told, "I'm uh Master Frater Mosle. You killed my friend, or what was left of him. I uh... I uh suppose I ought to be glad it's over, watching my best friend slowly lose his mind has taken its toll. Now if you'll excuse us it's about time we went back to our families."
As for the curse itself, three old women knocked on the estate’s grand doors one stormy night a decade ago and asked for shelter from the driving rain. Araig ordered them to find an inn before slamming the door, unaware that the trio was the Sisters of Indulgent Dreams, night hags on their way to the Palace of Birdsong... The coven burst through the doors and declared that Baron Telus should have a form to match his verminous, lowly soul before disappearing back into the night. Araig thought little of the incident, unaware that the old women were anything but what they appeared, but over the coming weeks he grew increasingly disturbed: hiding in corners, chewing at insects, and becoming obsessed with weaving. Those servants who could left, and those who could not did everything they could to appease their increasingly eccentric master. After a year, Araig’s skin began to slough off, revealing, bruised, stubbly flesh and claws beneath, beginning his transformation from handsome human baron into a prince of spiders.
With the largely modular, independent nature of local rules and the death of Allis Betony—Araig’s only attending lord—no one in the county beyond his servants realize what Baron Telus has become. Even the citizens of Jambis know only that their lord became some sort of monster after crossing a witch—and having heard the tale second- or thirdhand, most of them believe it to be but an allegory describing a man losing his sanity.
Those close servants who remained became Araig's jailors, and eventually bandits of sorts who tried to balance protecting the world from their master and themselves from Araig's incessant demands for treasure.
Diana nods sadly at the man as he steps forward.
"I am sorry we could do no more for your friend. So the stories were true? That really was Baron Telus, turned into some manner of beast through foul magic? I don't mean to keep you from your families much longer, but could you shed some more light on what has happened here?"
After a while Triphylla returns to her true self. Or truer self...
"It is an interesting part of the tale that the witches proceeded to the Palace Birdsong. I wonder what became of them there. But anyhow, there's treasure about!"
She busies herself looking for the treasure horde alluded to the story.
"And finally, Araig's story unfolds, a narrative to be retold, of hope, resilience, and spirits bold." Lope makes a sign of forgivance towards the fallen corpse "A testament to the vulnerability that lies beneath the veneer of power and nobility."
"I do not want to presume to much, Master Frater Mosle, that you were one of the servants that remained loyal through your master's demise. But could you elaborate on what where you doing here?" Lope turns down the fire on his blade, and sheathes it on his belt's scabbard, but raises an eyebrow to hold interest on the response.
Whatever they answer, he adds "The Baron had a blade that belonged to my family. Have you happened to see a sword with a black metal edge, darker than the axiomites' smith where it was forged."
Diana nods subtly to Triphylla as Lope talks to the newcomers.
"It caught my attention as well. Winder what business they had at the Birdsong."
She chimes in as Lope finishes his speech.
"From their tale, I got the impression that they're the ones responsible for the numerous robberies that targeted travellers in the region. But seems it was done not out of greed or desperation, but rather for loyalty to the Baron." She looks from Master Frater to the party. "The assaults shpuld stop now. Should we let them carry on and rejoin their families and friends?"
After Lope asks about the blade, Diana adds.
"Even if you haven't seen it, do any of you have an idea on where it might have been stored?"
She opens her pack and inside it you find a hideous red mask, one designed to make the wearer look like an insect. There was no mistaking which group of assassins this belongs to. She whispered softly, "This implies that they don't regard Lope or Voignum as legitimate which is interesting... I get the impression they had already had an agreement in principle, it's possible others will come. If so we need to make it clear to the local Vernai that the cost will be exorbitant if they make an issue of this. I'm not worried for myself, but they may be stubborn about Lope and the Baronness. Perhaps we should set a trap, what do you think?"
Have you happened to see a sword with a black metal edge, darker than the axiomites' smith where it was forged.
Frater replied, "Ah yeah... I think I might have seen that actually. Araig had us toss any valuables we ahm... found into this big spider's nest over the in the north eastern corner. There's actually quite a lot of stuff in there but none of us dare get close."
The webs do look very thick in that part, and they move occasionally as if something large was inside.
Triphylla observes the lair of webbing with dismay. "I'm not prepared for another fight, if you're intent on going after your blade, Lope. Give me one hour? Perhaps you might have Master Frater give you a tour while I cook."
She looks to Valeria. "Can you spare another heal spell?"
"Mmm... how things are going to improve in an hour Triphylla? Can you elaborate? Our magic is ticking off." Lope crosses his arms and looks at the point noted by Frater with curiosity and excitement.
While awaiting Triphylla's response, Lope turns his attention to Master Frater, expressing gratitude for the guidance provided. "I appreciate your assistance thus far. Diana's right; it seems your actions were motivated by loyalty to the Baron. If you promise to cease the banditry, would your loyalty extend to aiding in the reconstruction efforts? Jamris and the state need every willing hand to contribute to the recovery. There must be honest work for those with true intent." Lope observes Frater closely, trying to discern the sincerity in the man's response.
Triphylla shrugs. "I will be a lot less helpful if we have to fight for it, but you're right. There are other considerations. I'm being selfish. "
"A mysterious matter" Lope smiles at Triphylla "I see. No worries. If you feel it is time for it, just raise your voice and we will protect you so you can do your alchemy for good."
Once everyone is healed, the Aldori approaches the webs to the northeast pointed by Master Frater, and checks them carefully with the tip of his sword.
If the man meant the area to the north-east, then he goes and opens the door leading there.
Lope resorts to the only thing he can do. To blindly activate the wand the group bought from Mimips.
"Ah, that's it" Lope swings the wand a bit more "It seems it is almost depleted by now"
She gives herself a little shake and lets her hand rest on Katrina's own at the edge of the bag. "I thought the legitimacy thing only applied to monarchs? Otherwise they'd never kill anyone. But you're right, if there's a member of the Vernai around we'll have to kill and kill their agents until they decide it isn't worth it any more - especially since they don't have a contract thanks to you. Hmm... in fact, they won't know about their new 'targets' will they? Not unless Guisarne has another contact with them..."
She hmm's meditatively. "So we know there must be Red Mantises close enough to strike, probably close if they've done jobs together before. But they don't have Voinum and de Vega as targets. So we either have to find the agents and remove them quietly, or fake an attack that goes wrong. Or maybe both... if we can find their people then we could kill them and leave the bodies to suggest a failed assassination. De Vega would go for it if I suggest it... We need more information."
She pauses for a moment. "I'd better go back to Stachys and keep a watch there. How about you put your network on it in Lotheedar? I'll come back in a couple of weeks and we can put our heads together then." She manages to make the last part of the sentence sound far more suggestive than it is. "Or you could come to Stachys, I'd be delighted to host you. Either way, I should get going. But we'll see each other again soon, won't we?"
"My magic is a bit spent for the day, as well, but I can try to protect you two a bit from whatever might be lurking on those webs - I can cast an illusory ward on each that should make you harder to hit, but it will only last for a minute or until it deflects one attack, and can turn both of you invisible as well."
"If it is what I think we all think it is, we could just stay as far away as possible and hit it with your fire spells."
Triphylla can see the group is keen on waiting for her and she isn't that keen on pulling out her alchemy kit right here in this dump of a castle. The halfling takes our a vial of mineral acid and waits for someone to do something.
"Well, let's make the most of what we have. Thanks for the extra protection Diana, just keep the invisibility for if you need to escape a bad situation. Once we're ready, I'll cautiously investigate the webs. If there is some monster indeed, you can keep a distance. If someone has to risk it here, that is myself" Lope suggests, preparing himself for the potential dangers that may lie within the thick, mysterious webs.
Lope casts shield and uses the pearl of power to recover shocking grasp.
Once Diana casts the spells, the Aldori on himself, and approaches the webs to the northeast pointed by Master Frater, and checks them carefully with the tip of his sword.
If needed, Lope will climb the wall to check the webs.
Valeria was rather disturbed at the sight of the Baron and it left her highly distracted as she began to remember things best left forgotten. So it was that she lost track of what was happening and didn't even think to heal anyone herself. She finally came back to the present when she heard Lope saying he would go check alone it made Valeria shudder and she came back to the present. "It's not much," Valeria said, "but hopefully this helps," as she cast a prayer to guide Lope's next action.
Lope doesn't see much beyond the obvious, a thick dirty mass of overlapping webs.
"Thanks Valeria. I will make use of your blessing if needed." with a nod of gratitude, he takes a deep breath, readying himself for whatever may lie within the thick, dirty webs.
"Ok, seems nothing is coming out, thus, I will have to go in" Lope casts detect magic. If he detects a magical aura, he directs his steps towards there. Otherwise, he just moves around the webs, trying to find the blade by grit, guts or luck.
"I thought the legitimacy thing only applied to monarchs?"
She replied, "From what I gather that's true officially, unofficially it often extends to the aristocracy."
"But they don't have Voinum and de Vega as targets."
She looked thoughtful before replying, "You might be right, I hope you are. Have to admit I'm worried though, Sir Guirarne is the sort to hold a grudge, this might just have bought us time. Time I agree we should spend hunting them down. How about this, can you sneak into his office and gather any correspondence he might have or a diary perhaps. Yes it's foolish for him to have such correspondence but like many of us he is a creature of habit. Meanwhile I'll find out what I can from my end."
Lope starts poking his sword into the thick webs, he brushes up against something that could be metallic. Before he could investigate any further, a pair of giant spiders descends from the ceiling on stands of thick, vaguely luminous silk!
Environment: Webs are difficult terrain. Except near the glow stick, low light (20% miss chance)
Buffs and Debuffs:
Lope
Diana
Valeria
Spiders Sickened (2 rounds)
Triphylla
Lope
Diana
Valeria
Spiders Sickened (1 round)
Triphylla
COMBAT ORDER:
Lope <----- WE ARE HERE
Diana
Valeria
Spiders
Triphylla
Lope, Diana and Valeria are up.
"Spiders!" Lope exclaims as he senses the looming threat. Reacting swiftly, he calls upon his Aldori training and engages the giant arachnids.
Taking an offensive stance, Lope positions himself strategically to confront the first spider inline, making his blade to burst again into flames as he tries to strike with precision.
"Stay close! Let's handle these creatures together!" he calls out to his companions, prepared for the battle.
"Those things are enormous! I suppose they're the ones responsible for the bigger webs we saw outside? Be careful, everyone."
Diana conjures another pool of Grease below the giant spiders, hoping it will hinder them enough for the others to take down.
Valeria saw the spiders start to attack and quickly cast a spell before moving in and trying to touch her victim with it.
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Lope's sword burst into flame and it scored a deep sizzling line along the abdomen of the closest spider.
Just then Diana shouted something and the ground beneath the two big spiders became incredibly slippery. The spider Lope had just cut was off balance when the spell landed causing it to slide and fall over! The other spider had it many legs firmly planted and it seemed unaffected.
<--- FAIL
<--- PASS
Just as the spider comes in, Valaria completes her spell and waves of darkness surround her had. She reaches out to touch the spider and it was as if something hungry was within the darkness, something that left terrible wounds when she pulled away.
Both of the spiders tried to attack Lope who was the closest target. The fallen spider came very close to clamping down upon his leg to inject its poison and if it hadn't been toppled it almost certainly would have done so. The other one tried to attack but it was hampered by the slippery ground.
<---MISS
<---MISS
Environment: Webs are difficult terrain. Except near the glow stick, low light (20% miss chance)
Buffs and Debuffs:
Lope
Cyrene
Diana
Valeria
Spiders Sickened (2 rounds)
Triphylla
Lope
Cyrene
Diana
Valeria
Spiders Sickened (1 round)
Triphylla
Damage Log:Round: 1
Red was hit by Lope for 13 (total damage taken 13)
Red was hit by Valeria for 14 (total damage taken 27)Totals:
Red: 27 damage
COMBAT ORDER:
Lope
Cyrene
Diana
Valeria
Spiders
Triphylla <----- WE ARE HERE
Triphylla, Lope, Cyrene, Diana and Valeria are up.