Proteus chants, "Intellectus lingua." Proteus then readies to throw himself between any blow and the recipient.Rana's eyes narrow as he looks pointedly at Proteus,"What have you done shaman? Have you cast a spell on me? If I find out you have I will cut your tongue out!At this last outburst from Rana Ka'kara loses all semblance of civility as she attempts to grab Proteus with one hand and fling him to the side. To Rana, "I take no orders from anyone! The last thing you shall ever see is the face of the mere woman who gutted you!"
Combat Maneuver Overrun: 1d20+8=22
** spoiler omitted **
|
Rana quickly sidesteps the charging barbarian woman aiming a snap thrust to her midsection as she passes .
Rana stands over Ka'kara with a look of utter satisfaction,"Honor has been satisfied."
With Ka'kara's back to him Rana slashes visciously with his offhand at the small of her back followed by a quick jab with his main hand.
Since Proteus is standing between the two warriors Ka'kara can't charge, which means that she lacks the momentum to knock Rana over. Rana manages to interpose his sword, impaling Ka'kara's arm for 4 points of damage . He reels as the savage warrior slams into him, but manages (barely) to remain standing.
Rana immediately takes a step backwards and declares that his honor has been satisfied. The question is whether Ka'kara will accept that. Anyway, Proteus and Roylenna (and the rest of you, if you want to interfere) are up.
In obviously clipped and angry Tharbrian:
** spoiler omitted **edit: Being completely distressed about something concerning the Tharbrian woman Rana misses the halfling's attempts at parley.
Roylenna looks very much like a petulant child as she stands there, off to the side, hands on her hips. Suddenly, she throws her hands up in the air and shouts, "Fine, just kill each other, you fools!"
She walks over to Sandros and joins him in appraising the half-orcs. "Are you warriors? If these two get each other killed, we might be looking for a good swordarm or two."
She's frustrated that she can't broker a peace between a pair of friends and pointedly doesn't watch.
Proteus is tossed aside like a rag doll as the two combatants fight. He begins tearing at his clothing in protest and looks to the heavens.
He then begins speaking in a lilting, angelic tone.
In Celestial
"Asclepius, I beg of you, stop this madness as it would appear your humble servant is unable."
Black Tom
I am willing to spend some piety points if we can arrange something climactic here.
Ka'kara grabs Proteus and pushes him out of the way, drawing her sword. At that point Rana steps forward and slashes her arm, claiming that his honor has been satisfied. Enraged, Ka'kara raises her sword and brings down the flat with full force on the side of Rana's head, knocking him out.
Royl refuses to watch and Proteus looks exasperated, shouting something in a strange tongue. Hella keeps her crossbow cocked and the two half-orcs look terrified. Only Sandros looks mildly amused.
The look of rage passes from Ka'kara's face as she stares at the crumpled form before her. Suddenly she bursts out laughing, "I like your friends! You think I knocked some sense into him?" With a very amused twinkle in her eye she says to Proteus, "You are developing a very dangerous habit of getting between me and my prey." Looking over at the two half-orcs, "Well, you two going to carry him? We have a long way to go." She returns to where she dropped the other psycho warrior and picks him back up. "I can see there'll never be a dull moment," said with her usual big grin as she starts off toward town again, smacking Proteus on the ass as she walks by.
Sense motive (DC 9):
BT:
...smacking Proteus on the ass as she walks by.
Proteus looks dumbfounded, then sheepish at Ka'kara's display of affection. Unable to think of anything appropriate to say, he blushes in embarassment and follows after Ka'kara.
As he walks by the two half-orcs he asks, "Can you two carry him until he awakens? We have our hands full with him," he states pointing to Vladoff.
As he walks by the two half-orcs he asks, "Can you two carry him until he awakens? We have our hands full with him," he states pointing to Vladoff.
"Carry him where?" asks the taller half-orc gruffly. "Who says we're coming with you?"
"Carry him where?" asks the taller half-orc gruffly. "Who says we're coming with you?"
"Warwik, of course, are you not heading back to town?"
"Carry him where?" asks the taller half-orc gruffly. "Who says we're coming with you?""Warwik, of course, are you not heading back to town?"
The taller half-orc looks at Proteus in disbelief. "Your kind don't take kindly to our kind, you know", he says and spits on the ground. "Ain't never been to Warwik."
The other half-orc interjects: "We just wanted to see you friend safely back. But we're leaving now. We don't want any trouble."
"We'll not cause you any trouble and vouch for you if you can get us back to town safely. Perhaps we can pay you for your trouble if you wish to accompany us." He looks questioningly at the rest of the group. "What would make it worth your effort?" he asks the two.
"We're not mercenaries and there is nothing for us in that town of yours."
The look of rage passes from Ka'kara's face as she stares at the crumpled form before her. Suddenly she bursts out laughing, "I like your friends! You think I knocked some sense into him?" With a very amused twinkle in her eye she says to Proteus, "You are developing a very dangerous habit of getting between me and my prey." Looking over at the two half-orcs, "Well, you two going to carry him? We have a long way to go." She returns to where she dropped the other psycho warrior and picks him back up. "I can see there'll never be a dull moment," said with her usual big grin as she starts off toward town again, smacking Proteus on the ass as she walks by.
Sense motive (DC 9):
At the sound of Rana hitting ground, Roylenna turns, a bit of panic in her eyes. It passes quickly as Ka'kara does not follow through with the obvious advantage she's gained. Spotting the fresh blood, she hustles to the barbarian, "Ka'kara, you're wounded. I should let it bleed, but I'm glad you didn't do any permanent damage to Rana . Let me see if I can do anything with that."
Heavenly Fire to heal Ka'kara 1d6=6
To the half-orcs, "I'm sorry you don't feel you can come to the city with us. Will you be in this area if Rana seeks you out when he recovers?"
Spotting the fresh blood, she hustles to the barbarian, "Ka'kara, you're wounded. I should let it bleed
Ka'kara looks at the cut with sudden concern, "We should let it bleed? Why, do you think is it infected?"
To the half-orcs, "I'm sorry you don't feel you can come to the city with us. Will you be in this area if Rana seeks you out when he recovers?"
"Yah, he knows where to find us. We'll see you around, I figure. Unless we see you first, har har."
Spotting the fresh blood, she hustles to the barbarian, "Ka'kara, you're wounded. I should let it bleedKa'kara looks at the cut with sudden concern, "We should let it bleed? Why, do you think is it infected?"
Roylenna laughs, "No, I meant I should let it bleed because I was unhappy with both of you fighting like that. But you maintained your control, which impresses me. And which I appreciate, because Rana is a friend. So I healed it."
Roylenna laughs, "No, I meant I should let it bleed because I was unhappy with both of you fighting like that. But you maintained your control, which impresses me. And which I appreciate, because Rana is a friend. So I healed it."Spotting the fresh blood, she hustles to the barbarian, "Ka'kara, you're wounded. I should let it bleedKa'kara looks at the cut with sudden concern, "We should let it bleed? Why, do you think is it infected?"
"He seems to think someone named Napongo..no no..Naranga...hmmm...Nawa..ah, I forget...anyway he seemed to think I was sent by this person to assassinate him. Do you think he is sick in the mind like this guy? Well, if no one is going to carry him than I guess we should disarm him and wake him up so he at least isn't food for the dogs."
"... but I'm glad you didn't do any permanent damage to Rana since you only hit him on the head ;-).
Rana groans quietly on the ground.
"He seems to think someone named Napongo..no no..Naranga...hmmm...Nawa..ah, I forget...anyway he seemed to think I was sent by this person to assassinate him. Do you think he is sick in the mind like this guy? Well, if no one is going to carry him than I guess we should disarm him and wake him up so he at least isn't food for the dogs."Roylenna laughs, "No, I meant I should let it bleed because I was unhappy with both of you fighting like that. But you maintained your control, which impresses me. And which I appreciate, because Rana is a friend. So I healed it."Spotting the fresh blood, she hustles to the barbarian, "Ka'kara, you're wounded. I should let it bleedKa'kara looks at the cut with sudden concern, "We should let it bleed? Why, do you think is it infected?"
Roylenna moves to tend to Rana to see if she can awaken him. If so, "Rana, that is a pretty good-sized knot on your head. But, then again, you might be fortunate that your head is still attached to your shoulders."
"Who is this person that might be sending a killer after you? You know you will not have to fight an assassin alone - we are your friends and will stand beside you."
In the past, Roylenna's healing had no effect on the fighter, but she will try again, just to make sure, to see if it brings him to consciousness. Heavenly Fire healing attempt 1d6=5
Sandros frowns. Assassination doesn't seem to be Ka'kara's style, and Rana is rather distinctly still alive - even if he's going to have quite the headache when he wakes up. He eyes the Tharbrian warrior, but shakes his head. "I'm not going to be able to lift him," he says. "Not with all his gear, anyway."
While you are still debating how to carry the unconscious warriors, you spy a cart approaching along the road, with a burly, armored man walking next to it. As it draws near, you recognize the familiar cursing. Apparently Ms Wilkerson has had a good run of her potions and is returning already.
Relaxing slightly but still wary, you ready yourself to meet your old acquaintance. As she spots you, she breaks into a loud guffaw, looking genuinely happy to see you. Or maybe the brandy has put her in a good mood.
With her is a bald man in chainmail, who looks suspiciously at you, and beside her sits a gangly young man in the upper teens who fidgets with something in a small pouch. They stop and Ms Wilkerson greets you cordially.
While you are still debating how to carry the unconscious warriors, you spy a cart approaching along the road, with a burly, armored man walking next to it. As it draws near, you recognize the familiar cursing. Apparently Ms Wilkerson has had a good run of her potions and is returning already.
Relaxing slightly but still wary, you ready yourself to meet your old acquaintance. As she spots you, she breaks into a loud guffaw, looking genuinely happy to see you. Or maybe the brandy has put her in a good mood.
With her is a bald man in chainmail, who looks suspiciously at you, and beside her sits a gangly young man in the upper teens who fidgets with something in a small pouch. They stop and Ms Wilkerson greets you cordially.
Roylenna skips over to where the cart has come to a stop. "Hi, Greta! You look like you are doing well. And with stout guards to protect you, I see. I trust business was good in Warwick?"
Sandros smiles as well, offering Greta a sweeping bow. "Milady Wilkerson, a pleasure it is indeed to see you once again!" He eyes the cart speculatively. "Headed back to Seahill, are you?" he asks.
Greta beams at you. "Oh yeah. Some crazy adventurers killed the high priestess of the moon and put the entire temple out of commission. Which meant more business for me. On the other hand, the city is all abuzz with rumors, and I wouldn't have them think that I had something to do about it (which I didn't, thank you very much), so I thought I'd just leave them to calm down."
She eyes you carefully. "My, you seem to have picked up quite a few new friends. Did the half-orc rush into some unknown dungeon or something? And do you help help to carry those two? I could give you a ride to the Roadside Inn in exchange for your stories. I could use a good laugh, and it's not that far."
Greta beams at you. "Oh yeah. Some crazy adventurers killed the high priestess of the moon and put the entire temple out of commission. Which meant more business for me. On the other hand, the city is all abuzz with rumors, and I wouldn't have them think that I had something to do about it (which I didn't, thank you very much), so I thought I'd just leave them to calm down."
She eyes you carefully. "My, you seem to have picked up quite a few new friends. Did the half-orc rush into some unknown dungeon or something? And do you need help to carry those two? I could give you a ride to the Roadside Inn in exchange for your stories. I could use a good laugh, and it's not that far."
"An entire temple? Oh, my!"
In response to her reference to new friends, Roylenna says, "Oh, yes! The tall woman is Ka'kara - she did not like her traveling companions much and joined us a couple of days ago. Then while we were exploring the next day, Hella found us. She is the only survivor of a group of explorers and did not know the way out, so she has thrown her lot in with us. They have both been marvelous to have along and we are really glad they found us."
When Greta refers to Grond, an uncharacteristic shadow passes across the halfling sorcerer's face. "I am afraid my good friend became bored. I tried to talk him out of leaving, but he wanted to go back to the city. He struck out on his own the day that Ka'kara found us. I was kind of hoping you might have seen him, actually."
"I think it would be great to travel with you again, if it is not too much trouble. These two sleepers will certainly be much easier to transport in your cart. It is always safer to travel in numbers and, boy, do we have some stories to share with you!"
She turns to the two visible protectors and asks them, in turn, "I am glad to see that Greta has found protection for her return. I am Roylenna. Who are you?"
Ka'kara heaves the two unconcious fighters into the back of the cart, "It is nice to meet you Greta. A whole temple in the town put to the sword? Do you know if the town is looking to hire someone to hunt down these "crazy adventurers" and bring them to justice? By the way, do you have something in your stores that may cure madness? As these two seem to both be suffering from it."
Greta climbs into the back to inspect the fallen warriors. "Madness... no", she says, pouting. "Poison I can handle, and diseases sometimes, but madness... you'll have to speak to the Temple of the Sun for that. Or perhaps the wizards at... hey, is this Vladoff the Stern? Ye gods, what have you done to him? I'd have thought that he was long dead. He certainly smells the part. You wouldn't believe it, but he was quite the charmer in days bygone. I remember selling him quite a few potions. But then he was always one to go storming into strange dungeons. Not unlike yourselves." She shakes her head and chuckles as she returns to her seat.
Meanwhile the two henchmen introduce themselves to Royl as Kytor the Red (the fighter) and Moorin ("just Moorin"). The latter claims to be a sorcerer but he's dressed more like a commoner, with carefully patched breeches.
You load the two unconscious figures into the cart and Greta turns it around. Kytor looks rather disgruntled, but there isn't really much he can do. "By the starry sky", Greta shouts at him, "it's just a few hours. Lighten up." Whereupon she uncorks a cask of brandy and passes it around.
She makes Moorin move over to make room for Roylenna beside her. She looks expectantly at the talkative halfling.
Apart from that your journey to Roadside Inn is uneventful. Rana wakes up eventually, but you find it expedient to keep Vladoff unconscious, so you give him one of Greta's sleeping drugs.
At the Inn you are accosted by Penelope Barmey, who is anxious to hear news of her poor husband, who she insists is still alive. There is also a package left for you by Grond containing the money for the loot you sent with him.
I guess you will be wanting to press on to Warwik, but it would be wise to spend the night at the inn before continuing. If here is anything else you want to do or say, just let me know.
Greta climbs into the back to inspect the fallen warriors. "Madness... no", she says, pouting. "Poison I can handle, and diseases sometimes, but madness... you'll have to speak to the Temple of the Sun for that. Or perhaps the wizards at... hey, is this Vladoff the Stern? Ye gods, what have you done to him? I'd have thought that he was long dead. He certainly smells the part. You wouldn't believe it, but he was quite the charmer in days bygone. I remember selling him quite a few potions. But then he was always one to go storming into strange dungeons. Not unlike yourselves." She shakes her head and chuckles as she returns to her seat.
"We don't know who he is, but he did give that name in his mad ramblings."
Meanwhile the two henchmen introduce themselves to Royl as Kytor the Red (the fighter) and Moorin ("just Moorin"). The latter claims to be a sorcerer but he's dressed more like a commoner, with carefully patched breeches.
"Pleased to meet you, Kytor the Red."
"Moorin, you are a sorcerer? That's exciting, so am I! It is very nice to meet you, as well!"
She makes Moorin move over to make room for Roylenna beside her. She looks expectantly at the talkative halfling.
Roylenna tells Greta about the the epic battle with the orc barbarian and his dogs, the battles with the kobolds (with the sensation of nearly dying told in excruciating detail unless Greta stops her), and the creature in the water. She tells about the dragon and, when pressed by Greta for Vladoff's story, tells how they tried to negotiate with him repeatedly, but he was beyond reason and continued fighting - and how we found his companions. She ends it with, "I am afraid it is due to some bad magic in those bracers he is wearing, but I am not an expert. Hopefully, someone at the Temple of the Sun can tell for certain."
You load the two unconscious figures into the cart and Greta turns it around. Kytor looks rather disgruntled, but there isn't really much he can do. "By the starry sky", Greta shouts at him, "it's just a few hours. Lighten up." Whereupon she uncorks a cask of brandy and passes it around.
Ka'kara gladly takes a large swig from the cask, "My thanks, this certainly will make the trip to the inn pass more quickly."
She makes Moorin move over to make room for Roylenna beside her. She looks expectantly at the talkative halfling.
Ka'kara embellishes each of the stories that she was involved in by describing in great detail the way her blade cleaved her foes and the feel of muscle and bone giving way too sharp steel or how she pommel bashed the warriors into submission.
Apart from that your journey to Roadside Inn is uneventful. Rana wakes up eventually, but you find it expedient to keep Vladoff unconscious, so you give him one of Greta's sleeping drugs.
As Rana wakes up Ka'kara smiles, "Welcome back to the lands of the living. Here have a drink of this and it should help your headache." She offers him Greta's cask after taking another drink from it.
At the Inn you are accosted by Penelope Barmey, who is anxious to hear news of her poor husband, who she insists is still alive. There is also a package left for you by Grond containing the money for the loot you sent with him.
I guess you will be wanting to press on to Warwik, but it would be wise to spend the night at the inn before continuing. If here is anything else you want to do or say, just let me know.
After hearing Penelope's words, "Not to worry we shall find him and return him if he yet draws breath in those caves and tunnels. We have to be quick about returning this mad warrior to the temple so that we can return to the search." She looks toward Roylenna, "I'm afraid I will have to stay outside as I have not yet come across the riches to afford a place such as this. I am sure if we defeat that dragon or that goblin king that I may be able to next time." Then after remebering something Roylenna said, "You really think it's the bracers that are causing his madness through some curse? I hadn't thought of that."
Sandros listens with growing amusement to the bard-in-training do her storytelling bit. Goodness, he thinks after awhile, I'm not that tall...
When they reach the Roadside Inn, he does everything he can to reassure Penelope that they are doing all they are capable of to see her husband back safe. "Can you give us any more information about him?" he asks her. "What sorts of messages do you get from him? How do they come to you? What does he tell you? Please, ma'am, the more you tell us, the more likely it will be that we can find him..."
Sandros listens with growing amusement to the bard-in-training do her storytelling bit. Goodness, he thinks after awhile, I'm not that tall...
When they reach the Roadside Inn, he does everything he can to reassure Penelope that they are doing all they are capable of to see her husband back safe. "Can you give us any more information about him?" he asks her. "What sorts of messages do you get from him? How do they come to you? What does he tell you? Please, ma'am, the more you tell us, the more likely it will be that we can find him..."
With a slight slur from the partaking of the cask, "HA! Right you are Sandros! Get a description of what he looks like so we don't accidentally put him to the sword or get hacked apart ourselves by madmen."
When they reach the Roadside Inn, he does everything he can to reassure Penelope that they are doing all they are capable of to see her husband back safe. "Can you give us any more information about him?" he asks her. "What sorts of messages do you get from him? How do they come to you? What does he tell you? Please, ma'am, the more you tell us, the more likely it will be that we can find him..."
Penelope looks at you seriously. "He speaks to me in my dreams. No, I know what you're thinking, but I do have a gift. I predicted the river's flooding twice and foresaw my neighbor's drowning. Nasty business, that, and his poor wife and all. If only he would have laid off drinking..." She sobs and wipes her eyes with a handkerchief. "Anyway, I'm afraid I can't tell you much about poor Fenton, except that he is still alive and calling out to me. He lives at the bottom of a deep cavern with a dark companion. If you need a description, he is tall, with long, thinning blond hair and was last seen wearing a quilted cloak that I made for him..." *sob*
The barkeep, Hamann, definitely remembers Vladoff. "Bit of a ladies' man, he was, not unlike yourself. Came here a bit. He and some fellows were exploring some old dungeon to the west, fighting orcs and the like. Cleaned up real well, though. Was the life of the party here, bragging and wenching. Not what you expect from a paladin of the Sky. Of course, I never saw him actually taking a lady upstairs, if you know what I mean. Guess he was being discreet."
"He and his party disappeared some six months ago. I reckoned they had gotten themselves killed as adventurers are wont to. Wonder what happened to him..."
There is also a package left for you by Grond containing the money for the loot you sent with him.
Roylenna will inquire with anyone knowing about the package as to the well-being of Grond. "Did he say anything?" "Did he appear to be well?"
As Rana wakes up Ka'kara smiles, "Welcome back to the lands of the living. Here have a drink of this and it should help your headache." She offers him Greta's cask after taking another drink from it.
After being jostled awake by the ride in the back of the wagon Rana gingerly inspects the large lump on his head. Eyeing the cask with mild suspicion he takes a sip and after thinking for a moment takes a longer pull of the brandy.
Back at the inn Rana hangs in the back a bit and orders a meal from the barkeep and inquires about a room. Sitting and eating near the firepit he watches his companions in uneasy contemplation.
"Anyway, I'm afraid I can't tell you much about poor Fenton, except that he is still alive and calling out to me. He lives at the bottom of a deep cavern with a dark companion. If you need a description, he is tall, with long, thinning blond hair and was last seen wearing a quilted cloak that I made for him..." *sob*
The barkeep, Hamann, definitely remembers Vladoff. "Bit of a ladies' man, he was, not unlike yourself. Came here a bit. He and some fellows were exploring some old dungeon to the west, fighting orcs and the like. Cleaned up real well, though. Was the life of the party here, bragging and wenching. Not what you expect from a paladin of the Sky. Of course, I never saw him actually taking a lady upstairs, if you know what I mean. Guess he was being discreet."
Sandros thanks Penelope and the barkeep both for their information, passing it along to the rest of the group later.
Noticing Rana sitting by himself, Sandros approaches his table and asks if he can sit down.
If Rana will have my company, I will also sit with him in silence.
As Sandros and Proteus approach his table he nods at them. "Barkeep! Bring a pitcher of your darkest ale and make sure it's not too watered down!" Once the pitcher arrives Rana pours a drink for the other two. "So, what have the two of you been about? I heard some on the ride here from the little wi..er Roylenna as she was talking to the old woman. Is half of what she said true?"
"Most of it, yes," Sandros allows, though he grins as he says it. "She does tend to get a bit... carried away with the details." Sandros fills in some more of the story for a bit, emphasizing Ka'kara's contributions to the group and watching Rana's reactions.
Sense Motive (untrained) (1d20-1=13)
After a bit, he glances over at Ka'kara, then leans a bit closer to Rana. "If you don't mind me asking - and if you do, please, tell me to go to Abyss - what is it between you two? I was pretty suspicious of her right when she showed up, based on your reaction, but she's seemed to be on the level since then."
"Most of it, yes," Sandros allows, though he grins as he says it. "She does tend to get a bit... carried away with the details." Sandros fills in some more of the story for a bit, emphasizing Ka'kara's contributions to the group and watching Rana's reactions.
Nodding as Sandros goes over the last couple of days in the dungeon Rana is definitely interested in there adventures. Every time Ka'kara is brought up he glances over in her direction.
After a bit, he glances over at Ka'kara, then leans a bit closer to Rana. "If you don't mind me asking - and if you do, please, tell me to go to Abyss - what is it between you two? I was pretty suspicious of her right when she showed up, based on your reaction, but she's seemed to be on the level since then."
"I can't really that I know the woman other than she is from Tharbria. And that is enough for me to believe she is a threat until she proves otherwise." Rana settles back into his chair,"I am a fugitive from my homelands, for reasons that don't concern you, and this woman may very well be here to claim my head."
Greta and her guards leave you at the Roadside Inn and continue on their way, and you spend a pleasurable evening together with a lot of their darkest brew.
In the morning you continue, somewhat subdued and carrying the still unconscious Vladoff (who by now looks something like a phrenologist's wet dream). The journey is uneventful and late that afternoon you enter Warwik.
There are some rather pointed queries at the gate regarding the unconscious warrior you are carrying but they seem to be satisfied with your explanations. They even lend you a stretcher to take him to the Temple of the Sun, where high priest Thaban offers to remove the bracers in exchange for a small donation of 270 gp. Since the temple to the moon shut down more people than usual need his services.
Other than that, you are free to do whatever you want.
"Father Thabrin, we are yet poor adventurers having just begun our careers. Is there a possibility that I might lend my meager abilities and aid you for a couple of days in exchange for a discount in the help of Vladoff?"