Melissa Daylenne's page

The door to the large bedroom opened and shut quietly. Elizabeth didn't look up from the book she was reading on the bed, but she already knew who it was. Her wife crossed the room and sat down upon the edge of the soft bed.

"So when were you going to tell me?" Melissa questioned with mock sterness.

"That I'm pregnant? Oh, it must have slipped my mind. I'm sure you would have noticed in a couple of weeks when a very wet baby slipped out from between my legs. You're clever like that." Elizabeth turned a page, continuing to pretend to ignore her wife.

Melissa playfully slapped at Elizabeth's shoulder. "When were you going to tell me that it's a girl?" she scolded. Pushing the book aside, she wrapped the reclining women in a quick hug. "A girl!"

"I see you've been talking to Hannah. I was going to wait and if you hadn't figured it out by her second name day, I would have told you."

"A girl," Melissa repeated a third time. "I can't wait."

Elizabeth finally turned and looked at the red-head. "Be very careful. You already have a daughter now, and she's very insecure in her place here. Please don't make her feel as if she's being replaced by your 'real' daughter."

Melissa's obvious joy diminished a bit. "I know. She asked if she could call me ... 'Mama `Lissa'." Her voice broke just a bit even saying it. "She's such a cautious little thing. I just want to grab her up in my arms and protect her from all the badness out there." Elizabeth lifted her book back up onto her chest and returned her attention to it while her wife contemplated parenting dynamics.

"We need to have a girls night - just the three of us!" Melissa finally exclaimed. "It'll show her that she's really one of us."

"How about a girls night with just the two of you. Wouldn't that work just as well? And I could continue my resting and research."

"Oh, but I can't leave out my favorite girl," Melissa replied, her voice going a little deeper. "She needs some attention too." Her hand slid under the blanket.

"Now you're being silly. I don't have the energy for anything like th ... at." Elizabeth's eyes fluttered as her wife reached her goal. Her grip on her book tightened.

"No need to worry about nothing," Melissa said with a grin as she tended to Elizabeth's pleasure in the way she knew she liked. "I got all the energy we need. You just sit back and enjoy it."

The sorceress' eyes closed and her entire existence shrank down to her wife's fingers. Her release came much quicker than she would have expected. Melissa held her close as the waves thrummed through her and finally faded. "Gods, that felt good. I really needed that," she gasped. When she finally focused enough to look up at her wife's mismatched eyes and saw the desire there, she laughed. "But I do not have the energy for what you need. Go find our husband and let him deal with your randy self."

"I think I may just do that," Melissa said with a grin as she pulled her hand from under the blanket and popped two of her fingers into her mouth. She adjusted Elizabeth's blanket and turned to saunter back to the door.

"Don't get pregnant, please," Elizabeth called out. "I think we have quite enough children around here."

"No promises."

"Yes, you may at that," the red-head says with an arched eyebrow. It's clear that words may follow the disarmament.

Seeing Saleh fall, Melissa screams out for them to stop the train and as soon as it slows to a non-fatal speed, she tumbles out and races to where the man lies prone.

"Don't you ever do anything like that again!" she snaps as she cradles his head in her lap, waiting for healing to arrive.

"Do something!" Melissa shouts at the sorceress.

Melissa screams as Saleh leaps on the creature's back. Although, whether it's a scream of fear or she's screaming at him is hard to tell.

Hoping that the engineer's fear doesn't blind them to good sense, Melissa attempts to convince Vilma that extra speed won't make a difference and will increase the chances of them falling to some other form of ambush.

Will Challenge: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

"F!%#, that's big, ain't it?" Melissa says to the nearby engineer, paying no mind to the man's trembling.

Melissa turns as the man moves to leave. "Based on what we saw back there, I'd recommend resting in one o' the passenger cars. It seems to like the caboose."

"'We' need to find it and deal with it?" Melissa questions, turning her hetero-chromatic gaze on the Johann. "You mean 'Us', right?" she continues, pointing at herself and her three companions. "Unless you've got skills you ain't shown yet."

Melissa nods wordlessly in agreement with Elizabeth before her eyes widen.

"Wait! You don't mean that ... this," she gestures at the wreckage of the previous train, "was caused by a dragon?! There ain't any dragons anymore, right Miss?"

When there's no response to her plea, she turns to Saleh.

"Tell her, Saleh. Dragons is all dead. We're not gonna have to fight one, right?"

She keeps her lips closed at the magician's slight, but the freckles on her cheeks stand out as a blush of anger covers her face. She's unable to entirely hold her tongue and as Elizabeth leaves the car, she leans down to the greasy magician.

"When we do save your train, you will apologize to my miss," she whispers before moving to stand near one of the windows to look out at the tracks.

It looks like Melissa will stay in the engine, Elizabeth and Kragga will be in the first passenger car, and Saleh will by moving up and down the train.

"You don't get to just avoid an issue by kissing me," Melissa says with a playful punch to the large man's chest, but there's no real strength in it.

Melissa follows Elizabeth with her eyes as she walks away and then turns to Saleh.

"Well don't just stand there like a loaf o' week-old bread. Say something!"

Melissa doesn't seem to notice Elizabeth entering the room and moves over to stay close to the large man. "But she knew, Saleh," Melissa says, wiping her eyes and shaking a bit from the hiccups. "I've always intended to name m' first daughter Elizabeth."

"Y-you never told me that," Elizabeth says, speaking up with a catch in her voice. Melissa looks up with a start. She rolls her eyes and wipes the tears away. "Of course, Miss," she says with a hint of a smile. "Ever since we played with your dolls."

Elizabeth swallows, collecting herself. "Every since you played with my dolls, you mean. I never understood the appeal." The thin woman nods to Saleh and then takes his place on the bed as he rises and makes his way towards the door.

"So tell me all about all the children that you have planned," she says, holding her arms open. Melissa accepts the invitation, climbing up close and resting her head on Elizabeth's small bosum.

As Saleh exits the private chambers he finds the blond girl waiting in the sitting room, sitting on the wooden chair.

"Miss Ambrose said that dinner will be up in ten minutes or so, depending on how lazy the cook is," Angelica says with a smile as she swings her feet under her. "So when is Little Saleh getting here?"

The days passed quickly and Elizabeth recovered her energy even if she seemed to stay much thinner than she was before. It took very little in the way of questions in the right ears to locate the first prospect for her school. A young woman by the name of Andrea. She was only twenty, with a pale complexion and long corn-colored hair that fell straight down her back. The only really notable aspect to her was that she was pregnant - very pregnant. Her talent with magic came to light when she began bringing in fruit and vegetables to the market at a time when they were out of season.

Andrea readily adapted to Elizabeth's teaching style and it didn't take much to convince her to join them when they finally decide to make their return journey to Gateway.

The second potential student turned out to be a bit more problematic. It was rumored that a small camp of highwaymen had kidnapped a young woman - a bit of a troublemaker, herself - and were forcing her to use her magic to benefit their banditry. With Elizabeth not quite up to strength, it was decided that Saleh, Melissa, and Kragga would be more than enough to handle simple bandits and, sure enough, three days later they returned to the leased suite with the rescued woman - harshly used, but happy to have escaped a worse fate.

After arranging for a separate room and bath for Teracina and bidding a temporary goodbye to Kragga, Melissa and Saleh made their way to the private rooms they shared with Elizabeth. They found the woman, not surprising, engrossed in a thick book in the main sitting room.

"Oh, Miss," Melissa gushes with excitement, "you should'a come with us. Them bandits weren't no bother at all. They took one look at Mister Saleh and just about pissed themselves trying to hand over Miss Teracina." She laughed a bit. "It was easy. You probably had more trouble here with Miss Andrea moanin' and groanin' about. Speaking o' which, how is she?"

Elizabeth's face clouded over. "Why don't you both take a seat. There's something we need to talk about," she said as she closed her book and set it on the small table next to her.

"Miss, you're makin' me a bit o' nervous," Melissa responded with narrowed eyes. She took a seat in the divan opposite Elizabeth, though, and gestured for Saleh to take a seat next to her. "Please don't tell me somethin' went wrong."

Elizabeth considered her words carefully. "Yes, something went wrong. The night after you three left, Andrea went into labor." She looks away and pain crosses her face. "It all happened so fast. I sent a runner for a midwife, but ... there was so much blood. The little healing magic that I know wasn't enough."

Tears began to fall down Melissa's face. "A-and the baby?" she asked fearing the answer.

"The baby, yes. The baby," Elizabeth repeated.

"Did the wee one live?!" Melissa questioned again, her hands clutching at Saleh's arm.

"Yes, she did," Elizabeth answered with a frown.

"She? A girl?" Melissa relaxed her hold on Saleh and looked around. "Did you name her? Where is she?"

"Her name is Angelica and she's ..." Elizabeth began, but was interrupted by a storm of blond curls that came running into the room.

"Miss Melissa! Mister Saleh!" the blond-haired girl exclaimed as, climbing into Melissa's lap, she flung her arms around the stunned woman. The girl had to be at least seven or eight winters old. "I missed you so much. Miss Elizabeth said you wouldn't be gone long, but it felt like for-ev-er. Did you bring Little Saleh with you?"

Not knowing at all how to respond, Melissa looked at Elizabeth in confusion.

"Angelica, please climb down," Elizabeth chided gently. "We've talked about this. I need to explain to them what's happening."

The girl made an obvious pout as she climbed down and took a seat on a nearby wooden chair. "I thought you were kidding," she said with a trace of a whine. Once the child had given Melissa and Saleh back their space, the red-head raised her eyebrow at her wife, still waiting for an explanation.

"As I had suspected," Elizabeth began in her teaching voice, "Andrea had been tampering with time magic. And as I've experienced myself, time magic has a tendency to ... manifest in unusual ways. In this case, Angelica is the beneficiary of the effect. She is experiencing repeated sporadic time fluctuations."

Melissa's expression made it clear that her confusion hadn't lessened.

"She was born an infant and periodically returns to that state - her normal progression, as far as I can tell. However, at various times, she ... progresses past us via random intervals and then reverts."

The little girl, only able to contain herself to a reasonable extent, continued to lean around in her seat, looking around the room. "Where's Little Saleh?" she asked again.

"Angelica, please," Elizabeth said in a tired voice, her eyes closing.

"Little Saleh?" Saleh asked, unable to contain the question.

"Little Saleh!," Angelica repeated. Her frustration at that not being clear enough evident. "I haven't had anyone to play with."

Elizabeth took a deep breath. "One of the other aspects of this manifestation is that Angelica has the memory of her future. One of many possible futures."

Understanding finally seems to dawn as Melissa turns to look at Saleh. "We're going to have a son?" she questions. Her face lights up. "Little Saleh," she repeats. "I love the name." She turns back to Angelica. "Tell me about Little Saleh," she asks with a grin.

"Melissa, don't ..." Elizabeth protests, but Anglica bounds down from her chair in excitement. "Yeah. He's two and he's about this high," she gestures with her hand. "And he's got red hair just like you. Just like Baby Lizzie did."

"Baby Lizzie?" Melissa questioned, her enthusiasm dimming.

"Yeah, but she died right before Little Saleh was born."

"Angelica!" Elizabeth's voice snapped through the conversation. "That's enough. Would you please go tell Mrs. Ambrose that we'd like dinner served here in the room?"

"Yes, Miss Elizabeth," Angelica answered in a wounded tone before running out of the room.

"As I said, she sees one of many possible futures. There's no promise that what she has seen is our future."

"A future in which I have a little girl and ... and she dies?" Melissa asked in a small voice, her arms moving protectively around herself. "Melissa please don't overly concern yourself," Elizabeth said, leaning forward to place a hand on the woman's knee. "There are thousands of possibilities. Thousands upon thousands. Please don't let anything Angelica says influence what you do or don't do."

"N-no, of course not," Melissa said, taking a calming breath. "It don't mean anything." In spite of her declaration, the pain doesn't fade from her face. She rises from the padded divan. "I'm tired. I'm going to go lay down."

"My first thought is to slit all their throats," Melissa says in a cold voice. "However, most people would probably frown on that - it not being very ladylike." She considers it for a moment. "Let's give Miss a few days to get her head back and put some food on her bones and then we'll ask her. How about that?"

"You can sleep all ya want, Miss. Just let us get ya back to the inn," Melissa says, patting the woman's shoulder. She gestures with her eyes for Saleh to pick up the thin woman. When he does so, she notices that the metal cuffs that were around her wrists left dark marks, almost like burns, in the form of the runes that were stamped into them.

Her face goes flush with anger. "What did you say the name of that man in charge was?" she asks Saleh, with her hand brushing the hilt of the knife in her belt.

The burly man slid back the latch and opened the heavy wooden door and allowed Melissa to step through before closing the door behind her. The latch snapped back into place making her jump. The room was spartan with just a simple wooden table and two chairs filling the empty expanse. She took a seat in one of the chairs and tried not to notice the heavy stains on the table.

After a few minutes of waiting, the heavy door on the other side of the room opened with a groan and two people stepped through. One was a meaty-looking woman. She wore a wide belt over a gray utility tunic. A heavy truncheon hung from the belt. Melissa's heart broke at the sight of the other woman. Elizabeth had always been slender, but she looked positively skeletal now. Her eyes nothing but dark shadows in her face. Her normally long auburn hair was cropped close to the scalp. Garbed in nothing but a thin shift, she looked over the room past Melissa and then back to the red-head, her placid expression never once changing. Without a comment, she took a seat in the chair opposite her wife. She folded her hands and placed them on the table, the sturdy metal cuffs fastened around each wrist made a heavy clank as they came to rest against the wood.

"Hello, Melissa," she said in an emotionless voice.

Melissa rose from her seat with the intent to take Elizabeth into her arms, but she was prevented by the thick-fingered hand of the custodian. "No contact allowed," she said in a curt voice.

"It shouldn't matter," Melissa protested. "She's being released today. My husband is seeing to the proceedings as we speak."

"That may or may not be the case, but the rules is no contact in the visitin' room," the woman responded. "I don't make the rules, ma'am."

Melissa sat back down, tears of anger beginning to form in her eyes. In defiance of 'the rules', she reached across to take one of Elizabeth's hands in hers. The heavy-set woman frowned, but didn't say anything. Even with the little magic available to her, Melissa could feel the effects from the runes stamped into the metal cuffs around the sorceress' wrists. Just with that little bit of contact she could feel the magic being pulled away from her; being drained into the runes of negation. What it must have felt like for Elizabeth, having them pressed against her skin for the last three weeks, she couldn't imagine.

She struggled for what to say, finally settling on, "How are you doing?" It was ineffective and trite, but she didn't know how else to open up the conversation. When she and Saleh had been awakened by Elizabeth screaming about the darkness in the middle the night, their world had been upended. Unable to restrain her and being lashed back by the magic within her, they had looked on helplessly as she had raced out of the inn in nothing but her nightclothes. The local constabulary had fared only a little better and then only because they had numbers. She still managed to disable a number of them, shouting that she would dispel the darkness with fire.

Discovering that Elizabeth was determined to be 'beyond the capacity for her own care' and would be 'held in custody for her own safety for an undetermined' amount of time was almost too much for both the red-head and Saleh. Their initial response was to prepare for a forceful rescue. But after a long discussion with one of the attendants where Elizabeth was to be detained, they determined that perhaps she would benefit from their treatment. At least for a short time. That short time had passed, though, and they were ready to have their wife back. If the proper channels wouldn't avail them then they would seek other means.

"I'm fine. Thank you for asking," Elizabeth replied in an emotionless voice that broke Melissa's heart all over again. What did they do to her?

"Mister Saleh and I are arranging to have you released to us. So you should be able to leave in a day or so," Melissa offered, hoping for some sort of reaction. A smile, a frown. Even a snide comment would be welcome.

"If that's what is best then I'll be ready to leave then," Elizabeth replied without even blinking.

Melissa's tears began to flow in earnest. "I'm so sorry, Miss," she choked out, her voice breaking. "Me an' Mister Saleh was hoping that you'd get better if we ..."

"There's no need to trouble yourself," Elizabeth interrupted in that same emotionless voice. "I'm sure you had my best interests at heart. My stay here has been nothing but beneficial for me."

Melissa looked her wife up and down in disbelief. "Beneficial? How can you say that? You're ..." She was interrupted as the inside door opened a second time and another stocky woman stepped inside holding some parchments and a steel rod in her hands. She moved to the other woman's side and a hushed conversation began. Melissa could only make out 'special circumstances' and 'immediate release'. Had Saleh been successful? The first guard frowned and said something about it being 'irregular'. The second woman shrugged and moved to Elizabeth's side and read from one of the parchments in her hand.

"Mrs. Daylenne, It has been determined that you are of now sound mind and are therefore being released from custody. Be aware that any additional behavior that causes the authorities to question your mental faculties will be responded to with appropriate action. Do you understand?"

"I do," Elizabeth answered calmly.

The woman reached out and touched one of the metal cuffs with the rod she held and the clasp opened with an audible 'click'. Elizabeth still showed no outward reaction. It was only because Melissa was still holding her hand that she felt her wife begin to tremble.

The woman reached across and touched the other cuff and it opened in a similar fashion. She reached down and picked them up. "You and Mrs. Daylenne are free to go." she said. Both guards then turned and exited the sparse room.

"Oh, Miss," Melissa began and moved again to envelope her wife but was given pause at the very faint shake of Elizabeth's head. Someone else may not have noticed it, but Melissa knew every mood and movement of her Miss. Melissa frowned slightly in confusion, but recovered quickly. "Now I did bring ya some clothes to wear 'cause ya don't want to be running around in nothing but your underwear, does ya?"

"Of course not," Elizabeth replied in that same calm voice. "That was thoughtful of you. Thank you."

In a short moment Elizabeth was properly dressed and the two women exited the door that Melissa had entered only minutes before. Reaching the cobbled street, Melissa now noticed that her wife was putting more and more weight on her arm. "Are you ok, Miss?" she whispered, not wanting to make a scene.

"Keep walking," Elizabeth whispered back. "We need to get away from there. They see and hear everything."

At that moment, Saleh exited the somber stone building from another entrance. Melissa gestured towards the man and continued to walk.

I'll leave it there to give Saleh a chance to contribute if he'd like.

Enchanted Object Form: 1d20 ⇒ 14
Game or Toy

Enchanted Object Properties Table: 1d20 ⇒ 13
Table 4

Enchanted Object Properties Table: 1d20 ⇒ 13
You increase your healing rate by an amount equal to your level.

Health +3
Power +1

Roguery Talent: Magic

New Tradition: Shadow

0 - Nightfall Blade
1 - Animal Shape
1 - Charm

"Don't you be tellin' me what to do, Mister Saleh!" Melissa snaps back. "I don't work for you!" She punctuates the statement with a blow easily equal to his.

Tricky Spellbound Boons: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7

Dirty Trick Backstab Invested Knife Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 5 + 4 = 26
Dirty Trick Backstab Invested Knife Damage: 5d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 6, 6, 6) = 26

if attack roll is 20+ ...

Tricky Spellbound Boons: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 1) = 7

Bonus Tricky Invested Knife Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 6 = 20
Bonus Tricky Invested Knife Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 3) = 6

When the total of your attack roll is 20 or higher with such a weapon and exceeds the target number by at least 5, the target suffers a bleeding wound that lasts until the target heals damage or until a creature uses an action to stanch the wound, thus removing it. While suffering from the wound, the target is fatigued and takes 1d6 extra damage at the end of each round.

Fast Turn

Beginning to grow dizzy with the seesawing of damage and healing, Melissa's attacks begins to show a sloppiness that is uncharacteristic of her.

Tricky Spellbound Boons: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 2) = 11

Dirty Trick Backstab Invested Knife Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 5 = 11
Dirty Trick Backstab Invested Knife Damage: 5d6 ⇒ (6, 4, 5, 3, 6) = 24

if attack roll is 20+ ...

Tricky Spellbound Boons: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5

Bonus Tricky Invested Knife Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 3 = 20
Bonus Tricky Invested Knife Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 5) = 10

When the total of your attack roll is 20 or higher with such a weapon and exceeds the target number by at least 5, the target suffers a bleeding wound that lasts until the target heals damage or until a creature uses an action to stanch the wound, thus removing it. While suffering from the wound, the target is fatigued and takes 1d6 extra damage at the end of each round.

Fast Turn

The pain is beginning to join all the rest of the sensations and Melissa hardly even notices it now.

Tricky Spellbound Boons: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 3) = 5

Dirty Trick Backstab Invested Knife Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 3 = 27
Dirty Trick Backstab Invested Knife Damage: 5d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 4, 1, 5) = 18

if attack roll is 20+ ...

Tricky Spellbound Boons: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 1) = 6

Bonus Tricky Invested Knife Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 + 5 = 30
Bonus Tricky Invested Knife Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 3) = 11

When the total of your attack roll is 20 or higher with such a weapon and exceeds the target number by at least 5, the target suffers a bleeding wound that lasts until the target heals damage or until a creature uses an action to stanch the wound, thus removing it. While suffering from the wound, the target is fatigued and takes 1d6 extra damage at the end of each round.

Fast Turn

Seeing the creature injured by her blade, Melissa keeps up her assault with enthusiasm, but without anywhere near as much luck.

Tricky Spellbound Boons: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 5) = 7

Dirty Trick Backstab Invested Knife Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 5 = 14
Dirty Trick Backstab Invested Knife Damage: 5d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 5, 4, 2) = 21

if attack roll is 20+ ...

Tricky Spellbound Boons: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5

Bonus Tricky Invested Knife Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 4 = 18
Bonus Tricky Invested Knife Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 3) = 5

When the total of your attack roll is 20 or higher with such a weapon and exceeds the target number by at least 5, the target suffers a bleeding wound that lasts until the target heals damage or until a creature uses an action to stanch the wound, thus removing it. While suffering from the wound, the target is fatigued and takes 1d6 extra damage at the end of each round.

Slow Turn

Banes: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7

Will Challenge: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 2 - 4 = 4 spending her fortune as well.

Melissa smiles as she can tell exactly which part of the wedding, Saleh is remembering. She moves to flank with him against the foul creature.

Tricky Spellbound Boons: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 4) = 6

Dirty Trick Backstab Invested Knife Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 5 + 4 = 26
Dirty Trick Backstab Invested Knife Damage: 5d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 1, 5, 2) = 12

if attack roll is 20+ ...

Tricky Spellbound Boons: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 1) = 5

Bonus Tricky Invested Knife Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 5 + 4 = 29
Bonus Tricky Invested Knife Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 6) = 13

When the total of your attack roll is 20 or higher with such a weapon and exceeds the target number by at least 5, the target suffers a bleeding wound that lasts until the target heals damage or until a creature uses an action to stanch the wound, thus removing it. While suffering from the wound, the target is fatigued and takes 1d6 extra damage at the end of each round.

Fast Turn

Melissa flips the knife in her hand and moves closer to Elizabeth.

Nimble Recovery

Fast Turn

Melissa continues to ply her hard-learned blade skills.

Tricky Spellbound Boons: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5

Dirty Trick Backstab Invested Knife Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 5 + 3 = 25
Dirty Trick Backstab Invested Knife Damage: 5d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 6, 2, 6) = 19

if attack roll is 20+ ...

Tricky Spellbound Boons: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 5) = 10

Bonus Tricky Invested Knife Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 + 5 = 24
Bonus Tricky Invested Knife Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 2) = 12

When the total of your attack roll is 20 or higher with such a weapon and exceeds the target number by at least 5, the target suffers a bleeding wound that lasts until the target heals damage or until a creature uses an action to stanch the wound, thus removing it. While suffering from the wound, the target is fatigued and takes 1d6 extra damage at the end of each round.

Melissa grows frantic when she sees Saleh charging the giant, without knowing what Elizabeth had planned. She continues to do her part, however, slashing at one of the wards with her enchanted blade.

Tricky Spellbound Boons: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6

Dirty Trick Backstab Invested Knife Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 4 = 19
Dirty Trick Backstab Invested Knife Damage: 5d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 3, 2, 6) = 19

if attack roll is 20+ ...

Tricky Spellbound Boons: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 5) = 10

Bonus Tricky Invested Knife Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 5 = 14
Bonus Tricky Invested Knife Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 1) = 10

When the total of your attack roll is 20 or higher with such a weapon and exceeds the target number by at least 5, the target suffers a bleeding wound that lasts until the target heals damage or until a creature uses an action to stanch the wound, thus removing it. While suffering from the wound, the target is fatigued and takes 1d6 extra damage at the end of each round.

Her distraction proves detrimental, though.

Melissa moves up to stand with her husband.

"You take care of the big lug, Miss. Me and Mister Saleh, we got all these puppy dogs," she says with a grin.

Tricky Spellbound Boons: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 3) = 9

Dirty Trick Backstab Invested Knife Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 6 = 29
Dirty Trick Backstab Invested Knife Damage: 5d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 6, 5, 5) = 23

if attack roll is 20+ ...

Tricky Spellbound Boons: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 6) = 10

Bonus Tricky Invested Knife Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 6 = 21
Bonus Tricky Invested Knife Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 4) = 12

When the total of your attack roll is 20 or higher with such a weapon and exceeds the target number by at least 5, the target suffers a bleeding wound that lasts until the target heals damage or until a creature uses an action to stanch the wound, thus removing it. While suffering from the wound, the target is fatigued and takes 1d6 extra damage at the end of each round.

Slow Turn

Ignoring the pain from the minotaur's wound, Melissa moves to flank with her husband.

Tricky Spellbound Boons: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 6) = 12

Dirty Trick Backstab Invested Knife Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 5 + 6 = 28
Dirty Trick Backstab Invested Knife Damage: 5d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 1, 4, 6) = 15

if attack roll is 20+ ...

Tricky Spellbound Boons: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 6) = 11

Bonus Tricky Invested Knife Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 5 + 6 = 24
Bonus Tricky Invested Knife Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 1) = 6

When the total of your attack roll is 20 or higher with such a weapon and exceeds the target number by at least 5, the target suffers a bleeding wound that lasts until the target heals damage or until a creature uses an action to stanch the wound, thus removing it. While suffering from the wound, the target is fatigued and takes 1d6 extra damage at the end of each round.

Fast Turn

Melissa continues to dodge and stab at the hulking beast facing her.

Tricky Spellbound Boons: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 3) = 6

Dirty Trick Backstab Invested Knife Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 3 = 26
Dirty Trick Backstab Invested Knife Damage: 5d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 4, 5, 6) = 21

if attack roll is 20+ ...

Tricky Spellbound Boons: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6

Bonus Tricky Invested Knife Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 4 = 11
Bonus Tricky Invested Knife Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 1) = 6

When the total of your attack roll is 20 or higher with such a weapon and exceeds the target number by at least 5, the target suffers a bleeding wound that lasts until the target heals damage or until a creature uses an action to stanch the wound, thus removing it. While suffering from the wound, the target is fatigued and takes 1d6 extra damage at the end of each round.

As Saleh recommends, Melissa waits until one of the enemies comes within range before striking.

Tricky Spellbound Boons: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 1) = 7

Dirty Trick Backstab Invested Knife Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 6 = 29
Dirty Trick Backstab Invested Knife Damage: 5d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 4, 2, 3) = 17

if attack roll is 20+ ...

Tricky Spellbound Boons: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 2) = 5

Bonus Tricky Invested Knife Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 3 = 26
Bonus Tricky Invested Knife Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 4) = 11

When the total of your attack roll is 20 or higher with such a weapon and exceeds the target number by at least 5, the target suffers a bleeding wound that lasts until the target heals damage or until a creature uses an action to stanch the wound, thus removing it. While suffering from the wound, the target is fatigued and takes 1d6 extra damage at the end of each round.

Melissa directs a glare at Elizabeth.

"I had that totally under control. Ya didn't have to step in and take over," she grumbles.

Melissa waves it off. "Don't worry," she says, "I'll talk to them. It'll be fine." Without another word, the red-headed woman walks off towards the decrepit windmill.

"Hello! Could I speak to someone in charge, please? It's kinda important," she calls out.

Melissa continues to flank with Saleh and attempts to stab at the wolf-like creature.

Tricky Spellbound Boons: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 6) = 10

Dirty Trick Backstab Invested Knife Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 6 = 30
Dirty Trick Backstab Invested Knife Damage: 5d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 6, 2, 5) = 20

If that's more than 5 over what she needs to hit, he suffers a bleeding would for +1d6 damage at the end of each round and is fatigued.

if attack roll is 20+ ...

Tricky Spellbound Boons: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7

Bonus Tricky Invested Knife Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 4 = 11
Bonus Tricky Invested Knife Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 1) = 8

slow

Melissa moves in to give her husband some assistance.

Tricky Spellbound Boons: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 6) = 8

Dirty Trick Backstab Invested Knife Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 6 = 15
Dirty Trick Backstab Invested Knife Damage: 5d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 5, 1, 1) = 16

Bounding off her horse, Melissa quickly empowers her blade in preparation for the battle.

Melissa's eyes widen slightly at Saleh's whispered words. She gives him a shove with her elbow as she giggles. "Not now, Mister Saleh," she says with a twinkle in her eye. She takes a deep breath. "Fine, let's go find out what got this giant's knickers all up in a bind."

Melissa looks surprised. "What? And get sheep thrown at us as well?" she says in shock. "I think we should just camp in the woods. Hunting down angry giants ain't really what I thought we was doing, Miss. Right, Mister Saleh?"

"Wow, they like to party hard around here, don't they?" Melissa questions as her eyes widen at the ovine carnage.

"Or two, I said," Melissa clarifies with a laugh. "But if that's not enough," she says as she leans in closer and her voice grows husky, "how much would it cost me? I gots gold to spare at the moment." She laughs and leans her head against his arm. "I'm only kidding. You never have to do nothing you don't want to do. You can just use it on me." She turns away and wiggles her bottom in his direction.

I was going to begin working on the actual wedding scene. We were going to have Kragga officiate it of course, but how much would you like to be involved in creating/designing the ceremony?

I can do anywhere from assist to writing the whole thing. :)

Saleh doesn't get any say (the groom never really does, anyway) and Elizabeth really doesn't care.

;P

Melissa's eyes light up at Saleh 'bonus gift' and she laughs. One hand quickly moves to stifle her laughter and she looks around quickly before covering the phalus back up. "Put that away," she says in a hushed whisper. "Unless you want to break m' Miss's big brain." She moves in closer and Saleh can see the heat rising to her face. "We should probably keep this between us for now. No need to scare her away after I finally got to have her the way that I've always wanted."

She gives the large man a wink. "You and me can use it later tonight maybe. I've always wanted to be on that end of it. I'll be gentle, promise." She looks up at him and blink her wide innocent eyes. "You wouldn't deny a lady the chance to take her beau up the bum, now would ya? I do you and then you can do me, that's fair, right?"

She giggles again and gives Saleh a quick peck on the check before she heads off to see about her chores.

Melissa resumes bouncing up and down again. "Oh, Miss, how could I ever say no to you?" she says before looking back at Saleh. "I am so happy." She wraps her arms around both of them before running off down the hall to show off her new jewelry to some of the other ladies of the compound.

Any further words from Elizabeth are drowned out by the louder squeals Melissa lets out. "Oh, Miss!" she exclaims, bouncing up and down. "Does ya see how beautiful these are?" She holds one hand behind one of the earrings that she's already added to her ears and turns her head slightly.

"Yes, ... Saleh, I will marry you," she says with a grin so wide it threatens to reach her ears. Her hands reach out and pull Saleh's face towards her and she presses her lips to his. Unable to contain herself, she then repeats the same gesture with Elizabeth before pulling back in surprise.

"I'm so sorry, Miss," she says, clearly unsure as to what is allowed or not. "I shouldn't have ... I should ask first."

Melissa's righteous indignation at having been doused in less-than-clean fountain water is interrupted by Saleh's whirling hug and kiss.

She's about to reply to his flirtatious comment when she also notices the woman that he's referring to. Her levity turns to concern and she furrows her brow. "That's Miss Christa, my Miss' older sister," she says. Her frown fades to a sad smile. "And that's Master Philip in her arms. He's such a cute one." She leans in close. "They're looking at us. Why are they looking at us?" She raises a hand to give a half-hearted wave. To her surprise, the two women beginning to walk towards them.

"Oh, gods, she can't see me like this!" she gasps, looking down at her soaked clothes. "Tell them I'll be right back."

Without another word, she turns and dashes away towards the mostly-cleaned living quarters.

Melissa reaches up and wraps her hand in Saleh's hand that's pulling at her top. She pulls the hand up and places and soft kiss on it, subtly stopping him from removing her top.

Setting the empty wine glass on the nearby side table, she moves up closer to Elizabeth. With her free hand, she reaches up and brushes the back of her hand against Elizabeth's cheek.

"There are so many things that I want to do with you and to you, Miss," she says in a soft voice. "But I don't ever want to do something that you're not comfortable with. So if you're doin' any of this just to make me happy ... please don't."

A wide grin and tears follow Saleh's proposal as the red-head hops in place, clapping her hands.

When she's literally swept off her feet she lets out a small shriek and then laughs as she gives the man directions to her Mistress' bedchambers. "When she said her 'quarters', she was talking 'bout her bedroom," she whispers quietly to the man as her teeth find his ear and begin to nibble.

Arriving at Elizabeth's bedroom door, Melissa - still in Saleh's arms - reaches out and softly taps on the portal.

"Enter," is the muted response.

Stepping inside the comfortable room, the couple find it lit with muted magical light and the sole resident relaxing languidly on the bed in her loose dressing gown. A book in her lap and a glass of white wine in her hand.

"Unless you're planning on dusting, I would recommend closing and locking the door behind you," Elizabeth says without looking up from her book. "The servants gossip enough without giving them a show to go along with it." She finally looks up. "Assuming, of course, that you're here for carnal purposes?" Her casual tone is belied by the flush visible on her face and partially exposed chest. It could be the result of the wine, but the nearby bottle is mostly full along with the glass in her hand.

"Oh, Miss," Melissa says in a sultry voice. She drops down from Saleh's arms and takes slow steps towards the dark-haired woman. "I have so many carnal plans for ya."

Elizabeth visibly swallows. "O-oh, really?" she responds attempting to maintain her cool demeanor, but the hand holding the glass of wine begins to shake. Melissa nods slowly as she reaches out to take the glass from Elizabeth's hand. She downs the contents in one swallow. "Oh really. Isn't that right, Mister Saleh?"

Realizing that she's not escaping the large man's arms, Melissa contents herself with turning to face him. She glances up at his face and then looks away.

"So, um, Mister Saleh. Was there something that, uh, you'd like to officially ask me?" the woman asks, trying to hide the grin that threatens to split her face wide open.

"And if you're quick about it, we might just be able to catch Miss a'fore she gets into her wine," she says in a smaller voice.

Melissa's weapon lowers and the angry tears begin to brim over. "Y-you were gonna ask me first?" she says, her lip beginning to quiver. Oh, Mister Saleh," she says. She steps closer as well and looks up at the large man, "Why didn't ...?" Her weapon falls to the floor, forgotten. She wraps her arms around him and leans her head into his chest. He can feel her relax against him, but a moment later she tenses up and pulls away.

"It won't work, though. Not like you wants it to be. She don't love me like that, Mister Saleh and I don't wanna feel like I'm in the way."