”Onye Dinta was wrong,” the catfolk observes.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Ezgara giggles as he practices backward kicks with his hoof. The Wise master still saves a kick for his Donkey! The old elf tumbles over, rolling around like an upturned beetle.
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Damn E-Z! Those horns look good on you! You have a new set of problems awaiting you -- the problem of keeping all those noble lasses off of you!
Nicky gives a hearty laugh. Not a making fun of someone laugh, but a laugh of fellow-ship. Yet another time and example of where he feels camaraderie amongst this motley crew.
Please take this honestly, and not a side effect of the look-see-man or the pod, but each one of you have been great to quest with.
Too much has so far been lost because of going through that Gateway so long ago -- but you lot of fine companions offset a sizable portion.
As he sees Ezgara testing out the new hoof, he gives that hearty companion laugh again.
***********
|
|
Sitting well with the experiment the group decides to continue heading northward through the strange tree.
A short flight of stairs leads up into this wide chamber. To the east, a raised dais holds an elaborate throne of living wood, leafless black branches twisting up out of its back. To the west is a four-poster bed of black silk. Next to the bed is a small birdcage, inside of which a hat-wearing hedgehog clutches at the iron bars. Huge tapestries hang down from the twenty-foot-high ceiling, showing a bright forest at the top slowly turning to spindly black branches at the bottom.
This is Kaneepo’s throne room, boudoir, and primary workshop. As you arrive, Kaneepo is sitting on their throne, wearing the Shadewither Key around their neck and stroking a pet temagyr. His thin, bone-like frame seems to stratch in the darkness. "I have been wtching you." His voice rasps through the large room. "I assume you know why I have called you here?"
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"I assume you know why I have called you here?"
Nicky -with his new elven ears peaking almost to the same height as his curved tiefling horns.
You called us here because you are infatuated with how The Gate spoiled your petty revenge against the elves. You are intrigued by the fact that we survived The Gates, and what that means. We are questions that you can't answer.I don't think you intend to steal our shadows, but oh....oh how you love to take people's shadows.
Lastly, you like to see how thinks "tick". You are essentially a boogeyman horologist. Regrettably, you don't make good clocks and you get frustrated to find out why they don't work well, and smolder at why you can't improve upon your creations.
he pauses,
If I am wrong about those reasons, then my only other guess is that you need a babysitter or shepherd for the hedgehog you got there and no one has answered your "Help Wanted" ad yet?
That is Nicky. He loves to analyze and inspect - but he can't help but throw some snarky comments in.
Odioki ponders why the hedgehoog is wearing a hot.
"This is some throne room you've got here."
Daehalya looks on with concern as her two companions try the pods and exchange their fundamental beings. Surely this can't be what her goddess wants. But ... when she sees Nicky emerge with elven hears, she has a moment of pause. She knows Findeladlara has trouble hearing the prayers of the non-elven. Would she now be able to hear Nicky? And if so, could that be a path to letting her experience the fullness of Golarion, and vice-versa? Perhaps there was a reason for this. Eyes full of thought, she is unprepared as they arrive at Kaneepo's boudoir so quickly.
"Perhaps you called us to you," she responds, "or perhaps you are covering for the fact that we have come on our own in search of you."
Surrendering any pretext at stealth against the shadow fey, the amurrun slinks into the throne room and growls, "Kaneepo has summoned Onye Dinta to end the tormented life of Kaneepo?"
"Onye Dinta admits this was not what Onye Dinta expected," the catfolk says. "But a prowler cannot stay in one place. Will Kaneepo answer a question for Onye Dinta? Is Kaneepo the one responsible for the changes among the tribe of Gatewalkers?"
"What? Your heirs?" Odioki is dumbfounded.
"I don't think so."
"And you would extend that offer even to us long-lived elves?" Daehalya asks, not that she has any intention of accepting, regardless of his answer.
"Blackest wake of murder, genocide swirls around Kaneepo. I see it. Do they? Ezgara glances at his companions, speaking his hidden thoughts aloud. Or are they blinded by self-preserving instincts? Would they see themselves as evil if they agree to be the heirs? Would they start to feel sick in their gut? In their head? How long? How long until they started hurting elves too?
Now or later, I will show Kaneepo precisely what hatred can achieve.”
|
|
So far, it seems like a hard, "NO to being your heirs". But, before this situation devolves into fighting, I'd love to hear some answers to the questions. Also, did you trans-mor-gi-fy someone into a hedgehog? Is that why the creature wears a hat?
Sorry to keep coming back to the hedgehog, but I have an eye for odd things and *that* is a flaming beacon fire to my senses.
Also, Nicky tries to use his "That's odd ability" to see if there's more clues to be had about the room and situation.
|
|
"I am not the one responsible for your changes." Kaneepo seems curious at this question before looking to Daehalya. "You have proven yourselves wrthy if you have made it this far. As y heir you would no longer be an elf, but choose to become a Slim."
Hearing complete disapproval Kaneepo frowns. "That is unfortunate..." He hisses, releasing his hold on the temagyr as it slowly begins to stalk towards the entrance. "I am afraid you will not be returning home either way."
Keneepo stands, as you watch him grasp the shade-wither key, as several mirror-like images split off from him in unison. Almost shadows of his former self.
The Temagyr growls and teleports through the shadows, reappearing next to Onye as it bites at him.
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Kaneepo
Temagyr
➤ Daehalya
➤ Ezgara
➤ Onye
➤ Nicholo
➤ Odioki
Ezgara moves in, launching a cantrip agains his hated enemy. Burn!
Odioki tries to discern the Temagyr's weakness, and then fires his hand cannon at the creature.
The amurrun slinks and slips around to the other side of the temagyr in order to create an opening for Daehalya. "Though Kaneepo is a demigod of hatred among the fey, Onye Dinta will not give in to Kaneepo's temptations." He thrusts his javelin at the fey hound and then shifts himself into a defensive position behind his kudu-hide shield.
HP 24/24
AC 19 (+1 vs. traps)
Fort +5, Ref +9, Will +6 (+1 vs. traps)
Effects:
Daehalya, seeing the opening provided by Onye, steps in and swings her staff in a complicated patterns that strikes with both ends.
"We will go wherever the Guiding Hand leads us," she retorts, "but that will never be with you!"
|
|
Daehlya thumps the Termagyr of the chin with the end of her staff as Ezgara tosses some flames at Kaneepo lurking in the shadows.
One of the mirrored images disappears in a puff of smoke. Onye sticks a javelin into the shoulder of the large-orb eyed hound. Nicholo confuses friend and foe as he holds off on firing eye beams and instead stabs the Temagyr, further injuring it.
Odiki determines that the Temagyr is weak against cold iron and shots it through the skull, putting the hound down for good.
Kaneepo steps around the corner of the wall and reaches his clawed hands into the shadows of the floow. This connects with your own causing Daehalya and Nicholo's bodies to wither.
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Kaneepo
➤ Daehalya
➤ Ezgara
➤ Onye
➤ Nicholo
➤ Odioki
HP 11/24
AC 19 (+1 vs. traps)
Fort +5, Ref +9, Will +6 (+1 vs. traps)
Effects: frightened 1
Daehalya lets out a cry of pain as her shadow withers. But, undaunted as she knows they must end this threat, she closes in on Kaneepo and tries to put him on the ground.
The amurrun throws his javelin at Kaneepo and then raises his shiled as he leads Daehalya toward the Slim.
[spoiler=↺ Retributive Strike: Fist (T)]1d20+8[/dice]
Odioki moves into the room, tries to understand Keneepo's weaknesses, and then fires.
Ezgara heals whoever takes more damage.
He spins a tale for Daehalya about elves overcoming ancient enemies.
|
|
Nicky did an ingenious feint that left the Temagyr off balance. That moment of weakness in combat gave Nicky the opening needed to stab it. The creature dying.
Nicky feels good about how he used his adroit brain to fool the creature-- but then his shadow starts to be eaten! Oh, the pain!!
DC 21 Fort
ouch!
plus frightened 1.
My shadow is being taken away from me!
realizing he needs to help himself, he advances on the creature.
Give me my shadow back!
◆ DAS
◆◆Stride
◆◆◆ strike
|
|
Daehalya and Onye tag team the fey as Daehalya's body quickly withers and grows thinner. Daehalya is unable to trip Kaneepo as her staff misses, skidding the smooth floor and butting up against the wall destroying another image.
Onye's spear takes out another of the images as it turns to ash on the floor.
Ezgara waits but a moment as he heals all of Daehalyas injuries as Nicholo too begins to wither. Nicholo's blade misses but gives a few precious seconds for Odioki to understand Kaneepo to be weak against cold iron.
Odioki gives his bullets a thin coating and fires it into the fey's shoulder. Kaneepo steps back into the shadows as he slimsteps through them 25' away and quickly drains Onye and Daehalya's shadows from their bodies. "I will leave the last of you to be my Heir."
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Kaneepo
➤ Daehalya
➤ Ezgara
➤ Onye
➤ Nicholo
➤ Odioki
The catfolk roars behind his wooden mask as the fey tries to drain his life through his shadow. "No!"
He draws a talon-shaped blade from his belt and jogs after the slim. "Onye Dinta will help deliver justice for many dead elves."
He slashes at the ancient fey.
Ezgara moves to a tactical position where he can actually use magic and tell his story. The elf cracked their skull open with her staff, exposing every insipid thought and fragments of gloaming bone. Hehehe!
He cowers behind his shield.
HP 11/24
AC 19 (+1 vs. traps)
Fort +5, Ref +9, Will +6 (+1 vs. traps)
Effects: storytime
Daehalya, aware of Kaneepo's tactics, doesn't fall for them a second time. Closing in on him, she again sweeps her staff at his legs, before following up with a rounding blow.
"You will never find the last of us, Kaneepo," she retorts.
Odioki moves in, reloads, and fires at Kaneepo.
|
|
Daehalya is getting better at avoiding getting her body shriveled up, though her hands still shake from the effect as she misses. Ezgara cowers behind his shield while Onye chases after the fey, slicing his kukri across Kaneepo's rib. Odioki's hand cannon jams for a second before firing as his aim is off.
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Kaneepo
Daehalya
Ezgara
Onye
➤ Nicholo
Odioki
|
|
Aha! You are tricky there Kaneepo! Dancing between the shadows. Very tricky. The problem you have is that this throne room is fairly small. You can dance and bob and weave all you want, but you are boxed in. Like a wrestler being pushed toward the outer rings.
◆ DaS
◆◆ Stride
◆◆◆ Strike!
Nicky moves into close combat and swings his sword at the shadow stealer!
|
|
Nicholo's blade sears into Kaneepos arm causing the fey to stumble back inot the table, knocking it over. Reaching down he lines up his shadow stealing ability to steal the dark energy from Odioki, Nicholo, and Ezgara.
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Kaneepo
➤ Daehalya
➤ Ezgara
➤ Onye
➤ Nicholo
➤ Odioki
HP 6/24
AC 19 (+1 vs. traps)
Fort +5, Ref +9, Will +6 (+1 vs. traps)
Effects: storytime (+1 status bonus to attack rolls and saving throws vs. the villain), frightened 2
"Nicholo!" Daehalya calls out as her companion falls. The fear saps her will, and she feels a chill go through her as her own shadow shrivels. Still, undaunted, she pursues their foe! She's able to knock him off his feet, though he rolls away from her follow-up strike.
Ezgara continues weaving his tale.
He stabilizes Nicholo.
Odioki steels himself against the shadowfeed!
He then moves closer, reloads, fires.
The catfolk quickly surveys the battlefield. He chants while drawing a sigil in the air with his blade, ""Àmụ̀mà na égbè eluigwe!"
A tiny arc of electricity springs from his blade toward the slim fey. He then moves to a different part of the room.
|
|
Undaunted Daehalya slams Kaneepo to the ground with the end of her staff, though he rolls out of the way just as she tries to smash his face, causing him to giggle in a strange manner.
Ezgara stabilizes Nicholo as the tiefling succumbs to his body shriveling.
Odioki sends a small sliver of electricity into the fey while Odioki's handcannon does significant damage to the fey.
Kaneepo rolls bac to his feet as his red eyes flare with magic. Onye begins to feel his body stiffen as his muscles go rigid.
──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Kaneepo
➤ Daehalya
➤ Ezgara
➤ Onye
➤ Nicholo
➤ Odioki
HP 6/24
AC 19 (+1 vs. traps)
Fort +5, Ref +9, Will +6 (+1 vs. traps)
Effects: storytime (+1 status bonus to attack rolls and saving throws vs. the villain), frightened 2
Badly injured, but knowing she's in a fight for her life -- for all of their lives! -- Daehalya stoically continues her assault.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Ezgara continues weaving his tale for Daehalya; in the story, her staff knocks Kaneepo onto the beach as a wave, thundering with the voices of a thousand dead elves, pounds him into a grain of sand. And then another, and another.
Rows of endless waves!
The amurrun prowler freezes for a moment. His fur and clothes begin to stir in an increasingly strong breeze that only affects the catfolk until he lets out a shout. "Kaneepo will not bind Onye Dinta!"
He draws a different sigil in the air with his blade and chants, "Nwee mmetụta nke ikuku n'elu elu ugwu ahụ." A swirling lance of blue energy darts toward the slim.
|
|
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Daehalya continues to trip Kneepo making him prone on the floor once more. A wave of water rushes across the floor as Kaneepo is smashed into the wall with an audible groan and gurgle of a lungful of water from Ezgara.
Onye is stunned briefly as his own ray of frost freezes some of the water in place around Kaneepo's legs. Nicholo begins to snore even as Odioki's hand cannon bangs inot the fey's chest killing Kaneepo with the cold iron casing.
Looking down you easily recognize the Shadwither Key hanging around the Slim's neck from Lemmas descriptions.
The small hedgehog who wears a floppy brimmed hat begins to shake his cage bars and yelling. “Oi! You smoothies gonna let a hog out, or what?”
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Slaughtered among their own shadows! A matter of justice!” Ezgara cackles, viciously kicking the corpse with his new hoof. He stops abruptly when the Hedgehog speaks.
Smoothie!? He rubs his missapen skull. More creatures to torment me. Miserable mule. Chatty and clearly irreverent furze-pig. Ezgara has spines too. He opens the cage door. This detail is vital to understanding.
He ministers to wounds and eyes thew shadow key.
Odioki lets the hedgehog out of the cage and introduces everyone.
"Can't say I've ever talked to a hedgehog before. Why did Kaneepo capture you?"