Lured by the soft sounds of the siren's song, Ari immediately forgets what she was doing and sets off with purpose towards its source.
Rutilux senses the magic of the cloak Sasha found and smiles "Nice find, Sasha. I..."
Then he hears the clank of a sword falling to the floor, and turns to see Kiley has dropped her blade...again, "You know if you hate that sword so much, maybe we can find you a new one?" Only it's not any dislike filling Kiley's eyes
In fact , all the ladies seemed to be actind oddly. That music, that song? He can feel the pull... but then shakes his head. He's not sure why he's free of it's call... for now anyway. Plain Halfling Luck? Something in his blood? Or, he thinks wryly, It's a lot of high notes and I'm down here. No time for levity beyond that thought, he says "Don't listen to it, plug your ears."
And he plugs his fingers in HIS ears and charges towards where the song is, hoping to see what's drawing the others so he can maybe attack it, and disrupt the enchantment!
Leaving the shop reveals the truth of the
As the charmed ones walk out of the ruined silk shop and Rutilux follows them, a screech enters the song as a horrible looking woman emerges from an already-smashed second story window. She'd look like a regular, if attractive, woman were it not for the tattered wings and taloned feet. A necklace of bones (fingers and leg bones, and a few others), feathers, and other baubles hangs from her neck. She carries a morningstar in one hand, a spear in the other, and is obviously the source of the singing.
"Come to me, my pretties!" she calls out across the stable in front of the ruined building. Several horse skeletons lay among the stables, and the floor in the center of the stable is in much worse condition: it's nearly crumbling away from the age, and looks extremely hard to navigate.
Init: Round 1
19- Kiley
14- Sasha
11- Ari
8- Rutilux
6- bird lady
4- Shaggar
Init: Round 2
19- Kiley
14- Sasha
11- Ari
8- Rutilux
6- bird lady
4- Shaggar
Shaggar’s ears perk at the singing and the snake-charmed behavior of most of his allies. He decides to play along and mimics their odd mannerisms. He folds his ears against his skull, looks ‘vacantly’, and walks leisurely toward the sound. He flicks Ruti with a claw as he passes him, trying to make it clear he’s not affected.
Bullets (20): x
Arisen 3HP (1):
Moonmaid Reroll:
Effects:
Arisen - Die at -18 HP
Diehard
Ruti gives a grateful but shallow nod at Shaggar shows the halfling is not the only one still free. Oh thank Selune for that gnoll! I thought I was alone. Frustrated with his short legs in a way he rarely is, he also doubles his pace.
Seeing it is a harpy, while he IS running towards her, he also tries to adapt a 'dopey my aren't you wonderful gaze'.. and is happy to use the gnoll's bulk to obscure any clue he's free
Oblivious to Rutilux's appeals, Ari continues to stride with purpose towards the singer, moving swiftly until she finds herself face to face with the winged woman.
Leaving the shop reveals the truth of the small trading post, showing that the sunlight isn’t nearly as strong as it was once you originally entered this cavern. Small rays of light filter down from the ceiling, somehow miraculously still being made of sunlight. Seems as if whatever device or tunnel the dwarves created to bring the sun down here still works, just not nearly as strongly.
The fields of crops likely were real at one point, as you can see fields of gnarled weeds and even a handful of underground species of smaller trees spread throughout the massively overgrown fields. Obviously, nothing has grown here in many, many years.
The buildings are mostly still standing, but all are in extreme states of disrepair. Cracked foundations, caved-in roofs, collapsing walls, the works. Even the main caravanserai building (the one with the stable and presumably the inn the imaginary guard mentioned) hasn’t escaped the ravages of time, with smashed windows and sagging support beams.
Kiley, still enthralled by the songstress' voice, moves closer to it, stumbling a couple of times over the detritus littering the stable floor.
Sasha and Pheliks continue to move towards the harpy, unaware of the great danger threatening the party.
The harpy doesn't seem to realize that Shaggar and Rutilux haven't been charmed by her song, and drops the song in order to take advantage of Ari's helplessness.
The harpy lashes out at Ari with a flurry of attacks, but only manages to connect twice.
As the group walks towards the harpy and Ari takes a few scratches from her, something awful bursts out from what looks like a livery for the less domesticated livestock used to be held. It looks like a segmented, wormlike creature that has rows of caterpillar legs along its underside that cling to whatever surface it walks on. Many long, pseudopods emerge from beneath a fang-lined maw in its bulbous head and drip with some sort of venom.
Init: Round 2
19- Kiley
14- Sasha
11- Ari
8- Rutilux
6- bird lady and worm thing
4- Shaggar
Init: Round 3
19- Kiley
14- Sasha
11- Ari
8- Rutilux
6- bird lady and worm thing
4- Shaggar
Rutilux moves forward more and then takes the only option with reach that might hurt the harpy... the half staff and it's arcane might! Force strikes the harpy with unerring aim!
Shaggar notes the approaching centipede – or whatever it is – and the distance. We have a little time. He closes in on the harpy, only slowing down to hurl a sling stone with his considerable strength as he moves carefully across the uneven floor. He looks balefully at Rutilux, Sasha, and Phelix. ”Move in! There something worse coming.”
Bullets (20): xx
Arisen 3HP (1):
Moonmaid Reroll:
Effects:
Arisen - Die at -18 HP
Diehard
The harpy cries out angrily as she is hit with both the magic missiles and the sling bullet, making one last strike at a (no longer flat-footed) Ari before flying up into the air a little bit to avoid more retaliation. "Get them, my pretty!" she cries out gleefully.
The massive caterpillar thing crawls towards you at a surprisingly quick pace, and is approaching quickly.
Init: Round 3
19- Kiley
14- Sasha
11- Ari
8- Rutilux
6- bird lady and worm thing
4- Shaggar
Init: Round 4
19- Kiley
14- Sasha
11- Ari
8- Rutilux
6- bird lady and worm thing
4- Shaggar
The gnoll bears his fangs on seeing the harpy ascend out of range. It might be the equivalent of a scowl. Changing tactics, he moves to the side of the doorway, preparing to bring his axe to bear if the monster rushes heedlessly into the stable.
Bullets (20): xx
Arisen 3HP (1):
Moonmaid Reroll:
Effects:
Arisen - Die at -18 HP
Diehard
"Pheliks - attack!" exclaims Sasha as she comes back to her senses and sees the charging monster and pointing at it. Then she takes a moment to bow her head in prayer, "Moon goddess, bless us as we fight off these fearsome foes!"
Pheliks hisses and then turns to look at the oncoming monstrosity with what could be interpreted as some doubt as to his mistress' command. The small tiger dashes out of the dilapidated ruins to the open space, but doesn't charge the creature just yet...
Taken completely unaware by the singer's betrayal, Ari is struck twice by her, then a third time for good measure as she flies up out of harm's way. Instinctively the tiefling lashes out with a blade as the harpy rises, slashing her before she even realises what is happening. Trying to get the song out of her head, she physically shakes it, though this causes bile to rise in her throat as she staggers on the spot but she dips and lets her legs take the weight and she stays on her feet - just.
Unable to reach her winged foe - whatever kind of sugar-coated vicious wench it is - Ari takes a step back and throws one of her many knives up at it, before flicking her wrist and dropping a replacement from her sheath into her waiting hand. She smiles with satisfaction as the dagger connects - the creature had hurt her, both physically and her pride in falling for its tricks and Ari is more than happy to hurt her in return.
Kiley blinks away her stupor as the song ends and Shaggar calls out his warning. She does not have her sword, but she does have her bow. A spiteful anger flashes in her eyes as she readies it and takes aim at the harpy.
Unfortunately, her hurried shot misses.
"Sorry to leave you, Shaggar but I really really want that harpy down, if I can make it happen."
He moves slower than usual as he closes in, and then lets loose an old standby... his mouth opens, but only the harpy hears the scream!
Ari stabs into the flying bird woman twice, drawing significant shrieks and blood from her but not killing her. Rutilux's spell hits her ears, turning the magic of sound against the flying woman, stunning her. She is able to stop herself from falling however.
The strange worm thing moves mindlessly towards the easy prey, lashing out with a single flaying tentacle.
Init: Round 4
19- Kiley
14- Sasha
11- Ari
8- Rutilux
6- bird lady and worm thing (bird: 38 damage inflicted)
4- Shaggar
Init: Round 5
19- Kiley
14- Sasha
11- Ari
8- Rutilux
6- bird lady and worm thing (bird: 38 damage inflicted)
4- Shaggar
As the bird woman continues to hover out of reach, Ari hurls another dagger at her. This time her aim is less good and it flies wide. "You sure you wouldn't like to come down and make this a fair fight?" she says, mostly to herself.
The gnoll snaps his jaws at the cat as it races out of the stable… ruining his clever ambush. For a long moment, his red eyes burn into Sasha – the decision’s architect. Not the cat’s fault.
His eyes swing back to the battle outside. If he were still just a gnoll, he’d let the monster eat the cat as a lesson to the girl… but he was trying to be worthy of Elah’s favor. So, his options are few, poor, and likely lead to a preventable death.
Shaggar swings around the corner of the doorway and tries to bury his axe between segments of the monster’s body.
Bullets (20): xx
Arisen 3HP (1):
Moonmaid Reroll:
Effects:
Arisen - Die at -18 HP
Diehard
Kiley shakes her head as she tries to shake off the last influences of the harpy's spell and snarls as she readies another shot. She takes aim at the dazed harpy intending to not let it get another chance to muddle her mind. After letting her shot fly, she moves back to give Sasha and Ari some room to pull back if they need to.
Rutilux moves through the muck muttering and gathering energy in his hand "If you could kindly die, Madame Harpy, it would greatly delight me. I was hoping for a hot bath in an Inn, instead I've got filthy feet and you ambushing MY Friends. I'm a reasonable halfling, but a hin can only take so much."
He flings a jolt of elecrity at the harpy
Sasha prays to heal Ari before moving back towards the developing fight between Shaggar, Pheliks, and the new monster. "Goddess mend your wounds!" she cries as she touches the other woman in passing.
Kiley's arrow strikes the harpy dealing a significant blow, but doesn't actually bring her down. It's actually Rutilux's much less significant electric shock that finally finishes off the singing bird lady, who crashes down to the ground.
Shaggar's axe carves a large slice through the weird worm's side, and Pheliks manages to carve out a pair of good hits in his own right. It doesn't flinch, however, lashing out wildly at the two combatants.
The flurry of attacks is mostly ineffective, however, as the shock of taking damage looks to distract it.
Init: Round 5
19- Kiley
14- Sasha
11- Ari
8- Rutilux
6- worm thing ( damage inflicted)
4- Shaggar
Init: Round 6
19- Kiley
14- Sasha
11- Ari
8- Rutilux
6- worm thing (damage inflicted)
4- Shaggar
Kiley says nothing as she picks her way through the rubble and moves to get a better angle on the beast Shaggar and Phelicks face.
"I'm coming Shaggar! Just hang in there," she calls out as she nocks another arrow.
The gnoll sidesteps, working towards a flanking position even while dodging venomed tentacles and snapping mandibles. Shaggar believes in skill above all things but right now he needs luck a lot more. In response to the worm’s all-out attack, the gnoll replies with his own (less impressive) combination – bringing his axe to bear before trying to bite a leg off the monster.
Bullets (20): xx
Arisen 3HP (1):
Moonmaid Reroll:
Effects:
Arisen - Die at -18 HP
Diehard
As the harpy crashes to the ground, Rutilux is as surprised as any, "Not used to the villains LISTENING to me." He rushes to go check on the worm moving to aid despite the difficult terrain
Pheliks seems unimpressed by the monstrous creature and prowls about to keep it well-flanked with Shaggar. The tiger claws and bites ferociously while Sasha looks to the fallen bird-woman. "Keep her alive or make sure she's dead?" she asks the others as she moves close to their attacker, aiming her crossbow at the creature after she steps next to it.
"More worried about the grub!"
”Everything goes back to the sea in time,” Ari says, eyeing the broken body of the harpy now it’s fallen back to earth. ”I’m minded to let her lie,” she says to Sasha. ”And thanks for patching me up.” With that she turns on her heel and let her long coat spin around behind her as she focuses on the other threat. Striding with purpose next to Kiley she grabs her bow, hoping that she’ll get as lucky as she did last time. Trying to avoid both Shaggar and Pheliks, however, her arrow flies harmlessly over the tentacled critter.
Sasha finishes off the harpy, and it doesn't move anymore. Shaggar unfortunately misses alongside Ari and Kiley, though Pheliks manages to get another couple of scratches in.
The worm beast, meanwhile, lashes out with all of its tentacles, spreading them between Shaggar and Pheliks.
Init: Round 5
19- Kiley
14- Sasha
11- Ari
8- Rutilux
6- worm thing (27 damage inflicted)
4- Shaggar
Init: Round 6
19- Kiley
14- Sasha
11- Ari
8- Rutilux
6- worm thing (27 damage inflicted)
4- Shaggar
The gnoll’s body tries, in vain, to fend off the paralytic poison seeping through his skin. Before his muscles lock up entirely, he calls on Elah to help him rally… but his prayer goes unanswered. Trapped like a bug in amber, all Shaggar can do is think.
This is a stupid way to die.
Bullets (20): xx
Arisen 3HP (1):
Moonmaid Reroll: x
Effects:
Paralyzed – rnd 1 of ??
Arisen - Die at -18 HP
Diehard
"Shaggar! Rutilux calls out in alarm as the gnoll who he already thinks of as a friend is envenomed! He moves as rapidly as he can closing the gap.
Kiley pales as she sees Shaggar's limbs seize up. Her friend's in danger and the weapon that's likely to end the fight soonest is too far away to be of use. She moves up to get a clear shot, getting dangerously close to where those tentacles can reach.
"Sasha! Shaggar needs help! The big worm got him," She calls out as she lets fly.
Mmm can he put a shield spell from the half staff on Shaggar? Figures it never hurts to ask
Feeling like a cad, but knowing he won't do Shaggar any good getting himself killed when he approaches that beast, Rutilux puts the shield upon himself.