Lía Neve's page

Uncertain with their decision to examine the chandlery, and a bit uneasy about the state of the town in the evening, Lía was a bit apprehensive at the way the fires made everything cast dancing shadows. While it may not have been late, the lack of response made her aware that some people may have decided to go to bed for the evening and rise with the sun. Added to that, the smell of smoke and other... burned things? She had read that burning the dead was a good way to prevent the spread, but was that what she was smelling?

Shivering a bit at the thought— or the weather– she realized that while they were looking to Jix to open the door, she could still assist with this. Nudging Irian, she pointed at the window, and cast the minor magic of lights into what she could see of the chandler's building.

"I'm not sure breaking into someone's business is a good idea for our first night here."
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Definitely NOT snooping! (Perception): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

All of the multicolored balls came to circle the area that Lía and Meridian were examining at different heights and orbits, one ball bobbing overhead as they examined the... wax? While Lía was keeping the spell up, the distraction of her focus meant that the balls of light followed some other pattern according to her idle direction. There was definitely confusion, sharing a puzzled glance with Meridian. Children did not play with candles that Lía knew of, but maybe that was something she did not have experience with?

"Are candles common?", she asked, uncertain since she had never needed them, and always had lanterns. They definitely did not give off that much light...

Doing what she could to assist, the muliticolored balls of light gave what illumination they could to those that were searching about for clues. Right now, she was completely out of her element, not having even the faintest clue about how to even begin searching effectively for a child that has gone missing. She tried not to let the sobs that could be heard reach her, but her eyes were certainly misty out of empathy.
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Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
Huh.. Fancy that.

Lía was torn, looking after the fetchlings, and then around at the town, she wondered where things went wrong here. Maybe things had always been like this. It was hard to picture this place in better times, especially now, and in the dark. Maybe things would be better in the daylight, but she was a bit uncertain about that. The appearance of tiny floating multicolored balls of light with wings meant that Lía was following and lighting their way.

With Median and Irian making inquiries of the sheriff, Lía felt that things would be better served if she went to assist Laetitia. Knowing her tongue, keeping a rational voice nearby might serve to prevent any... untoward incidents. It was also a chance to meet Fetchlings, which was something that she had not had much experience with. So, more curious than wary, she stepped closer to Tish's conversation with the undoubtedly distressed Fetchlings.

Lía watched as Median was quite effectively reasoning them out of their mob mentality, and could not help but be a little bit awed. That was certainly better than she would have managed right now, since her argument would have been more towards them disregarding the law than saving lives. She was definitely impressed with not only what was being said, but how it was being said, as well. She seemed to be getting traction, so Lía just tried to look supportive— and watchful.

While Lía was able to keep her face even at the mention of a sickness, she did frown slightly once they were leaving to go talk to this Captain. She knew practically nothing about medicine— though she would have to ask Kari. All she really knew of things like that were that some people got sick, and some people barely got ill, ever. "Plague demons are not our responsibility, right?"

At the looks that thoughtless comment got, she looked embarrassed. "Joking— I hope."

"Greetings from the house of Neve, Lady Boroi. I'm Lía, and it is my hope that we may be of some assistance." She thought that was how the formal greeting was to go from someone that was being hosted by nobility in general, though there were some pecularities that she was going to have to study up on in regards to this area, since self-mutiliation was something that was surprising, but only in an academic sense. There were worse stories out there.
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Memories jogged? K.(Nobility): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
I remember how to do this! (Diplomacy): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

Lía was considering what was going on with everything in the town. This was a strange place, and it seemed that their customs were just as odd, but that was nothing especially new in the world of nobles. "Or you", she replied to Jix with a smile. The others were being led inside, so she followed suit, finding that the manners that she had been trained in were somewhat hazy, not having had to utilize them all that often in this company.

There were a lot of conversations had in the span of time that it took them to travel, with a lot of that being Lía occasionally bugging the others for their stories so that she could write them down. The little information that they could get before they arrived did not encourage a too-positive attitude, but seeing the place unsettled her. That everyone seemed to be wanting to keep a fire burning did not bode well for her peace of mind, as her thoughts turned immediately towards the reasons that people wanted to keep fires burning. They were keeping something away with the light, or keeping something in with the fires, and that scared her more than she expected.

Jix seemed a bit familiar with the attitude of the town, and Lía went over to try to be casually curious, acting as if she were unconcerned about whatever oddity that they had just agreed to get involved in. "Do you think they are trying to keep something away, or something in?" she said as quietly as she could. The idea of a curse was not something she was skeptical of, but the reading of numerous books told her that the people often made things worse than they might have been otherwise.
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Just acting natural, no nervousness here!(Bluff): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Are there bodies in those fires?(Perception): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

One of the things that some (at various stages, depending) might have noticed since they had been keeping each others' company was that a lot of their personal hygiene had become more of a "habit", and less of a mandatory thing. The reasons why were perhaps a mystery, if indeed it was ever realized. Of course, oddities in this situation were becoming more of a norm than a rare occurrence, and staff of "The Good Noodle" were not exactly common by any means. So it pretty much went without saying that a lot of things were simply taken in stride.

Lía was neatly and properly eating breakfast whilst reflecting on the past few days, as composed as she had ever been, while Kari sat next to her, a slim book open and in her hand as she split her attention between eating casually and reading. They both were wearing new clothes, purchased from the carnival sellers last night, and had their hair done differently. The scroll had been read prior to breakfast, Median was just the first one to voice the question that the rest of them had been likely thinking.

Surprised, Lía blinked several times, ruining the "noblewoman" facade she was practicing, and grinned. "I actually know this one!", she exclaimed, garnering a sidelong look of skepticism from Kari that was replied to with a stuck-out tongue and crossed eyes before she tried to recover her facade.

The corners of her mouth were dabbed at with her napkin before she folded her hands in her lap and started explaining. "Probably one of the sheets—" a pass of her hand over her eyes and a second of examination of the scroll made her look around, pointing out the semi-elaborate scroll case on one of the shelves, and amending her words "–or all of them are imbued with communication magic. If we sign our true names, a lot can be done with them, maybe even more in this space?" She scrunched her nose up a little, and looked around, squinting as if looking at something bright before blinking as if a bit dazed. "If he's a good guy, then that could be anything from sending us things personalized to us, to keeping a bit more of an eye on us. I mean, we didn't sign in blood at any point, did we?"

She chewed her lip for a moment, still as proper as you please, and shrugged slightly, not quite reaching the level of "graciousness" needed. "If he wanted to hurt us, he could have just sent something unpleasant here by the same way Median and Irian arrived." A bit of a cocky smirk grew on her face. "I think I can make sense of this place, but I'm not going to poke around with the magic that makes it work."
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K.(Arcana): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28 BOOM! Lía using that noodle!

(Anguished) "Why do people keep making us kill them?!"

A chance to run unfettered about the carnival grounds was something that was not going to be passed up by Lía. At the dinner and show, she had her book with her, and was busy talking to— and writing the stories of– anyone that was willing to talk. Tales of the Carnival were too interesting to pass up, and unless dragged, she was going to be doing a lot of writing before the night was out. Undoubtedly, she was going to be one of the last back at the Noodle. At the point that they got back, she was hoping that her shorthand was going to be legible in the morning.

The sight of the scroll would have elicited more of a response, but she was busy checking over her writing, and was more excited for that than the next place that Desoran was sending them. Already, she was asking idle questions to the others if they would answer. Tomorrow was going to be spent recording her thoughts of what happened here, and if she could get the others to contribute their thoughts, that would be great! Who would she ask first, though...?

She was going to have to get some different color inks.

Level 4: Sorceror

HP+Con+FC: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 1 = 6

BAB: +1

Will: +1

Skill Points: (4)
Bluff +1
K.(Arcana) +1
Spellcraft +1
UMD +1

Spells Known: 6/3/1
Spells Per Day: -/6/3
Spells Gained: (0th) Read magic, (2nd)Fire Ice Breath

Lía is awed at the arrival of the cargo boxes, and looks almost like a gift-giving holiday has arrived. A squeal that was most certainly not decorous in the slightest preceded her diving in to find out what is contained in the boxes. As a side-effect, the contents of the boxes are quickly organized and catalogued.

"Weapon- Nope, weapon- nope, ooh, armor! Some boots- nice boots! Jewelry boxes! A... baton?? I guess it's a nice baton, maybe." It was only after a second when she noticed the etchings on the baton. "I don't know that language— oh, it's a wand." Making a silly face, she bonked herself on the head with it at missing the clues before. "-some papers, too!" A few seconds were spent looking at the papers trying to make sense of them, before she sighed at her antics and covered her eyes with one hand, saying a sibilant sort of word, and uncovering them. Blinking a couple of times, she looked at everything again. "Yup, that makes more sense", she said to no one in particular.

Shaking her head at herself, she turned around to see if anyone was nearby. "It's all magical", she explained, like it should have been obvious to her at the beginning.

As everyone was making their requests, Lía really could not think of anything. She did look to Irian and Tish, and then nod, giving her approval of Jix, before she remembered that the Sheriff was looking at her. "I would like any books you might find", she said with a bit of fatigue, not knowing how much might be stored in a place like that. "I don't see them as having anything that might catch my eye. I'm just glad that I'm not dead."

Lía just did not have the motivation to react too much, especially since they were outnumbered and restrained. She did muster enough energy to speak to the guard, advertising, "Indeed, the noodles are delicious! Try 'The Good Noodle', we're with the carnival until they're gone!" a pose and a wink completed the role, and she went back to the post-fight jitters.

A moment's thought, and she had the semblance of a grin. "So good, you'll turn yourself in for them!"
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Selling it(Bluff): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

The squeak that Lía let out was certainly undignified as she tried to dodge their attacks, but nothing about what they were doing had any significant sense of dignity to it. "Fine", she spat, then literally spit— A ray of cold left her mouth,
her poor aim causing it to miss, since she was more preoccupied with drawing her rapier.
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Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Damage Taken: 1

Self-defense demanded that she draw her rapier or meet a rather unfavorable end, and she had been harmed enough today. Lía drew her rapier, but tried to put on her best face, as inspiration hit her.

"Finally, I get you two here! The other four of you went ahead. It's incredibly difficult to try to tell you that we've got a deal with the guards, while making it look like we're 'taking care of things!'. The deal is, they have to make it look like they're arresting you, but some of the guards are in on it, and it cost us a LOT, thank you very much! The codephrase is 'The noodles were delicious'." She was really hoping that the lack of bodies in this room and the others would give her some leverage in telling the truth, but she was outnumbered, and limited in her options.
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I really REALLY hope they buy this(Bluff): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Uncertain about what to do, since there was no one that she could attempt to convince to walk out voluntarily, she could not see enough of what was going on, but the sounds of fighting over to the left was something that she was concerned about. There were a lot of people still, if what one of her friends had told her, and they were still trouble. Leaning a little over Jix, she tried to interfere with the fight once more. She did not have that much magic left.
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Daze cast at Boss Lady. Will(13) or lose actions for a turn.

Lía dodges out of the way of the swing with a smile of appreciation, and pushes her friend back out of the line of sight of the larger woman. (Assuming a 5ft move back). At a hiss that she tried to keep from carrying too far, she pleaded with them. "You've got to get out of here! I don't want you getting in trouble, and we'll be in trouble both ways if you don't get out as fast as you can- Your boss doesn't know about the deal, and if I can't get them to stop attacking her, they'll likely kill the remainder of you just because!"
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Lying under pressure is not fun!(Bluff): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

"Probably not", Lía responded to her friend, peeking around the corner at the fight that was going on before shuffling to the other side of the doorway to peek out again, carefully. "The guard is outside, and not all are in on it. They want all of you out, and our only choice was to go in like this. I don't think they'd spare anyone if they were in our place."

The gesture was performed again, casting the magic out at the beast woman that she guessed was the "Boss". "...Anushir."

Glancing over her shoulder, she looked at her enemy turned friend— if only temporarily. "At least this way, we get some of you out."
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Charm Person at beast-woman, Will(14)

Lía looked surprised as Jix showed up, and spared her a quick shrug before beckoning her new friend over to give him the same rundown that she had given the ones prior. "Hi, I'm Lía, and you... might know Jix?", she said, a little uncertain. Momentarily, she was wondering where she came from, but kept her eyes on the task at hand.

"We couldn't get to you in time before the fight, but the guard are in on it. The codephrase is 'the noodles were wonderful', hurry up and go before too many people get hurt." Realizing something, she caught their arm before they departed. "Be careful", she cautioned with a bright smile.
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Wow! These lies get easier the more I tell them!(Bluff): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

With her other "friend" gone, Lía was nearly indecisive about who to cast the spell on next. While the fight continued, it was so chaotic to see that she instead went with one of thugs that Irian was fighting. She knew the others were supposed to be coming to help, but she could not count on it, so she felt that she had to do what she could to try to keep them from being overwhelmed.

Since Irian was in the middle of fending off attacks from the both, but had just landed a hit on the one closest to the door, she instead cast the spell at the one that was furthest from the door. The double hand gesture was made and the word spoken again, hoping that this was going to keep working.

"Anushir."
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Will(14) on Pink box fighting Irian or be Charmed

Understanding her friend's hesitance, Lía came up to pull her friend past Irian, but not before he took a swing at them "Irian, no!" she said, doing what she could to pull them out of the way of Irian's attack. "They're with us!"

The quick glance that Lía got into the room, even with her eyesight was scary. There were a lot of people on that catwalk, and all of them seemed to have ranged weapons. So she took a step to the side, out of view of some of them, and tried to make the one on the right their friend.

Both her hands came together, and she cast the spell again, projecting it out to her target. "Anuhsir."

"Quick friend, get over here!"
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Charm Person. Will(14)

"Wow, that's impressive planning." Lia smiled and laid a hand on the arm of her "friend", speaking softly. "I did want to tell you that we had worked out something like that with the guard. The codephrase is 'The noodles were wonderful'. They might have to hold you for a bit to make it look good for the others that aren't in on it, but it's got to look good for the sheriff, right?" Her smile was at least genuine, even if her words were not.

"Your man at the desk is already gone out ahead of you. We have to go in, but I don't want you hurt, Thaddius. Could you wait outside with him, please?"
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This really is more lying than I'm comfortable with(Bluff): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

There was was a moue of resignation at having to answer in the affirmative, but she nodded, letting her reluctance at having to do this show. "It is good to see you, but unfortunately, we do have to go in. I understand the situation, but perhaps you can tell me how many people to look out for? Was the plan to do us harm? I would rather avoid any fights, if at all possible." Relieved that this was at least one person that did not have to get hurt, she gave him a fond smile.

Not wanting to give away anything before she had evidence that the spell had worked and the man was just a good actor, Lía nodded at Median and gave a bit of a shrug. "We'll see." Turning her attention to the man, she gave him a smile that held a bit of relief that this was another person that did not have to be injured. "Good evening sir, I am Lía, and these are my friends Median, and Irian. What's your name?"

While Median was cautioning the man, Lía decided to take no chances. A beckoning gesture of her hands coupled with a calmly spoken siblilant of "Anuhsir" released the magic upon him to regard her as friendly. Provided they did not threaten him, there should be more than enough time for them to be safe before it wore off.

The lighting was not as dim to her as it might have been for Irian and Median, though she was aware that she might not see anyone that was skilled at hiding. Idly, she wondered how Owl and Laetitia were doing, though it would not have surprised her to have them get into the building and see them casually lounging about, having already completed their infiltration.
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Charm Person Will(14)

There was a distant look on her face as she blinked a couiple of times, trying to actively understand the magic that she knew how to do innately. "I think that it would be harder if they felt like they were in danger from us. I can attempt this... five times, maybe?" Chewing her lip, she frowned, wondering if that was a good estimate, then nodded with more certainty. "It should last long enough to get through this."

Still, she was heartened by the possibility that this might result in fewer people getting killed, and a lower chance for potential harm. She knew that she was being naive in holding to that possibility more than anything else, but she had seen more than enough people die today. She looked around at the reception room for this warehouse, with its polished wood, and roughened floors, and resolved herself to what was ahead. "No hostile actions towards them if we can help it, but keeping it out for defense is fine, I think."

One more deep breath. Focus.

"I'm ready."

Front

Confident that the two of them were capable of reacting to any threat before she would have to, Lía spoke up. "I can... perhaps charm several of them to take no hostile actions against us, provided that we are not immediately hostile to them?" The other option was to have them fight their way through, and that was not a favorable choice, she was certain. She looked to see how the suggestion sounded to Irian and Median, wondering how loud they wanted to make their entrance... That was not a very flashy idea.

Lía's dilemma was whether or not she wanted to see the amount of death and injury that she had seen this group capable of bringing, and that internal decision was on her face as she almost stepped up with Irian, but instead resolved her dilemma and made a short, but brief gesture, the accompanying grunt coming with a minor effort of magic designed to disorient the man for a couple of seconds.
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Daze Will(13)

Embarrassed, Lía was certain that her face was so red from embarrassment that she was glowing in the dark. Hiding was harder than she thought, but that hat to be a setup of some sort! How was she supposed to know that the large branch there had smaller branches on the other side, and that her balance was going to be compromised by the uneven ground beyond? She was pretty certain that despite her stumble and fall— which was onto more branches, she was pretty sure that there were some thorns– everyone else was relatively hidden. At least it was dark. She was certain that the looks that she would have gotten from Owl and 'Tish would have set her on fire (a quiet fire), if they could have.

She was not too great at sneaking. It would have probably have been better if she had gone to the front.

Lía was uncertain. Kali had disappeared, and now they were going to go take on a guild of thieves? This would make for a great story— if she was not so worried about surviving it. She tried not to seem as nervous as she really was, and tried to remember whether or not they had mentioned how many members the guild had. While she was not fond of this solution, but she also recognized that sometimes there were not any better solutions. Irian had departed, so she was going to have to be more careful. "...How many do you think stayed?"
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Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

The offer of a rest was a pleasant thought to Lía, as she had witnessed a lot in the past couple of days, and this was at least some closure to what they had been chasing. It was a weight off of her shoulders and more on her mind, but that was to be sorted out later, if she lived. Just the thought alone made her countenance somewhat grim, and she looked at the faces of the others to see if they were feeling the same way. She could tell that Irian already looked relieved, and Median was somewhat confident, but 'Tish and Owl she had to look at a little longer to try to search out what they were feeling, or even if she could see anything.

Taking stock of her capabilities, she let out a very shaky sigh. 'Brave face!' "I can manage one more spell, and then I've got some small tricks, but that's about it..." She was not going to put herself into a position to get hit by anything again, if she could help it. Nearly dying today was enough for the next couple of years, if ever.
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Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Level to 3:

HP+: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3+1 (Favored Class)
+1 Fortitude Save
+1 Reflex Save
+1 Natural Armor

Bloodline Power: Resist(Cold) 5 gained
Bloodline Spell: Mage Armor gained
Spell gained: Charm Person
Feat: Combat Expertise
Arcane Armor Training swapped for Dodge, since I missed the prereq for it, and only caught it just now.

Lía was taken aback at the lengths that some of these people would go to further their ends. She did not like that there was effectively little that she could have done in a hostage situation and resolved to ask Kali what she could have done otherwise. Chewing her lip, she went to help Irian with what he was doing, until the Sheriff showed up. As the Sheriff arrived she gave a large sigh, and smiled at Irian. She could at least do this, right?

"Wait! Wait! Sheriff, calm down! We're not hostile!" Raising her hands to make a placating gesture, she then pointed with one hand at the trussed men, still a bit green from the smell of the dead ones, and swallowed hard. "I'm actually a bit nauseous", she complained, before remembering herself. "It- They- were going to kill children and frame the Carnival!"

Lía's reaction was only to gasp at seeing Tish let loose that volley of furious color, everything seeming to slow down as she did the only thing she could at this range, the squeak of denial preceding the spell, fear already present at what the reaction might be.

It was a thing that she hoped that she would not regret, but Lía heard Kali's shout and left the situation in the main room to the others. Moving as fast as she could around the building to see what she could do, she was at least thinking that she might be able to stun whoever it was long enough for someone to catch them. There was a lot going on, and she was trying to keep her head about her.
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Double Move to get around the corner.

Not comfortable with leaving the group, Lía nonetheless moved to assist Irian however she could, sending another ray at the un-engaged individual that had been previously dazed.
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Ray of Frost: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19, Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 2

When Tish cast the spell at the henchman attacking Irian, Lía had to change what she was going to do, since the same magic would not work on the same person twice so soon. Changing her plan, she used another bit of magic on the same level, and sent a bit of intense cold at the dazed henchman to Irian's left. Unfortunately, it went wide, and she let out an uncharacteristic hiss at seeing it miss.
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Daze is no good for a minute on an affected target.
Ray of Frost: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Repeating her prior action, Lía sent another spell to the closest assailant, trying to keep at least one person out of the fight at all times. She did draw her Rapier again with a reluctant look.
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Action to cast Daze at the closest enemy, Will(13) or take no action for the next round.

At the shout of "No witnesses!", Lía reacted as best she could, the tiny spell targeted at the closest ambusher, looking to keep him from attacking. "No!", she shouted, not wanting to see an innocent person die.
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Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Action to cast Daze at the closest enemy, Will(13) or take no action for the next round.

Lía stood with a groan, and nearly panicked at remembering what had rendered her unconscious in the first place. At least she kept hold of her weapon, but that was scant comfort to the phantom pain that faded to a few nicks and small cuts. The blood that remained on her clothes was evidence enough of what had occurred, and while she was grateful, she was also angry. "What happened to the children?!"

At the risk of not being able to help, Lía dedicated all of her attention to not being hit. At the risk of getting harmed again, she tried to get to where she could help the others, moving past Tish to just outside the doorway.
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Total defense, moving to one square behind Tish. AC16

Trying not to panic, having been hit and bleeding from a pair of daggers, Lía attacked the same target that she and Tish were attacking, and managed to score a minor hit, but was that enough to keep her from falling?
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Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17, Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Trying her best not to panic, Lía tried to think of this like it was practice, though the hurt from the thrown dart? Dagger? emphatically reminded her that this was most certainly not practice. She could panic later, right now, she tested the guard of the man threatening both herself and Tish.
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Rapier: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18, Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

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Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

The cry that she let out was reflexive, startled by the flash of the bag of powder, but luckily her vision was not adversely affected. The flash was blinked away as she remembered to draw her rapier, though she looked to put herself behind Irian. She could fight if she had to, but she had no idea how many there were yet.
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Fort: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14
Theatre of the mind is fine. Lía will be casting Daze( on unengaged targets as long as she is not threatened, and doing what she can for the rest, just as a general plan of action