Aya for an Aya
With the weather outside less than delightful, it's no surprise that the inside of the tavern is busy. It helps that drinks are half-price for the next hour. A cunning business choice from the bartender this evening. Thus the place is bustling, full of happy drinkers and waitresses busing tables. It's a good evening so far, as long as one isn't stuck outside.
Mikilos keeps to the end of the bar, since all the dark corners are usually taken, sipping a mug of mulled wine and silently judging the other patrons. Not that the elf is overly bothered by the weather, but drinking outside gives a very different impression.
Aavhash goes where the people are, and there aren't many people out and about when the weather is as poor as it is. The half priced drinks probably don't hurt either even if the black-scaled Sith isn't currently trying to drink anyone under the table. She's chosen a spot at the bar where she can sit on a stool with her tail wrapped tightly around and not getting trodden on by booted feet, which just so happens to be not far from Mikilos. For the most part Aavhash is just people watching, observing the various interactions, and occasionally order another drink. Like now, as she finds her current goblet empty.
Following some hours of pleasantly(?) uneventful travel across and about the city, the unpleasant weather nudges Aya indoors. A few minutes to dry, warm, and recharge would not harm anything. Not to mention that gather places should be surveyed, as well. She may not intend to remain long, however, as she moves to the bar rather than a table. A simple request for wine, bread, and cheese, after which she notes Mikilos and offers him a nod and "Good evening."
Halani is actually standing on one of the tables at which is seated a groups of somewhat amused dockworkers. Her gestures are animated, her footwork is.. precise. At least, she hasn't kicked over any drinks just yet. But there's enough of a drag to her words to indicate she may have been enjoying the half-priced drinks. "So there is was, yeah? Staring at me and the rest, thinking about how good we'd taste.. and then it snapped! But I was quicker." Halani sidesteps, then does a backflip... causing the table to rock enough that one of the fellows has to grab his drink with a "hey!" but she ignores him. "Up on his snout I jumped, and then... whapam!" She thrusts one of her hands forward, fingers curled like claws. "Stole that dragon's eyeball right from the head, yeah? And then we ran like we'd never ran before!"
"... what would you do with a dragon's eyeball?" Wonders a lyrical voice to one side of the bar. A portly, brown-eyed Lucht with brown curls perches past the preponderance of people pressing in to get their drinks before the magic hour is over. His long maroon coat dangles down between his boots on the high rung of a stool and where his elbow leans at the bar. He holds a short glass of amber liquid he's been enjoying as he watches the Xian's story.
The little fellow takes a sip and blinks, enjoying the warmth as he mulls over the possibilities. He swallows and ventures: "A potion that calls for eye of newt on a grand scale." His head tilts and then a thought occurs. He snorts. "Hah, grand scale. Dragons.
"Oh, Miki. Aya." He leans back and snaps a finger. Pink motes shift across his eye as it turns solid black and he gives a wink. "Coyote laughs," he greets as the illusion resumes.
GAME: Jinks rolls Fortitude: (9)+8: 17 GAME: Mikilos rolls fort: (6)+12: 18 GAME: Halani rolls fortitude: (9)+15: 24 GAME: Aya rolls fort: (20)+22: 42 (CRITICAL SUCCESS) GAME: Aavhash rolls fortitude: (4)+7: 11
Mikilos judges Aya's order. Judgment? 'Acceptable.' "Evening. How you been?"
Halani's story draws the elf's attention with a mild frown. "You didn't tell them about the smell! Rotten dragon eye is a smell you never forget." The elf downs the rest of his mug. "No matter how you might try."
He raises a hand in greeting to the revealed Jinks. And hand that wobbles and slowly drops, the wizard frowning in confusion.
Aavhash looks a bit confused as she was in the middle of reaching for her goblet to get a refill of her wine but it is not to be. Her motions slow and she thinks .o( I haven't had enough to be drunk... )o. but then she comes to a complete stop. Then her goblet drops. Her face drops. Slumping into the bartop she thuds into it with her arms over the top, cheek pressed down, even her tail starts to unwrap and loosen as it falls to the floor. Thump.
The disguised minstrel's eyes flutter and his smile tilts to the stern, going lopsided. His hip starts to sag towards the ground as he takes a slack grip at the edge of the bar. "Hm," he offers, bemused as he drops from his perch and to the floor. Bushy Lucht eyebrows press together a fraction of an inch as his back finds the front of the bar and he slides down to sit on the foot rail.
Following a sip from her glass, Aya eyes Mikilos firmly at his inquiry, as if he expected... The sternness softens with an exhale. "As well as can be expected," she admits. The talk of rotten dragon eyes draws her attention and an upwards brow, though both are diverted to Jinks at his greeting. "Indeed, he does..." The suddenly slumping Sith is then noted. "Perhaps more here than elsewhere?"
Halani snaps her fingers at Mikilos. "That's right! Wow.. the smell.. it was like the worst smell in the world died.. and then farted." She plugs her nose for effect. Aavhash passing out doesn't draw her attention, initially. Things like that tend to happen during happy hours. "But I am glad you asked you asked, little man," she goes on in response to the halfling's question. "We needed the eye to unlock a door! Because behind the door was.." Then she falters, her animations stopping. "Well, we found what we needed, and then it was done. End of story, yeah?" Since her attention was on the halfling, her eyes do follow him as he seems to slump down.. then she DOES give the fallen sith another look. "So... uh... they ordered the good stuff, yeah?"
Halani might have been right about the 'good stuff', or at least partially right. Because a large portion of the tavern's patrons are slumping over. Falling asleep? With their eyes open? It's certainly not natural because the populace of the bar that is not falling over are starting to make murmured worried noises at their companions. Seems something's up.
This is emphasized by a woman walking in from the kitchen. She's a fairly ordinary sort for a mul'niessa. Not overly beautiful, but striking in the way that mul'niessa often are. She drops a small round object from her hand, and rolls it forward slightly off her fingertips so that it rolls toward the main body of the room. It begins to smoke profusely.
GAME: Halani rolls fortitude: (12)+15: 27 GAME: Mikilos rolls fort: (2)+12: 14 GAME: Aavhash rolls fortitude: (9)+7: 16 GAME: Aya rolls fort: (14)+22: 36 GAME: Jinks rolls Fortitude: (11)+8: 19
Mikilos slumps, eyes glazing. The elf twitches slightly, breathing accelerated, but mostly just.... sits there.
Aavhash is completely still on the bartop. She doesn't twitch, she doesn't blink, though the slitted pupils go wider more unfocussed. She doesn't seem to take any notice of the Mul'niessa, or the other people slumping, or the smoke bomb that's just been set off in the middle of the room. There is only the faintest twitch of the tip of her tail. Almost frantic.
Aya's other brow lifts as she realizes that Jinks abruptly...sits, and then Mikilos seems to ... pause. This is unusual. Even in the Ox, patrons tend to regurgitate rather than fall unconscious, or at least in that order. And then there is the arriving mul'niessa woman and her toy?...
Aya foregoes her glass and takes a step back from the bar, now eyeing the other with daggers. Afterall, muls cannot be trusted, and certainly not females. Everyone knows this. Then her eyes shift to the smoking ball, back, between them. A moment of (in?)decision before she moves for the ball. If it's the cause, then perhaps Aya can help clear the air?
The fancy Lucht with the brown curls seems to be content to sit on the floor beneath the bar for now. Even when the sinister smoking sphere slides slowly through the foot traffic of the pub he doesn't move. The tails of his maroon coat curl and bunched beneath his rump-- crushed velvet, indeed.
Even as Aya moves forward toward the smoking object on the floor, the other mul'niessa woman moves forward too. She stands ready, a defensive posture in her shoulders as she breathes in the fumes; seemingly unaffected by them. "Hello again Aya. Nice to see you." Her voice is smooth and oddly familiar. Like an echo of Aya's voice but slightly different. She moves like Aya moves too, but there's violence in those steps. A quarter the bar is screaming and backing away from unseen horrors, fleeing for exits seen and only in their minds. The others are unable to move. Whether they can see the horrors or not.
GAME: Aavhash rolls fort: (2)+7: 9 GAME: Mikilos rolls fort: (11)+12: 23
Mikilos gasps suddenly, sitting up, limbs twitching as wide eyes roll. Muttering, the elf struggles to stand, clutching at the bartop for support as his breathing starts to become slightly less frantic. Slightly, still plenty of reason to panic.
Aavhash remains still for the longest time. The black-scaled Sith-Makar doesn't move beyond the twitching of her tail and the widening and more wild movements of her eyes until suddenly she bolts upright with a shrieking hiss and falls off her stool into a crouch at the bar. Her eyes dart this way and that but not seeming to fix on anything that is actually relevant.
It was not an easy (nor even familiar) decision, but Aya vied for the patron's benefit over focusing on the mul'niessa. Now that she steps there, however, that conflict is resolved. As well, the other's words cause Aya's expression to harden and her attention to focus solely upon her. Any doubts are removed.
"You. It is good to see you, as well." Her stance shifts to a ready not dissimilar from the other woman's. Aya's steps and posture can bely violence, as well. "It saves me hunting you down."
"..mmm," grunts the Lucht. "Mmm--" he tries again. "Mulria's sideways fucking smile," he finally manges, rolling forward onto his knees while shoving two fingers down his throat. Whatever was in the drink might've run its course but it's better to be safe than sort. The fat man conjures up a back-arching expulsion of the unwanted toxins with a rather undignified series of verbal components.
"He-hey!" Halani watches the people at the table she's on stop moving, staring... except for one, who pushes away from the table so violently that his chair tips over backwards, spilling him. This doesn't stop him, however, as he scrambles to his feet, screaming, trying to get away from his visions. Halani has to take a moment to keep her balance, then she hops off of the table, warding away failing arms as she tries to make her way towards Aya, struggling a little bit with her own footing as she starts to regret the night's celebrations.
The woman smiles slow and sinister, running her hand through the hair of the person nearest at hand. A gentleman seated near Mikilos. "So eager." She picks his head up and slams it into the bar. The man groans and falls onto the floor. Discarded. The woman's hand reaches out for Mikilos next, her red eyes shining with a desire to hurt these people. "But you can't protect everyone."
GAME: Mikilos rolls fort: (20)+12: 32 (CRITICAL SUCCESS) GAME: Aavhash rolls fortitude: (13)+7: 20
"Wait." Mikilos pulls himself to stand up straight, a thin sheen of sweat upon his features. "Sorry, I don't believe we've been properly introduced. Hostilities are no reason to be uncivilized." And it might give a few moments for his hands to stop shaking. "Mikilos Mithralla, Magus. I believe we met a few weeks back, but didn't really talk."
GAME: Jinks rolls Intelligence: (10)+3: 13
With darting eyes Aavhash suddenly begins to sprint away from the bar! She stays low and almost on all fours as she charges headlong into a chair and a table, spilling over both it and the individual seated, or slumped, upon it then scrabbling for her feet she starts to stand up and flips the table onto it's side with a bang and a crash. Her emerald eyes still dart wildly and she crouches again, hissing loudly, baring a lot of sharp teeth but then... she blinks, growing a little calmer, "What is this..." <draconic>
The murderous intent is in the other's eyes is not hidden, though neither are her words entirely false. Aya makes every effort to deny that possibility, however. A brow lifts. "From you? Of course I can." By removing her from the equation, which she promptly attempts with a snapping strike at the other mul'niessa smugly sinister smile.
GAME: Aya rolls weapon0: (2)+27: 29
A thick wad of spit follows the last of the sick as an exclamation point and the Lucht stands, shedding the illusion as he goes. The sparkling gnome stands no taller but cuts a far more impressive figure in his jewels and kit; the maroon coat is just as fine but cut with straighter lines and pinned with a gold coyote's-head broach. A harness hosts a bow on his back and an almost-horizontal quiver beneath.
"One night without someone trying to hit me, Tarien..." he mutters, already wiggling fingers absurdly decorated with rings of all shapes and sizes.
Halani beats back another pair of hands reaching for her as she stumble-sidesteps closer to Aya, just in time to witness the other mul's rough treatment of Mikilos's drinking partner. Her eyes go larger as the man slides to the floor.. then narrow as Aya initiates with Halani's preferred language. This /is/ the good Aya, right?
"You can call me Ayas-" Her words to Mikilos are cut off by Aya's thrown punch and she catches it smoothly in her own hand. The snap of flesh and flesh cracking through the air. Her eyes flicker to Jinks and there's -hatred- there. Enough to burn the little gnome to the ground if looks could do such things. She snarls. "How could you stand there and let _him_ live?"
Even as she speaks her face _moves_ shifting and warping until Aya faces... Aya. Two of them standing there facing one another. Indecipherable from one another. "After what he did to Cryosanthia and Lily? You're _weak_."
GAME: Jinks rolls Knowledge/the Planes: (14)+17: 31 GAME: Mikilos rolls knowledge/the planes: (13)+17: 30 GAME: Aya rolls knowledge/the planes: (7)+5: 12 GAME: Aavhash rolls fortitude: (8)+7: 15
"Huh. She looks just like you!" Halani points out to Aya, as if the Aya didn't already know that. Then her eyes widen again when she sees Jinks. She darts forward, going down low and sliding a bit as she reaches Jinks. "I gotcha!" she tells him before getting a firm grip on his jacket and pulling him along with her, regaining her footing several feet later as she spins him behind her, placing herself firmly between the gnome and the evil mul.
Aavhash whips her head around at movement. There's tons of movement but not the movement that she sees. Even still. She sees some of it, but the movement that catches her attention is a tankard rolling after it's been kicked, tossed, or fell onto the floor. With a hiss she draws that great big blade from it's half sheath on her hip. The silvered blade gleams in the light and almost glows brighter against the smoke but that's all lost on Aavhash.
She leaps with a roar and the silver sword flashes!
CHOP! HACK! CHOP!
Aavhash hisses in angry frustration as the mug survives, unscathed. "Foul beast you will not take me!"
Halani receives a short look from one of the Aya's, a glare that promises retribution, but one more look at Aya decides the course of events. "You'll never really be free of me Aya." She promises, and quickly kicks up her heels in a retreat that's head-turning.
GAME: Jinks casts Haste. Caster Level: 13 DC: 21 GAME: Jinks spends ONE use of BARDIC PERFORMANCE.
"Why is there still another one of you running around?" Jinks wonders of Aya, his solid-black eyes going wide. He tugs his coat back down into place and offers a quick smile in thanks at Halani, wincing more fully behind her as the duplicate sprints past. "I think it's best if we don't leave her running around with the urge to kill my favorite person in the world. Mind where you do her in; she's liable to explode on the killing stroke."
And then he's singing, waving one hand through the air to pluck at the strings of the Weave, selecting a thread that he loops around a gnimble, ringed finger. He tapes out a rhythm, increasing the tempo as the gossamer thread goes silvery-white between the familiar adventurers and almost-ten folk making to escape through the door.
"It was late at night / you held on tight From an empty seat / a flash of light..."
The Hymn bolsters the lyrics, pulling through potential realities and layered planes to find additional aptitudes and strength of each of his allied combatants.
GAME: Mikilos casts Overwhelming Presence. Caster Level: 18 DC: 30 GAME: Mikilos rolls 1d20+18+2+2+1: (13)+18+2+2+1: 36 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+17: (5)+17: 22
Mikilos rushes after the fake, grateful for the magical speed, but lacking the time to express his gratitude. Bursting onto the street, the Archmage casts aside his mortal guise, revealing the Golden Divine Presence he truly is. Worship mortals, a God walks among you.
...or so it feels to those hit by the brunt of the enchantment.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+17: (15)+17: 32
The not-Aya starts to go down to one knee, her eyes glazing. "E-eclavdran..." Yet her eyes clear almost instantly, and she shakes off the enchantment. Others in the street do _not_. They fall down in worship of Mikilos. "You are _not_ Eclavdran."
Aya did not expect her blow to be caught so easily. In hindsight, though, who better to block her blow than one so *shudder* intimately familiar with her? This delays her, for once.
Next comes the reminder of Lily and the question concerning Jinks. Perhaps it is stuffing down the anger, or worry... or that she does not have a ready answer?
All combined, the one foremost in the fray is the slowest to react. To the questions and taunting statements, her only response, at least, is a resounding "NO!"
She cannot allow it to continue to torment others. She cannot let Mikilos charge off alone. She cannot believe what stated is true. She can be free of this. Will. Must.
Even if that means she must first NOT let it escape (as Jinks said, she must protect those most important) ... and so she bolts after her alter-ego out of the rear of the establishment.
GAME: Aavhash rolls fortitude: (4)+7: 11
Halani just grins at Jinks, half crouched. "Stop the bad one. Blow her up. Got it!" She gives the gnome a thumbs up, then takes off, hot on the heels of Aya as they chase after Aya's evil twin.
While everyone else runs to try and escape the tavern, or chase after the Not!Aya, Aavhash continues to attack the furniture. She destroys a stool, uproots another table and sends it flying as in the madness induced by the drugs she was dosed with she has begun to fully rage.
The furniture is afeared.
The false-Aya moves in a blur, getting in Mikilos' face and growling at him. "I think it is time someone put you in your place mage." She motions casually to those on the ground, worshiping him. "Your ego is getting a bit big don't you think?" She laughs and readies a blow.
The black-eyed gnome considers the chaos of the pub, dark eyes bouncing to and fro as he tries to think of something he might do to help those afflicted by the poison and smoke. He sucks at his teeth between verses of the song and hops up into the air.
"It will take awhile / to make you smile..."
A coyote spirit frolics out from under his coat, prancing and cavorting through the air until it takes the gnome's coat collar in its mouth. The creature titters in amusement as it runs through the air, carrying the weightless bard beneath it. Burst through the back door and into the night air it frolics upwards, climbing and climbing out of reach of the infernal foe.
"Somewhere in these eyes / I'm on your side..."
The gnome continues to sing as he looks down from on high.
GAME: Mikilos casts Greater Dispel Magic. Caster Level: 18 DC: 27
Mikilos casually quirks a brow. "Eclar was able to kill me. Look where it got him." The elf smirks. "And -you- were lured into range." The mage casts rapidly, sending a burst of magical 'static' at the Fake, disrupting any spells active upon her.
Which just happens to be none.
Boo.
GAME: Aya rolls weapon0: (18)+27: 45 GAME: Aya rolls 2d10+7: (15)+7: 22
Aya is initially concerned that it had escaped... and then it (she refuses to acknowledge it as 'her,' on all levels) is suddenly in Mikilos' face and threatening. Again, no.
"You said you were happy to see ME!" she reminds her false counterpart, darting up with an axe kick that lands on the other's foot and remains there. "Do not leave or bother with others just yet. As well, it is Eclavdran who was weak. I sent him back to the Hells with a single blow." She made use of that hatred before, perhaps it will work again, now.
GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+22+5+3+1-1: (16)+22+5+3+1+-1: 46 GAME: Halani rolls 2d6+2+5+3: (5)+2+5+3: 15 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+17: (18)+17: 35 GAME: Aavhash rolls fortitude: (13)+7: 20 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+27: (9)+27: 36 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+27: (15)+27: 42 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+27: (10)+27: 37 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+27: (4)+27: 31 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+22: (17)+22: 39 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+22: (17)+22: 39
Through all of this the poor tavern which is now mostly devoid of people has been getting thrashed by a raging black-scaled Sith-Makar. Tables overturned. Chairs and stools shattered and crushed. Mugs bisected and finally Aavash snaps out of it. She shakes her head and slowly wipes her blade clean of... food, frowning with a soft hiss at the scratches to the silvered surface she had just purchased and had placed on the blade.
Those will need to be polished out.
The singing outside draws her attention but Aavhash shakes her head, not knowing what's going on at all anymore. Last she knew she was having a drink of wine at the bar, then under... she didn't want to think about it anymore. Righting a stool the Sith-Makar settles onto it at the bar and folds her arms atop it, burying her muzzle beneath her forearms she closes her eyes, tail wrapping tight around herself as she tries to forget, or at least come to terms with everything that happened in her mind.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+17: (5)+17: 22 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d10+7: (8)+7: 15 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d10+7: (13)+7: 20 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d10+7: (10)+7: 17 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d10+7: (16)+7: 23 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d10+7: (18)+7: 25 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d10+7: (10)+7: 17 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d10+7: (6)+7: 13
The demonic version of Aya doesn't seem to like Mikilos' flippant attitude. She ignores the real Aya in favor of pulverizing the man. She beats him with fists that are faster that the eyes can see. Punching him into the ground until he's a bleeding, unconscious mess and... it seems unlikely that he's survived the beating. Her burning eyes turn to Aya and she smiles coldly. "One more you couldn't protect." She's a mockery.
GAME: Jinks casts Glitterdust. Caster Level: 13 DC: 20 GAME: Jinks spends ONE use of BARDIC PERFORMANCE.
Mikilos leaks blood, his head slightly dented. In more than one place.
"Your wide-eyed girls / you get-- FUCK!"
Jinks watches Mikilos go down, battered and crumpling in a bloodied and broken heap. The spirit fox is all but transparent against the dark sky behind them. The Hymn threatens to abandon the fight.
"... fall back into place / fall back into place..."
The music returns with a swell of power. The gnome rubs the milky gem on one of his rings with a thumb and the cool evening wind turns opaque, smearing him out of sight. He can't be seen in the sky above.
GAME: Aya rolls melee+3: (9)+24+3: 36 GAME: Aya rolls melee+3: (16)+24+3: 43 GAME: Aya rolls melee+3: (14)+24+3: 41 GAME: Jinks casts Gallant Inspiration. Caster Level: 13 DC: 20 GAME: Jinks rolls 2d4: (5): 5 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+17: (18)+17: 35 GAME: Aya rolls weapon0+3: (19)+27+3: 49 (THREAT) GAME: Aya rolls weapon0+3: (1)+27+3: 31 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Aya rolls weapon0+3: (10)+27+3: 40 GAME: Aya rolls weapon0+3-5: (15)+27+3+-5: 40 GAME: Aya rolls weapon0+3-5: (1)+27+3+-5: 26 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Aya rolls intimidate: (20)+23: 43 GAME: Aya rolls weapon0+3-5: (11)+27+3+-5: 36 GAME: Aya rolls weapon0+3-10: (13)+27+3+-10: 33 GAME: Aya rolls weapon0+3: (7)+27+3: 37 GAME: Aya rolls weapon0+3: (4)+27+3: 34 GAME: Aya rolls 2d10+7+3: (11)+7+3: 21 GAME: Aya rolls 2d10+7+3: (11)+7+3: 21 GAME: Aya rolls 2d10+7+3: (13)+7+3: 23 GAME: Aya rolls 2d10+7+3: (14)+7+3: 24 GAME: Aya rolls 2d10+7+3: (10)+7+3: 20 GAME: Aya rolls 4d10+20: (27)+20: 47
Aya was never much concerned when others fell in battle, right before her. Combatant or not, they were not her, and it was likely due to their own folly. Then Eclavdran went and changed her mind. No, no. Showed her unequivacolly that she had changed her own views with murder before her eyes. Now this creature has done so ... twice? She is uncertain on the detail of one, but that makes it more concerning, not less.
Will slaying it only send it back to the hells? Out of her grasp? Granting it escape? Will it explode?
It no longer matters, in the here and now. She cannot let this continue.
She erupts in a blur of strikes, not to show the impostor how it is done, but to remove the impostor from this here and now. A mix of sildanyari and undercommon accentuate each blow; primarily mono-syllabic expletives as she attempts to beat the Hells out of it.
GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+22+5+3+1-1+2: (10)+22+5+3+1+-1+2: 42 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+22+5+3+1-1+2: (2)+22+5+3+1+-1+2: 34 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+22+5+3+1-1+2: (14)+22+5+3+1+-1+2: 46 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+22+5+3+1-1+2: (10)+22+5+3+1+-1+2: 42 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+22+5+3+1-1+2: (19)+22+5+3+1+-1+2: 51 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+22+5+3+1-1+2-5: (14)+22+5+3+1+-1+2+-5: 41 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+22+5+3+1-1+2-10: (20)+22+5+3+1+-1+2+-10: 42 GAME: Halani rolls 1d20+22+5+3+1-1+2-10: (15)+22+5+3+1+-1+2+-10: 37 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+17: (14)+17: 31 GAME: Halani rolls CMB+2+5+3+1-1+2: (20)+22+2+5+3+1+-1+2: 54 GAME: Halani rolls 2d6+2+5+3: (4)+2+5+3: 14 GAME: Halani rolls 2d6+2+5+3: (6)+2+5+3: 16 GAME: Halani rolls 2d6+2+5+3: (6)+2+5+3: 16 GAME: Halani rolls 2d6+2+5+3: (7)+2+5+3: 17 GAME: Halani rolls 2d6+2+5+3: (10)+2+5+3: 20 GAME: Halani rolls 2d6+2+5+3+2d6+2+5+3: (8)+2+5+3+(7)+2+5+3: 35 GAME: Halani rolls 2d6+2+5+3: (6)+2+5+3: 16
There's... alot going on. Halani sees Mikilos fall, but she doesn't have time to do more than glance at him. Yet even that glance is enough for her to know that it isn't good. So she slips around the imposter, standing almost on top of Mikilos as Aya lays into the fiend. And is almost frightened by the display the mul monk puts on.. but she gives her head a hard shake, launching herself at the false monk with her own routine. Elbow to the spleen, spinning fist to the face. Snapkick at the knee. Jumping roundhouse to the head. And so on, so forth. Mindful of Jinks's warning, however, she isn't /quite/ going for the kill, doing her best to pull her punches just enough to hopefully not take the neighborhood down in fire.
The singing above stops and shortly there's the sound of jangling and a set of manacles fall from the sky and clatter to the ground next to the unconscious creature.
The wind shifts subtly and the Mikilos prone form is pushed onto its back. A song song is sung in rapid and clipped gnomish syllables before there's a soft glow at the dawn elf's cheek that almost immediately fades away.
"... gods damn it," the invisible Jinks mumbles.
GAME: Jinks casts Cure Light Wounds. Caster Level: 13 DC: 19
It is not until Halani's fourth or fifth blow that Aya's rage clears enough for her to realize that the other is pulling her punches. Still, when the Not-Her crumples, she still reflexive braces for the aftermath. After a moment, when there is no immolation, she blinks and fully accepts the results of Halani's wisdom.
"You are more restrained than I! Quick! We should get it to the temples! Surely they can imprison it, or truly end it. I will not let it simply be sent back to return again." In either case, she will be make a point to be present; either to see it ended... or perhaps visit it once a century as it wallows for eternity...
Halani nods quickly to Aya, but can't help herself.. looking back at Mikilos, no rolled onto his back with the distinctive voice of Jinks mumbling right there. She sees the manacles, too. Understanding. "Let's get these on, yeah? In case it wakes? Then we'll get her there. And send someone to help the archmage."
The gnome has magic on his side! A fine, enchanted belt and a well built frame beneath his fine clothes. Jinks grabs hold of the dawn elf's wrist and drags him up from supine into a sitting position. He struggles with a man that's twice is height, standing, but eventually works the archmage into a firegnome's carry.
The struggle continues, however, as the bard can't manage to gain altitude with the larger man's weight.
There's a great and heavy sigh from the little man. "I... can't lift him," he admits, easing the elf back down to lie on the ground. "Halani, could you?"
After getting the manacles on the fake Aya, Halani steps back from it.. then turns to look at the struggling gnome. It would be an amusing sight, probably. If it wasn't so tragic. "Yeah, Jinks. I gotim." She does what she can to relieve Jinks of the burden, but even she struggles under the dead weight of the.. dead elf.
Perhaps it is fitting that the fiend is Aya's burden to bear. That it still resembles her only makes it more so? She hefts the thing to head for the temple as hastily as she can under the load. Fortunately, she is not that weighty, herself.
Halani adds, beneath her struggle. "Wanna check make sure everyone inside's okay, Jinks? Then meet us at the temples, yeah?"
The black-eyed gnome pauses and blinks at Halani before offering a shrug. "I'll look... but I'm a maestro not a doctor." He gives a little hop and the coyote cavorts back into view, carrying him at speeds through the rear door and into the pub. He scans the crowd and looks for folks in obvious need of care.
"... if you're bleeding or broken now's the time to speak up," suggests the gnome formerly of Clockwork Point.
-End