Lleidr will mutter under his breath in Halfling as the triplets disappear around the bend.
"I got to get my sword," he'll say to the group, then double move back up to room D12 and retrieve Gut-tugger from where he dropped it earlier.
As he moves through area D11, he'll say to Ned, "The lady is some sort of mage and also as fast as a deer. I think everyone else is back down that corridor, in the room we first came down into. Oh, and something called Orik is on it's way to kill us or whatever."
Back in room D1, Arg will continue to grapple with the mage's cat and try to bite it.
which I guess becomes 1 point of subdual damage
Just to clarify - they/she did 2 move actions: standard move and open the door.
And, i meant to mention something else, and forgot about it. When Ned and Lleidr returned the way they ran, the room 'D14' had a map of Sandpoint on the wall. I didn't go into details about the room contents either time, cause you guys were doing full moves, but that particular detail was obvious upon your return.
Readying himself for whats to come he follows the woman in axe held high and walks toward her.
Selia will follow after Jubrayl staying behind him and start a low chant calling on her divine powers to draw an ally into the material plain.
Ned, you still there?
Ned will double move after the women then stop to peek around the corner.
[Morning, Thistletop, 8th Day After Goblin Raid, Round 9, Part 2, Thistletop Level One]
Lleidr retrieve his blade from the chapel floor and returns back to the common room.
Ned races down the southern passage and finds that it turns to the west for about 30 feet. The trio of identical ladies are knocking loudly at the first door on the north wall. Four other doors are spaced evenly throughout the hall. NOTE – it’s hard to see from the map image, but there’s doors to the immediate north & south of the female mage, as well as another pair 10’ west of her, and a door at the very western end of the passage.
Jubrayl follows behind Ned, with Selia trailing and chanting a familiar liturgical prayer.
I now need actions from Nich and Hakak.
Nicholas holds off for the moment, guarding the rear rather than get the corridor all snarled up.
Hold! Step away from that door! Ned will order sternly. Aside to the others he'll hiss,"I'm a bit confused here. Are we killing them. Her. Whatever?
Stop her!! She's some sort of sorceress - don't kill her if you can help it
"Right. I'll shoot her gently then."
[Morning, Thistletop, 8th Day After Goblin Raid, Round 10, Part 1, Thistletop Level One]
Nich and Hakak take position in the back of the party, alert for any intrusion into the room.
In the hallway, a door swings wide on creaking hinges, and out steps a familiar face. (NOTE – bonus points if any of you recall meeting him around this point: old post )
“Hullo, well, this is awkward. Enemies of my employer in front and a lovesick maid to my back. Not a good position to be in. Might as well get this over with.” Orik’s grim visage betrays a sense of unease.
“If they’ve hurt Tsuto, they will pay!” the cloaked lady says, stepping behind the broad warrior.
So, next actions are Ned, SElia, Jubrayl, and Lleidr.
"I guess that explains why the goblins wern'tll dead like you told us." Ned will say regretfully, "Too bad. I kinda liked you."
he'll take a shot at Orik
Selia will step forward in front of Ned after Ned's shot is fired and stare at the two in the hall.
Deciding she can trust in her companions she finishes her spell, calling forth an eagle.
Come forth and smite my foe's
How could you work for people helping goblins and summoning monsters . You will fall under my blade or a heads mans axe but you will pay for your crimes.
He steps forward battleaxe first before striking a blow at the man in front of him.
Lleidr will scrunch his face up in deep thought for a second, then move a couple squares (1 south, 1 southeast) and open up the door to the south of him.
[Morning, Thistletop, 8th Day After Goblin Raid, Round 10, Part 2, Thistletop Level One]
Ned’s arrow bounces off the face of Orik’s large shield.
Selia’s summoned eagle appears again behind the female mage. It thrashes wildly in the confines of the corridor, but the mage is wily enough to step aside just in time.
Jubrayl’s onslaught catches Orik offguard and the mercenary is throw back by the aasimar’s advance. Orik yells above the clash of battle, “Hey, I can’t blame you for being upset, but every man needs his daily bread, right? Yes, I was sent from here to intercept you in the Hinterlands, and then to give instructions to Tsuto, who was in Sandpoint. I didn’t lie to you, though. I was just relaying what I was told.”
Lleidr opens the door which apparently was hiding the vinegar stink you noticed earlier. Dozens of ratty cushions, lumpy pillows, and rumpled dogskin furs lie heaped in the south half of this chamber, which smells of a nauseating mixture of vinegar and rotten flowers. It appears the room is empty of any inhabitants. You recall that several of the goblins you fought earlier in the final confrontation with Ripnugget were female and bore this same stench.
Nich and Hakak are up next, but given the layout, I can't imagine you'll have much to do in the battle.
Guards the rear.
Ned scowls in frustration, "Hey Lleidr, can you do your acrobaticy thing and get behind them?"
Yes, the ceilings are maybe 8' high, but Lleidr's small size would accomodate this.
[Morning, Thistletop, 8th Day After Goblin Raid, Round 11, Part 1, Thistletop Level One]
Hakak and Nicholae continue guarding against being taken from behind. Other than the sound of fighting to their south, there is no other noise.
Using his shield-arm to keep Jubrayl at bay, Orik wheels around and points his blade right at one of the mage’s throats. “Drop the wand, Lyrie. It’s over. We’re outnumbered, and let’s face facts, our boss is nuts.”
He gives the aasimar a wary nod from the top of his shield. “I yield, Your Holiness. Spare our lives, and heck, if you lot got money, I’ll fight with you instead of against you. I ain’t dying to defend this place.”
Lyrie’s identical faces are consumed with fury, but with effort she regains composure. “Very well, Orik. It is pointless, as you say.” The triplets coalesce into one frightened looking young woman.
Looking at him Jubrayl
Shouts lying dog and attempts to lay open the mercenary.
Lay down your arms and shield and we will talk about what must be done.
He will ready an attack at the first sign of betrayal .
Move out of my way my creature needs to be contained before it strikes out at you again
She stares untrustingly at the two before heading forward
I warned you the beast would not stop
liars she shouts as she is knocked back behind Jubrayl and steps back behind Ned
"If you like, I can toss you"
Jubrayl doesn't sense any hint of deception from Orik. "Hey, I kinda like Sandpoint, and never really cared for their plans for the place."
He gently lays his sword & shield down on the floor. Lyrie drops her wand. The eagle flies without resistance to Selia.
Ned will, somewhat reluctantly, put Lleidr back down on the ground.
Where is this boss?
"Eh, I can't rightly say, as this is as far downstairs I ever been." Orik volunteers. "You have to pass that ghastly chapel and the map room. Lyrie here knows more about it than me."
Lyrie shows a pained smile. "You won't find Nualia here. She's exploring the ruins below. Thassilonian ruins. Yes, that's right. You're inside an ancient work of Thassilon, preserved for millenia.
"Oh, don't look so surprised. Surely you all knew your friend, Nualia was behind all this? She told me all about you, how you had forsaken her, abandoned her to a shrunken life, adrift in Sandpoint. But, I'm sure you all had good reasons."
Orik gives you all a quizzical look. "You're all friends with the boss? Well, then, sounds like we're all on the same side in this business, after all. I mean, if you want to attack Sandpoint again and really burn it down, who am I to get in your way?"
Lyrie nods. "You won't find it so easy to fend off the second assault. Nualia and I found a being here with near god-like power, a prisoner from Thassilon. Surely, you've felt its presence. You're too late to save your town. But, " she bows her head, "I will do what I can to aid you, if you will spare my life."
Jubrayl's axe falls from his nerveless fingers as his already pale skin becomes almost translucent from the shock of what hey just said.
Bu-ut she died we all heard. I went to here grave before all this madness started. How is she alive, why, why would she commit such mad acts. Even if the people in Sandpoint could be cruel but this bloodshed was I, just.
He slips into silence as he bends down to pick up his axe.
"You all aren't buying this load of malarkey, are you? Even if Nualia survived the fire, there's no way...I mean, no matter how the town may have reacted to her, she couldn't do those things! These mercenaries are just throwing out desperate lies to save their own hides."
With as foul a glare as he can muster, Lleidr will watch Orik and Lyrie, weapon still out.
Looking at the ground Selia begins to speak
Hold Lleidr. I an as disbeliving as you are. But as her 4 woman show gave example the magic of this world is deep. We have no choice but to head deeper into the ruins to find out the truth. Even if it is her she could be possessed by something. We might be able to save her if that is true.
As the eagle is released into the ether she starts to rub her arms up and down like she is chilled.
It - can't be her - I must be someone using that name! I tell you I have felt a terrible and malign presence in this place and it grows ever stronger. Mayhap some terrible creature has taken that name to spite Sandpoint even as it tries to doom it.
"What did they do with the priests body?"
Orik shakes his head. "Burnt it about a week ago, in that ghastly chapel."
Lyrie says, "He became a burnt offering to Lamashtu. His ashes still reside in Her temple yonder."
Iomadae!, proclaims the priest.
Disarm them well and lets push through that door - if they offer no assistance to our foe then we can consider clement action to their choice of employer - who ever it may be.
Ned will relieve the two of weapons and spell components
"Well you two... is there anything else we should know before we continue?"
Not to question your keen eye, Ned, but Lleidr will give the two villains a second going over, using Detect Magic and Detect Poison along with Spellcraft to locate anything else they might be trying to keep hidden. Although he'll sheath the FoE, his hand doesn't stray to far away from its handle.
Shaking himself slightly then taking a deep breath Jubrayl stands.
Your right the answers to this are deeper in.
He moves to stand next to Lleider and protect him as he strips the weapons from the mage and mercenary.
Selia steps around the others and walks into the room Orik stepped out of alert for any new enemies.