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Not sure why, but when I look at the chronicles there are lots of unfilled information, such as our names and numbers and the gold earned. I can add those things in, but I was just wondering if I was supposed to or not? Anyone else have that stuff show up? Had a great time with this group and I hope to play with you folks again soon.
Aelwynd rushes to Ariana's side, sliding in dramatically to catch her arm and look her over with great concern. "By the Gods! You've been bit!" He quickly glances to the others and explains his fears. "From what little I know of these things, only the most powerful healing magic will work to cure the rot their bite can cause, and I think it beyond Caduceus' current abilities." Turning back to Ariana with a grim look he tries to manage a smile as he offers his arm for support, "Hold on my dear. It only lasts so long and we can heal the damage until it runs its course."
Aelwynd quickly recognizes the creatures and passes on what little information he can recall about them to his friends. "Now don't be ruining my outfit with those terrible jaws of yours!" he says with mock outrage as the jaws snap shut inches from his face. After narrowly avoiding the bite of the terrible creature, Aelwynd steps forward shifting slightly to the side and strikes at the creature with rapidity.
parry/riposte: spend 1 panache, and one AoO
Immediate action
With his magically augmented reach, Aelwynd lets loose with a furious series of thrusts and slashes on the nearest hellcat.
As he prepares for a counter attack, a sly grin spreads on his face and he taunts the creature. "Come hell beast. I invite you to try me, as my blade seems to like you." parry/riposte: spend 1 panache, and one AoO
Immediate action
"Oh damn!" Aelwynd curses. "These look just like something Ariana and I faced when we were lost at the bitter end. Damn things were quite vicious." He then quickly moves past his friends to engage the skeleton cat with the blue tinged fire.
Parry/Riposte: spend 1 panache, and one AoO
Immediate action
Aelwynd grabs a potion from his belt and downs it quickly.
He then grabs a scroll from his belt as well, and holds it out for either Saul or Sielan to activate the magic on him.
"I have to make sure I can dance with whatever comes through those portals." He then pours an oil down the length of his blade, blessing it for the coming battle. Lastly he takes out a wand and readies to activate the magic as the creatures start to come through...
If the bull rush succeeds in making her visible:
Seeing the assassin appear once again, Aelwynd rushes her, bringing his blade to bear once more on the deadly woman.
Parry/Riposte:
spend 1 panache, and one AoO
Immediate action If the assassin is still invisible:
Not sure where the assassin is, Aelwynd hedges his bets a bit and pours an oil over his weapon, blessing it for when he next gets a chance to pierce the woman's flesh.
Aelwynd sees Saul rush past, clearing the crowded street almost entirely, judging the movements of the few that fail to get out of the way as if he can read their minds. "Hey! Don't leave me out of the fight Saul!" Not wanting to leave his friend to face the assassin alone, Aelwynd grins and pours on the speed, vaulting over or squeezing past bins and boxes left cluttering up the alleyway before him. A pretty shopkeeper opens a back door to throw out some refuse, only narrowly missing the speeding half-elf. "Sorry madam!" he calls back to the woman, with a fingertip to his hat in salute. "I'd stay and chat, but I have some pressing business to attend to at the moment... Perhaps I'll come back when I'm done and apologize properly?" He smiles as he turns back to the chase. We had better make short work of things here. That woman had the most amazing eyes.
"Thank you for the speed Sielan!", Aelwynd says as he dashes between his friends. He nimbly steps up on the hip of one man to spring forward to shoulder of another, bounding back and forth as he runs atop the thick crowd in an effort to gain on the assassin. "Coming though! Thank you for the assist!" he offers as he takes advantage of the throng beneath him.
Aelwynd rushes the grey caster, pivoting at just the right moment to let his body come within inches of his opponent, grinning wickedly as he moves past and then strikes from behind! Alas once again, his blade narrowly misses and he comes up with nothing but air.
"Damn you and your shifting defenses! I am about to leave my friends to finish you off and take my leave to go after the real target." he says fiercely. "You only have a few more seconds to live, either way, so savor the minor victory... on your way to HELL!"
Taking advantage Saul's upbeat tune, Aelwynd lets the rage carry him to the white mage across the way. He lifts up into the air as he soars across the room, barely making it over the top of the wall in his recklessness. As soon as he comes within reach he thrusts from above and this time his strike is true!
Parry/Riposte: spend 1 panache, and one AoO
Immediate action
Swearing like a drunken sailor as his blade again meets nothing but air, Aelwynd reels back as the slab of stone erupts in front of him. He quickly takes a few steps back and then rushes at the wall, taking a twisting leap from the ground...
...to sail over the impediment and land behind the white mage. He quickly thrust his blade out again...
...but he just shakes his head and sighs as he catches nothing solid, missing the mage by either inches or miles, as they equate to the same thing in his mind.
"You really are quite the dance partner. Normally I would appreciate your moves more, but I really can't stay. We have a thief to catch. Mind if I call upon you later? My name is Aelwynd, and we have never been properly introduced."
Coughing and hacking the burning gas from his lungs, Aelwynd steps from the cloud, his blade thrusting before him. As his attacks meet with nothing but air, he smiles in surprise. ”Well played! Normally I like a challenge, but I get the sense your just trying to delay us, so I’m afraid you really must die quickly. Please be a good sport and help us out with that.” Aelwynd then slashes at the caster’s head with his blade in order to confuse him.
”Would someone please deal with this blasted displacement!?!”
Aelwynd twists, bends and spins through the flying debris, avoiding an serious damage from the glass shards as he draws his blade with a snap and moves to engage the enemy. "Ho HO! You snail-skulled little rabbits! You bit off more than you can chew this time!" With barely more than a thought, he extends the reach of his rapier another five feet by the magic in his scarf, and strikes at the white caster as they are beginning to cast their spell.
Parry/Riposte: spend 1 panache, and one AoO
Immediate action
Hey Soloman! How is the happy life of parenthood treating you two? Getting any sleep? In game related commentary, I am having a great time with this game. I like the role playing challenge. It's fun and different. Sure there's the perception of a bit of thuggery but it has people giving that extra effort in their character's posts. How long(in game time, not real world time) do we expect the auction to take? I ask in case we decide to buff before, during or even at all.
"HELLO HEIDMARCH MANOR! THE TRIUMPHANT HEROES RETURN, BOUNTY IN HAND!" Aelwynd proclaims upon entering the manor. "I know, I know. I just felt like it." he protests to his friends with a shrug and just a hint of a grin. "It's not like we kicked over a cradle to get it so I felt I should make the most of it." Once Sheila arrives, his expression turns quite serious. "Two things of note." he says holding up two fingers as if to count them off. "First, about the mission before last. Have you scoured the grounds outside the cathedral like we suggested and if so, have you found anything of note? I have a terrible feeling about what we may face if you haven't." He ticks off one finger, and it's unmistakable which finger remains. "And second, this last mission cost me a valuable elixir. We faced an apparition unlike any I have faced before, and luckily our team was prepared and excellent in it's efficiency in dealing with said apparition. That said, recompense for the lost elixir, in addition to any booty we would otherwise claim for ourselves on this mission, would go a long way as an effective thank you for such a well done job." Then, as if struck by an afterthought, "Oh, I almost forgot. Here is an extra 2000 gold that we found."
"You poor wretch." Aelwynd says with sincere sadness. "It's time for you to pass over to the murky depths." He then spins to his right, coming inline to flank the creature with Saul, and makes three quick strikes with his blade. All these long armed gents with reach weapons certainly makes for some room to dance!
Parry/Riposte: spend 1 panache, and one AoO
Immediate action
"I suppose you could be right Sielan. I just can't shake the feeling that someone died here... " Then as the door opens and they find the body, Aelwynd's eyes go wide at the sight of the apparition!
"Oh damn! Sometimes I really hate being right... That, and it looks really upset." he says, his weapon at the ready. He quickly fishes out a vial from his haversack, and readies to down the contents should the thing attack.
Parry/Riposte:
spend 1 panache, and one AoO
Immediate action "Darga Cranstone? Or are you Darga's assistant? Either way we want to help you, if you will let us" Then, much quieter and off to his side, he whispers, "Is it evil Cad, or just unhappy"?
Aelwynd does his best to scout around the place, looking for anything special before he approaches an entry point for the group. He looks it over for hazards or traps of any kind as well.
He motions if it's safe for the group to move forward. "Maybe the assistant tried to carry on their Darga's work after they died and then they decided to leave? This is peculiar."
After the ratman answers Sielan... "...walk around the outside of the Abadaran cathedral and scatter “some seeds or dust or something.” With a wicked grin under a deadly stare, Aelwynd gives the ratfolk an ultimatum. "We really must be going, but I think it wise you disappeared from the city for a long while. Before you go, there are just two more things we need from you. First, a description of what these seeds or dust really looked like, and second, give us any claim slip you have for your gifted funds. If you comply with theses two simple requests, we won't have any issue with you leaving. Think of it as an investment in your future. By that I mean you get to have one." ***<<<*>>>*** As the party leaves the warehouse and and are reasonably sure they are not being spied upon, Aelwynd suggests "Despite much of the unpleasantness we have been asked to do, I don't want our associates hurt or worse. We need to head back in and to tell Sheila what we have discovered and then scour the outside of the cathedral for the seeds." Suddenly he spins, his eyes wide! "I know there are other members in different groups and I would bet at least one that can read the impressions from objects. If we gave them this note, perhaps we could learn more about who the woman was!"
"Or can one or more of you use other divination magic to find out about the person that left this note?"
"Someone who doesn't plan on winning the auction likely plans on stealing from it, and this sowing of seeds will no doubt help them do just that. From the note, these seeds will have some effect that is dangerous, hence the warning to be careful or they might not be able to collect their payment." Aelwynd replies to Sielan, never taking his eyes from the wererat. He then asks the wererat, "First, describe this strange woman that contacted you and second, where exactly are these seeds you were given? Be specific and detailed in your account."
"Our attention? We just happened by while out for a stroll, when suddenly we heard a commotion, and decided to poke our heads in. Seeing all of your shiny, whiskered faces we thought we should get in a little exercise and let out some of our recent frustrations. You see, we had a really unpleasant day today. Something to do with an auction and a key. Not that you would know anything about that, would you?" Aelwynd says with a tilt of his head and a wry grin. He steps closer to the nearby wererat spell caster, his blade still dripping their blood. "I think it would go a long way to making our moods better if any other parties interested in a similar venture were to back away... pull out... or better yet, scurry for the shadows, never to be heard from again in relation to such a thing. Don't you agree?"
As he bounds away with incredible speed, Aelwynd tips his hat and calls back to Nachts, "Thank you my dark friend!" As he sails toward the black ringed wererat spellcaster, he calls upon the magic in his blue scarf to extend his weapon's reach. He stabs out once with near blinding swiftness...
Parry/Riposte:
With his newly enhanced speed, Aelwynd dashes forward, spinning past Caduceus and dodging between rat and wererat alike. He grins as he spins up to the green clad wererat, practically nose to snout, and winks as he attempts to move past it. "Hello there meat!"
Once to the other side, he swiftly thrusts his blade...
...in a cleverly executed feint making him seem off balance. Parry/Riposte:
Aelwynd looks to the faces of his group. "I could do with facing a bit of true wickedness right about now. I mean it's not kicking puppies, but it'll do."
Aelwynd whispers to the group, "I can hear movement inside. It sounds like crates are being moved, and some sort of scurrying about, like someone is in a rush. I can't tell exactly how many people are there, but I would imagine it's more than one. How do we want to handle this?"
After a brief whisper between Saul and Aelwynd, the half-elf smiles and nods before turning back to the dinner party. "I had a feeling about you when I first laid eyes upon you. It turns out I was right. You are steel wrapped in silk. A steel nail to be more precise. My question to you Lady Makorios, is what does a branded Hellknight from the Order of the Nail wish with the key? I imagine public knowledge of your interest is not something you want known, or you wouldn't be working with the poor doctor here. Rest assured, we'll give you some time to withdraw from the auction." Then with a shark like grin, deadly and full of teeth, he adds, "You have until I finish this lovely glass of wine, though sadly for you I am still quite thirsty."
He raises his glass as if in toast and then begins to drink.
Aelwynd strides up to the noblewomen and performs a sweeping bow. Upon straightening he bears an interesting look, almost hungry. "Well, this is certainly very interesting. What an intriguing creature you are Lady Makorios. You are akin to steel wrapped in silk, and finely crafted steel if I may say so. Tis a true pleasure to meet you. Shall we sit? I am quite famished." As he moves to pull a chair for the noblewoman, he nods to the others and glances to the side of her neck and back to them. From behind her he briefly points, with as much subtlety as he can, to the tattoo visible on her neck. He indicates there is another of the same on the opposite side with nothing more than his eyes.
Sighing and with a visibly unhappy face, Aelwynd reaches up, pressing two fingers to the bridge of his nose. His voice comes sharp and quick. "And do we know where this Lady lives? I mean, why not just assassinate her and make it look like the Aspis did it... You do realize how far off these actions are for the sake of some influence this key will buy you, don't you?!? I had higher hopes for you Sheila. I've worked with you before and I know you to be a much more respectable person than this. I won't press you, as I know you have your reasons, but don't expect us to follow your requests with enthusiasm. We are just getting the job done." Once given the locations, both the Lady's residence and the wizard's tower, Aelwynd leaves the building without any further words to the Venture Captain. Outside, and clear of any prying eyes and ears, he talks with his group. "While I think something is wrong with Sheila, it is in our interest and that of the Society to make this work. If there is a way for anyone here to ascertain Sheila's intent, such as if she has been compromised by evil forces, we should do that now. Cad can see into the hearts of people, so that would be a start." Wringing his hands he paces about the courtyard. "Since my original idea seems dashed against the rocks, let's look to a bit of less honorable work and see what incriminating evidence we can find at her residence. I am not going to fabricate something for this mission. At least I am not planning on it as a first choice that is."
After thinking a moment, Aelwynd remembers some information on one of the remaining bidders. "So it seems that Zimandi not only knows we are with the Society, but she harbors great antipathy towards us as well. Perhaps we can change her mind on this matter with some research into the facts of her parents death?" With a sigh and a shake of his head he continues, "If we were not at fault, but could help her in anyway find the true facts regarding the disappearance of her parents, we might be able to take a very aggressive bidder out of contention and do a very good deed in one swoop. That would certainly be a welcome change."
Aelwynd lets out a small chuckle at Ariana's crate comment and finally elects to speak. "As we tried to tell you previously, before the unfortunate incident with the door, we know what kind of trouble you are in, and to whom. We would like to help you. However, the auction is not your best option." he repeats what Caduceus previously said, nearly verbatim. With a velvety voice, dripping with a curious mix of threat and charm, Aelwynd adds his own words to the script, "Back out of the auction, disappearing from public life for a time, and join us, for we value a man of your skills greatly. We have much to offer you aside from your immediate safety. Come with us and let our... local representative... tell you about the full range of benefits in working with our organization."
Amused as much as anything, Aelwynd nimbly steps over the debris field but keeps his mouth shut. He ever so slightly narrows his eyes as he gazes over the room for egress and ingress. He keeps casually glancing back to the doorway to make sure the coast is clear for when they decide to leave.
After that display with the door I would wager Rinks is ready to be a puppet on our string. But that isn't exactly optimal. It's best to bring him into the fold as a choice, saving his life and gaining a valuable asset in the process.
"You've got a creative and clever mind Saul. I like letting Caduceus speak to Rinks and explain how we can help instead of just going in with a ruse and a threat. Those are still options of course, but I agree that we shouldn't sentence this fellow to death by informing his enemies of his whereabouts. So, if we're in agreement, let's go see if Rinks is home then, shall we?" I really need to keep in touch with everyone from this group after this. Smart, fair and disciplined are a rare and wining combination. Once the group heads out: Once the group is finally ready and they set out for the Galesford Inn in Dockway, Aelwynd will be on the lookout for trouble, just in case Minvandu has already found where Rinks is staying. He will also be wary of their surroundings, in case Rinks himself set up some paranoia driven traps or alarms as a way to escape those he is hiding from.
Following Saul's nudge and Nacth's glance, Aelwynd nods to the two men and looks up the stairs before turning back to Windun. "You never said a word." With a smooth grace he ascends to the next floor where he finds an unlocked room with one bed inside. After a brief search of the room, Aelwynd finds a locked box with Minkan art on it hidden under the bed. "This must be it." he says under his breath, as he takes out some stiff wires and a slender hooked piece of metal from within his belt pouch.
"It must be difficult, being caught between everything and everyone. All of that liability must have you under terrible pressure. Rest assured, the sooner we find what we are looking for, the sooner you can breath easier." He turns to Saul with a genuine smile and nods. "Now the easiest way this can go is if you introduce us to The Duchesses and we can take things from there. If for some reason you find that difficult, then you could just show us to their rooms and again, we would take it from there. It is only a simple book keeping matter after all."
Hold your tongue... hold your tongue. Give Shiela a big kick in the back side once you get her in private. This isn't the time for mutiny. "Of course M'lady. Windun Landers, Rushlight Society and gather information only. We will be the epitome of subtlety and effectiveness as always. This shouldn't take long." Aelwynd's words drip with honeyed hostility. He dips his head, and doffs his hat in a grand sweep. When his head raises, his eyes are narrowed and focused, and only briefly meet the Venture Captain. There will be a discussion after this is all done. Count on it. The half-elf grins and with a flourish, spins on his heels and quickly strides out of Heidmarch Manor, letting the door swing wide behind him. Once outside he turns and answers Sielan. "I like the way you think, and I am fine with the group staying together. I think we will be a bit more direct this time. No more diplomacy or lies. We know this Rushlight Society is criminal and we can afford to be a bit more...intimidating. We don't need to steal anything, only discover how much their funds amount to and then report back to our Venture Captain once confirmed."
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