Looks like it's just you and me, Cat. ^^;
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It's a shame, but I do wish you all the best. So, guys: sorry to be so mercenary, but shall we start recruiting for a new GM? Fighting wasps would be a less than grandiose point to end the campaign.
Quinta darts towards Liliana and claps a hand on her back. Magic courses through her!
"I'm moving forward / so please keep up," Quinta sings to Hskoro, as she launches into a forward roll that puts her behind Zaghigoth - and she weaves Words of Power into her song as she lays hands on him.
With a flick of her wrist, Quinta frees her whip -- and she starts to sing, the harmony curling around the other members of the group.
"Yeah.... Right," Quinta says, giving Krolmnite a Look.
"Well, no need to go stumbling into the dark," Quinta says.
"Yeah, disappointing, pleased to meet you, all of it," Quinta says, turning her attention on Liliana. "Hi. I'm Quinta. And like Cat said, who are you?"
Quinta completes her incantation, and casts about for the snake's trail. She is deeply relieved when the group comes to the edge of the darkness effect. Even while she is looking for the giant reptile, she calls out in the language of scaled creatures.
Serpentfriend:
"Brothers and sisters in scales! A large cousin passed by here! Who saw him pass? Who saw where he went? If we kill him, you can share his flesh!"
The air swirls, darkens, then brightens, and a giant ant appears. Antennae twitching, the giant insect lowers its head to the ground and casts about for the snake's trail before it starts scuttling off.
Quinta stops running, concentrates, and starts to chant. The singer's voice reaches out beyond Golarion, into realms ethereal and luminous....
Quinta likewise staggers after the others, muttering angry words under her breath. "They could have fallen for it, I could have saved them from themselves, but noooo.... They had to go and be stubborn. And now they're all dead. Not my fault, surely...."
"We have to find it!" Quinta insists. "It said it's going to whatever evil priest instructed Raogru! It'll carry tales and warn them we're coming!"
Quinta again tries to target a spell despite the murk of darkness.... and fails utterly. "I have got to master dispelling!" she sighs, dejected.
Quinta tries to sight on the giant serpent, but her efforts are for naught due to the enduring darkness. "I really need to learn to dispel magic," the Bard-turned-Sorceress groans, frustrated. Serpent tongue: "Your master lies dead! Surrender, or you shall become my meal!"
If you need more time to recuperate, take it. ;)
Quinta tries to catch sight or sound of Raogru, and fires off another spell of sonic misery!
Merry Christmas, everyone! ^_^
My apologies for breaking character and going all real-world, but I saw this today, and I hope you will forgive me for sharing and asking you do the same through social media. Please read this article, even if it is depressing and terrifying.
Quinta again directs her magic at the high priest. If Krolmnite's attack takes him down this round, she instead directs her spell at the nearest charau-ka fighting with Rowena, trying to stun it.
Ignoring the attack on herself for the moment, Quinta again focuses on Raogru -- and releases another soundless shriek, which rattles the evil Cleric's skull from the inside out!
Quinta directs a venomous gaze at Raogru, hisses Words of Power - and then leaps away from the python, putting some distance between them.
Serpentfriend: "I would prefer for you to consider changing sides. You may grow greater still - in service to a lady who will not demand vileness of you, nor order you to lair in this tar-reeking place."
So much for converting a city full of charau-ka to the worship of Nalinivati....
Sorry, guys. I overplayed my hand... *sigh* :-/
Serpentfriend:
"Then DIE!" Even grappled as she is, Quinta is hardly without options. Eyes rolling up in the sockets, Quinta opens wide her mouth -- and bites down on the python, her eye-teeth visibly elongating as she does.
Sorry to have taken up so much time, guys.
Quinta rises to her full height and points a finger at Raogru, her voice a blast of sound, a shout of DOOM, her operatic training serving her well: Polyglot:
"You speak of pure faith when you know NOTHING of She Who Slithers In Life? You speak of SACRIFICING to her, you who are unknowing? Who is this Issilar, who has reinforced your folly? Who has dared build you up to lead the mighty charau-ka ASTRAY?
One does not enter the city of the charau-ka without passing the guards; neither shall the charau-ka enter the Palaces Beyond Life or face their lords without passing the Gatekeeper! You have not passed the seven gates, which are her coils! You do not see beyond her weaving hood! You do not guide your people to glory, you lead them on a false path, to lie limbless and whimpering on the bottom of the Abyss until Ydersius grinds you into black dust under his coils - and he will not hear you, does not hear you. That black dust, the toy of demons and demodands, is your future. If you charau-ka continue to follow this fool, it is your DOOM! None should lift their eyes to Ydersius without meeting those of the Gatekeeper! This oaf shall lead the charau-ka to their ruin! Gaze upon the great python - a symbol of life and renewal! Your last chance at life and glory is HERE, charau-ka!"
To the python, Quinta hisses: Serpentfriend: "Rise up and threaten the shrieking a monkey a bit, oh beauteous one. I am hunting an enemy today, and he is being obstructive. I think I can make it worth your while..."
Polyglot: Quinta says in low, mocking tones to Raogru - yet clearly audible to all the charau-ka - "You name yourself a priest of Ydersius," Polyglot:
"yet claim ignorance of She Who Slithers In Life? Perhaps you are not so mighty a priest of the Primal Coil, after all. Or mayhap you were not educated properly. Do you truly serve your community well? Have you taught the mighty charau-ka the true way... or have you guided them on the path of blasphemy against Ydersius? Have you angered the Sundered One against them...?"
With a rasping hiss, Quinta eels around Raogru and approaches the python, more hissing passing between her teeth as she moved languidly, arms waving lazily like branches in the wind - or snakes testing the wind as the sun warms them. Serpentfriend:
"Greetings to you, glorious cousin. You are grown large and beautiful! I salute and compliment you on your excellence. Have you eaten many of these monkeys, to grow so large?" Approaching the python as closely as it will allow, Quinta flicks a brief glance at the others.
Serpentfriend:
'All brothers and sisters in scales within sound of my voice, COME TO ME.' When she speaks, her voice is a dusty whisper: Polyglot:
"There has been too much talk of prisoners, charau-ka." Ssss rises sinuously from Quinta's collar and bares his fangs in a hiss. At the same time, Quinta bares her own teeth in an expression which is not a smile - and which exposes her poison fangs. Polyglot: she tells the leader of the group that 'captured' the party, "You have presumed against me, young one," Polyglot:
"but I will forgive you because you did not recognize me for what I am. This time. Know the blessing of She Who Slithers In Life as the severed one slithers in death..." Quinta makes a gesture of benediction at the charau-ka youth, then motions with her head in the direction of Osho'karr's bellows. Polyglot:
"Fetch me my dinosaur." Finally, she turns to Raogru. Polyglot: "Now, you may greet me, priest of Ydersius."
Polyglot: Quinta asks the charau-ka, translating her earlier question into a language familiar to the ape-men.
"Do you follow Ydersius, the Primal Coil?"
Polyglot: Quinta translates Krolmnite's words into Polyglot -- and then switches to a different language, a lugubrious tongue of alien, throaty noises and sibilance: "The Dwarf is insane and gibbers nonsense, but he is a strong fighter and useful to us," Aklo:
"Do your people here worship the Primal Coil*?"
Quinta takes a step forward and addresses the charau-ka in Polyglot, her voice smooth and beguiling, her hands and arms moving in supple, languid gestures -- and the tips of her fang-like eye-teeth visibly flashing as she speaks. Polyglot: "Hail and salutations onto the mighty Charau-Ka, rightful masters of the great jungle! Greetings and salutations, and words of friendship onto your mighty houses. We come to speak to you of enemies who have come here before us -- enemies who are also your enemies, beyond a doubt, and who will have spoken to you with liars' tongues because those are the only tongues they have. Despoilers of mother jungle, slavers of any they deem prey, they will have whispered lies in your ears to weaken you for their future conquest. May we speak to your leaders?"
"I think... I could probably talk to them in their own language. But I am not sure how long the magic would last, nor how long it would be until I can use it again," Quinta says. "This is a new trick."
"So, the city is inhabited by... monkey people," Quinta says, "and they've been talking with the Aspis. Do we try our own brand of diplomacy, or do we sneak in? By the sound of all the hooting, sneaking would be a mite nerve-wracking; lots of monkeys, and they know the place better than we do."
Far as I'm concerned, she's welcome. ^_^
Asta dutifully reports the lizard's information to the others. "So. The Red Mantis and the Aspis got here before us. We need to find a good medium between speed and caution; we're falling behind."
When Zaghigoth returns with a live reptilian specimen, Quinta proceeds to question the creature about Tarzion and any people who might have arrived before the party did.
"You can fly, can you?" Quinta asks of Krolmnite, drily. "Zaghi, before you go putting yourself in danger, can you catch and bring me a live reptile? A lizard or a snake? I could get us some local intel."
"Move in close," she calls the others. "We need to discuss how we're going to handle this. Now, we didn't actually see any of the other groups during our journey, but that isn't to say none of them have managed to pass us. Especially the Aspis wouldn't have any bones about pushing their animals to the breaking point and beyond if it got them a lead.
After the demoness has answered every last question, Quinta calls Hskoro to join her -- and drags Mellikiya into the jungle by her heels.
"Go home," the Sorceress orders the demon. "By your name you are bound. I never wantvto see nor hear of you again. Return to the Abyss."
"We need to kno whether she was acting in concert woth the Aspis or any other competitors, and whether there are more demons like het about," Quinta tells the others.
"Then upon your True Name, Melikkiya, VOW," Quinta says, her tone of voice implacable. "That as soon as we release you to do so, you return to the Abyss without delay. VOW.
In return, I, Quinta Wist-Thrune, shall release you to return home to the Abyss once our business is done and vow not to use nor disseminate your True Name for the duration of my mortal life, so long as you hold true to your vows." If the succubus agrees and swears, Quinta asks her question: "Why did you seek us out?"
The demoness responds to Quinta's challenges in a pitiful, small voice, sitting huddled on the ground. "I promise. You have all proved yourselves. I will be glad to go back to the Abyss, I can see when I have been defeated. I will not grant you my True Name, mortal, but I will consent to answering your questions, as best as I am able. What have I to lose?" She turns her gaze beseechingly on Krolmnite, who stands watch over the proceedings with an impassive demeanour. Quinta's face goes stony, and for a blink of a second her pupils seem to narrow and elongate vertically. Then they are normal again, but Quinta's expression is furious. "This is not a negotiation, you Abyssal strumpet! I am dictating terms, and my terms will not change! Your performance is transparent; without a reason to keep your vow, you will break your word as soon as you are out of my eyes! Teelith... vaedra... ashaan do..." With implacable slowness, Quinta casts a summoning spell. The air darkens between her and Mellistra, then brightens as something starts to come through. "This is your last chance. Your True Name. Now. So long as you go home to the Abyss, stay away from Golarion and abandon all interests and contacts there for our lifetime, I will never willingly use your Name, nor pass it on to another. You are not getting better terms than that, succubus!"
Roll call! Who's still playing? Should we be recruiting?
Quinta approaches Osumare first. "I am deeply sorry for what happened," She tells the priestess. "It was I who initiated violence, after all. One day, I hope you can forgive me. You are of course free to go, but do you have people near here who can take you in? If not, perhaps you would travel with us a while, at least until we come to another settlement. I understand your desire to atone, but leaving you here alone would leave an even fouler taste in my mouth than the battle did. And... we can help you bury or burn the bodies of your sisters, as you prefer." With that done, Quinta draws her rapier and approaches Mellistra. The Sorceress lightly places the tip of her rapier against the succubus' throat.
"I am fed up with you. You have dogged us and tried to murder us, manipulated and tricked us. Here is what is going to happen. You are too twisted a freak to understand or appreciate mercy, so I will bind you. I will bind you by fear. Either you tell me your True Name, by which you can be summoned and commanded, or I am going to summon a Celestial and let him go buck wild. Either way, we will be rid of you. Understand? After giving me your Name, you will answer one question from each of us, and then you are going home to the Abyss. If any of us ever sees you again, if you ever give us any trouble again, if we even find out you've returned to Golarion again or done business there directly or through proxies, we will scatter the secret of your True Name throughout Golarion and the Celestial realms. You will spend the rest of eternity a slave to every third-rate hedge-witch with an itch, if you are not simply brought low forever by an angry Leonal. Staying out of Golarion for the remainder of our lives is a far lighter price to pay. Nod if you agree to my terms. Or shake your head and I will summon your executioner. Choose wisely."
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