Orchid is still glowering at the twitching bird corpse when Vigny points out the other sentry but when told she drops to the floor immediately to try and avoid notice. Unable to speak with her wolf's head in full force she simply glowers at the bird and then turns to the other two women with a questioning look.
"Let's get everyone up here, then we'll sneak around and try to close the gap as much as we can before having to charge."
"This is going really well so far. If we can keep taking them down one by one it promotes our good health and longevity."
Vigny's voice hints at the last piece being a joke, but also not a joke.
Once Cailyn and Flori have ascended to the top of the wall, the group moves around staying low below the merlons in an attempt to take the corby by surprise. Unfortunately, it turns just as you come within range. Perhaps hearing the sound of boots on stone or maybe the shush-shush of cloth on leather, but in any case, it's aware of you.
Combat Begins!
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Round 1
Orchid whirls around and lets out a howling cry that ruins any pretense at stealth for her, or the large bird she seems to be howling at!
Flori starts chanting a familiar spell.
While Flori begins her spell of summoning the dire corbies literaly leap into the fray with screeching and squawking. Orchid manages to avoid the slashing talons, but Cailyn takes a nasty cut to the face.
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Blocked by Orchid, Shunsen decided to take the initiative. With careful timing, she slides up beside Orchid, back-to-back, and stepping up onto the nearby parapet, launches herself over the head of the astonished Corbie....
... landing behind the bird creature, lashing out with her weapon as soon as she hits solid ground!
Orchid almost lashes out as Shunsen comes up right behind her, but manages to focus on what really matters. The birds!
"Oh, more cor--!!! F&++! You You You rancid pile of greasy pillow stuffing!" the noble woman loses all polite conversational skills as her face is sliced open and pain tears through her. Her intelligence would have told her to withdraw away from this talon miscreant, and her sense of duty would have told her intelligence No since Flori was standing right behind her.
But in truth neither voices were present, instead she was just pissed and wanted this a!+*%%* dead. So she raised her loaded crossbow and fired into his body at point blank range.
When Vigny realizes there's also a corby to their backs, she has no choice but to try the same stunt as Shunsen. She works her way past Flori and Cailyn, then weaves past the corby. Once she's on the other side and in the open, Vigny hacks at the corby
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Mid-way through her incantation Flori sees Cailyn fire viciously into the corby's face and Vigny nearly sever a limb with a mighty sword blow so she spins on her heel and finishes her incantation.
With a flash of light and the sound of heavenly choirs a mighty dawn-emblazoned champion of the heavens appears to smite the foe!
Unfortunately the trap-door it appeared on buckles and the celestial pony stumbles badly. But it looks cute doing so!
Flori meanwhile tries to catch her breath from the summoning spell and flicks a ball of acid, reverting to simpler spells while she recovers.
With the northern corby flanked by the distracting rogue, Orchid pulls feathers from it with slashes from her own claws. The southern one is both pinioned by Cailyn's enspelled crossbow and Vigny's blade, but it stays just barely on its feet, staggering.
Round 2
Flori's pony appears with a crunch of wooden trapdoor. The mage sends sizzling acid to accompanying it to the scent of burning feathers.
Demonstrating that the dire corbies are focused, if not too bright, the vicious avian-humanoids continue to engage with their original targets. Orchid easily avoids filthy claws, but Cailyn isn't quite as lucky and receives another slash for her efforts.
Orchid continues slashing, carving the bird in front of her into small drumsticks.
Vigny presses her attack, hoping to either draw the corby's attention off Cailyn and to herself or better, to kill it outright.
Orchid renders her opponent into bite-sized chunks and Vigny does the same for the one that's fixated on Cailyn.
Combat Ends!
The bright rage in Cailyn's eyes is accompanied by heavy panting as she watches the villain fall. Looking up at Vigny, the emotion drains and is replaced with acknowledgement "Front line activities are..." her hand hovers up to the rip in her cheek, ignoring the gasp on her shoulder "... bad for the skin, I am guessing." the hesitant smile makes her wince.
Having effectively dismembered her foe Orchid's rage seems to subside somewhat - possibly helped by the presence of an awesome pony and her features move smoothly back to normal as she approaches to rub the ponies nose, seemingly communicating with it in some subtle, non-verbal fashion.
Once the horse disappears in a cloud of sparkling light Orchid scans the empty courtyard below and then continues onward around the wall, heading for the doors that can be seen in the keep.
Flori goes to call Orchid back but thinks better of it. She unfortunately does not have a better plan herself since they have no way of learning more about this location and therefore follows along behind.
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Orchid heads off around the wall towards the tower on the northern side of the keep followed by Flori and the others.
On the roof of the stone building at the base of the tower, you pass an ancient-looking catapult that sits hunkered down as if trying to hide from the rain that's beginning to fall in earnest. Moss grows on the catapult's ropes and on the four round boulders sitting nearby.
Approaching the door into the tower, Orchid quickly determines that the sturdy looking portal is locked. Cailyn notices that the pattern worked into the metal plate around the keyhole - a spiraling knot - matches the key that you discovered at the ruins of the lighthouse. The key is quickly produced, inserted, and with a bit of protest and a groan of rusted metal the door is unlocked.
Opening the door and stepping inside reveals a round chamber with two staircases - one descending to the first floor and the other climbing further up the tower. There is also a door in the southeast corner of the room. The furniture here - couches, drawing tables, and empty bookshelves - lie in disarray, with the exception of one writing desk and chair in the center of the room, its surface heaped with pages of parchment and paper.
The pages are covered with dense scribblings and revisions in messy Tien writing.
Orchid glances at the pages, dismisses them almost at once and then heads for the stairs leading upwards - showing the hunter's appreciation for the higher ground!
Flori starts leafing through the papers but frowns when she doesn't recognise the writing. Then Orchid starts haring off again and the wizard spends a long moment looking between the writing and her sister. She has a hunch that the writing is important somehow, but it will likely still be here in a minute. Orchid won't.
So she sighs (very quietly so sharp-eared wolf girls don't hear) and follows Orchid up the stairs.
"She'll leave us behind if we don't go." She says to Caitlyn as she goes.
Climbing the stairs leads to the top floor of the tower. The walls of the semicircular room are lined with bookshelves, although the majority of the books lie in disorganized piles on the floor. A large filthy nest of grass, branches, and strips of cloth is tucked in the northeastern corner of the room, while a wooden door sits in the wall to the northwest.
The room is not empty.
Rising from the nest is a feathered woman. Her upper form is winged and her face is wild looking. Her legs are bare other than the few feathers that grow thicker down to her taloned feet.
She spreads her hands wide and lowers her head, assuming what appears to be a submissive posture.
Orchid recognises the woman's kind and morphs almost on instinct but when she bows, presenting her neck, Orchid's predatory instincts pull her to a halt.
Submits. Knows place. Let speak. She decides, feeling... happy? Proud? At the show of deference. So she steps aside and lets the others forward to do the talking while she waits to one side, ready to pounce if needed.
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Cailyn presses close to Flori's side to read the papers, but can only tell her "It's Tien, but the handwriting is so horrible I am having trouble following it." and then sighs along with her friend as scholarship is ignored by the brawny.
"Um... hello?" Cailyn says as Orchid does something so Orchid like Cailyn is left befuddled.
The bird-woman looks from Orchid to Cailyn as if trying to determine who's in charge. She opens her mouth silently and then gestures at her throat before shaking her head. Having made up her mind, she takes a half-step closer to the half-elf and holds out her hand as if to touch Cailyn's but stops short, raising her eyebrows as if seeking permission.
It is easy enough to understand what the lovely bird woman wants, though the exact result is unknown. And sense should suggest turning around and letting the marshals end yet another threat before her own face is ripped open again.
But...
Cailyn has always been curious, so so so curious. Bright eyes grow wide with wonder about 'What could be next' and she quickly nods her head.
At Cailyn's nod, the woman reaches enough to touch the half-elf's hand. There's a tingle at the contact before Cailyn' hears a voice in her head that is decidedly not her own.
Cailyn practically beams from every pore of her body as the woman's voice tingle through her skull. "Yes!" a quick eager agreement before embarrassment takes hold enough for her to clarify "I mean, I'd love to hear your story but one moment." she looks away from the wild looking face and then to the others "Her name is Zaiobe, she speaks mentally and is willing to tell us her story and help us defeat the one that rules here. I'll translate..." then she looks back to Zaiobe "Ready!"
Cailyn translates ...
"When I was young, I found a strange statue in a high cave in mountains far from here. I have no memories of before then. Since then I have been gaining magical abilities and have felt an overwhelming urge to fly south and find other shrines to my god. I'm unsure as to why, but I have no doubt that's why they took away my voice. When I reached here I was accepted into Kikonu's growing retinue of slaves. Lately, he's been using me in ways that I don't wish to speak of. Please, you must break his hold here so I can be free."
She intones words of magic and then reaches out to Cailyn's injured face.
"I have skills that I can trade and if you need ... if you want ..." her eyes drop to the floor. "I have many ... skills. All I ask is that you kill Kikonu. If we go out to the courtyard, I can lure him there and he will come. You will have the advantage. I will be in your debt."
The pain Cailyn was doing her ever best to ignore was washed away with a single touch "Oh he Will die" the certainty in her voice was hot ice "Help us, and we'll help you, a fair trade." the merchant in her wants to pull for more, but she stifles it. "Um... if I could ask... what is the name of your god?" discussing religion didn't always go well, hence her hesitation.
Orchid nods her wolf-like head once the situation is explained. She has no issue with killing a bird man and one who keeps slaves is even worse! Having grown up on the roads the prospect of imprisonment is anathema and her wolf calls out to hurt anyone who would keep her locked up. It sounds like this Kikooky would - so he dies.
Orchid grins, a terrifying expression from a wolfs muzzle.
The bird-woman turns away at Cailyn's question.
Shunsen listens to the bird lady's story, inwardly seething at anyone or any things treatment like that. She nods her acceptance, "this tengu will get what's deserved ..."
"She'll leave us behind if we don't go." She says to Caitlyn as she goes.
Vigny doesn't hurry along. Her patience is beginning to wear thin. When she hears Flori she's unmoved.
No skin off my nose. Orchid's bird-dogging just to be bird-dogging all the time is about as dumb as it gets. A little bit of lesson learned might do Orchid some good. Better than all of us learning a lesson about not coddling bad habits that put us in danger.
Vigny can't read the writing on the papers, but she does recognize Tian writing when she sees it and figures it shouldn't be too hard to find someone who can read it. She gathers the papers and stuffs them into her pack.
Vigny arrives due time and sees the bird-themed castle occupation remains an unbroken trend. She leans against the doorway frame and listens.
"Sure, sounds like a good deal. I'm in."
She asks a couple of questions for Cailyn to pass on to Zaiobe.
"Ask her if she knows what happened to the people who came in the boat down at the pier. Also, does she have a plan in mind, or do we still need to work that out?"
Cailyn's eyes gleam, not widen. A clear sign that she is not judging the choice of goddess, simply adding that to the story. She nods in response showing she will keep it secret.
Cailyn thinks Zaiobe can hear them all perfectly fine, just cannot respond, but something about repeating the questions makes it seem that the conversation is between the two of them alone, so she does.
In response to Vigny's question, Zaiobe explains that a boat with fierce-looking warriors docked about a week ago. Unfortunately for them, a sea drake that had made the bay its home took offense at their presence and a battle commenced. The sea drake received a mortal wound, but there was only one survivor of the ship's crew - a blonde-haired woman. Even with the complete loss of her companions, she ventured forth to explore the castle only to be captured by Kikonu's dire corbies. Zaiobe believes that the woman is being tortured somewhere below the castle.
Zaiobe's plan for Kikonu is simple. She'll lure him to the courtyard where the party can lie in wait to ambush him. She'll assist from above with her bow.
"Cailyn, can you ask her why everybody is so keen to come to this place? What power does it hold?" Flori asks. She is not sure it does indeed hold any power but with Ameiko's woes, she can't help but question what else is happening here.
"Do we tell her why we are here?" She adds, almost whispering.
Cailyn relays everything Zaiobe tells her the people on the boat and the lone survivor, also about her suggestion on the plan. "Is there anything special about this place?" she adds to the questions Flori asked.
Zaiobe shrugs her wings.
"I don't know why people come here. I only know why I came here. Now I wish to leave. My pilgrimage doesn't end here."
Shunsen ponders the plan , then asks "How many corbies are left....we killed four so far....
Zaiobe doesn't know exactly how many dire corbies Kikonu has in his flock, but if you've killed four then that would leave probably a half-dozen or so.
What about any others who might be alerted and come to help him? The courtyard is the worst place to be here for drawing attention. Very much a be seen but can't see anything ourselves kind of situation."
According to the harpy, most of Kikonu's thralls are rather lazy and avoid work - and going outside - as much as possible. The dire corbies only patrol the walls when prompted.
She's reasonably confident based on past behavior that he'll come alone and won't want others watching.
It's an awful lot of trust to extend to someone they've just met in the lair of someone who seems pretty bad. Vigny isn't willing to weigh in any more until she hears what the others are thinking.
Orchid is becoming visibly more impatient as discussions and objections are raised.
"Need hurry." She says, managing not to growl. Just. "Plan good. She lie. Kill. Not lie. Win. Easy."
Cailyn tsks at the Kill part, but inwardly accepts that this story could go many different ways. To Zaiobe, she pats the hand "The bad bird man will die." a truth no matter how one looks at it, unless Kikonu is a powerful necromancer that is.
With the consensus to follow Zaiobe's plan for now, the harpy leads you back downstairs and then out onto the castle's walls. The rain is still falling heavy as she directs that most of the group should wait down in the courtyard just around the corner from the main doors. She's confident that that's where Kikonu will make his appearance. She keeps Cailyn by her side on the wall near the catapult so she'll still be able to communicate with the rest of you.
Once you've taken your positions and made your preparations, Zaiobe closes her eyes. It's only two or three minutes later and one of the main doors to the castle creaks open. A wild eyed Tian man with a bristly goatee, deep red skin, and a prodigious nose steps out into the courtyard. Garbed in colorful silks and glittering jewelry, he gazes around the courtyard.
"Oh where, oh where is my disobedient slattern?" he calls out in a sing-song voice. "If you're looking to regain my favor, my dear Zaiobe, then you must have something to offer in return."
Cailyn feels the harpy tense next to her.
"Oh what rude language! Surely you don't think to retake your place in my grace by playing the role of the injured princess? It doesn't suit you. There's more of the doxy than the diva in you." The man laughs derisively.
"Now! Attack him now! Cailyn hears in her mind.
Expecting a tough fight, Vigny preps when they're in place for the showdown. She casts Bless on the entire party and Protection from Evil on herself. She also empowers her sword, which begins to glow a soft golden-yellow.
The instant she gets the word from Cailyn, Vigny bolts out toward the red man. She practically runs him down, cleaving with her longsword as she arrives within reach of him.
"oh, um" Cailyn waves her hands around toward all the hidden allies, alerting them to "Attack!"
Combat Begins!
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Round 1
Kikonu turns and spies Cailyn and Zaiobe up on the wall.
"I expected so much more from you, Zaiobe. Betrayal isn't in the script. And neither are all these other bit players. Go about your business or learn your lines! I'll have no improvisation in my art!"
With spoken words, the man's figure shifts and blurs as he slips a weapon composed of a hook and a weighted ball connected via a chain into his hands. Vigny rushes forward to meet him and in spite of his defensive magic, she connects with her sword.