Shaedeen Valzanar's page

Shaedeen falls silent at Reijo's rebuke, though her green eyes narrow for just an instant. Then they return to their normal, somewhat curious expression. She knows that should she ever cross blades with the sailor, she likely won't be walking away, no matter how well she did against the savages. And this simply isn't a hill she's willing to die on. Not even close.

I never really liked Aerys or that stupid gnome, anyhow....

Still, in the name of potential future cooperation, she takes one handle of the chest and looks to the three strangers to see if any will offer to help carry it to the dubious shelter of the wreck until the heavy shower passes.

Shaedeen wipes the blood off her blade on one of the dead savages. She then sizes up the three other apparent castaways. Her "Ahoy!" to the dwarf had gone unanswered, so she was a bit wary of their intentions. As the rain gets heavy, she turns briefly to Reijo. "You think we could get out of the rain in the hold of that wreck...or is it a deathtrap just waiting to happen?"

Her eyes eventually settle on the chest the other trio had apparently pulled from the beached ship before the savages had stolen it away. Sashaying over to it, she asks, "Anything in that chest that might get damaged if it leaks?" She flashes a friendly smile, hoping that her tone sounds more more of curious than covetous. When she reaches the chest she looks to the three strangers. "If there is, I'll help someone carry it inside and out of the rain."

Shaedeen's initial impulse is to turn down Krovek's offer and prepare for the ride to Magnimar. After thinking it through a bit, though, the scrawny teen pulls out a chair at Krovek's table and orders an ale from a passing waitress.

I really don't have a whole lot of possessions to prepare, the young rogue reflects. Plus, I've never really gotten to know the others well. They probably all think of me as 'Hollie's little shadow.'

As she sips her drink, Shae opens up about herself a bit, warning Krovek that she's got enemies in Magnimar, and adding that she was once a member of the all-female cat-burglar gang known as the Tower Girls.

"I intend to keep a low profile when we return to the city," she informs the big guy. "If possible...."

Shaedeen again nods, but this time it's accompanied by a smile. She runs back to the inn to inform the others of Hollie's decision and to gather up her own gear as well.

Shaedeen nods at Hollie's words. After a pause, the teen asks, "So...what do we do now? Is the sheriff going to look into Lord Foxglove's associates, or is that something we'll be doing?"

Shaedeen checks in with Lunal, Cator, and Krovek, but it's obvious to them that Lord Foxglaive's ghoulish obsession with her has left the teen deeply shaken. She asks for a piece of the treasure recovered from The Misgivings--the cameo bearing her likeness. With that in hand, she wanders back out of the Rusty Dragon in search of Hollie.

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When Hollie finishes briefing the mayor on all the recent events, she finds Shaedeen waiting for her outside. The teen presses the cameo into Hollie's hand. "I wasn't sure what to do with this thing...whether to keep it or destroy it. But I don't want to keep it--too many bad memories are attached to it. I figured I'd give it to you."

Managing a faltering smile, Shae adds, "You might want to check it first to make sure there's no curse upon it. Then you can either keep it or destroy it as you see fit."

Back in Sandpoint, Shaedeen thanks her friends for eliminating the threat of Aldern Foxglove from her life. His obsession with her has left the teen visibly shaken.

She takes time to brush down Thunderclap when the horses are returned to the stable, even though she's pretty much out on her feet. She covers her prized horse with a blanket and even kisses his neck, thankful for his steadfast service. Once inside, she manages to give Ameiko a glassy-eyed smile before retiring for what remains of the night.

Stripping off all her gear and wet clothing and throwing it all haphazardly onto a chair, Shae climbs into bed and burrows beneath the covers. It's only then, and at the very edge of her consciousness, that the teen realizes she didn't take off all her gear: the Sihedron medallion still rests coolly against her chest.

Hollie thinks it's evil the girl reflects. I don't. I think it gives me power and protects me.... And that's the last thought Shae has for the night before cupping the ancient artifact in her small hands and falling into a deep, dreamless sleep.

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THE NEXT MORNING AT THE RUSTY DRAGON
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"That can't be good!" Shaedeen comments when she sees Cator's affliction. "I'll go fetch Hollie and Father Zantus!" she adds before scooting out the inn's front door.

"Bloody hell--I'm no good at fighting swarms!" Shaedeen growls. Nonetheless, she's got her rapier at the ready, prepared to skewer as many undead crows as she's able.

"Let's just leave this awful place!" Shaedeen wails. "It turned Krovek into a troll!" (He got better.)

Scrawny Shaedeen looks on helplessly as the Krovek-troll lumbers toward the edge of the cliff. Suddenly she gets an inspiration.

"Kazaht--get master! Fetch!"

Shaedeen wants the place burned to ashes more than anyone, but things don't seem to be trending in that direction.

"Hey--why don't we leave it for now?" she suggests. "Maybe when we return from Magnimar it won't be pouring out and it'll go up like a tinderbox."

The rogue proceeds to the front door, looking out into the storm toward where the party left its mounts.

Shaedeen hops down from the table. Although it's not the best weapon for battling a rat swarm, the rogue again brings her rapier to bear against the rodents, skewering a whole line of them before flicking the corpses against the wall.

"Like spearing fish in a barrel!" she exclaims with a cocky grin.

Shaedeen Fort Save (nausea): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

Shaedeen Fort Save (disease): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Shaedeen rapier (IR): 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 9 + 2 = 29 for magic, piercing damage: 1d6 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 2 = 11 (18-20)

Shaedeen rapier (IR) CONFIRM?: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 9 + 2 = 25 for magic, piercing damage: 1d6 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 2 = 12 (18-20)

Dang! Forgot momentarily that swarms can't be critted.

Shaedeen hops onto the other end of the table from Lunal, rapier drawn and ready.

Shaedeen Acrobatics: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26

While Krovek listens at the door, the much smaller Shaedeen crouches next to him, examining the door and its lock for traps.

Shaedeen Perception (find traps): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

Shaedeen's not sure what to do, but she's got to try to help her friend...and maybe even whatever spirit's currently controlling her.

"It's not your fault," she says, draping an arm around Hollie's waist and trying to steer her gently out the door again. "There's nothing you can do here. Let's get away from all this mold, OK?"

I'll throw out a Diplomacy check in case it's needed.

Shaedeen Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Shaedeen follows after Hollie and Drax. "I really hate this place!" she grumbles.

Suspecting that her friend's been victimized by another of the manor's haunts, Shaedeen tries to grab Hollie before she gets too far.

Shaedeen CMB (grab): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Shae would have dropped her rapier to attempt the tackle.

Shaedeen pauses by Cator, also gazing at the stained glass windows. "Did...did Aldern intentionally turn himself undead?"

Sorry--posted something similar a couple days back but it apparently got eaten.

"Are you all right?" Shaedeen asks in concern as Hollie's coughing fit abates. "Hope that thing's worth it," she comments of the magical pick.

Shaedeen seems to have recovered her courage now that Aldern is dead...again. She tells the others what she knows of Redshiv the Bandit; then she points out that reporting his apparent demise to the authorities in Magnimar may not be wise, especially if they opt to burn the Misgivings to the ground with Foxglove's ghoulish remains still inside.

"He was some sort of nobleman, after all."

Shaedeen manages to command her nerves as the bat-ghoul shrieks. She stabs out at the thing with her trusty rapier.

Shaedeen rapier (IR): 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 9 + 2 = 25 for magic, piercing damage (IR): 1d6 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 = 9 (18-20)

Shaedeen moves forward but isn't able to get in a quick attack; instead, she moves close to the beast, her back to the south wall, leaving room for Krovek to join the scrum.

Double-move; there goes any sneak attack for this combat, most likely.

"Do we have a glass jar?" Shaedeen counters. "Did you see one somewhere upstairs?"

Shaedeen gives Hollie a weak smile before moving to collect Foxglove's drawings of her. She's shaking--with both rage and embarrassment--as she gathers the sketches and stuffs them into her pack. After a moment's consideration, she stuffs the hair and other personal trinkets Aldern stole from her into the backpack as well.

Eventually, she's ready to deal with whatever's inside the box.

Shaedeen Perception (find traps): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22

Shaedeen returns to the others, her emotions obviously warring inside her. She seems embarrassed to have fled the fight with Foxglove, but also still terrified nearly out of her mind. She accepts Holly's embrace, melting into it and sobbing lightly.

The horror proves too much for the teen rogue: She lets out a strangled shriek and flees back the way the party came.

I'm assuming she can't execute a withdrawal while frightened.

Shaedeen continues to hang back, not sure how Iesha might react were she to join the fight. The teen rogue's also not entirely sure which undead entity she fears more after witnessing firsthand the revenant's fury.

Let's go with a readied action: Attack Foxglove or Iesha if they try to attack her first.

Shaedeen looks at the scene before her in abject horror. She wants to flee the house--hell, all of Varisia for that matter--but she figures some other horror lurking in the manor will get her if she tries. In the end, she takes Krovek's advice...for now.

Technically, Shae will delay to see if the revenant falls for Aldern's lies or rips him to pieces.

Shaedeen follows after the revenant as well.

Made a single move on the map; defensive fighting for her standard action.

Shaedeen swoops into flanking position opposite Hollie against the goblin-ghast. The plucky teen grits her teeth a bit at the thing's stench but stands strong, stabbing at the monster with her rapier, dropping her defensive stance with fewer threats remaining.

Shaedeen Fort Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Shaedeen rapier (IR, flanking): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26 for piercing damage (IC, trait (DF), SA): 1d6 + 4 + 2 + 1 + 3d6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 + 1 + (6, 5, 5) = 26 (18-20)

Shaedeen continues to fight defensively, stabbing at the ghoul to her immediate west.

Shaedeen rapier (IR, fighting defensively): 1d20 + 9 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 9 + 2 - 4 = 18 for piercing damage (IR): 1d6 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 2 = 12 (18-20)

Shaedeen moves forward into the larger cavern. Seeing a lone ghoul to the east, she stops and readies a strike, forcing it to come to her if it wants a piece of her.

Still fighting defensively.

Shae follows the others, remaining in a fighting-yet-defensive crouch.

Single move and fighting defensively (+3 to AC).

Shaedeen steps to the south of the ghouls to allow Hollie and/or Drax to step up and attack. Again she fights defensively, trying to defend herself against all the teeth and claws aimed her way. Nonetheless, her Queen of the Rapier persona makes a timely appearance!

Shaedeen rapier (fighting defensively, IR +2?): 1d20 + 9 - 4 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 9 - 4 + 2 = 25 for piercing damage: 1d6 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 2 = 10 (18-20)

Shaedeen rapier CONFIRM? (fighting defensively, IR +2?): 1d20 + 9 - 4 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 9 - 4 + 2 = 27 for additional piercing damage: 1d6 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 2 = 10 (18-20)

Not sure if Cator's Inspired Rage was his 1st Round action or not; if not, subtract 4 from Shae's total damage (20-4=16).

Shaedeen slips forward cautiously to engage the undead foes. She fights defensively, expecting that she'll soon be facing a lot more incoming claws and teeth than the one little jab she can make with her rapier.

Shaedeen rapier (fighting defensively): 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 9 - 4 = 22 for piercing damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 (18-20)

Shaedeen sneak attack (precision damage): 3d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 5) = 10

+3 to AC (has 3+ ranks in Acrobatics).

Shaedeen gives Krovek a big shrug. None of this madness makes an ounce of sense to her.

It's obvious Shae is in shock from the sudden attack. She doesn't seem to notice Hollie initially.

"Is it possible? Did he kill her...for me??!!" The teen then suddenly scrabbles backward up a stair or two. "Ghouls! Ghouls below!"

Her green eyes finally manage to focus upon Hollie, and Shae realizes her friend has healed some of her wounds. "Thank you," the young rogue says with unusual earnestness. Then some of her snarkiness returns as she regains her feet and adds, "I guess no one else saw the ghouls?" The bloodied rogue relates what the haunt experience was like for her.

See spoiler above for details of what Shae saw/experienced.

From her prone and awkward position, Shaedeen tries to recover from the unexpected onslaught. The first thing to check is whether or not she can move or speak.

Shae tags along warily, staying close to Hollie and Drax.

Shaedeen hops down with relative grace.

Shaedeen Acrobatics: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

Shaedeen isn't doing a very good job of hiding how petrified she is. She hangs back from the fixated revenant, not sure if it or the ghoulish Lord Foxglove frightens her more.

I think we are just letting her through, based on Lunlal’s intel. Then probably following her?

Yep--what Hollie said.

Shaedeen, realizing that this (Or worse!) could have been her fate, fights through the horror of the revenant's screech and tries to move Hollie (or one of the cowering folk) out of the undead's path.

Shaedeen fidgets uncomfortably. Her mouth remains shut, however, indicating some measure of solidarity with Hollie on Lunal's plan.

Shaedeen moves counterclockwise from the southeast, peering into each room. "Creepy...creepy...super-creepy," is her report.

"You might try that," Shae says to Lunal. "I think that if we've come this far, we need to follow through. Secrets are always hidden in the attic or basement."

After a pause, the young burglar adds, "Goodies are often tucked away there, too."

SHAEDEEN LEVEL 6 UPDATES
+1 level in rogue (burglar)

hp: +7 (5 + 1 Con + 1 FC)
BAB: none
Saves: none

New Rogue Class Abilities: sneak attack +1d6, rogue's edge (Stealth)

SKILLS (8 class + 1 Int + 1 skilled)
+1 Acrobatics
+1 Bluff
+1 Climb
+1 Disable Device
+1 Escape Artist
+1 Knowledge (local)
+1 Perception
+1 Ride
+1 Sense Motive
+1 Stealth
Background Skills (2)
+1 Appraise
+1 Sleight of Hand

"I'm on it!" Shaedeen says, slinging her shield onto her back and sheathing her rapier before digging out her lockpicks and setting to work on the door's lock.

Shaedeen Disable Device: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21

If that fails, she'll try taking 10 for a 25.

Shaedeen covers her ears. "I...HATE...This...Place!!"

Nevertheless, she follows the others toward the screaming.

"You look fine!" Shae tries to assure Cator. Then worry gets the best of her and she slowly twirls herself for inspection. "How about me?"