The Lady's Cloak
Log Info
- Title: The Lady's Cloak
- Emitter: Ravenstongue, Telamon
- Characters: Jay, Robert, Zofija, Slixvah, Magpie
- Place: Alexandrian Docks
- Time: Sunday, April 10, 2022, 6:46 PM
- Summary: A soft-spoken elf woman named Lady Nuala has asked the Explorer's Guild for aid in retrieving a precious item for her from some shifty individuals. Jay, Robert, Zofija, Slixvah, and Magpie all answer the call, and are informed of an abandoned warehouse in the Warehouse District where a man named Remus Crux and his henchmen are keeping a cloak of feathers that belongs to Lady Nuala.
When pressed gently for answers and assured that she's with friends, Lady Nuala divulges more about the situation: Remus Crux and his hired men kidnapped her near her home, which is not in Alexandria. However, there was a disagreement between Remus Crux and his men: Remus, it seems, wanted to keep Lady Nuala as a 'pet' while his henchmen wanted Remus to keep to his word and sell her off at an illict black market auction. She reveals her injuries that she sustained from being caught in a trap in the kidnapping and from escaping Remus and his men--as well as how Remus tore the cloak off her as she escaped. Finally, she explains she cannot return home without her feather cloak.
Disturbed by the implications of what's going on here, the party nonetheless makes their way to the abandoned warehouse (but not before giving Lady Nuala snacks and something to drink). Magpie states that she believes Lady Nuala is one of the fey along the way--a hypothesis that proves to be correct when Jay successfully sneaks behind the abandoned warehouse and listens to the men arguing through a gated door, with Remus angrily refusing to sell off the feather cloak because Lady Nuala is a swan maiden (a member of the fey that transforms between a humanoid form and a swan form; she needs the feather cloak to transform). He believes that Lady Nuala will come back for the cloak--and therefore, come back to him in a display of his sick delusions.
Jay starts a diversion while the rest of the group sneak in through the front door (which proves to be unlocked--likely the result of underpaid and disgruntled henchmen). Things kick off when the party announces its presence and Remus shoots Jay with his crossbow. The fight seems to be going in the favor of the party until Remus strikes a grievous blow on Zofija, sending her down for the count--and his henchman sends her down to the floor again when she's picked up. This causes Robert and Jay to stand and deliver in their friends' most desperate hour, with Jay dealing the final blow to Remus.
Remus is stabilized and the party investigates the warehouse. They find the cloak chained up in a person-sized birdcage next to a clean, two-person bed in a locked room; the sole key to the room was on Remus's belt. Grappling with the implications of what Remus would have done with Lady Nuala, the group returns to the Explorers' Guild and returns the feather cloak to the Lady. She reveals her full name, her nature as one of the fey, and expresses her gratitude, which is a serious matter for a fey noble. Remus and his surviving henchmen are turned over to the law and await their punishment--but the image of the locked bedroom will surely linger with the party for some time to come.
- Encounter 1 - CR4 (1400 XP):
- (4) Brigand (CR 1/2, 200 ea)
- Veteran Buccaneer (CR 2, 600 ea)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Jay 5'9" 145 Lb Eaglefolk Male A perky male Blue Jay with a discerning eye. Zofija 5'8" 225 Lb Hobgoblin Female A well-dressed Arvek-Nar with a big hammer. Robert 6'3" 235 Lb Human Male A middle-aged Cerenzan with a friendly, fatherly vibe. Magpie 3'4 36 Lb Gnome Female A blond gnome woman wearing a motley of colors. Slixvah 5'8" 130 Lb Eaglefolk Female A rust red and white Eglarin covered in veils, ribbons, and shawls. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= As the GMs -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ravenstongue 5'0" 99 Lb Half-Elf Female Short half-elf girl with violet eyes and black hair. Telamon 5'6" 140 Lb Half-Elf Male A platinum-blond half-sil man with dancing dark eyes -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
The Explorer's Guild, afternoon.
It's a lightly raining spring day when you enter the Explorer's Guild and are led to a debriefing room by one of the various clerks that keep the place together and orderly despite dealing with a motley crew of contractors with a wide portfolio of abilities on any given day. The rain hits the windows of the small room you're in like a child lightly tapping against the glass--which somehow suits the slender, elven-appearing woman before you, dressed in a white gown that drapes to the floor, covering her feet as she sits in a chair. She looks like a young woman, perhaps in the first spring of her first few adult years, with waves of white hair descending down her back, and she regards all who enter with deep brown eyes as they enter the room.
Her face is almost emotionless as she finally addresses the small crowd. Her voice comes out somewhat like a whisper, gentle and quiet like she's afraid of waking an unseen child. "Thank you for coming," she says. "Please call me Lady Nuala. I am the one who made the request, and the Guild will handle your reward."
She stiffly rises from her chair and lumbers forward, coming to a stop at the table in the middle of the room--which has a map of Alexandria splayed out across the polished wood. Lady Nuala leans onto the table for a moment before she lifts a hand with a slightly crooked finger to point at the Warehouse District on the map. "There is an abandoned warehouse in the Warehouse District," she says, "with a man named Remus Crux and his hired men. They have an item that is very important to me--a cloak of white feathers. They are... dangerous people, and I cannot retrieve the cloak by myself. I can answer questions if you like before I give you directions and you leave."
She takes her finger away from the map but continues to lean onto the table, propping herself up on the wood. Her emotionless face remains, but her eyes dart almost nervously around the room--particularly at the windows, and at the adventurers that are assembled now before her.
Questions? Magpie has *so many questions.* Most of them aren't pertinent to this request, and the sorceress has at least been in the city enough to know *to* sit on questions not directly pertaining to the mission, for all that she practically vibrates with the effort of holding them in. But, finally, she sifts through to find one that at least seems like it could be useful to ask.
"So um... dangerous people? Like what kind? Smugglers, wizards, werewolves..." Trailing off, she seems to search for more examples. "...........Clowns?"
Putting the motley in motley crew for certain is that of an outrageously dressed Egalrin woman. She keeps her wings tucked in tight, but it just makes a veritable wall of color from the ribbons adorned on them. She leans against the wall, not opting to sit in one of the meeting chairs (they never account for the wings, such a pain!) as she keeps her hands folded in front of her.
Slixvah shudders. "... clowns, not even once," she opines before loking to the employer. "Much as I'd like ta make one of them cloaks for ya to help, I'd rather not look like a plucked chicken."
She snickers. "Yeah, give us the low down on these clo-... clowns."
A bluejay Egalrin sits near the window. The patter of rain keeps him looking over at the glass, although the swish and flow of the elven woman's dress draws his attention also. This makes the bird constantly change his focus, and when the map appears he's now pointing his beak at three locations.
He has his briefcase on his lap, a sheaf of papers resting on that, an inkwell balanced on the corner and he's taking notes. Copious notes. A quill pen that is fashioned from one of his black feathers wiggles away as he scratches things. "Lady Nuala, warehouse, Remus Crux and his hired men, a cloak of white feathers. Dangerous."
He circles dangerous a few times, his beak opening and closing. His head snaps to Maggie, "Clowns are dangerous? Clowning folk or actual clowns?"
Slixvah gets an even longer gaze as the Jay's feather-crest pops up. Somehow, he manages to withhold offering to help pluck her, or go halfsies on the feathers.
In spite of efforts to wipe down the oversized titan armor, Robert is still dripping as he stands to consider the map laid out on the central table. He's fairly certain he could find the warehouse district (WITHOUT stopping for directions!) but an unprompted visual aid is helpful for the recently-returned Cerenzan. And it doesn't compromise his manly-pride.
The large, overturned-bowl helmet is tilted back on its hinge and the artificer has to tilt his head forward to look down past the raised gorget. "... I think they went to the wrong circus as kids, IC," he offers distractedly, smiling to himself.
"The cloak is yours? Rightfully?" The big man smiles patiently. "You said it's 'important' to you but I'd just like to be clear. I'd make a lousy bandit; red bandanas don't suit me..."
Zofija was standing quietly against of the walls of the room, looking every bit the imposing muscle she hoped to be. At least until it was broken by the Arvek-nar pulling an apple out of her bag to eat noisily. This continues for several minutes until it is nearly gone.
"Find a man, rough him up of need be, get a feathery cloak back. seems simple enough." Zofi grunts. "At least as simple as confronting any dangerous folk is. I'm with Randy though, I'm not stealing back anything that doesn't belong to you, even if it's from a clown. Can't trust anyone who hides their face before pulling pranks on you."
Lady Nuala looks at Magpie, then the two egalrin--her gaze softens, somehow, as she glances at them--and then finally at Robert. "I, umm... I am not familiar with 'clowns'. If that is a word that describes a dangerous posse in this tongue, however, then that is the word I will use."
She looks at the rain pattering on the window again--the sound is apparently just as distracting for her as it is for Integrity--before she looks back to the adventurers. "Yes, the cloak is mine. It was gifted to me by my father when I was young. I am not from Alexandria, and... the men who have my cloak took me when I left home to explore."
The elvish woman lifts her hand with the crooked finger up again. "This, and my leg, are healing from when they took me. I was caught in a trap and they took me here--but I managed to escape from them as they were trying to coax me into the cage. But I paid a great price: that cloak is... very precious to me. I cannot go home if I do not have it. Their leader, the man called Remus Crux, pulled it off of me as I fled. They are dangerous men who will hurt you, and I am sorry for that--if I could go back and get it alone, I would, but I am in no state to do so."
She frowns deeply, her tone very apologetic. Most people who post contracts with the Explorer's Guild aren't exactly apologizing for the inconvenience of imposing onto others.
GAME: Slixvah rolls sense motive+2: (20)+3+2: 25 GAME: Robert rolls Heal: (1)+7: 8 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Jay rolls sense motive: (4)+8: 12 GAME: Zofija rolls sense motive: (6)+1: 7
Integrity, who as a Bluejay effectively has a mask built in, contemplates the efficacy of an actual mask. It could be decorated in distracting ways! He'd still have a beak, and the result would be something plague-doctor-esque, if he included a hat. After which he could steal ... no liberate! Liberate lupins for the masses. Redistributing from the flower-rich to the flower poor. He indulges these thoughts for a few moments before dismissing them. He is not a robin. Robber.
"Are the dock enforcers involved? If we call for assistance, would they arrive to arrest us or the squattors, or both? For that matter, I can't imagine a Warehouse in Alexandria is abandonned, the property values are too high. Empty and neglected is far more likely. I could serve an eviction notice."
He glances at Zofija, "With some muscle to help, of course. It wouldn't be a real eviction notice, that would require a magistrate's signature and a hearing. I couldn't accomplish it in the timeframe. I could file for one, and we could serve it without a signature, as 'pending'. I doubt most would appreciate the legal distinction."
Jay looks between Robert and the Lady Nuala for approval. Robert, the Lady Nuala, AND Slixvah. He's a smart bird, yes he is, the barrister of the hour. He tilts forward, there's... something else there... "Is there anything else we need to know?" He glances at Slixvah before looking back to the Lady, white feathers... maybe... "or one of us could know?"
Slix is already on the draw as the extended glance from Integrity is met with one of her own. "Nono sugar, not happenin'."
Her attention shfits back to the recovering elvish woman, and her eyes crinkle in a smile. "Don't worry hon, we'll see what we can do. Gettin' hurt's our job."
A glance to the more physical folk. "... well, as little as possible. You know my jig. Anyways, this ain't Blar, boo. They don't got much they can do 'bout it. That's why we're here."
Back to Lady Nuala, she hums warmly and puts her hands into her pockets. "Clowns are performers with silly outfits. But sugar, ain't no one gonna get ya in here. Anything else you wanna let us in on 'bout these baddie bads?"
GAME: Magpie rolls knowledge/arcana: (5)+8: 13
It's when Nuada says that she can't return home without it, that Magpie narrows her eyes a bit, and stares at the elf in long silence. Finally, she nods to herself. "Well, if you can't go back without it, then okay! I'm good to get it back, and we'll teach these jerks a lesson in manners while we're getting it. Okay?"
Whatever shifted the Gnome's mood, she does sound very sincere in her declaration.
"... you could await our return at the Soldier's Defense, lady," Robert offers sympathetically as he looks from the bent finger to the young woman's face. "You'd be safer-still in the Comforter's care... and they could look to your wounds."
There's a glance up and half-turn to consider the similarly-employed group of mercenaries in the room. The prompts, queries, and fishing attempts pique his interest. A quirked eyebrow finds Nuala as he listens for her response.
"Cages, moving people that aren't wanting to be moved, well, shit. You want us to kill them? People'll happily look the other way if some slave traders get what's coming to them." The Arvek-nar asks, sincerely and bluntly. "Yeah, best get your wounds seen to, last thing. you want is for a finger to heal crooked and stay that way. Don't worry about it, we can find you afterwards no problem."
Lady Nuala looks a bit overwhelmed--which is certainly a change from the neutral face she's been carefully wearing--at all of the terminology that the legalrin egalrin rattles off. "I, ahh... I do not wish to engage in anything that makes me stay in this city longer than I must," she says. "I am unfamiliar with your customs, please--it was... already very harrowing to come to this Guild for help."
She looks to Slixvah, and she finally lets the fear she's been hiding on her face show. Lady Nuala's eyes widen and she looks away from the group. "I apologize," she says, "but it is very hard for me to speak on this. I do not often speak your tongue, and I do not know who I can trust in this city as I have never been around other... people before. Please bear with me."
She takes a breath before continuing. "The man, Remus Crux. I believe he is trying to take more of my... family and friends. He said he would keep me as his 'pet', which upset the other men, as they were told that he would be... holding an 'auck-shin' for me and for others they will take in the future. I am not familiar with the term, so please forgive me if I said it incorrectly. I escaped before he could do more harm to me beyond breaking my finger--so please be careful. It pains me that I ask anything of others--being in gratitude is... complicated for my people, and I also do not wish for harm to come to others who are working in my place."
Lady Nuala bites her lip for a moment. "Thank you, sir and lady," she says, addressing Robert and Zofija, "but I will remain here. I have been assured that no one else will harm me so long as I remain in this building, and I can receive treatment once I am home."
She looks right at Zofija as she says, "I am amenable to whatever solution prevents them from finding myself, my family, and my friends again. Do what you see fit. I am... in your gratitude, which is a serious thing for me to say, if you are successful."
GAME: Magpie rolls knowledge/the planes: (17)+7: 24 GAME: Magpie rolls diplomacy: (8)+4: 12
Something seems to click in the Gnome's eyes, and she clears her throat, enough to be heard over the others. "WELL OKAY, so we should probably get on that then. And don't worry about showing gratitude, Lady... We're just doing our job, right? That's what the Guild's here for, to take care of problems people can't solve themselves. And we're gonna go do that!"
Turning, she starts to make motions that are probably supposed to be interpreted as 'let's go!' and shooing her companions toward the door.
There's a small flurry of activity as the bluejay finishes his notes, seals up the inkpot, blots the remaining in, and gets all the papers into his briefcase and stands. He bows towards Lady Nuala, "Have no fear, we're on the case, it will be taken care of."
He's immediately behind the small gnome, and clacks his beak a few times, "Hey, sorry about the last time at the docks. I had to stop the wagon. You handled everything and Taran well though."
He looks hopefully at Slixvah and Robert next, waiting for them, "So... is it a front door thing only? Or try to sneak in, or both, see if we can find the cloak while some others are the focus? We can discuss on the way."
<OOC> Slixvah says, "forgot to mention, Hex: Ward on Zofi. +2 Deflection to AC and +2 resistence to saves"
Slix's smiling eyes harden somewhat. "... oh don't worry hon. We'll try and make sure that twerp isn't a problem anymore... there might be others that fell to a similar fate as you may have."
The gnome's sudden declaration makes her blink, but reading the room, she just bobs her head as she slips on by Zofija. The feathers on a wing curl around the Nar for a moment before they uncurl. "Sounds grand. We'll be in touch, hon."
She shrugs to Jay as they head out. "Prolly a front door thing. We'll wing it when we get there."
Titanic armored plates clatter quietly as Robert twists, reaching for his hip-pack and pulling it to the front. Manipulating the buckle with his 'fists takes some doing... but he manages to open it and fish out a small, wax-paper wrapped morsel that he places atop the map. "Whatever makes you most comfortable, lady," he nods and smiles. Next he has a small waterskin out and sat next to the sweet snack. If she insists on waiting alone and isolated she'll at least have refreshments, by golly!
The big Cerenzan chews on his lip as he re-buckles his pack and twists it to hang back over his rear faulds. Then he sets the heavy suit into motion! "I don't think I've had the pleasure yet..." he offers, stooping to extend an armor-plated hand to Magpie. "Robert Ilife. Folks call me Rob or Bob, miss..?"
"If he won't listen to reason, then there's not too much concern doing what needs to be done." Zofi shrugs. "And I mean, we're being paid for the risk too, so it is what it is. Don't worry too much about it."
The Arvek-nar blinks and hugs Slix back, and sees Robert leaving the parcel there. "Careful slix, Tegri might get jealous." She chuckles, reaching into her bag to pull out another apple, Which she rubs against her tunic and places it next to it. "I thought you of all people would know the importance of having fresh fruit and vegetables with a meal." They continue to chuckle.
"Oh!" Lady Nuala says as she receives the snacks and the waterskin. Her eyes dart up to Robert and Zofija from the offered goods. And... there's a small smile on her face, the very first one she's worn so far. "I am... happy that you have given me these things so freely."
She doesn't say thank you, but there's a little sparkle in her eyes as she looks at the morsel Robert has given and picks it up in her hands--the broken finger doesn't curl around it like the others do. Who knows if she's had a single bite to eat in the time since she 'arrived' the way she did in Alexandria. But she seems to remember herself after a moment and says, "Let me give you the directions to the place, then."
And with Lady Nuala's directions--although a little vague to follow as she seems to rely mostly on landmarks rather than street names, and the landmarks tend to be things such as "the oak tree next to the cart that sells apples"--and thanks to Robert's ability to decipher those vague instructions, probably from years of interpreting little ones trying to describe things they don't understand, your group is able to find the 'abandoned warehouse' that Lady Nuala indicated.
It's a small, disheveled thing that's tucked away with lots of boxes and fencing around it--it's possible that there could be a shipment receiving dock in the back of the building, but it's surrounded by so many shipping crates and fencing that breaching the building from the back is likely not the safest option. A sign on the fence indicates it is for sale and to contact a Hugh Lyon for purchase--and the sign is rather worn, so it's safe to say that it's been there for a while.
There's a front door. And there's nobody by the front door. But there could always be someone behind that front door...
The fencing is around the sides and back of the building -- the front door is easily accessible.
"--and that's why she's so weird about saying thank you," Magpie explains as the group rolls up to the warehouse. "She's either Fey or lives with them normally, and if I had to *guess* the cloak's how she gets back. Also sorry for not introducing myself back there Mr. Bobert, I'm Magpie. *Just.* *Magpie.* And Jay, I totally get it, the first few times I got into a fight I was all over the place too. Now I still am, but, like, aimed kind of."
Totally not an assumed name, Magpie, nope nope nope.
Pausing as the warehouse comes into view, she tilts her head at the disheveled and open front entrance. "...So who else here doesn't trust that at all? Just me?"
It is possible to sneak in, by hopping the fence and sneaking in from the back. The back, there's the fence and also a lot of shipping crates to navigate around -- and they're big. It's not exactly an unobscured path, and potentially there would be someone hanging out by the back..."
The big suit of titan armor isn't sneaking anywhere. Still, that doesn't mean Robert is adverse to someone else having a look around. The bowl helmet is still swung back and the aetherite crystals set into brass sockets are dull and lifeless but even without the hiss and hum of a powered suit it clatters and clanks along noisily. "Just-Magpie. Check," Bob grins and nods as he considers the building's facade.
The titan fists open and close. The artificer rolls his wrists and moves the digits individually to confirm their actuations. Then he touches each of his hanging gadgets and gegaws to confirm their place on his belt. "Miss Slix..." he clears his throat to draw her attention, remembering something. A big pointer finger taps at a leather pouch on his belt housing a wand. "Healing magics... if I go down," he explains.
Then he's reaching up and lowering the helmet into place behind his raised gorget. He rolls his shoulders and the short cape hanging between his pauldrons unfurls; a dark blue with the Gold Dragon of lost Dragonier rampant.
Slixvah was glad that Robert was able to piece together the directions. As much as she was a nomad, she was great at picking a direction and sticking to it. But not so much at retreading said directions. Regardless, she just shakes her head at Zofi's notion of jealousy and not bothering feeding something like that with words. "Ah. That makes a load of sense. Mhmm!"
Though, as they finally standa before the abandoned warehouse, the fortune teller grinds her beak. "... hmm. Always places like this give me the heebie jeebies. Yeah. Hmm. Hm. Yep. Romar, pleeease." She claps her hands twice, and a little gust of wind ruffles her feathers.
Perking up at hearing her name, she looks over to Robert's mechanized self. "Oh? Okay Robby Bobby! I'll keep that in mind! Thanks for lettin' me know!"
GAME: Slixvah casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14
Integrity follows along, at first flappy and energetic and getting more subdued as the destination is approached. Once it is finally visible, he tucks in his wings, his head bobbing about as he looks for a good place to stash his briefcase.
"That's... yeah, that would be hard to get into. I could glide over the fence and those crates, and maybe there's a way in from the roof. It wouldn't work for everyone, obviously."
He looks at Slixvah, possibly the only other person it would work for. He might be able to carry the gnome, might.
"I could look around, see if her cloak is hanging on something and grab it if no one is looking." He has an odd sort of open-beak expression, where it keeps moving up and down, never really opening or closing fully, "These guys... this Remus, don't sound good. Are we... just... killing them? Or are we trying to knock them out, like with the smugglers."
"I mean," he's suddenly defensive, "the sound like slavers and that's terrible but I'm... I'm... I'm not a judge or an executioner, it's.." His wings flutters, he's looking around, "Anyone see a good high place?"
"So don't," Magpie says quietly, patting Jay's knee. "Your life's probably going to be in danger, but that doesn't mean you have to do the same back, right? Just... do the best you can, try your best to stay alive, and if there's other captives in there it sounds like you'd prefer to help them get out."
Pausing, she looks around them for a moment, and snorts. "...Pretty much every place looks like a high place to me," she notes. "This is a tol's city."
For herself, she looks a touch more grimly resolute. "So people know, I plan to do my best not to set fire to the place. But that's gonna be harder than it sounds."
"Ah, I don't know enough about Fey to hit on them." Zofi sighs as they are out of the area and on their way upon hearing the explanation. "Plus you know, she seems a bit young, and that's not even getting into what she was just through. Bad business to hit on an employer too, anyways."
"I can try to sneak in, but I don't think all of us are managing that. So the final course of action should be figured out now."
"Knocking people out is harder than it looks, and you're likely to just kill them anyways if you aren't careful." Zofi sighs. "If they're slavers, I'm not going to lose any sleep sending them off though, anyone who has that little regard for the life of others isn't worth it. And no one deserves to live under the yoke of another. Just don't stress it too much. Everyone here will help keep you safe, that's a promise."
"We're not at war," Robert answers Jay, his voice echoing hollowly inside the domed helmet. "Taking prisoners is an option... but you make sure to keep yourself in one piece," he suggests, lightly resting one of his big gauntlet's on the egalrin's shoulder.
"I can have a look at the front door," he offers as he takes one step forward. "IC, if you're skulking be careful. And if you get in a pinch just focus on getting away." He turns back and lowers the two dark eye-slits at the legal egalrin. "If you can't get away be as loud as you can and I'll find you."
Slixvah herself isn't too keen on getting her hands dirty, but it was more about the danger of getting stabbed than doing something rough. Though, she gives a soft sigh and pats the legal eagle on the shoulder. "Hon, the idea is good, though if they're as dangerous as the poor lady's makin' 'em out to be, it's probably best we stick together. They probably know that cloak is important to her, so it's prolly on the guy. Or in a box or somethin."
Her wings shift a bit "Mag's got the right idea. Prolly gonna be some people locked up. Robbi's got it good. Just yell if somethin' goes wrong. Heck, might be able to see if you can get some people out if we get in a tussle."
She looks to Zofi, then snickers. "Trust me hon, if that lass is fey, then they're older than all of us combined. Plus, I wouldn't they got things twisted turned upside down. Though, Zofi's right. If they get themselves killed, well..." She gives a big shrug. "I'm ready to dance, lovvies!"
"Okay, okay. Okay! Thanks." Jay bobs his head at Robert, Zofija, at the promises of protection and the other advice. "I will, will!"
"Let me ah... try a stealth flight... and if something goes wrong I'll make lots of noise and you can try the front door."
He looks around, at Slixvah the longest, "Give me a minute to find a place to try from, I'll either come back or find a way in. I wouldn't be first through the door anyhow."
He slips off. It should work, there are lots of seagulls at the docks. Few are person sized, and so brightly coloured, but how often do people look up anyhow.
GAME: Jay rolls athletics: (7)+5: 12
The bluejay is able to climb a shipping crate. There's a ramp that leads into a gated door on the building that is currently shut. However, there's a complication: there's no way to get that gate down from this side... unless, of course, some social engineering works.
He could paint his feathers white and see if the Lady Nuala's creep would take him in. If his voice was very squeaky and convincing...
No. Not the best plan.
GAME: Jay rolls stealth: (10)+9: 19 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20-1: (16)+-1: 15 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+0: (2)+0: 2 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+0: (9)+0: 9 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+0: (11)+0: 11 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+0: (11)+0: 11
Say one thing for Integrity C. Truefeather... say that he's able to do the job. (Maybe that should be on his next round of business cards.)
The jay's able to climb a crate and spot the ramp that leads into a gated door at the end of the seeming maze that the shipping crates create. However, there's an annoying problem: that gated door is shut. Annoying problem two: there's no way to get that gate down. Not through physical means, that is.
But the legal eagle is able to get right up to that ramp safely and unheard. And there's a reason why: there's a very loud argument coming through that gated door.
"Remus, you piece of shit. We want our goddamn money. Just sell the fucking cloak to one of your contacts and we can just keep on! You promised the other half of the money would come through when you sold her!"
"Are you kidding me? He wasn't going to sell her. You saw that cage just like I did, man. There's pillows in there. Blankets. Who gives the goods comfort when you're gonna sell them later?"
Then there's a roar. "You idiots! She's going to come back here for the cloak. Swan maidens can't transform without their cloak. And she's lost, all alone in this city. No one's going to help her. She'll come crawling back."
There's no mention of the profit to be made, of course. He sounds like a man who believes he's a jilted lover and not a slaver. Delusional.
GAME: Jay rolls bluff: (18)+5: 23
Some moments require quick thinking, a swift wit and a momentary suspension of wisdom. Cometh the moment, cometh the bird-man.
>>KNOCK<< >>KNOCK<< >>KNOCK<<
"Hello! Hello!" The egalrin pounds on the door, shouting to be heard, both over the argument and at the other end of the building where the party is located. "Integrity C Truefeather, esquire, requesting a consult. The 'C' is for consult. I've been authorized by my client to negotiate for her property and significant funds have been raised and are held in Crow. Escrow! Held in Escrow."
>>Bang<< >>Bang<<
"Is there a representative willing to speak terms?"
GAME: Robert rolls Perception: (20)+7: 27
There's a long, long moment. The blue jay has knocked on the door to the lion's den demanding to speak to a sales representative...
And a tall man approaches the gate. Through the gaps in the bars, blue eyes look out from a gaunt face hidden partially by a bar. A crossbow is in hand and drawn. Bolt loaded.
"You /fucking/ idiot. 'All alone in the city, she'll come crawling back.' Better hope she didn't tell the fucking Guard," a voice jeers from behind the man. One of the henchmen, it sounds like.
"Shut the fuck up," the blue-eyed man growls, peering at Jay with a hard, hard glare. "/Who/ is it you're representing? I need a name or I'm going to pump this bolt into your guts, bird."
Meanwhile...
The conventional front door is that enigma. It looks like a front door. It'd be safe on just about any other building. Most front doors are. This one could have anyone and anything from behind it.
...And it turns out that it's unlocked, and there's no traps about it.
In fact, the door swings into a reception room that's been trashed. Looks like maybe this place was used by bored teenagers thrilled by the prospect of some mild trespassing at some point before it was used as a meeting ground for more illicit activity, as there's plenty of scrawling in chalk on the wall. Lots of hearts, lots of initials in them... and, of course, broken glass bottles of cheap booze.
Further into the warehouse are more of the big shipping crates, creating another maze. Robert can hear a lot of words that he'd probably never want any of his little ones to hear. (Kids are so impressionable, after all. Don't want to pick up any bad habits from criminals.)
A ghostly bellows of a heavy sigh echoes out through the eyeslits of the domed helmet when Robert overhears IC and the brigand's exchange. It looks like it's going to be 'Jay and Silent Bob' when the opposite works so much better..!
GAME: Robert casts Shield. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15
"Raise shields," Bob's voice offers a clipped bit of Kulthina as he twists two halves of a mechanical sphere in opposite directions. It glows blue and he sockets it into a pauldron. A semi-transparent hexagonal mesh spreads out from the socket before fading out of view. Then the Cerenzan begins moving into the warehouse... <kulthian>
GAME: Slixvah casts Guidance. Caster Level: 2 DC: 13
Slixvah sighs to herself, a hand rubbing her beak as she reaches into one of the many robes and pulls out- an entire crossbow? Where the hell was she keeping that? "Shoulda woulda coulda put a little mojo on Blue," she chitters quietly to herself, cocking the xbow and putting a bolt in.
The feathers on her wings lengthen as she follows in behind Robert. "Oi. Muscles. Today's your ycklu yda...!" she chants to her, one of the ribbon-like feathers swatting her on the arm.
GAME: Magpie used a Wand of Mage Armor.
"....Ahahahahahahahaaaaahahahaha, awesome," Magpie chortles, trying to keep her voice down. "Oh man we better get in there quick." Drawing a slim wand -- festooned with charms of stars and unicorns suspended from the handle -- from the inside of her sleeve, she gives a swish, and taps herself on the forehead. A faintly shimmering screen of light travels from head to toe, leaving the sorceress encircled by transparent pink plates of tangible light.
"So I'm buying *him* a beer or five after this... C'mon."
"I'm representing the Lady Nuala, on commission from the Alexandrian Aerie." Jay says, feigning confidence and gesturing at the Redridge mountains that loom over the city, "As part of a support program by the Elder Council."
He holds his beak open in what might be considered a smile, the implication that birds of a feather flock together suggested without overtly stating so. "Her cause was heard and I was sent as a representative."
His eyes glitter, "I'm un... well I'm lightly armed, but only to the level an of average citizen. I offer no threat, instead the opportunity to parlay with me as part of contract negotiations. The lady desires a swift resolution to this situation with no ongoing entanglements and is willing to provide fair market value for... ah... her... specific accoutrements... describe as 'One White Feather Cloak'."
His crest is erect, his wings popped, he's fluffed up to look larger, which isn't the best when one is potentially a target. There's only the slightest panic in his voice. Entirely genuine and not faked. He stares directly at the man with the hard eyes, "Please don't shoot me."
"Didn't even lock the back door? It's like they're asking us to just walk in. Lucky day indeed." Zofi grunts, rolling her shoulder and stepping inside. Just in time to catch the tail end of the conversation.
"Oh for the love of all the divines." The Arvek-nar grumbles to herself, taking off her hammer just in case. "And we are the hired guard to go with Integrity C Truefeather in order to come to this agreement, in case you decided to take advantage of a lightly armed legal attorney." She shouts across the room. "So give up the cloak and let us leave, and it will save you an awful lot of broken bones or worse if you try anything."
Hoping to get closer before it all kicked off, Bob glances over his shoulder at Zofija when she raises her voice to join the conversation. "... the C stands for 'crud'..."
It's a standoff. One man with a crossbow, loaded and aimed at the jay, one henchman that's jeering--and others standing near crates that they could easily duck and fire from with their own weapons.
The blue-eyed man stares hard at Jay, his finger moving to the firing mechanism--and then his eyes widen as he hears the shouting from Zofija. "Shit! From behind!" he yells to his men. "Fucking /get/ them!"
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Okay! Remus is going to decide that Jay is worth firing at after all..." GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+8: (18)+8: 26 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d10: (10): 10
Remus whips back around at Jay and sneers. "Tell her I want her to come here or I'm going to tell her when I send /your bodies/ back to her, bird!" he growls as he makes the shot--
And it's a well-placed, heavy shot. This man means business. The desperation's in his voice. He wants Lady Nuala here or he wants you /dead/.
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+3: (1)+3: 4 (EPIC FAIL)
One of the brigands jumps at the shout, and runs out around the corner. "Oh SHIT! Remus, guys, we got -adventurers!-" He's got his longbow out, and the scruffy looking fellow grins, drawing a bead on the lead adventurer -- Robert -- drawing his string back and releasing...
Nothing. He realizes he dropped the arrow on the ground behind him, looking around before staring at the oncoming bravos with a distinctly nervous look. "...uh oh."
<OOC> Slixvah nod! "Let's get to 16,13 and cast Peacebond on that Longsword" GAME: Slixvah casts Peacebond. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14 <OOC> Slixvah says, "Standard action to pull that sword out vs a DC 14 STR check"
Slixvah rolls her eyes as she rushes forth, skirting around one of the many piece of debris in the warehouse as she shoulders her crossbow. She squints across the way, seeing one of the mooks having not drawn their sword in the back corner. She giggles to herself, reaching out a hand out. One of the ribbons on her arms snakes down her sleeve and vanishes off her fingertips.
There's a fuschia colored ribbon wound tightly around the hilt of the longsword, locking it firmly in place. "Let's see how that works shug..." she hums to herself before speaking up. "Oooooh lovvies! C'mon, straight shot! You can aim? Lot more fun thinks to poke over heeere~!"
<OOC> Jay says, "move to get out of line of sight, 0,0 is fine. Intimidate on Remus by saying things" GAME: Jay rolls intimidate: (17)+0: 17
"I..." Integrity starts to say, and then there's a crossbow bolt sticking out of him. He stares at the fletching pressed up against his chest. "Ow. You shot me."
His voice is incredulous, "You shot me... why?"
"Why?" He repeats, shouting louder, "Why would you say that Muscles? We were negotiating! They didn't know you were there! You could have snuck up, you could have got a bead. You turned me into a hostage!"
He sways on his feet, staggering back to get behind a crate, his eyes locking with Remus, "She's going to crush you with that earthbreaker, gut you for seagulls. She hates slavers. You're done for. She's from Blar and your head will be on her pike before the sun sets."
The bluejay drops out of sight, staring at the blood spreading around his wound, "I'm bleeding."
<OOC> Zofija says, "move to 12,14, drawing a dagger as I go" <OOC> Zofija says, "earthbreaker one handed and unusable, total defence where I get to"
"Now that was the sound of a crossbow being fired, wasn't it?" The Arvek-nar yells as she runs further up, ducking into the side so there was less angles to be shot from. "Idiot was going to shoot anyways, It was a hope he might back down."
"Now as for you, you seem smarter than your boss, Aye? Smart enough to know that was a piss poor shot. So drop that weapon and wait quietly, or yes, you'll get either crushed to a bloody mess, or skewered, and no, you don't get to choose." She growls at the brigand, flipping the knife over in her hand to get ready to throw it.
<OOC> Telamon says, "Brigand 3 moves to 11,6, drawing his bow, and yelling." <OOC> Telamon says, "He will ready an action to shoot if someone comes too close."
Another brigand moves over to support his buddy, but his eyes are a little wild. "They're comin' in everywhere, Remus! It's game over, man, game over!" He's got his bow out, an arrow nocked, but the way the point trembles shows that the brigand's nerve isn't what it should be.
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+1: (10)+1: 11 (STR vs DC 14, Brigand 1 attempts to draw his sword...)
The brigand notices that his sword is neatly tied into its sheath with a fetching fuschia ribbon, and starts fighting with it, struggling. After several moments of futile yanking, he opts to pull his bow out instead. "This is all your fault, Remus. We could've been contenders, but nooooo, we had to follow YOU around..."
<OOC> Robert says, "Run (x4, 80') to 10,5. Will be w/o Dex bonus to AC until next turn. Swift to active the armor." GAME: Robert activates his Titan Armor, gaining: +4 Str GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+2: (17)+2: 19 (readied shot) GAME: Telamon rolls 1d8: (5): 5
There's that moment when Jay starts to shout that the hulking amalgam of Kulthian artifice, Runic arcanistry, and Dragonieri innovation goes perfectly still. The first footfall lands with a crunch, the blue shielding crawling up the copper-lined greaves at the impact. Then the next and another after that. Steam explodes from beneath the pauldrons in a violent exhalation and blue lightning arcs across the plates as the aetherite crystals come to life.
Robert doesn't slow when the hurried shot from one of the bows finds a gap in his armor. He continues to crash around the corner as he swivels his eyeslits and slouches forward. The fingers of his titan fists groan as he curls them into fists.
"... you could've given up the coat," his hollow voice suggests angrily. Energies pops off his massive form and the entire section of the warehouse smells of burning ozone.
And a good idea goes sour as the ambush is tripped, the lawyer is shot, and disarray starts to set in among the thugs. Pelting across the warehouse floor toward the stacks of crates against the wall, Magpie levers herself atop a short stack -- pun intended -- and hunts for the leader of this ragtag crew. "Someone needs to get to Jay," she says from behind Slixvah. "He didn't sound so good."
<<OOC> Telamon says, "Brigand 2 moves to 5,4, drawing bow, THEN shoots a masterwork arrow at BoB, staying within 30'." GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+3: (10)+3: 13
The last brigand is a particularly nasty-looking sort, with the kind of scraggly mustache only seen in low lifes, cutpurses, and bad actors. "Get your shit together!" he yells, backing up as he draws his bow. "Here you go, tough guy," he hisses, drawing down on Bob and firing a wickedly-pointed arrow that skips off the Dadventurer's pauldron. "Crap! CRAP!"
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Meanwhile, Remus is going 5' step and spending his turn reloading his crossbow." <OOC> Ravenstongue says, "He's apparently pretty confident his guys have this."
Remus's nostrils flare as he sees a armored man approaching him. He's occupied with reloading his crossbow. "It's mine. She's mine," he growls. But his hands are shaking as he's trying to reload. Jay's words have had an effect.
<OOC> Telamon says, "Brigand 4 moves to 12,4, pulls out a tanglefoot bag, and hucks it at Bob." GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+1: (11)+1: 12 GAME: Robert rolls Reflex: (6)+5: 11 <OOC> Robert says, "Reroll!" GAME: Robert rolls Reflex: (16)+5: 21 <OOC> Telamon says, "You are currently glued up with tanglefoot goop. You are, fortunately, not glued to the floor." <OOC> Telamon says, "You take a -2 to attacks, a -4 to Dexterity, and you can only move half speed." GAME: Telamon rolls 2d4: (3): 3 (Robert, you're gummed up for 3 rounds)
The first brigand encountered sees Robert go by, a mass of clanking armor and hissing magitech. "Wait! I got an idea!" He reaches to his belt, pulling out a bag, and flings it at Robert's back -- the bag splitting and releasing a nasty brownish ooze that spatters all over Bob, oozing into the armor and making it sluggish and slow. "Ha! Not so tough, are you buddy?!"
<OOC> Slixvah says, "I'll charge 4, ending at 12,5" GAME: Slixvah rolls feather slap+2: aliased to intelligence+BAB+2: (2)+3+1+2: 8
Slixvah grinds her beak as things are getting gummed up. Know what, might as well do that same! The fortune teller holds her crossbow close to her chest as she runs in fast. As she goes, the feathers on her wings elongating and trailing behind her like ribbons in the wind.
They quickly braid to swipe at one with a woosh, wiffing it, but they linger out and waft in the air, like a dozen living lines of steel cables ready to snap.
"Hey baby. It's me. Ya girl. I don't know what to say here. Punchline. Fuck you."
<OOC> Zofija says, "Double move, putt away the dagger, wield the earthbreaker to threaten the two next to her"
Well, there was nothing to be done for it as all the brigands were holding back with bows, and robert was now in the middle of things. The dagger slips back into her uniform, and the hammer is hefted, before the Arvek-nar charges in to the thick of things, past the egalrin and close to the artificer. "Alright, last chance. Stand down, or get your skulls caved in. Starting with your boss over there."
<OOC> Jay says, "I'll double move stealth back to 5,0, draw bolas, stay quiet" GAME: Jay rolls stealth: (16)+9: 25 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20-1: (2)+-1: 1 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+0: (9)+0: 9 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+0: (16)+0: 16 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+0: (15)+0: 15 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+0: (20)+0: 20
Out of sight, out of harm's way, the l-eagle egalrin pants heavily as the adrenaline kicks in. He feels like he's dying, but not immediately. He can hear Slixvah, and Bob, and battle. Even Maggie, in there, worrying about him.
A sense of shame comes with his cowardice. He doesn't want to fight, and he's terrified, but he can't leave them. His sisters would want him to do something... he can feel their eyes upon him.
Swallowing, forcing down the knot in his throat, he creeps forward carefully and quietly to the edge of the gate. His bolas dropping into his hand. Like a shadow he peers around the corner.
There has to be something he can do. He picks his targets carefully, taking his time...
<OOC> Telamon says, "Brigand 3 takes a 5' step to 12,6, draws his sword and will try to stab her." GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+1: (12)+1: 13
The third brigand yells out, "Blades! BLADES, dammit, they're all over us!" He backsteps away from the menacing Robert, whipping his long sword out to stab at Slixvah. The blade passes by her feathered wing, as he growls, "I'm gonna -deep fry- you, you miserable squab!"
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Brigand 1 is still Peacebonded." <OOC> Telamon says, "OK, so... hm. He's in trouble. He'll draw his sap and try to clout Zofija with it to buy some time." GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+1: (5)+1: 6
The brigand fumbles for a moment with his sword, then discards the thought as he sees Zofija bearing down on him. His hand goes to his waist and comes up with a blackjack, which he feints with to try and clout the arvek about the head... failing utterly. "Shit! SHIT! Guys, I need help!"
<OOC> Robert says, "Charge to 6,4. Attacking the Great Dingus, Lord of Stealing Lady's Clothing." <OOC> Robert says, "10' move, Charge of 20'. +2 for charge will offset -2 from boogers." GAME: Robert rolls weapon7+2-2-1: (6)+8+2+-2+-1: 13
Boogers. It's always boogers. Boogers everywhere. You think you've cleaned up all the boogers and then you knock over a chair and there are boogers on the underside of the chair. You could give the kids a hundred pocketsquares a day and there'd still be boogers... anyway, Bob is boogered.
The ladies are pressing the attack on the three brigands closest so he grunts and looks towards the back gates for signs of Jay. "We're close, IC! If you need me I'm right here!" He calls from beneath the domed helmet. Then he's charging across the short distance, struggling through the snot.
One massive mitt swats at the air, blasting before Remus and sending a stray crate tumbling away to crash across the floor. "About to be naptime, young man..."
<OOC> Magpie says, "Okay! Remus is at the *edge* of Magpie's Message range," <OOC> Magpie says, "so I would like to make a Bluff check taunting into his ear, and his alone." GAME: Magpie rolls bluff: (10)+9: 19
Peeking around the corner of a slightly larger stack, Magpie frowns, leveling a finger at Remus for a moment. Her frown turns into a wide grin as she feels her magic land, and begins to whisper under her voice... Which the slaver boss hears like a normal voice, singing taunts into his ear.
- "o/~
- Silly little slaver, wants to smooch the Fae~!
- Silly little slaver, we're gonna ruin his day~!
- He stole her skin, her heart to win,
- He never had a clue!
- Silly little slaver, ~the things we'll do to you!~
<OOC> Telamon says, "Brigand 2 drops his bow, whips out his longsword, 5' steps to 6,5 and tries to shank Bob," <OOC> Telamon says, "he gets no flank because Remus still has the crossbow." GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+1: (6)+1: 7
The last brigand is cursing up a storm as Bob just refuses to stop. "Holy shit, pal, what do they feed you?" He drops his bow, whipping out his longsword and stabbing at Robert, but the blade fails to make a mark. "Remus, get the gate open! We gotta get outta here!"
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Remus will move to 8,2 which will provoke an AoO from Robby if he's got it," <OOC> Ravenstongue says, "and spend his turn throwing the switch to get the gate open." GAME: Robert uses an AoO! 0 remaining. GAME: Robert rolls weapon7+2-2-1: (9)+8+2+-2+-1: 16 GAME: Robert rolls 1d8+5+2: (4)+5+2: 11
Remus grimaces deeply as he watches his henchmen fail so soundly. "I can't leave the cloak behind," he growls. But despite his reluctance, he breaks away from Robert--and receives a blow across the head for his troubles.
"You can't stop me...!" he groans, blood blooming from his head as he runs to the lever on the wall. He throws it, and the gate begins to rise. He looks at the open air behind the gate as though he's somehow expecting Lady Nuala to be there, a desperate and awful glare twisting his reddening face.
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Brigand 4 is unable to run, so drawing longsword and trying to attack Slixvah." GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+3: (8)+3: 11
Meanwhile, the brigand is surrounded by Zofija and by Slixvah, pinned to the crates. That's a hard and difficult place to be. He draws his sword and tries to swipe at Slixvah, groaning in frustration as he misses in the fear of his impending demise.
<OOC> Slixvah says, "slix uses Hex: Fortune on Zofi and five foot steps to 11,5!"
Slixvah gasps as the sword sails past her, the ribbon clad egalrin twisting and turning. "Hey! Watch it! You know, you can just run you know?"
The fortune teller puts a trio of ribbon like feathers long Zofija and she prompts, "Look between here and now, let your destiny's veil unshroud. Cast aside weal and woe, break his fucking kneecaps girl lets GOOOO!" she hypes up the Nar.
Good luck.
<OOC> Slixvah says, "Zofi current has: Hex ward, Hex Fortune, and +1 on one roll from guidance" <OOC> Zofija says, "I think I get two attacks of opportunity on me when I move to 7,2" GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+3: (18)+3: 21 (AOO 1) GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+3: (15)+3: 18 (AOO 2) GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d8+1: (6)+1: 7 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d6+1: (1)+1: 2 (Non Lethal) <OOC> Zofija says, "Okay, challenge on the boss, then hitting him" GAME: Zofija rolls 1d20+6+1: (10)+6+1: 17 (+1 from guidance, fortune roll twice) GAME: Zofija rolls 1d20+6+1: (14)+6+1: 21 (+1 from guidance, fortune roll twice) GAME: Zofija rolls 2d6+4+2: (5)+4+2: 11
With the two brigands closest to her, Zofija decides to move for the leader who was attempting to escape. The Arvek-nar ducksbackwards, only to catch a large gash from one of them in the process, and a solid blow from the sap for good measure. Neither does much to slow her approach to Remus, with a very large hammer raised. "Just had to go and try to kill me. Be back for you all once your boss is dead." Zofija grunts, before swinging the bludgeon into the person's ribs.
GAME: Jay rolls weapon3: (18)+6: 24 GAME: Jay rolls damage3+1d6: aliased to 1d4+0+1d6: (1)+0+(3): 4 (+1d6 Sneak attack) GAME: Jay rolls CMB: (9)+2: 11 (Trip attack by Bolas - Fail) GAME: Jay rolls stealth-20: (3)+9+-20: -8 (Reestablish Stealth, -20 for sniping)
Integrity can hear the fight drawing closer, and the gate comes down. He pops his head around. Robert and Zofijah are near. Slixvah! Slixvah is exposed.
"Bob! Bob! Help Slix! She's in trouble, she's going to be in trouble! Here! I'll knock him down!"
>>fww-wrr-wrr-wrr<<
A glittering pair of spiked, mithril balls fly from the doorway, between the legs of the titan armour, and spin and wrap around the legs of the Brigand.
Around the LEG of the brigand. A mildly distracting and painful attack which doesn't trip him, at all.
"Ah! Ah... Sorry! Lie down please!" The egalrin chirps, hopping in place. "Psittacine! I need to hide!" He does this very inefficiently.
<OOC> Telamon says, "Brigand3 moves to 11,6 and tries to stab Slixvah again." GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+3: (11)+3: 14
"Run, hell! We ain't been PAID!" The brigand snarls back at the egalrin witch, his sword wildly whipping back and forth, looking all very impressive but not connecting with her as she dances away. "Stand still, chicken!"
<OOC> Telamon says, "#1 will vault to 9,2, and dose Remus with a potion." GAME: Slixvah uses an AoO! 0 remaining. GAME: Slixvah rolls feather slap: aliased to intelligence+BAB: (2)+3+1: 6 GAME: Telamon rolls 1d8+1: (3)+1: 4
The brigand with the peacebonded sword swears as it's like NOTHING is going right here! Realizing Remus is in trouble, though, he leaps over the crates, narrowly avoiding a feather-strike from Slixvah, and his hand comes up with a bottle, which he dumps on one of Remus's uglier wounds, causing the flesh to knit. "Best I can do, boss!"
<OOC> Robert says, "Running to 11,4. 2 gets an AoO." GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+3: (2)+3: 5
The suit of artifice armor pivots in place, turning and lumbering across the room to stand where Zofija was a moment before.
<OOC> Magpie says, "Moving to 15,13, then shoot 4." GAME: Magpie rolls ranged-4: (5)+4+-4: 5 (-4 not have precise shot)
With the fight clustering at the *other end of the warehouse,* Magpie sighs heavily, hopping off the crates and dashing as far as her tiny little legs can carry her, drawing a gnome-sized crossbow from her back. Taking aim, she fires... and the undersized bolt clicks against a crate two full armspans wide of her target.
<OOC> Telamon says, "Brigand 2 moves to 7,4 and flanks Zofi, stabbing at her to try and get her off Remus." GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+5: (13)+5: 18 GAME: Telamon rolls 1d8+1: (6)+1: 7
The mustachioed brigand suddenly finds himself alone, except for a painful bola hanging off his leg. "I'll gut you later, you little shit!" he snarls at Jay, before stepping up behind Zofija and slashing her in the back with his longsword. "Don't bug the boss, little girl, come play with a -real- man..."
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Remus is dropping his crossbow and drawing his scimitar. Targeting Zofi..." GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+6: (18)+6: 24 (THREAT) GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+6: (20)+6: 26 (Confirmed) GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d6+1: (2)+1: 3 GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d6+1: (4)+1: 5
Remus is reeling and staggering... Until he's doused with healing potion. "You can't keep me from her. No one can!" he bellows, dropping his crossbow to the ground. He draws his scimitar and brings the blade down in a massive slash onto Zofija... sending the arvek-nar to the ground.
"I'll send you all back to her and then she'll /have/ to come here!" He laughs, his eyes filled with bloodlust--the quickly drying blood caking to his face.
<OOC> Telamon says, "Brigand 4 will stab Slixvah since she's an easier target and might be tasty with buffalo sauce." GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+3: (17)+3: 20 GAME: Telamon rolls 1d8+1: (3)+1: 4
The brigand hears Remus yelling, and a thud, and he growls, "Get it TOGETHER, guys! We can take 'em!" He sneers at the armored juggernaut approaching, starting to move forward... then pivoting and stabbing Slixvah in the thigh. "How about some legs, girly! You'll be tasty when you're plucked!"
<OOC> Slixvah says, "slix will move to 9,5 and eat some aoo's and hope they dont hit her" <OOC> Slixvah says, "then cast CLW and poke zofi with it." <OOC> Slixvah says, "It'll heal nonlethal and lethal damage equal amount so hopefully itll pop her up" GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+3: (9)+3: 12 (AoOs 1) GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+3: (5)+3: 8 (AoOs 2) GAME: Slixvah casts Cure Light Wounds. Caster Level: 2 DC: 14 GAME: Slixvah rolls 1d8+2: (4)+2: 6
Slixvah gasps as white hot pain flares up her leg. "OW! Jerk! No legs for you! Ain't gonna give you nothin'! If you want leg, take me out to dinner!"
She rushes past, her muttering an incantation as one of her ribbon like feathers glow with a bright white light. It touches Zofija, and suffices her with healing energy. "C'mon babe, we got work to do..." she says softly.
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Zofija, you are alive again." <OOC> Telamon says, "However, she is prone, And standing up provokes AoOs." <OOC> Zofija says, "Guess I'll withdraw down and right, to 9,4, which provokes an AOO" GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+3: (19)+3: 22 (THREAT) (AoO from #2) GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+3: (10)+3: 13 (Confirmed) GAME: Telamon rolls 2d8+2: (8)+2: 10
Busy as the cavalier was with the boss, there wasn't much room to deal with the brigand that came up behind, and with both attacking, a particularly nasty blow from the leader causes the angered Arvek-nar to fall from another slash to their stomach.
Slixvah was able to get some form of healing into the fallen cavalier, and Zofi coughed up some of the blood that was in their throat. "Fucking bastards." They grumble weakly, attempting to crawl away from the foes around them, but only getting a longsword plunged into their side for the trouble, which stops any further movement.
<OOC> Jay says, "move to 7,2, bluff to draw Remus and Brigand 1 on me, total defense" GAME: Jay rolls bluff: (11)+5: 16
"No! Get away from her you cannibals!" Integrity shouts, horrified as he hears the brigands taunts. He's loud, and rather high pitched, "You'd eat her? A person? That's... that's horrible."
He watches in horror, seeing Zofija knocked down, attempting to crawl, knocked down again. He chirps! Some force propells him. He must act.
He leaps through the doorway, his rapier magically appearing in his hand. "Get away from her too! You have to get through me to get away."
His thin blade is a silvery blur as he whips it around and drops into a fighting stance. "My legs are better. Better! Much more meat!"
"Come at me!" >>Squawk!<<
<OOC> Telamon says, "B3 moves to 11,5 and stabs at Bob again." GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+3: (1)+3: 4 (EPIC FAIL)
The brigands are rallying as their leader refuses to die. "Hah!" yells one. "Run away, you snot nosed wimp! You can't hang with us!" His sword lashes out, but only draws a shower of sparks off Robert's chestplate, doing nothing more than scraping the paint.
<OOC> Telamon says, "B1 scrambles to 8,3 and tries to sap Jay." GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+3: (6)+3: 9
Meanwhile, the other brigand glares as the mouthy jaybird returns to pester them, and scrambles over the crate past his boss. "For the love of-- why don't you just SHUT UP!" he yells, swinging his sap wildly and connecting with thin air.
<OOC> Robert says, "Alright, full attack, starting of bandito quatro." <OOC> Robert says, "If the first hit downs him (however unlikely) will pivot second to bandito 3. Regardless, 5' to 10,4." GAME: Robert rolls weapon7-1: (2)+8+-1: 9 GAME: Robert rolls weapon8-1: (20)+8+-1: 27 (THREAT) GAME: Robert rolls weapon8-1: (13)+8+-1: 20 (Confirmed) GAME: Robert rolls 2d8+10+4: (14)+10+4: 28
The bodies are falling and Jay is stepping into to make himself a target. The arcing energies continue around the armor, blood and grease mixing in an expanding river beneath the protruding arrow.
Another batting attack goes wide clumsily and there's the sound of grinding metal along with a pop. Grunted frustration echoes out from the domed helmet as the Cerenzan finally loses his temper.
The massive, armored hand covers the bandit's head and shoulders entirely, the other wrapping him around an arm and his flank. There's grunt and a shove and the whole man's form collapses in on itself and down towards the ground with a wet squelch and the muffled sound of splintering bones.
The sack that used to be a man doesn't move and its legs bend out beneath it at awkward angles.
<OOC> Magpie says, "For starters, moving to 15,9. Cast Ghost Sound." <OOC> Magpie says, "I want a sad-sounding Lady Nuada's voice emanating from the crates at 11,9/11,8 ish." GAME: Magpie casts Ghost Sound. Caster Level: 2 DC: 15 GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20: (9): 9 (vs DC 15 - fail) GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20: (6): 6 (vs DC 15 - fail) GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20: (19): 19 (vs DC 15 - Success) GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+0: (4)+0: 4 (vs DC 15 - Fail)
Things are going downhill with all the swiftness of an alchemist experimenting with toboggan wax.
Hurrying closer to the melee, Magpie's eyes dart left and right, and then-- IDEA! --and starts to gather mana into a loom between her fingers.
From the warehouse wall opposite her, lost among the crates, a familiar voice drifts up over the din of battle.
"Remus? Remus, my darling."
"Remus I'm so sorry, can you forgive me?"
<OOC> Telamon says, "B3 will step to 8,5 and try to slap Slixvah down with his sword." GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+3: (9)+3: 12
The brigand leers as Zofija goes down. "Heeeeey, she's in good shape still too! Maybe we can throw her in as..." he pauses, cocking his head. "No way. No -fucking- way," he growls. "Get outta the way, you stupid birdbrain!" The brigand lunges at Slixvah with his sword, but the blade passes by her harmlessly again.
<OOC> Ravenstongue posing as well, because Remus is so overwhelmed he's just going to look around wildly. <OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Maggie got him with the psychological warfare."
Remus was snarling and full of vigor. But then he stiffens as he hears that whispered voice, his blue eyes going wide in his blood-caked head. "My pet, my pet, you /did/ come back," he murmurs. His eyes search the room. Where is she? Where is the swan maiden?
It doesn't even matter that there are people trying to kill him. He is only convinced that the creature he caught, that he believes that he /owns/, has come back, and that's more important than anything else.
Sick.
<OOC> Slixvah uses Hex: fortune on Jay, slips around the east side to 9,2 to give flanking for jay <OOC> Slixvah says, "provokes AoO from 2, maybe 3, not sure" GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+1: (17)+1: 18 (B2 AOO) GAME: Telamon rolls 1d8+1: (1)+1: 2 GAME: Zofija rolls constitution -6: (18)+3+-6: 15 (vs DC10, -6 for 6 HP lost - Stablized)
Slixvah's heart stills as she sees Zofia impaled dishonorably. She grinds her beak. Takes a breath. And yells out in screeches and chirps.
"Integrity C. Truefeather! Stab him! Cast aside the doubts and fears and stab him! Muscles depends on it!" <Auran>
She gets a cut on the side, her hissing in pain as she ends up on the other side of the ring leader. Ribbon feathers posed to strike.
"Be the best you. C for courage."
"IC, buddy, I'm sorry but we really need you here..." Bob shouts, too, his voice echoing as he slowly back towards Zofija's prone form. Bloody and smeared offal cling to his warding mitts.
GAME: Jay rolls weapon2+2: (18)+6+2: 26 (THREAT) GAME: Jay rolls weapon2+2: (4)+6+2: 12 (Not Confirmed) <OOC> Robert pounds desk. "Reroll. Reroll. Reroll." GAME: Jay rolls weapon2+2: (18)+6+2: 26 (THREAT) (Fortune reroll) GAME: Jay rolls damage2+1d6: aliased to 1d6+1+1d6: (1)+1+(2): 4 GAME: Jay rolls damage2: aliased to 1d6+1: (6)+1: 7 (11 Silver) <OOC> Ravenstongue says, "That drops Remus."
C is for courage. Integrity isn't feeling it. The adrenaline is surging, his stomach is in knots. His friends are in trouble, one of them is down. Bob is calling for his help.
Bob needs him.
Slixvah, needs him.
He feels a presence on his wings, like sunshine, like being with his sisters. They'd know what to do. They'd rush in. They're not here. He is.
"She DOESN'T LOVE you!" The bluejay squawks, his words stabbing deep.
"AND Leave Slix alone!" Egalrin eyes glittering, he sees a hole in the armour, a gap between two overlapping plates. A narrow opening, barely bigger than a pen. Jay thrusts.
His point goes in. As deep as the hilt, his hand is twisted as the rapier tip bounces and slides against the armour. The inside of the armour, on the other side of Remus' body.
Jay whips it free and as the man drops. He stares, eyes wide. "Bob... Bob! Bob! Bob!"
<OOC> Telamon says, "B3 sees boss go down, and he books it to 13,15"
One of the brigands sees Remus go down, and yells, "Shit! I'm outta here, boys! Have fun with those bird people, I heard they eat your nadgers!" He goes sprinting south, past Magpie.
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20-1: (12)+-1: 11
The other brigand sees Remus go down, looks into Jay's eyes... and throws his weapons down, proning out on the floor. "I surrender! I SURRENDER! DON'T LET 'EM GET ME!"
<OOC> Robert says, "5' to 9,4. FA starting with 2 and moving to 1 if 2 goes down on the first hit." GAME: Robert rolls weapon7-1: (16)+8+-1: 23 GAME: Robert rolls weapon8-1: (11)+8+-1: 18 GAME: Robert rolls 1d8+5+2: (3)+5+2: 10 GAME: Robert rolls 1d8+5+2: (4)+5+2: 11
"Sit," Bob's growl echoes at the man calling out his surrender. He turns then to the other still looming over the prone arvek nar and cocks an arm back. Steam hisses and the other comes in quick with a sucker punch, propelled faster than something of that mass should move by the glowing aetherite. The cocked arm comes after with a cross, blasting the brigand up off of his feet to tumble between the crates behind him.
"Keep your sword up, IC. Stay alive and I promise you won't be a killer today..." his voice hitches, his breathing a bit ragged as he struggles within the weight of the titan armor.
"SLAVING IS *BAD* DIPSHIT!" Magpie calls after the freeing thug. "REMEMBER THAT!"
New Friends are hurt. The urge to help them utterly tramples the knowledge that she can't do much of anything about it, and the little gnome scampers toward the remains of the melee. "Hey who's hurt! Also Jay, that was *awesome* and I'm gonna buy you dinner for being the Big Damn Hero!"
Another of the brigands lies on the ground, bleeding, with a skull fracture.
One dead henchman, one unconscious henchmen, one surrendered henchman, and one henchman that clears the front doorway and runs like his life depends on it.
Remus is stabilized. Unconscious. But, as is evident... He's not wearing the cloak of feathers.
"The cloak's in the room down back where you lot came from," the surrendered henchman says. "Remus has the key on his belt. He keeps it locked because he got all self-conscious when we commented... Ahhh, you'll see when you get in there."
GAME: Robert casts Cure Light Wounds. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15 GAME: Robert rolls 1d8+3: (7)+3: 10 (on Zofija) GAME: Robert used a Wand of Cure Light Wounds. GAME: Slixvah rolls 1d8+1: (1)+1: 2
"Miss Slix," Rob calls, pinching the wand out of its pouch and holding it between gigantic thumb and forefinger over his head. Well within the reach of her feathers. Once it's taken, he kneels and pulls the cog-decorated cylinder off of his belt and holds the tube against Zofija's arm.
There's a ratcheting soudn as the largest cog is rolled with his thumb. An audible *PSSSH* proceeds the warm glow of positive energy suffusing out and through the cavalier.
"Thanks!" Jay cheeps, his voice so high pitched it's reaching the range where it can only be heard by dogs and gnomes. His eyes are wide. There's blood splattered across his beak, dripping from his rapier. He keeps it raised, levelled at the one on the floor that's begging for mercy.
The weapon is deadly still; it's the rest of the egalrin that's shaking. "Don't make me do it! Don't make me do it! Stay there! There!"
His head darts, watching Robert as the older man heals Zofija, snapping to Slixvah as she tends to Remus... just a little bit, but. Enough.
His free hand is clutched around the bolt fletching. Integrity can feel the warm blood leaking over it. His heartbeat seems very loud.
Slixvah shudders out heavily as she slumps against the wall, one of the ribbon feathers taking the wand hand half heartedly tapping it on Remus. "Dick..." she mutters, poking back to Robert half heartedly.
She reaches out with a hand, smiling with her eyes. "... hey Tergi... shh... shh... you did good... you did good. It's over, we got the bandys for your boo boo. Mine has hearts on it."
Oh... Oh boy. Jay's not doing great at all.
GAME: Magpie rolls use magic device: (5)+9: 14 (vs DC20) GAME: Magpie rolls use magic device: (4)+9: 13 (vs DC20) <OOC> Magpie says, "..." <OOC> Magpie says, "OKAY SOMEONE ELSE KISS THE BOOBOO."
Hurrying toward the fallout, Magpie gestures for Slix to toss the wand over. "Hey, Jay? I think we're good. Nobody's going to do anything stupid anymore--
"Remus, my darling? Remus where a--" *snap*
"--*anymore,*" Magpie repeats, as the phantom Nuada falls silent. "How 'bout you come with me, and let's do something that doesn't involve stabbing anyone at all, yeah?" Staring up at the panicky bird, Magpie gestures fantically behind her for Slixvah to give her the wand.
Zofija was on the floor for some time, and there was a not insignificant amount of blood around them. Thankfully still enough inside that when their wounds were mended with healing energy, she is able to cough her airway clear, and look around wildly until she sighs and rolls onto her back. "Everyone alright?" The Arvek-nar asks. "I'll be right as rain, so don't worry about it. Though Jay is looking a little more blue than usual."
GAME: Jay rolls use magic device: (17)+5: 22 GAME: Jay used a Wand of Cure Light Wounds. GAME: Jay rolls 1d8+1: (5)+1: 6
"Okay! Okay!" Integrity caws, steadying a little under Slixvah's touch, blinking the water from his eyes. He holds rapier with a death grip, as if it's the only thing holding him up. The point never wavers, even as his breath comes short and rapid.
"How... how... how do you stay so calm?" He asks, as Maggie comes over, letting her lead him away. Check out an empty room. Yes, that sounds much better. His breathing starts to normalize, as he watches the gnome tap away at his injury with the wand. Slixvah's wand! He's feeling faint again.
"Like this, you use it like this." The bluejay says, taking the wand after a few of the attempts, and touching it beside the bolt. His beak cracks as he clenches it shut, but he pulls the shaft free and there's a glow as the wound closes.
"I think we have to work on our strategies if we're going to be in these scenarios this often," Bob tells Zofija, offering his forearm as brace if she wishes to stand. The 'fists are out, smeared as they are. "It seems like one of us always ends up on the ground."
The energies playing across his suit of artifice calm and the helmet releases with a hollow clack. His other hand pulls the dome back and up on its hinge to reveal his soaked hair and dripping face. Another quiet hiss and the glow of the aetherite crystals dull entirely.
"Well fought, regardless," he smiles.
Slixvah gives a soft sigh and steps forward towards Jay. She carefully pries his fingers off the rapier if he lets her, and she gingerly wraps him in a ribbon winged hug. "... 'cause if we don't Blue, then we'd end up in the dirt."
She relaxes some as Zofija seems well. ".. you all did well, and I'm glad you're good Muscles. Let's grab that key and get these assholes turned in."
"Pffff, calm? I'm not calm at all," Magpie confesses, sighing in relief as Jay manages to fix his own ouchies. "But there's a lot of things that scare me, and right now it's... my friends are hurting. That sucks, and I wanna help. After that? Gotta get this thing back, and *oh boy* is that something you're gonna have to remember you did. After that? That's what beer is for. And steak. And we can afford really, really good beer and steak when we're done. And it's hard to go to bed upset with good steak in your belly."
Looking back at Slixvah, the gnome nods. "Yeah, we did really good. And you're right. Who wants to touch that jerk to get the key?"
Pausing, the gnome blinks, and looks dismayed. "...Wait, we're gonna have to dunk the thing in bleach before we give it to her, aren't we?"
"The strategy is to not get surrounded, and all that." Zofi grunts, pulling herself to her feet. "Gods damn it all, Now I've got to fix fouror something different holes in my clothes. But that's a problem for another day."
"You get used to it Jay, that's the best I can say. It's lucky for them only one of them died."
Jay lets Slixvah do whatever she wants. His fingers unclench, he sets the weapon down. He nestles into her wings, and he is trembling but it doesn't last long. He sucks in a breath, his feathers pop, especially as he listens to Maggie.
Focus on food, focus on drink. Focus on the future and friends. This will be over soon. It is almost over.
"We did, didn't we? We did good. Really good! We were great! I was great! You were great! Wait!"
"One of them died?" His head turns. He stares. His head drops. "I'll... I'll get that key. Then we can get out of here."
The room is opened.
It's... a bedroom. The walls have been covered with white wallpaper that's beginning to peel. A carpet hastily drawn over the floor tries to mask the fact that it's a room in an abandoned warehouse. There's a bed right in the center of the room, one fey-light lantern hanging from the ceiling in an ever-burning manner--a watchman keeping a guard post it never asked for. The bed is carefully made and is sized for two people, like the person who bought it anticipated to share it.
But then there's the cage in the corner of the room. It's circular, and it reminds one of an oversized birdcage. There's silk pillows and pile of blankets that lie in wait at the bottom.
The thing that catches one's eye about the birdcage, however, are the manacles that hang from the top from thick chains and a matching pair that are bolted to the bottom of the cage. The pair that dangles from the top of the cage are tied together...
And the lady's cloak hangs from the tied-together manacles. Safe. Stark-white feathers that feel clean in a sharp contrast to the rest of the room in the inept attempts to cover and hide both the building's conditions and what Remus had surely intended.
You could ask him, of course. He's alive. Just unconscious.
If you keep him that way...
"Welp," Magpie says, peeking her head in from the side of the room. "Someone have the Guard arrest me for summoning, 'cos I called it. Uuuuugh what a weirdo."
"The conduits..." Bob says, pausing to stand and give a sigh. "The way aetherite travels across the suit--" The Cerenzan grimaces, trying to find the words as the fists open and close at his sides. "It's not math; it's more like music. I was too distracted at first..."
The armor clanks and he looks at the half-folded, half-compressed corpse. "Then I was too focused."
The artificer detours past a stack of crates and collects a dusty canvas tarp, tossing it over the mangled corpse. "Vardama judge you fairly," he grunts and can't be bothered with the side room for the moment. "Better luck on your next go, son."
The door is opened. The scene is revealed. Integrity stands on the threshold and stares. His wings spread, involuntarily, to block what he can. The cage holds his attention, the bars, the chains. The explicit intention.
He can imagine himself in there. His sisters, the Lady Nuala. Slixvah. Having the skies stolen. Never to be free. A feeling falls on him.
"You shouldn't see this. I'll get the cloak." His voice is empty, devoid. He steps into the room. He has the keys, and should that fail, some small talent at pecking open locks. It's not long to open the cage, retrieve the cloak, yet it feels forever. Finally he leaves the room and hands the folded bundle to Slixvah. He seeks some words, fails to find any. He doesn't even want to meet her eyes. A silent understanding is exchanged, she would be the best one to bear it.
After, he joins Robert, standing beside the older artificer and wrapping a wing around him. Words are missing here too. "I messed up. Let's get out of here."
Slixvah pulls away from Jay as he gets himself pulled together. She mutters something under her breath, a prayer to the sky before following after towards the room.
Though she stops short as Jay is blocking it. "... uh... alright?"
She blinks as she has the cloak in hand. Her eyes soften as she watches Tegri.
And watches.
Her eyes fall down to the white feathered cloak. "... I'm sorry.." she chirps to herself, fingers tightening around the clothing as she silently falls in line to be next to Muscles.
"This one was rough," Bob answers Jay. He glances down at his bloodied artifacts and just nudges the birdman with an affection elbow to avoid smearing him with gore. "But when they stop being hard... that's when you worry."
The lumbering suit of Kulthian horror with the mushy Cerenzan center moves over to the prone Remus and tosses him roughly over a shoulder. "Finding something constructive, having something to love, and Muse' grace makes it all seem a little less grim," he promises as they head out the front.
Zofija, despite any declarations otherwise, isn't moving too quickly, and does not enter the room in question. She's busy grabbing her hammer, and keeping an eye of the brigands in case they move. "Like I said, not worth worrying if we killed them in the process, but that was just a hunch." She grunts when they exit the room. "Lets get out of here if there's nothing else of note, get these people off to the guard. And, wish I was calling up the vardaman temple for more pleasant reasons, but someone's got to notify them."
The rest happens quickly. You hand off the henchmen that lived to the guard plus Remus and inform them of what's happened and what Remus was up to. You leave that accursed warehouse behind.
The feather cloak is handed to Lady Nuala when the group returns. Her dark brown eyes well up with tears as she hugs it so tightly to her. "I thought it would be lost to me forever," she says.
Then she explains what she was too afraid to say once she is informed of where Remus and his men have gone: she is Fionnuala, youngest adult daughter of a Baron Cygnu and a Baroness Antida of the Pale Plume. They have lived deep in the Mythwood for eons, in the places where the elves don't allow outsiders to roam... But she wandered too far without realizing, spurred on by curiosity of the world beyond the safety of her noble fey progenitors' feathers, and was captured by Remus and his men, who had bribed an elven guide from Ylvaliel to bring them deeper into the woods.
"I will remain in the city for a while," she explains, "to heal fully from my injuries. I had intended to leave right away, but you have proven to me that not all mortals are unkind--and that this is a safe place, although I ask you to please keep my identity secret."
The warmth of her smile as she dons the feathered cloak is the most she's displayed, perhaps more than you thought her to be capable of.
But it also matches the warm light of that lonely fey-light lantern, still hanging above that bed in the warehouse: a testament to the longevity of monsters.
Combatty
Map
https://www.mipui.net/app/index.html?mid=m8ah07tvs5t
===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 1 =====================
---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
23 Remus
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21 Brigand 4
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20 Slixvah 1 Flat-footed (0 rnds active)
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19 Zofija 1 Flat-footed (0 rnds active)
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11 Jay 1 Flat-footed (0 rnds active)
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8 Brigand 3
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7 Brigand 1
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7 Robert 1 Flat-footed (0 rnds active)
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5 Magpie 1 Flat-footed (0 rnds active)
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5 Brigand 2
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==============================================================================
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| Name | Race | Class | CHP | HP | AC/FF/T |CMD |For |Ref |Wil |
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|Jay |EAGLEFOLK |Rog | 7 | 17 |18/14/14 | 16 | 1 | 7 | 3 |
|Magpie |GNOME |Sor | 11 | 11 |13/11/13 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
|Robert |HUMAN |Art | 14 | 19 |16/15/11 | 18 | 5 | 5 | 3 |
|Slixvah |EAGLEFOLK |Wtc | 7 | 11 |12/10/12 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
|Zofija |HOBGOBLIN |Cav | -6 | 21 |16/14/12 | 17 | 6 | 2 | 1 |
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OOC
Pre-game
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Okay. Now everyone's here, welcome to my very first PRP. Telamon here is my emotional support DM assistant because I just don't have system mastery of Pathfinder 1e yet to run stuff by myself but I still want to tell stories."
<OOC> Jay will just warn, that part of her plans for Jay is for him to be a kinda 'normal guy' afraid of combat, etc, so he won't be super efficient in combat
<OOC> Robert will Enlarge self and wield Jay like an Alice in Wonderland cricket club.
<OOC> Jay might be oddly officient that way
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Standard boilerplate message for my plots whenever I DM /anything/: I like to create stories with memorable NPCs, and sometimes this means I create antagonists and villains who are pretty awful and terrible people. One NPC you encounter in this adventure is a possessive creep who is obsessed with another NPC you will meet. I have designed the NPC in this way to make him someone that your heroic PCs will be pretty comfortable in taking out. However, I also am a DM who cares about my players' OOC wellbeing, so while the NPC is designed to make your characters uncomfortable, I also don't want to be That DM who makes /you, the player/ uncomfortable to the point that you don't want to play. Please let me know via pages if, at any point, this happens, and I'll tone it down. There is zero shame in doing this, and I get it as someone who has gone through trauma IRL. With that out of the way, I will drop the emit."
<OOC> Telamon says, "Side note: if you need to make extended comments, jokes, etc, please do it on RPFour so we don't clutter the log too much. Thanks! :)"
<OOC> Ravenstongue thanks because it makes editing the log /way/ easier.
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Also, as an aside: when we get into combat, please try to speak up within 5 minutes of your init being on deck so I know you're there and you haven't been abducted by ninjas. You get one free reroll: tracking that reroll is your responsibility."
Post-Game
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Thank you so much for coming, everyone. This was absolutely nervewracking to run, but I hope you enjoyed it!"
<OOC> Slixvah says, "thanks for the really fun scene :)"
<OOC> Telamon hugs Raven.
<OOC> Telamon says, "Poor Jay may need therapy."
Slixvah pages: she absolutely wants to talk with him later to hopefully smooth out that terribleness
You paged Slixvah with 'that would be very cool'
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "I'll submit for rewards either tomorrow or the day after, depending on how many spoons I have. Lady Nuala will be around if people want to talk to her, although she will likely eventually leave Alexandria since, well, she's got a home to go to."
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "And finally, major, major thank you to Telamon for agreeing to assist me with GMing. Wouldn't have done this if I didn't have the help. <3"
<OOC> Slixvah says, "thanks for the help telamon :)"
<OOC> Zofija says, "Thank you so much for running both of you!"
<OOC> Telamon says, "Always happy to help out. Try the veal. :)"
<OOC> Zofija says, "It was fun"
<OOC> Robert had a lot of fun.
<OOC> Robert says, "You know what your next challenge is, RT?"
<OOC> Robert says, "A not-Fae plot!"
<OOC> Slixvah giggles
<OOC> Ravenstongue says, "Literally impossible."
<OOC> Robert throws the gauntlet.