Even as tears threatened to well up in his eyes, the taller man waved apologetically to ward off concern. "Noted, Princess. Must have... swallowed a fly."
Wheezing a bit for effect, he excused himself to go run for a glass of water.
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Isaac gave a low whistle as he got back to his feet, gingerly smoothing his hair back into a more presentable form as he walked over to steady Lureene. "If it's any consolation, Sasha, I don't think Lureene was trying to hurt you. I'd forgotted until you were telling your story, but you kind of let the deal about Chivane slip back on the Zephrys." He scratched the back of his head and shrugged his shoulders. "Mind you, it was late at night, and we'd been drinking together, so you probably forgot, but I can see why you would have been tight-lipped about it. Still, at least now you don't need to concern yourself with such a secret around us anymore, right?"
Isaac nodded in gratitude to Amhranai, although he was just as glad to have dessert arrive as it was a bit awkward to be worried over in front of so many women. "Saved by the dessert bell," he said with a sheepish grin. Although he really didn't know if Amhranai's spell had any effect, at least he knew that someone was looking out for him.
As Sasha tilted his head first to one side, then the other, the warrior rolled his eyes and gave the Princess a helpless look. "Never felt better, actually. Lots of energy, lots of work... it balances out." When Amhranai joined the redhead in inspecting his neck, he just shrugged and asked, "And you?" Sense Motive DC 27 (Alis, Amh, Darv):
Even so, there was something in Isaac's voice that seemed to contradict his glib and affable response. Clearly, he wasn't the sort who was inclined to make others worry, but there was a certain uneasiness in his tone as well... an uncertain anxiety. Amhranai:
Near as you can tell, Isaac seems to be perfectly healthy. The bite he suffered to his neck seems to be completely healed. Mind you, you are still 3 weeks from the next full moon and it has been more than 3 days since the battle atop Arrowhead — if the Marshal did contract lycanthropy from O'beilumanji, the time for proactive treatment (short of dosing oneself with Wolfsbane on the night of the full moon) has already passed. Rolls: Bluff Checks
Sense Motive Checks:
"Uh..." Isaac tapped the back of his head. "I've got a pretty good lump here that says she came back at least week ago." When he felt Sasha's fingers brush the back of his head, Isaac shrugged and looked at Amhranai adding, "...figuratively speaking, that is."
"Well, if it's any consolation, that black skull Ieana recovered from Arrowhead has been returned to its rightful owners at the Vault." Looking at the dwarf he shrugged. "As for whether Shivone's stolen anything else, who knows. Corporal Echorn said Shivone's room at the temple was pretty much cleared out. If anything else of note was missing, the temple elders haven't reported it — at least not to the city guard anyway." The Major turned his attention to Amoya's compatriot and asked, "Can you think of any additional leads, Poe? Anything that might have been missed?"
"What confuses me," Isaac frowned deeply, "is that all the victims I'd traced back to these 'Wasps' were politically opposed to Governor Taurion. If Lucretia and Shivone were working together, why would Big O have wished that he was the one that had assassinated her? Shouldn't their goals have been aligned?"
Isaac grumbled, "Yeah, about that... O'beilumanji sort of knocked down the prison while you and Amoya were on your way back from Dunheath. We didn't find her body in the rubble, so we can only assume she's on the lam still. We've kind of had our hands full lately."
Isaac thought for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, now that you mention it."
Isaac thought back, recalling the encounter from a few nights ago. "Yes, she wore a black cat-suit and red leather armor molded to look like a wasp. Her mask looked like the head of a giant wasp. Tall, lean of build, but definitely a woman... I'm certain she was an elf, Alis."
"Sugarteet Bar," Isaac offered, causing Sasha to giggle and eye Lureene lasciviously.
The closing of the wounds on his neck garnered a sigh of relief from Major Hlokenar. "Thanks," he said simply as he accepted the mithril control rod. Numerous gems ringed one end of it, but it was thicker than he had expected and barrel-shaped. "Oh, it's like a spyglass!"
Even as Grak severed the last of the boy's bonds with Malinda's help, Isaac sighted the black rift in the glass, adjusting its length until it came into sharp focus. Immediately, the sound of a hidden clockwork mechanism ground to life as the central portion of the roof pivoted counter-clockwise, and the support base contracted, increasing the weapon's pitch to engage an airborne target. A cry of consternation escaped Sasha, who had to check herself in order to keep from getting bowled over.
"Let's hope a single shot is enough," he grumbled. Yet even as he did, the gate was completed and he could spy their enemy, the angel of death! "FLIERS, KEEP CLEAR OF MY FIRING ARC!" As the chorus overhead sang out, Isaac swung his hand downward, shouting, "FIRE!"
At once, top of the tower shuddered and the trebuchet shuddered, its great boom tearing thru the morning air as it flung its payload out over the Daifiri river. The fallen angel O'beilumanji had referred to as Lucretia just barely had time to raise her scythe before the enormous boulder impacted, shattering in mid-air amidst a profane oath and a cloud of debris and black feathers! Isaac nearly dropped the control rod in his excitement. "A DIRECT HIT!!!" Rolls: Reflex DC 15
Mouth agape, Isaac looked from the rift to Lureene, to the trebuchet, and finally to the control rod that Amhranai held. He might not be a mage, but he certainly knew a great deal about spellcraft and how to jury-rig magic items. And as for operating siege engines... well, he wouldn't have made it to the rank of Major if he didn't have at least a basic understanding of their tactics and operation. Even though he still felt woozy from blood loss, he managed a pleasant enough smile for the lovely lady. "I like the way you think, Lureene! Amhranai, would you pass me that control rod? I need to study it for a moment..."
For a moment the Major thought he was done for. Surely the sound of an angelic choir meant he was going to see his mother again soon, right?
When the Major finally managed to tear himself free, his vision was hazy, but he could see strips of flesh and bloody drool dripping from O'beilumanji's snarling maw.
Yet in those burning, animalistic eyes, he also saw rage and frustration — he, the Marshal of Port Eldarion, was still standing, and that wasn't something the bastard had bargained for!
"My sister?!" With blood in his eyes, Isaac ripped upward with his sabre, sheering thru O'beilumanji's armor and cloak to slice one of his ears clear off. Nearly unbalanced by the force of his own attack, he relented only slightly following up with a gash to the monster's face. "There," he gasped, "now my men can recognize you!" Shakily, and oblivious to the golem now looming behind him, Isaac waved Darvesch forward. "Close up the net, guys!" Rolls:
Enemy, Isaac,
Theme: Champion
The Major had no idea what the words to Alis' song meant, but the power in them sent the thrill of adrenaline coursing thru the entirety of Isaac's being. While he was impressed that the others had mustered so quickly and that the Princess was able to take their foe off his feet, he was glad she had withdrawn to a safe distance. He had heard stories from soldiers of Obanohi warriors who were more beast than man, but he never imaged they were speaking literally and not figuratively! And I thought he was ugly before! Although the tall warrior's shout was drowned out was overshadowed by the celestial chorus overhead and Obeilumanji's cry of agony, shout the Marshal did as he delivered a deep wound to the criminal. Sparks showered from both golems' backs even as blood poured from the same spot on the downed man. Rolls: yes!
Isaac was only a few feet behind Darvesch as he rushed forward. Any other princess would have had the good sense to pass out or run away, but this one had to stand her ground and fight! Well, at least he now had the opportunity to rescue her. Although he couldn't get quite into position opposite Darvesch, the Marshal of Port Eldarion was in striking distance, sabre in hand. "So you're the one who helped that devil to kidnap my sister and I? Guess that didn't work out too well." He noticed out of the corner of his eye that Darvesch seemed distracted... by an enviable view of Lady Ourson's tight-fitting leather pants. Good reason not to die! Enemy, Alis, Darvesch, Isaac,
Isaac watched the scene warily. O'beilumanji was a madman and a murderer and he was loathe to learn the identity of the school girl who was crushed to death against the keep earlier. Had she been one of Lily's classmates at the academy? Eyes never leaving the man, he thought back to the battle with Ozyrankhus and commented quietly, "Lureene can charm a monster from its master. It's more a matter of us not spooking the monster..." Rolls:
Rolling his eyes a bit of good-natured embarrassment at his recent rescue at the hands of the Princess, the Marshal wondered if he'd ever live that down. "Darvesch, we seem to have pretty good success double-teaming enemies. We'll handle this criminal scum so fast he'll be 10 minutes in Hell before he knows what hit him."
"Man?" Isaac shook his head. "He's about as much of a man as that 'witch' was a woman. I'd say 'monster' is more like it." Turning to the Master Chief, he found her speechless and unmoving. "Ardagnir... Malinda... you still with us? Gaeros' murderer has a reckoning due."
Isaac scratched the back of his head. "The city has been a mess since Gwiniel was killed. Plus I don't think the Freebooters will be happy about our naval victory yesterday." "Not that I'm complaining, mind you," he added.
It suddenly occurred to Isaac that he was in fact speaking to his new employer and he probably wouldn't want an answer like that if their positions were reversed. Thinking on how to put it, he said, "One of the junior members of the watch, a half-Dafari actually, trained at that temple as a girl. The senior members of the priesthood contacted her hoping to handle the alleged breach discretely without getting my office involved." He shrugged and concluded, "The Private did the right thing and notified her superior about it. She gathered a small group to spend one night in the crypts to see if they could apprehend the intruder and captured a rather incompetent sneak thief who–" Isaac's palm struck his forehead and he cursed under his breath. "Who had since been imprisoned in our newly destroyed jail until her case could be heard. Damn!"
"Alis, did you say there's a relic of Dalus here?" With Amhranai and Sasha's help, Isaac got back to his feet. He still looked like hell but at least his injuries had been healed and Alis' spell kept the worst of the fallen angel's fire magic at bay until it subsided. "There's a huge temple to Dalus in Colossineum. We had gotten some reports of break-ins there about two, maybe three weeks ago, but nothing came of it." Rolls: Sense Motive Checks:
"That's exactly what I'm saying, but there's more." The tall, bloody warrior shook his head in frustration and struck the flat of his blade on the anvil beside him. "'Crack and fume...' those were the words I heard just before I got knocked out yesterday morning." "Crack and fume," he muttered under his breath.
"Uuh," Isaac waved a hand even as he nodded to Amhranai in gratitude, "I might have just seen my life flash before my eyes but..." He pointed his blade at the ring of smoking black feathers on the ground. "Doesn't a contingency have to be cast on the actual target for it to work?"
Isaac knew he didn't have more than a few moments left before he would join his mother in the afterlife. Yet contrary to this fallen angel's words, his only regret would be leaving Lilyana behind. At Alis' touch however, all those thoughts fell into silence as the perfect opening in his enemy's defenses came into clear focus. With a shout, he drove his blade thru the opening, plunging it deep into the outsider's side, fiery blood erupting from the wound even as an unholy curse did from his enemy's lips. Rolls:
Darvesch, Malinda, Sasha, Alis, Isaac, ; Enemy
Eyes wild, Isaac charge straight for the pale woman, he had to finish her off or at least disrupt her somehow. Putting everything he had into it, Isaac swung down, hoping to sever her arm at the shoulder. A terrific scraping sound, like nails on a slate filled the air, yet he hit home, drawing blood like fire from the wound! Rolls:
"Yes..." Isaac's breathing was coming in ragged gasps from the fire he felt in his veins, but he knew what had to be done, "...ma'am." With his Princess standing before him, the warrior set his sights on the nearest zombie, hoping to restore the dignity of death to it; hoping to clear the way to attack the murderous witch. With a grunt of exertion, he charged, the speed of his movement billowing Alis' golden tresses as he rushed forward. Leaping mid-stride, he brought the sturdy blade of his elvish sabre down in a gleaming arc that sent the undead soldier to the ground, the necromantic rite that had animated him broken by the attack. Rolls:
"Thanks," Isaac said to the red head. Even though he was now feeling severely fevered, he gave Lureene a slight nod before turning his attention to the witch and her zombies. "You'll pay for your crimes, witch."
Isaac was breathing heavily as sweat positively poured down his face, his skin flushed. "Funny," he said thru clenched teeth as he rushed forward to cut down one of the zombies, "too hot is exactly what I'm feeling!" Rolls:
With a shout, the Major hurled his weight against the door handle, flinging it open and dragging a hapless, zombified soldier into the corridor even as he flew back towards Lureene. Behind the first zombie, stood another, cocking its head as it tried to make sense of what had just happened. Rolls:
Alis, Isaac, [Lureene], [Malinda], [Sasha], ; Enemy
Isaac nodded to Lureene and handed Sasha her bow, drawing his sabre as he moved. "If you have any wards, protect yourselves before you do others. That means you too, Alis." Reaching the end of the hallway, he unlatched the lock and tried the door handle, but when he gave a pull to open it, something on the other side yanked it shut again. The hollow groans that greeted him didn't make it hard to guess that it was probably more zombies. Sinking down into a low stance, and bracing a foot on the door jamb, he hissed, "You ready?"
Discipline kept the curse that Isaac wished to utter quiet, even though he could hear his pulse pounding in his ears. "Thanks," was all he said as his own bow clattered to the floor. Even though he didn't like seeing Sasha get hurt, the Princess damn well needed to get away from that... thing! In one swift motion, he drew and fired a shot that would have done a sharpshooter proud, yet the arrow simply passed thru the creature and sank deep into the wooden door beyond. Did it do anything?! Rolls:
Alis, Sasha, Malinda, Isaac, ; Enemy
Isaac put a finger to his lips and shook his head. Until the others were in position and had sprung whatever ambush surely awaited them, their own group dare not push the offensive. They would be patient...
Isaac appreciated the sentiment of the other two warriors and nodded in agreement. "A pincer then is it? Same groups as before?"
"No," Isaac responded. "There were signs of fighting further up on the stairs from the kitchen, but nothing behind Queen Auriel's tapestry. The secret stair's been clear thus far."
Taking a cue from his superior, Isaac quickly hiked up his sleeve to reveal his own insignia. While they had met only in passing, the young Marshal recognized the woman by her rank "Ardagnir, it's Hlokenar. We're here to help. Are you injured at all?" Rolls:
Isaac shook his head and whispered, "These are the officer's quarters, Lureene. The laboratory should be the next floor up."
As Isaac slowly regained his senses, he heard the familiar tromp of boots on stonework. "Oh good, reinforcements!" Yet no sooner did her say this than did the 'reinforcements' come into view. Slipping and sliding on the bacon grease that Amhranai had hurled at the stairs, those approaching certainly wore the garb of Ilmarond's navy, yet their gait, posture, and utterances were not those of men. Silhouetted against the arrow loop in the behind them, it was possible to make out gaps in their armor where chunks of flesh were missing, and from which blood and innards still dripped. A sobering chill ran thru the Marshal, and he asked quietly, "Zombies?!"
As quickly as they were able, Darvesch and Isaac hopped to and dragged the table across the floor to the south passageway. Yet the further they got, the fuzzier their concentration became. "Upright, turn it right side up," Isaac urged. With a loud thud, the dwarf pushed it back over onto its legs. "There, now you can take them low, the ladies can snipe around us, and I'll," he leaned heavily on the edge, "maybe I'll just catch... a quick... nap...." Rolls: Will DC ??
"Ooor," Isaac strains with the effort of moving the massive table, "we're in a kitchen. Maybe some cooking oil?"
Isaac quickly moves to grab one end of the table. "I've got this end, Darvesch, where to?"
Doing his best not to shudder, Isaac gave Lureene's shoulder a squeeze. "We should regroup with the others, let's move."
Isaac was no stranger to battle. He had seen the terrible wounds that men suffered in defending kin and country, visited the healers' tents to check on injured men, but this? He had not seen this before. This... seemingly gleeful carnage. Without really thinking about it, he put a comforting hand on Lureene's back, pulling her closer as he turned to look at Alis. "Are we facing a man or a–" demon? He caught himself just in time. "–monster?"
"An obstacle?" Isaac asked teasing the dwarf. "Don't tell me the golem collapsed a wall when you helped it..."
When Isaac looked to Alis, she didn't seem entirely happy that Sasha had revealed her identity, but if it would make a difference... "What Sasha said is true." He lowered his bow, and hiked up the sleeve on of his tunic to reveal a seven-pointed gold star above the wreath-encircled, winged sword of Ilmarond. "We are, as they said, here to set the wrong things right."
"I think Master Chief Solonius is going to have bigger things to worry about than two cooks fooling around in their free time," Isaac grumbles, keenly aware of the time being wasted here. Relaxing the tension on his bow string for a moment, he made a subtle adjustment to his mask, gazing at the women intently. Let's see what magic you're packing.
Isaac shifts uneasily and signals for everyone to round-up for a moment. "Alright, it's been a long time since I was here and the main stairs from the golem's room skip past this floor since it's just mostly kitchens and servant quarters. The only thing of interest to us on this floor really," he points southeast, " was the portcullis chamber on the east side. But, the great hall is the next floor up, and I know that I saw cooks and servants bringing food up from below. There was a stairwell leading down on the south-side."
Even as Amhranai gave an impassive shrug, Isaac spoke up, his voice somewhat scratchy, "My apologizes, your Highness, Lady Lureene was holding on rather tightly while we made our way to this point." Breathing a bit more easily now, he continued, "I seem to recall there being stairwells in the two eastern towers. I would suggest we head that way."
Features soured by this revelation (even he hoped it to be a red herring), the Major simply replied, "It certainly sounds like an investigation is at least merited then. As for this... murderer I have no idea who he is. Until recently, my duties were concerned only with Rivermarch and Port Eldarion itself. I haven't visited Freehold in years." "However, this is my home that he's destroying and I have no qualms about serving his execution in combat."
"Slavery? In Dafar?" Isaac seemed practically offened. "No ma'am, nothing more than rumors! The only thing I can even imagine would be the practice of forcing criminals to perform manual labor to pay off their debts to society but that would be an exceptional stretch to imply an injustice there!"
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