"Nurah is not a traitor! Uh- to the crusades? Well not to us specifically..." Thawm explains.
Seeing this foe dodge a respectable swing by Tandyn, Aroden moves and casts Haste on the party.
Ahmose's attention turns to the false Cary Ulwes.
To the pain then!
The Alchemist tosses a Tanglefoot bomb at the bad actor!
Dorek scowls as the succubus tries and fails to charm Tandyn, only to duck back with a Hallit curse as Ahmose's bomb detonates in his face.
The tiefling glares back at the kobold as he steps to one side, shifting the rapier to his other hand as he draws one of his gladii. "I'm on y-your side, you crazy l-lizard!" Shaking his head, he turns back to the succubus, slashing at the disguised demon with his blades. "You've b-betrayed my trust and tried to use my h-honor against me - now you d-die for your treachery!"
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Tandyn's eyes widen as his swing is manually turned aside. "Quite the skillful liar, aren't you? You had his blade, so where's the real Maranse?" He tears Radiance from the post.
"Nurah is not a traitor! Uh- to the crusades? Well not to us specifically..." Thawm explains.
"Well, in truth she was to us as well, but we're quite past that. She's one of us now, and we're glad to have her!" Tandyn gives Nurah an affirmative nod.
The manacled swashbuckler easily ducks out of the way of Ahmose’s misplaced bomb, and it crashes into the wall behind them.
Dorek’s flurry of quick strikes proves a match for the nimble succubus as he manages two deep slashes one in their torso and another between the ribs.
They give Tandyn an winning smile to rival his own and winks at him before they fade from view like they were turning into mist that quickly evaporates.
Nurah continues to inspire you with her speech.
The succubus has left the building. Exit stage left. She walked through the wall.
Ahmose waves at Nurah.
"She cast Ethereal Jaunt. It doesn't last a very long time but long enough for her to get away. Or to come back and catch us off-guard."
Aroden casts his own See Invisibility.
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"Hey, you can't just run away!" Thawm shouts fruitlessly.
She pouts and watched Aroden for a sign of the succubus returning.
Cecily looks around, not pleased that she so suddenly had a target and was then denied it, and bides her time. "Let me at the fiend!"
Tandyn sweeps Radiance through the dissipating mist. "That's not good..." He reaches for his side pouch then stops. "I suppose there's no point teleporting if they can keep passing through walls. Let's stay together and be ready for their return."
"Hey Dorek, look this way for a second."
"Ugh, here. This might help if she tries looking like one of us." Thawm says as she casts Arcane Mark and a... T shaped Phoenix? Or maybe a Phoenix shaped T appears on the back of her left hand. It also seems to have a rather large U shaped tail...
The party hesitates either unable or unwilling to follow the demon through the wall. The seconds drag on and you begin to relax as it becomes apparent it won’t reappear to attack you.
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Nurah explains, ”Her real name is Kiranda. She’s a succubus who was one of my contacts in the Worldwound. She doesn’t report to Staunton, she reports to Aponavicius herself, I’m not sure if she’ll show her face again here or if she’s going to report Staunton’s failure. Her plan was to play the part of Maranse until you confronted Staunton then she would have turned on you with me helping. Good thing you are the suspicious sort.”
"It would be better if we had been able to prevent her from fleeing, but it was not to be. Still, if she has truly fled, one less foe between us and the Sword of Valor.
Three Brimoraks are out there, wounded. Possibly a Succubus as well, though she might have left the Citadel.
Where to now? The Northern Court?"
"Well the Nurah I know is a reformed Nurah that wouldn't do such a foolish thing." Thawm adds with a very tiny humph as she continues marking backs of hands.
After another half-minute or so, Thawm finishes tagging the back of each of her ally's left hand with her Arcane Mark.
Tandyn gives Nurah a truly heart-felt smile as she gives away the details of Kiranda's plan. "Thank you for being so open with us. That really means a lot."
"The Northern Court?"
He studies the map.
"Like the other courtyard, this one acts as a choke point. The Brimoraks and Succubus went somewhere, and the courtyard is the first fallback point worth holding. The guards you saw in the Arcade aught to leave their post to reinforce it as well; but whoever is assigned to a choke point should stay put or attackers could slip through. I would suggest taking out the guards in the Arcade first simply to take on fewer foes at a time."
"The treasure pile in the tower has also had me wondering. If you need to hide something valuable, 'under a dragon' isn't a bad option."
"Very well, the Northern Arcade."
"Mm. It's a good thing for us that you've made the choice not to be that person, Nurah. And we are grateful, and support you in it. We are glad you are here with us."
She smiles at Sir Tandyn's musing. "Hide, I don't know. Dragons are proud of their hoards and do like to show off. But protect, certainly."
Nurah beams at the praise but like all interactions with the halfling you can't be certain of her complete honesty. But your trust has been rewarded so far.
Ahmose's blue eyes look up at the folks discussing philosophy. The Alchemist grins.
I am down to enough materials for 4 bombs. Let's try to bunch folks up.
Ahmose turns to Sir Tandyn.
Pretend your pretty armor is a magnet.
One wall of this long arcade features several arrow-slits looking out over the northern part of Drezen. A trio of soldiers in shining breastplates and carrying well cared for two-bladed swords and composite longbows lounge lazily within the walls here.
One of them makes noises that sounds awful. While grabbing for their weapons.
Round 1
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Ahmose Subtlety Jones smartly salutes Sir Tandyn as the Trio of Robinhoods are sighted.
Allow me to show you good Sir Tandyn. Operation Magnet is in effect.
The Alchemist then lazily Strides through the chamber (provoking from each), sticking his reptilian tongue out at each asshat cultist he passes to stand by the Black Asshat cultist.
The Blue-scaled Kobold lazily (but swiftly) takes out his Scale and reaches out to caress the Black Asshat Cultist!
Frigid Touch
Aroden moves into the room and uses Total Defense (AC 24).
He couldn't use Inspiring Sword from where he was and still affect those in the room, and he isn't sure that his spells are needed just yet.
Thawm makes awful noises, but doesn't seem to notice how awful they are.
Dorek rushes forward as he spots the three soldiers, snarling a reply in the same guttural tongue as he slashes at one of the demonic warriors.
Nurah tells a joke while holding a tiny tart in her hand, "A Sergeant was addressing a squad of 25 and said: "I have a nice easy job for the laziest man here.
Put up your hand if you are the laziest."
24 men raised their hands, and the sergeant asked the other man "why didn't you raise your hand?"
The man replied: "Too much trouble raising the hand, Sarge.""
She tosses the tart at the nearest soldier and despite the corniness, the soldier starts uncontrollably laughing.
Ahmose advances forward touching one of the soldiers and chilling them slightly.
Dorek also enters the room taking advantage of their slow reflexes.
Both Ahmose and Dorek are overcome with a feeling of contempt for the rest of the party, tiny insults seem to loom large in their minds, minor suspicions leap to the forefront.
The two unamused soldiers, lazily swing their double swords at Ahmose, and the slow blade penetrates his shields.
As the blades strike Ahmose he feels his contempt grow.
Round 1
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Round 2
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"Hide, I don't know. Dragons are proud of their hoards and do like to show off. But protect, certainly."
"Please forgive my ignorance, Baroness. What I know of dragons comes largely from Iomedaean histories, one large training dummy, bar songs, and... well... toys. Given our circumstances, I should probably know more. Would you mind showing me a thing or two?"
Pretend your pretty armor is a magnet.
Allow me to show you good Sir Tandyn. Operation Magnet is in effect.
"Ooh ouch!" Tandyn moves toward the fray taking a position to assist Dorek. "Yes, you certainly attracted their blades... just like a magnet. Quite valiant Ahmose. Alright, what am I learning here? Is there a 'Step 2?' Oh and why on Golarion are you all talking like that?"
Oh that's not good..."
Ahmose's blue eyes look at Sir Tandyn with contemptuous cause!
The bleeding blood pouring out of his two(!) new asshat cultist strikes!
This is not how it was drawn up!
The Blue-scaled Kobold seems confused....
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"Oh and why on Golarion are you all talking like that?"
Dorek's crimson eye narrows, and he sneers at the aasimar paladin, his scorpion tail lashing in agitation. "Oh, of c-course the high-and-mighty Iomedaean wouldn't b-bother to learn the language of his enemies!" The lanky tiefling begins stabbing at the laughing soldier in front of him, his blades at the ready to deflect any of the cultist warrior's desperate strikes. "It's n-not as if anyone ever l-learned anything from spying on their foes - though you wouldn't k-know with that p-pot-metal noisemaker you wear!"
Cecily lopes up to one of the men with strange swords.
As she moves up to the man, something in Dorek's words really grates on her. And Ahmose over there running in so stupidly just to get his tiny self stabbed, why should she try to help him out at all when he's getting himself in trouble?
"Why are you guys...?"
The Thoxels must be starting to steal their minds or something! Thawm thinks to herself before casting Suppress Charms and Compulsions on Cecily and Dorek.
If Ahmose is misbehaving also, it's less obvious...
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"What do you think you're doing, trollop?!"
"Hey! I know that word! That's a mean word!" Thawm replies.
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"Children..."
Aroden takes a step forward and calls forth his holy power.
Ahmose decides to take out his aggressive instincts on the Red pants wearing asshat cultist!
Red. Good choice.
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Dorek blinks as the blue-haired aasimar's spell settles over him, scowling at Thawm. "W-watch where you're throwing those s-spells, you crazy b-bird-lady!" The lanky tiefling blinks again, shaking his head to clear it. "W-what was that one supposed to do, anyway, control my t-thoughts?"
At Cecily's retort in Abyssal, he glares at the other tiefling, replying in the same tongue.
His lambent gaze shifts to Tandyn, suspicious.
Dorek and Tandyn seem to be out of synch, their normally complementary styles of combat now working at odds rather than assisting. Dorek finds it hard to find an opening to strike at the demon’s vitals as it curls up into a fetal position still laughing uncontrollably, but strike he does still, ending the disguised demon's existence.
Cecily channels her annoyance at Dorek into a devastating punch against another demon soldier, its once lazy appearance shrinks back as she drives terror into it.
Ahmose flashes his claws, unfortunately for our Caydenite, he only manages to taste foul flesh as he bites a weak spot, the claws unable find purchase through layers of metal.
Nurah advances again, humoring another demon to no effect.
Now with fear in their heart the demons hesitate when harming the charming young kobold, allowing him to live at least one more day. One speaks in a howling menace,
Round 2
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Round 3
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Cecily's annoyance flashes further as the demon retreats but she smiles ferally when she sees it's backing up against a piller as legs flashes toward him with every intention of driving him violently into the pillar.
Ahmose Subtlety Jones absently Steps closer to the Black pants wearing asshat cultist. His reptilian head turned towards Cecily.
The Alchemist then turns his full attention on Black!
Aroden moves up and readies to strike the first demon that is adjacent (his move can't quite get him to Black, and I think Red is down by now).
His godly will is up to the challenge.
Then, he strikes.
"Crazy bird lady? Are you on about the eagle? You're lucky I'm blaming the demons for that!"
Thawm explains as she heads in and lobs acid at the Thoxel next to Ahmose.
"Oh, of c-course the high-and-mighty Iomedaean wouldn't b-bother to learn the language of his enemies! It's n-not as if anyone ever l-learned anything from spying on their foes - though you wouldn't k-know with that p-pot-metal noisemaker you wear!"
Tandyn nods. "Thoxel disrespect... Don't worry Dorek, it's temporary. Though if these are your thoughts, we may want to discuss them when you've recovered."
"What do you think you're doing, trollop?!"
"Children..."
Tandyn looks quickly between his companions with growing concern. "Heavens help us, how can it spread so quickly..."
"Enough of this! We've worked hard to build our team. It kept us alive under Kenabres and continues to be the source of our strength. How dare you try to pull us apart!" The paladin rushes up next to Ahmose and gives him a discreet nod. "Great dodging that time... Radiance sweeps a wide arc and slams into the Thoxel.
With another devastating punch and a practiced sword thrust the remaining demons are quickly dispatched before they can make their retreat. The feelings brought to the surface slowly fade back to the background.
"Thoxel disrespect... Don't worry Dorek, it's temporary. Though if these are your thoughts, we may want to discuss them when you've recovered."
Dorek doesn't calm down as the last demon falls, keeping his blades at the ready as he turns to Tandyn. "You c-can't fool me - you're trying to k-kill me, aren't you?" The spindly tiefling falters, shaking his head to clear it. "...Are you? I c-can't think, Tandyn, I... ah, c-crivens!"
Coming to his senses, he drops his blades, sitting down on one of the decapitated demon corpses like a bench as he buries his head in his talons. "I'm s-sorry about that, Tandyn - and T-thawm, too. Those d-damned demons must have gotten to me - you k-know I've always been a bit of a daftie. It was like w-words in my head, mine but n-not mine." He ducks his head self-consciously, glancing between the members of his party. "I d-didn't mean what I said... not r-really, anyway."
Cecily blinks a few times as she calms down, micro-shakes her head to clear it, glances a slightly suspicious look at Thawm and Dorek, and just emits a small "Hmph."
The Blue-scaled Kobold seems to have enjoyed the change of emotions, if only for a temporary entertainment enterprise.....
Everyone did great! It's better to express one's feelings so they don't become infected. Lesson of the Worldwound.