Crystal recovers enough from the poison to zip through the barrier and cut down the yellow assassin. Yuki weaves her magic around Kimmich.
~+~Combat Round 4~+~
Kimmich (-44)
Sister Dianora (+15 temp HP)
Sister Maeri (Black) (-36)
Orange (-70, frightened 1)
Gray (-140)
Crystal (-142, sickened 1-DC 37; blisterwort stage 2)
Yuki (-38)
Yellow
"I'm actually a little embarrassed that we even worship the same god. Have you thought about not being awful, so he might not have to hide his head in shame," Dianora says as she backs up a few steps and then leaps up and over the gap, and Maeri's protection spell.
She drives both blades into her fellow priestess.
"Our god likes us more it seems... I guess we should stop playing with our prey."
Kimmich grunts at Yuki's observation as he feels his heels grow light. "Time for His work then," he says as he leaps into flight.
Kimmich rises through the air through the blade barrier until he lands on the rooftop, pinning the Sister Maeri between him and Dianora. His blade weaves, seeking blood.
"He Who Walks In Blood would walk beside you, sister Maeri." Then, his other saber away, he draws the adamantine cleaver, fighting in a modified version of the traditional mantis style.
Dianora and Kimmich pass through the barrier (the later with a spray of blood), and attack the priestess.
As Kimmich misses with his last attack, she shifts out of the way, her form blurry.
She points her sword at Dianora, her rival cleric, "You're no true Mantises. You cut down a rightful ruler," Sister Maeri hisses at you as she casts a spell.
She slashs out at Dianora, fell magic still lingering on her blade!
for and
Despite running out of poison, the remaining assassins still pepper Yuki with shuriken.
Orange vs Yuki
for
for
for
Gray vs Yuki
for
for
for
[ooc]Before Your Turn: DC 37 Fortitude saves from everyone. Don't forget she is concealed! (DC 5 flat check to target.)
~+~Combat Round 4~+~
Kimmich (-138)
Sister Dianora (+15 temp HP)
Sister Maeri (Black) (-103, concealed)
Orange (-70, frightened 1)
Gray (-140)
Crystal (-142, sickened 1-DC 37; blisterwort stage 2)
Yuki (-65)
~+~Combat Round 5~+~
Kimmich (-44)
Sister Dianora (+15 temp HP)
Yuki looks to the assassins on the minaret. ”Don’t go anywhere I will be with you in a moment, I do apologize for the delay.”
Is blowing a taunting kiss to orange and grey a free action?
Yuki takes full damage but regents 15 now (-76)
ugh, back down to 3 again.
I'll take it...
"Do you always believe what you're told? Trust me, Maeri that man was a tyrant and no rightful ruler, by any means. None of his emissaries even wanted to even stand with him. But I shouldn't expect someone supporting a coup to understand the difference, so I suppose we'll have to teach you, violently, which of us here is truly in the Red Mantis' favor."
Crystal smirks as she finally steps up next to Maeri and looks to Kimmich and Dianora. "Alright, then. Let's dance, shall we?"
vs OG Maeri (thanks to Gang Up)
vs OG Maeri
vs OG Maeri
HP 175/203
AC 36, void resistance 5
Fort +27 (fifth doctrine), Ref +26, Will +28 (resolute faith)
Hero points: 2
Focus Points: 1/1
Spells: Cantrips: daze, detect magic, guidance, message, void warp; 1st: bless [] protection [] sure strike []; 2nd invisibility [] see the unseen [] sure footing []; 3rd cleanse affliction [] heroism [][]; 4th invisibility [] unfettered movement [] vision of death []; 5th heal [][] summon dragon [x]; 6th heal [][] vision of death []; 7th energy aegis [] execute [] heal []; 8th divine inspiration [] spiritual epidemic []
Divine Font (8th rank): Harm [][][][][][]
Effects: Enfeebled 2, 1 minute
Dianora winces as the spell finally hits her, and she has a moment of doubt. Did they really kill a rightful ruler? No, Achaekek clearly wouldn't still be answering her prayers if they had.
She steps a little closer to her companions and slashes with her swords.
In position as he is, Kimmich has no reason to do anything except the Mantis God's will. Issuing his terse, effective directions to his fellow assassins, Kimmich loses himself to the spell of the weaving weaponry.
It's a real flurry of blades! Crystalmisses her attacks, but sets up her team for solid hits from Sister Dianora and Kimmich. Yuki infuses Crystal with healing energy. Poison ticks away!
Does Maeri's concealment help her? (DC 5)
No.
A wave of void energy waves off Sister Maeri as she calls on Achaekek's power.
The remaining assassins focus their attacks on Yuki, hoping to cut off her heals!
for
for
for
~+~Combat Round 5~+~
Kimmich (-159)
Sister Dianora (-27, enfeebled 2)
Sister Maeri (Black) (-162)
Orange (-70, frightened 1)
Gray (-140)
Crystal (-116, sickened 1-DC 37; blisterwort stage 3)
Yuki (-118, enfeebled 2)
~+~Combat Round 6~+~
Kimmich (-159)
Sister Dianora (-27, enfeebled 2)
Map
Yuki continues to avoid being hit by the shuriken!
Yuki regenerates 7
Fail
Yuki touches grey, drawing out their blood.
Yuki will take half the damage grey takes as temp HP
Picks up kimmich’s sword
Strides away to make them work for it if they are still standing!
Kimmich spits blood as Maeri's attack washes over him, but he can feel that it was a glancing blow, magically speaking. "Your powers feel weaker, Maeri. Can you feel our lord withdrawing his favor from you as I withdraw your blood from you?"
Kimmich's modified fighting form keeps him focused on his moves as he tries to break Maeri's defenses. He mutters a quick prayer to the Mantis God as he sees Yuki rescue Soulsaw from where he was forced to leave it.
Crystal curses under her breath at her flurry of missed attacks. "Okay... once more with feeling then..." And aims directly to cut across Maeri's neck with no hesistation
vs Maeri OG
Then she twists her blade against Maeri's artery causing her to bleed profusely, inflicting persistent bleed 3 before following up with 2 more attacks.
vs Maeri OG
vs Maeri OG
vs Maeri OG
Yuki removes the remaining life force from the assassin foolish enough to tangle with her, then Kimmich and Crystal shred Sister Maeri. You strike down the remaining assassin with no difficulty.
Crystal survives the poison.
Examining the sister reveals some magical equipment (greater boots of bounding, +2 greater striking sawtooth saber) A full brace of shuriken (5 with blisterwort poison), a creased letter, and a copy of Sisters in Serenity.
The letter is from someone called Mantis Keeper and notes that the writer of the letter will send word if they or their “watchful eyes” spot a group fitting your description entering the city by land.
In examining the copy of Sisters in Serenity, it appears identical to the first book you found, but you astutely notice unusual indentations in the book’s margins; close examination reveals these indentations are in fact faint marks left behind by a quill used to scribe additional glosses to the text in alchemically invisible ink.
"This is a lovely hospice all covered with blood, but we should probably set sail back to our inn before the storm blows in," Dianora suggests, quickly stripping the items -- including the religious symbols -- from the other "assassins." She leaves them all naked on the roof of the shrine.
"I hope they don't start to smell bad too quickly," she says. "That would really stink."
Crystal wipes the blistering pus from her skin. "Yes, I still feel quite a disaster after all that. Give me a moment though, I might be able to solve this letter puzzle before we go. Cover me for just a few minutes."
Crystal starts pulling a few vials from her pouch and mixing with inks from some of the desks in the study room and starts to heat them over a very low fire as she searches for a cloth or paintbrush. After a long set of minutes she paints it over the paper and holds it over a candle light for the rest to view. [b]" had a feeling. Something about the paper smelled off to me, it reminded me of a citrus ink compound I once learned about in my studies ages ago.
Kimmich shakes his head sadly at the sawblade. "Not even enough pride to enchant it," he mutters. He does take the poisoned shuriken, carefully replacing some of the many that he threw before he recalls the remainder to the enchanted bandolier.
Yuki searches her memories for who this Mantis Speaker could be.
It is on the tip of her tongue but just out of reach.
Once they have retreated safely to the inn, Yuki begins thinking about what they have uncovered.
”I guess we need to figure out who this Mantis Speaker is and then maybe go ask them a few questions? The dock master’s ledger and the invisible notes in the priestess’s book are a start, but we will need more hard evidence to bring to the Venari.”
Evidence pts 2!
Dianora agrees. "The name doesn't ring a bell -- it would be nice if it did, since then it would probably be very easy to find, what with all the wandering through the city with a bell -- but maybe we can pick up some rumors."
The following morning after they have recovered from their battle, yuki heads out to see if anyone can share who this mantis speaker may be. She works with Dianora to gather some information around town.
Crystal gets up in the morning after a long soothing rinse in soothing aloe water to heal up all the lingering blisters on her skin and keep them from leaving lasting scars, she certainly doesn't need anymore of those.
She makes kissy motions at the air with her nice reapplied lip gloss and pulls up her scarf to head out. "Alright then, I'll see if I can find some lose lips about the Mantis Speaker as well, myself."
Kimmich spends the morning meditating and ruminating on any neglected thoughts that might show the path to this Mantis Speaker.
Then he goes about threatening the local underworld in hopes of finding some more discrete connections to the Mantis Speaker.
You rest up and begin to follow the lead about Mantis Speaker.
You find the information you are looking for, but Yuki gets the feeling that she is being watched as she chats her way through the marketplaces of Ilizmagorti.
Mantis Speaker is a mysterious druid who acts as caretaker to the strange Mantis Stones in the jungle just west of Rivergreen. These ancient menhirs were raised centuries ago when the Red Mantis first came to Mediogalti. Other menhirs linked to different forms of native life are hidden throughout the jungle, but these stones, associated with mantises, are the most important to the assassins and thus were built closest to the site where Ilizmagorti had recently been founded. The stones absorb latent primal energies from their surroundings, the passage of the sun and moon, and the shifting of seasons, storing up magic to grant the druids of Achaekek who dwell on the island unique powers of their own.
You are able to find directions to the Mantis Stones, which stand a short walk into the jungle.
The jungle opens to a large clearing. A set of four twenty-foot-tall roughly hewn stones loom in a diamond pattern, each of which is adorned with carved symbols and thick coils of vines. At the center of the stones stands a flat-topped boulder, low to the ground and covered in bloodstains.
A fungus leshy stands on the southern menhir, attended by two giant mantises.
"So," the leshy says, "Strange visitors. Tell me: What have you done to deserve their status as fugitives from the Mantis? Blood Mistress Jakalyn will not suffer betrayal, you know!"
It seems you have a chance to explain yourself, if you wish.
Dianora pauses. She opens her mouth and starts to speak, and then pauses again. "I didn't know there were any leshy Red Mantis assassins," she finally murmurs.
"We became fugitives not because we betrayed Blood Mistress Jakalyn, but rather because we are loyal to her. Those who aren't have stirred up all sorts of sentiment against us. Maybe some sediment, too, but mostly the sentiment."
Yuki attempts to notice who may be watching and ditch her tail.
Upon returning to the inn she lets her companions know about her being watched.
Yuki nods respectfully to the Leshy.
”She speaks true, it is in fact our loyalty to the Blood Mistress that we find ourselves sticking to the shadows within shadows. But we are faithful servants of the Mantis. And, if we must play this part a bit longer to uncover the true villain than we will. I for one will not rest until they are found.”
"Hmm. I believe that you think you are loyal. Who could be planning such a thing, and what makes you suspect this treachery?"
"Well we have already found multiple points of evidence that show a coup is in the plans. At least two others of great importance here on the island have proven themselves to be interested in removing the Blood Mistress herself. We're trying to stop them, so it's no surprise they would try to label us fugitives to protect themselves."
"Yes, and she means coup in a bad way, like the Galtans, not like a cooing birdie." Dianora agrees.
Yuki helps Crystal with the presentation of evidence they have found so far. ”Unfortunately, it seems this conspiracy goes quite deep. They have managed to corrupt even the system that assigns us our missions. And now have those who lust after power twisting under them serving their corrupt plans. We may be assassins that work in the shadows, but this is too far. How many other good assassins have been sent to their demise? We must uncover the truth to protect all of us.”
"A conspiracy? I thought that something like that might be happening...It was an odd request to watch out for you." The leshy muses. "I usually try to stay out of Citadel politics."
"Me as well," the orc chimes in. "Though this coup feels like a blessing from Achaekek for giving me foes worthy of my Red Mantis assassin's skills... Shame about all their heresy though."
"See, I try to keep up to date on the politics around especially in so far as they concern me. At the moment you were on the top of our list in terms of people involved in the conspiracy, but perhaps it seems you were deceived just as well. Let me explain to you the details of our mission that was supposedly so heretical, it was very much so a fully stamped and supposedly vetted mission that we undertook, put together to frame us so that Jakalyn's support could dwindle away. Along with several other groups of her best."
Crystal carefully walks through the details of their mission and the contract specifically set up to destroy the reputation of anyone set upon it.
"I don't know about all that," the leshy shrugs. "The master reaps whether Jakalyn is in charge or not, but she has been good to me and ensured the survival of my Stones."
"You have convinced me that there is some sort of conspiracy occuring, here. If you want to present your case to the Vernai, I will stand by your side as witness and testify to the strange requests that I have recieved."
"My contact in the city is the Riot Twins, brothers Shirota and Zaiho. I don't know much about them, nor do I care to, other than that my mantises typically found them in the marketplace of southern Mainmast."
The leshy bids you good day, though lingers a moment to see if you have any questions.
"I don't know about all that," the leshy shrugs. "The master reaps whether Jakalyn is in charge or not, but she has been good to me and ensured the survival of my Stones."
"You have convinced me that there is some sort of conspiracy occuring, here. If you want to present your case to the Vernai, I will stand by your side as witness and testify to the strange requests that I have recieved."
"My contact in the city is the Riot Twins, brothers Shirota and Zaiho. I don't know much about them, nor do I care to, other than that my mantises typically found them in the marketplace of southern Mainmast."
The leshy bids you good day, though lingers a moment to see if you have any questions.
Yuki would only ask if the Twins are the ones who asked her to keep an eye out for us. And then would thank her for giving us a chance to prove our loyalty.
"They sound like they're fun at parties. A real riot..." Dianora murmurs. She has no further questions for the leshy.
"Right then. I am glad you understand, and we shall call upon you when the time comes. Give me a moment if you don't wish to know more of them." She shuffles her companions just out of earshot of the leshy for a brief moment.
"I've heard of the twins, they're merchants. Real ones not merely false ones for a cover story like myself. Often seen at the Jade Monkey tea house. That may have to be our next location of interest..."
Kimmich calmly takes in all the information, nodding stoically at the intel. "I could go for some tea," he states.
After politely taking her leave from the Mantis Speaker Yuki joins her companions. ”I could go for a spot of tea myself. Shall we give the place a look and then invite ourselves in for a cup? Perhaps we can ask around first but I think people are starting to suspect we are here…”
The Jade Monkey is a Quain-style tea house that features traditional architecture and furnishings with an exciting red varnish finish on the floors and walls, helping the black tables and chairs to “pop.” The tea house’s larger western room features a small stage for local performers to entertain the assembled guests, while an outside boardwalk allows visitors to enjoy the relaxing sounds of the harbor below.
A bustling trade is going on in the tea house, from what you can see, with patrons coming and going across the bridge that leads to the establishment. A few groups are seated at the outside tables that line the boardwalk.
"Perhaps we send one of your scouting eyes to make sure someone's not planning another ambush," Dianora suggests. "I would hate to have to spill a bunch of blood over another fine Ilizmagorti establishment. Though at least here it would blend right into the floor."
Yuki finds somewhere out of the way to sit down and casts scouting eye to recon the tea house.
Yuki's scouting eye attracts no attention in the busy tea house. There is a crowd of people who appear to be meeting with clients, eating, working on new architectural or mechanical designs, drinking, discussing alchemical and mechanical theory, or simply relaxing.
Among these patrons circulate two flashy figures that must be the Riot Brothers: one in a blue tunic speckled with small burn marks, and one in more utilitarian dress with a strange weapon at his side. (It appears to be some sort of swordgun!)
"If only we had a dragon to clear everyone out," Dianora says with a shrug. "But I'm sure we could get them to run quickly if we have to fight again. Or cut them down, I guess."
"Yes I find myself weary of attracting more attention than needed these days but I also don't know when these guys would be alone otherwise..."
"Then maybe we don't enter by the front door... At least, not all of us. Try to surprise them," Kimmich says.
”Yeah, maybe two by two? Two enter through the front and two more discreetly to have their backs?”
"Sure, that works. Kimmich and I will wait out here, so we can swoop in at the end and be big assassin heroes if anything goes wrong. And that way I don't need to drink any of the brown water." She shudders theatrically.
Yuki enters the tea house and finds a table suitable for her and Crystal. One where they can watch the room and their companions can keep tabs on them. Playing the part of patrons who perhaps warrant the proprietors stopping by to say hello.
”Good day my dear. This is quite a lovely place. I’d like the house tea for me and my friend here, I hear it is quite good and you don want to spill a drop. But perhaps the brothers would be interested in the spilling of someone else’s tea?”