Sevenport Face, part 5

Log Info

• Title: Sevenport Face, Part 555?
• Emitter: Faranmidahn
• Characters: Ashes, Faranmidahn, Lysos, Sabina, Soup, Irshya
• Place: Sevenport
• Time: Wednesday, September 23, 2020, 7:00 PM
• Summary: In Sevenport, the battle continues! Burai has been chased off, Gerzon is imperiled, Lysos ready to face him. Sabina arrives, with Irshya in tow, and a wandering knight, Soup, sees a woman in peril and his mount, Malfeasance, smells trouble! All rush in, in time to see Lysos blast one of the assailants on the still stunned Ash. Sabina and Soup lay in, and Irshya provides some healing. The threat of imminent death for the mourner is averted, but she is still beaten further. More combat, and all the undead are taken down and Gerzon manages to escape his tentacle spell. The whole party surrounds him, he attempts to crawl away and inflicts another necromantic attack on Ashes. The others beat him, with less-than and lethal force. Gerzon only lives because of Irshya, but he is rendered unconscious. The warehouse is searched, Lysos discovers a trap door which drops her into a literal blood-bath. She screams in absolute terror. Soup goes to her rescue, with Ashes following. The tsurian is led out, cleaned off, and the decision is made to get the Alexandria Temples involved. A group arrives and the monster is turned over, he is human, but too tainted with necromancy.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Appearing  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Ashes        5'11"    177 Lb     Hobgoblin         Female    A somber arvec in grey clothes with a skull face
Faranmidahn  3'3"     35 Lb      Halfling          Female    Albino Lucht woman in black leather armor with a BIG spider
Lysos        5'6"     105 Lb     Human/Tsuran      Female    Completely black eyes. Kind of creepy.
Sabina       5'4"     130 Lb     Human             Female    Tsuran woman of dark hair and green eyes
Soup         3'4"     40 Lb      Gnome             Male      3'4" of GLORY! DARING DO! Has a DIRECORGI! HUZZAH!
Irshya       3'0"     35 Lb      Goblin            Female    A small, blue-skinned Goblin in sea-green robes.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

The last time, in Sevenport...

Finally breaching the warehouse sanctum of the potential Vampire maker Gerzon after encountering his unbreathing laborer, the party tricked in stealthily. Once inside, they were able, through a combination of cunning stealth, invisibility and luck, to ambush their would be ambushers, with Burai in cat form utterly OBLITERATING the doorman they'd met, previously. His roar alerted the villains within, and more of the laborers, who look and smell normal until they're wounded, tried to swarm the druid and Ashes, who took to the high ground to lay in grim stares and healing and the Fieu of the Tears reproach of the undead. Exception was taken to this, and now the ashen Arvek finds herself pursued by two of the undead with the third throwing pieces of the doorman at the druid, now in bird form, which apparantly scares him off. His wounds were pretty serious, after all.

Lysos, for her part, had circumvented the muscle entirely, to try and thwart the brain, engaging Gerzon in a battle of sorcery, ultimately using her Hydraulic Push spell to punt him into the patch of Black Tentacles he had summoned.

Meanwhile, outside, Sabina is finally drawing into the building, putting a wary eye out for other potential trouble wanting to follow them in as the sound of battle make themselves known to her.

Sir Silsoupi, newly arrived in Sevenport after handling some grand task for his Order, happens to see a woman in a Mithril Tarienite mask warily entring a building.... a building from whence Malfeasance probably smells something edible.

"Hmm, a woman of wealth! We should investi..." The little Gnomish Knight urks as the massive Dire Corgi lopes towards the building. It's tail wagging back and forth and it's muzzle lined with hungry drool. "No! No Mal! Let me fix my hair and my beard first! I must present the clasic Kniiiiiight!" Trying to handle his ever present comb and mirror, Soup's next words are cut off as the helm's face mask slaps into place with a thunk. The helmet's design, to mimic a dog much like the one he rides, muffles Soup's string of invective while the Corgi charges on. The Dire Corgi's leather armor flapping around his form as he bounces the plate armored Knight on his back.

Damn it all to the hells, Sabina thinks fearfulyl as she enters the place of combat. "Damn familiar.." Yes.. always blame the familiar for running off at a bad time. She should have been in here with the rest of the group. But nooo..

She tries to be somewhat stealthy but the need to get in and help her friends is pushing her along.

GAME: Lysos casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 6 DC: 17
GAME: Lysos rolls 1d20+5-4: (17)+5+-4: 18
GAME: Lysos rolls 4d6: (11): 11

Lysos turns around, a bit surprised that her gambit actually paid off and hoping that maybe someone else got to see her moment of accidental brilliance. Only to, thanks to her cursed vision, see Ashes and Burai in somewhat dire straights. So she hisses at Gerzon, "Don't go anywhere! We have QUESTIONS." One hand grabs her skirts as she dashes back towards her friends, her other hand reaching up and forward as she yells, "Flambo!" An instant later a line of searing white punches into and through one of Ashes's aggressors, incinerating the villain. Lysos immediate pales and gags a bit, apparently somewhat surprised and appalled by the consequences of her magic.

GAME: Sabina rolls 2d6: (6): 6
GAME: Faranmidahn rolls 1d20+12: (17)+12: 29

Bina rushes down the hallway, feet scurrying as far as she can..forty feet or so and in the large dark area she calls apon Tarien's aid with holy symbol in hand. A burst of silver radience comes from her and strikes out at the dead. Looking at the dead and damaged she winces.. "Oh dear."

Zombies can use Stunning Fist! Who knew? Ashlee didn't. It's so unexpected she's stunned. Then covered in ash as Lysos destroys one. Still unable to move, everything appears to be going in slow motion for her.

<OOC> Faranmidahn says, "ok, now for a contested grapple"
<OOC> Faranmidahn says, "gerzon..."
<OOC> Faranmidahn says, "vs his own black tentacles...."
GAME: Faranmidahn rolls 1d20+3: (16)+3: 19
GAME: Faranmidahn rolls 1d20+20: (19)+20: 39
GAME: Faranmidahn rolls 1d6+4: (2)+4: 6

While all of that is going on, there are the souns of the old man Gerzon, grunting and crying out in pain as the black tendrils continue to try and get the red out through torsion.

GAME: Soup rolls Intimidate: (11)+11: 22

Bursting into the room the massive Dire Corgi rears up as Soup unleashes his war cry. "FEAR THE MIGHT OF GNOMISH ARMS AND THE TEETH OF MY STEED!" His long sharp tipped lance glints in the light. Then the Dire Corgi is off and racing towards the boxes beneath Ashes. The animal's sole intent seemingly on the monster climbing. Then not on on the monster climbing as the Corgi starts to race him neck and neck up the incline towards Ashes. The sight of the char and ash covered Aveck getting the big dog drooling with hunger as it seems to think she's already cooked! "Damnit Mal!" The little Knight yells, looking over at the monster they're almost side by side with. Soup tries to swing his Lance around to stab at the undeathly posterior of reanimated menace!

GAME: Irshya rolls 3d6: (13): 13
GAME: Irshya damaged you for -13 points. 19 HP remaining.

Irshya has been fairly quiet since they started sneaking into the building. She stuck so close to Sabina as to be mistaken for some oddly shaped part of the taller woman's shadow. But then things have lurched into view after Burai-cat took a bite out of the doorman.

The Gobbo squeaks and moves closer to Ashes, and thrusts her trident into the air. "Rada, there are those in need of your blessing.", she murmurs, moments before a bright flash is scene, a comforting and cool white light that soothes and heals those it touches.

GAME: Faranmidahn rolls 1d20+6: (9)+6: 15
<OOC> Faranmidahn says, "he misses sabina"
<OOC> Faranmidahn says, "the second one tries to undo all the healing ashes took"
GAME: Faranmidahn rolls 1d20+4: (18)+4: 22
GAME: Faranmidahn rolls 1d6+3: (1)+3: 4
GAME: Zombie damaged Ashe for 4 points. 15 HP remaining.
GAME: Faranmidahn rolls 1d20+4: (10)+4: 14
GAME: Faranmidahn rolls 1d6+3: (4)+3: 7
GAME: Zombie damaged Ashes for 7 points. 8 HP remaining.

Seared by holy light again, the laborer on the ground turns and rushes toward the two women near the mouth of the hallway, and he throws a practiced, if forceful punch that nonetheless manages to miss the Tarienite priestess. But, the HATE in his eyes... it goes along with his gravelly, "You're dead!"

Echoing this sentiment, his partner, in better condition, though no less disgusted by all the breathing going on around here, continues to savagely beat on the Fieu's Hand who so recently scorched his undead flesh. He spares the Gnome Knight a look on his chalenge, pausing with a brief look that can only be an, 'Is that a... Corgi?' expression.

<OOC> Lysos says, "Alright. I'll try to scorch him and then move to the base of their high ground."
GAME: Lysos rolls 1d20+5-4: (16)+5+-4: 17
GAME: Lysos casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 6 DC: 17
GAME: Lysos rolls 4d6: (14): 14

Lysos swallows back her bile just in time for the cavalry to arrive... but her moment of gratitude for Sabina and Irshya's arrival and subsequent assault upon the undead gets wiped away by an expression similar to the mook's upon Sir Soup's arrival. She blinks her eyes quickly a few times, then gives her head a quick shake as she remembers Ashes's plight. "Get off of her!" she screams, and follows up with another, "Flambo!" as she keeps moving towards Ashes's defensive ground. Another white beam of fire emanates from her hand, and again the fire appears to have devestating results, burning away parts of his body as he collapses.

<OOC> Faranmidahn says, "If you want to cast a spell without provoking any attacks of opportunity, 
                         you must make a concentration check (DC 15 + double the level of the spell youre casting) to succeed. 
                         You lose the spell if you fail."
GAME: Sabina rolls 1d20: (19): 19
GAME: Sabina attempts to cast Shocking Grasp but fails due to ASF.
<OOC> Sabina says, "I forgot to claim arcane armor training.."
GAME: Sabina rolls melee: (8)+0: 8

Bina spies Irshya near to her and tries to spot the others in the combat. The rays of fire assist her in finding them.. and...a gnome on a huge dog. But she has a foe in her face who likes to take swings. She casts an arcane spell with the eldritch tounge, lightning crackling about her fingertips and reaches out to touch the toucher.. missing.

<OOC> Ashes says, "I think 3 of 5 channels"
GAME: Ashes rolls 2d6: (8): 8
<OOC> Faranmidahn says, "alrighy"
GAME: Ashes damaged Ashes for -8 points. 16 HP remaining.

The white light envelopes her. Ashes is soothed and healed, and very grateful. Fists were flashing before her eyes, and it's taking her a moment to do more than stare dumbly. It was Irshya, thank Rada! This would have been very awkward to explain to the Fieu of the Tears.

Two more blows to the face and the ashen Arvek is preparing her speech. Then, retribution, as Lysos burns one into two pieces and he drops, inert.

Ashlee can move again, and she does so, scrambling back and raising her holy symbol. There's nothing there, "Feiu of the Tears, help." That covers it.

There's a dire corgi, and a knight, and Sabina and Irshya, the literal cavalry! She's effusive with her gratitude and praise. "Thanks."

GAME: Faranmidahn rolls 1d20+3: (9)+3: 12
GAME: Faranmidahn rolls 1d20+20: (7)+20: 27
GAME: Faranmidahn rolls 1d6+4: (2)+4: 6

The struggling wizard continually gets strengthed and twisted to much pain by the Black Tentacles who do their thing without concern about little things like 'hey, I casted you' or.... well, remaining duration. And it's suddenly, after the lasted outpourings of physical angst from Gerzon that the tendrils suddenly disappear to casst him ingloriously to the floor with a thud.

GAME: Soup rolls 1d20+9: (19)+9: 28
GAME: Soup rolls 1d6+6: (3)+6: 9

As the nearest enemy is burned down in pieces Soup finally hauls on the reigns and leans his steed over. "To the attack! Eat later!" At the thanks from Ashes, both the little Knight and his steed seem to wink at her. The moment gone in a flash, as soon only a heart shaped Dire-arse is visible as the pair race away. Dog mask down, the lance wavers as targets are chosen. Then the Dire Corgi races into the undead threatening Sabina. It's long vicious teeth snapping out and closing around the foe's neck. With a sickening crunch and a squelch the Dire Corgi rips the entire head free.

"No!" Soup yells. "Don't eat that!" He frantically waves with his shield. The log lolling the decapitated head in it's mouth, tonguing the cranium as it tries to keep it's prize away from Soup's antics. "No! Bad for you! Stop! Bad!" The little Gnome wails.

The Gobbo blinks as combat happens quickly, and she turns and squeaks at the sight of a very large, small, dog. Her eyes widen significantly. "What. Is that. Fluffy creature?", she wonders of Soup. She gives her head a quick shake, and turns to look to the old man, and Lysos. With a grunt, Irshya hurries towards Lysos.

Lysos handles the 'defeat' of the second of Ashes's attackers a little bit better. She even manages to pop a wave up at Ashes... before her olive complexion pales a few shades when Soup's dog rips the head off of the third. Gag. Swallow. She quickly turns away, in time to see the spell immobilizing Gerzon fade away. "Stay there!" she yells at him, though it comes out rather rough and weak sounding, and she raises her hand to point at him.

Bina blinks at the dog and then grins thinly. "Good boy!" Then her feet are moving, scurying through the space between her and Gerzon. She hovers beside him with hand still belightninged and watching him closely.

<OOC> Ashes says, "Oh, I've got a lvl 2, use it for Cure Moderate, then climb down the shelves and move closer to Lysos"
GAME: Ashes casts Remove Paralysis. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15
GAME: Ashes rolls 2d8+3: (10)+3: 13
GAME: Ashes damaged Ashes for -13 points. 26 HP remaining.

"Feiu of the Tears, I need a little more help." Ashlee appeals directly, holding her holy symbol close to her chest as she works her way to the edge of the shelf. As the cold, clammy and renewing sensation flows through her, she breathes a little easier. Methodically, she climbs down and moves closer to Lysos.

Gerzan gets an intense, baleful stare.

<OOC> Faranmidahn says, "AoO's as he casts"
GAME: Sabina rolls melee+3: (16)+0+3: 19 (vs Touch AC)
GAME: Sabina rolls 3d6: (10): 10
GAME: Faranmidahn rolls 1d20+10: (11)+10: 21

Perhaps foolishly, perhaps too proud to go down so... ignobly, Gerzon, lifts his hand, murmuring dark words of the arcane tongue, a deathly chill building around him, but ends up getting jolted by the priestess' charged touch. He jerkes like a marionette caught in a gale, then tries to crawl away, "No... Not here....!"

GAME: Sabina rolls spellcraft: (14)+12: 26
GAME: Lysos rolls spellcraft: (14)+8: 22
GAME: Ashes rolls spellcraft: (8)+7: 15
GAME: Soup rolls intimidate: (8)+11: 19

With a pop and a wet series of splurts, Soup manages to get the head out of the dog's mouth with the tip of his lance. Flinging the grisly trophy off into the depths of the warehouse where it careens and bounces. "Mal!" Soup comments, the dog turning it's head around to look back at the Knight and panting happily. "Good boy!" The little Gnomish Knight exclaims.

"Just in the nick of time!" Soup announces as the combat seems to have ended. "Another victory!" Raising his dog faced mask, the little Knight smiles and winks at Irshya. "He is Malfesance!" At the sound of it's name the Corgi barks happily, bits of gore and skin splattered around it's mouth.Then the duo turn and ride over to the downed Gerzon. The sharp lance leveled at the man, after it makes a sharp slap at his casting hand.

"That is enough of that! Foul evil wizard! You will surrender or we shall be your end!" The usually eloquent Knight blurts out, his tiny armored form on the back of a giant fluffy dog seemingly not as horrific as Soup would hope it is. Even less so when the nearly meter long tongue comes out as the dog happily pants. Still he's now point a very sharp weapon at the spell caster, and those massive dire teeth are still stained with the blood of a minion.

GAME: Irshya rolls ranged: (12)+7: 19
GAME: Irshya rolls 1d6+2: (6)+2: 8

The Gobbo blinks at Soup as he rides up on the giant fluffy dog, squinting slightly. "Mal-feez-ants?", she enunciates slowly. "Odd name for a... uhm... giant fluffy." Irshya shivers as the wizard is battered by Lysos and Sabina, and she raises up her trident. "Taste the storm, creature of the night!", she squeaks, and the wizard is hit with another crackle of lightning, as well as rain and wind which batter at his form.

GAME: Lysos spends ONE use of TOUCH OF DESTINY.
<OOC> Lysos says, "+3 to attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks and saving throws for Ashes for one round."

"Remember we want to ask him questions!" Lysos shouts out, her voice a little bit stronger now... though as Ashes moves close to her she closes the gap to the arvek, putting a hand on her shoulder as if in need of support.

The masked priested reaches behind her back and draws forth a silvered dagger. This she places against the crawling man's neck as she speak quietly and clearly to him. "We know, Gerzy. We know it was you that provided Ellastra with tub and vampire. We know you provided her with the rites as well. Certianly you heard she'd.. died. Seems she couldn't help herself but bathe in blood of innocent people."

GAME: Ashes rolls melee+3: (5)+2+3+2: 10

Ash feels bolstered by Lysos' touch on her shoulder, and gives her a grateful nod. Empowered, she strides forward and around Gerzon to block his retreat, crouches and leans, stretching out a hand with the tattoos of bones on her fingers. She stares.

"He is human, with necromantic influences but not undead."

Which is a little unexpected, the ashen Arvek was relatively sure he would be a vampire. She fixes him with her best glare. "You can surrender and come with us and explain yourself to the authorities, or you can continue to resist and explain yourself to the Feiu of the Tears." Ash holds up her holy symbol, her tiny set of basalt and grey scales, pulling down on one side to tip them, then releasing it.

"Weigh your acts on the balance and make your choice."

GAME: Faranmidahn rolls 1d6: (1): 1 Ashes
GAME: Faranmidahn rolls 1d20-3: (17)+-3: 14
<OOC> Faranmidahn says, "and you are now shaken, but not stirred for 3 rounds"

The wrongness of denying the Fieu's will touches her soul.

GAME: Irshya rolls weapon1-4: (19)+4+-4: 19
GAME: Irshya rolls 1d6: (5): 5 (Non-Lethal)
GAME: Soup rolls 1d20+7: (15)+7: 22
GAME: Soup rolls 1d6+6: (6)+6: 12
<OOC> Faranmidahn says, "he goes down"

"That is enough of that!" The little knight yells from atop the Dire Corgi. Which simply leans it's big fluffy head down and slaps it's jaws around Gerzon's head and starts to squeeze until the man stops moving. Letting the compressed, dog chewed noggin loose the Corgi sits back and pants happily. A long line of drool connecting it to Gerzon as Soup sets about stowing the lance on the side of the saddle once more.

"Right, that should do that. Now how much is this wastrel worth?" Soup asks. Leaning forward on the saddle horn. "Hopefully a pretty penny." Soup opines while scratching under the Dire Corgi's chin.

Still shaken, perhaps driven by fear of something besides death, snarls, "Thul..." as he touches the Mourner's wrist, infusing her with the whisper of undeath, "waits for NO one!" and he tries to get to his feet, reaching for his dagger. The resulting flurry of blows, ending with the breathy chomp of the Dire Corgi lays the man low, and he slumps unceremoniously to the ground.

Ashes touches Gerzon, Gerzon balks a bit. The entire group surrounds him, he takes another hit. Whistling tunes Soup wasted his goons and Irshya is on it. It's a knockout. If looks could kill Ash's probably will, with necromantic fears, of the Feiu of the Tears.

The mourner staggers back after the wizard's contact. A grave touch that takes her back to her unusual schooling and sends a chill through to her soul. Something foul was within the man, and it rattles her. And reminds her of promenade dance. She takes another involuntary step back, shaking, clutching her holy symbol. Her voice wavers, still monotone, but her pronunciation is uneven. "No Thul, only Vardama."

"Ash!" Lysos calls out as the mourner staggers back, rushing towards her and reaching for her elbow, on the cusp of asking what happened... when the dog chomps on Gerzon's head. "No!" When the dog releases the self-proclaimed Thullite, she just stares. Then looks at Ashes. "Are you alright, Mourner?"

Bina wipes her blade on the downed man and puts it away, quickly setting bout getting out some rope to bind him. A glance is cast about the room at the others. "Everyone alright? Ashley? Lysos? Shya?" Another look is given to the dire corgi and it's rider. "And thank you.. er.. sir..knight?"

GAME: Irshya rolls heal: (9)+12: 21

After delivering a solid smack with the butt of her trident, the Gobbo's eyes widen as the doggo crunches down on the man's head. "No!", Irshya squeaks. "He has to be alive to answer questions." She moves forward to touch the man's neck, murmuring to herself. "He lives! Help me tie him up." Irshya looks about for rope or string, even the man's bootlaces will be considered.

Ash is breathing heavily, and her gaze is unfocused. She shaking, Lysos can feel her arm trembling under her sleeve. She nods weakly, words coming after another strong breath, fully monotone again. "I'm Ok. Thanks."

The arvek's shuddering will die down soon, in the meantime she holds onto Lysos' arm. "I don't know what he did."

Soup slings his shield onto the saddle of the Dire Corgi then raises his dog faced mask. "I am Sir Silsoupi Llameni, Knight of the Cockatrice! Hero of the Hour! This is the brave Malfesance!" At the sound of it's name the Dire Corgi barks happily then begins dancing on it's front paws. "The rare and amazing!" The little Knight strokes his pointed beard and finely trimmed mustache.

"This is an impressive collection of warrior-es-ess. I am glad I could assist you in dealing doom directly to this despicable deceased desecrating decrepit delinquent!" Announces Soup! For it's part the Dire Corgi leans it's head down to sniff Gerzon's recently chewed skull. Afflicting him with the blast furnace of it's breath, the dog /eat anything smaller than it/ breath drying out the blood drool on his skin until it's like a glazed crust. Then the fresh drool comes as the dog looks around, absently dribbling all over the man's face. Slowly laminating him to the floor in a river of saliva.

Lysos studies Ashes's face as the arvek answers her, trying to match the words to expression and.... nope. She still can't read the skull tattooed face. So she nods, once, though doesn't step away, remaining close for support. Then she looks towards the fallen Gerzon, to Irshya examining him and beginning the process of binding him... and then to the dog mounted gnome. "Thank you for your help Sir Silsoupi.. if you and our friends hadn't arrived when you did..." she trails off, then turns her eyes on the small man's mount, and she frowns. Mouthing the words 'bad doggie' at him. Then, finally, she answers Sabina. "I'm okay.. surprisingly." And she truly does look astonished, for a brief moment. "Mourner Ashlee was hit by something."

GAME: Irshya casts Bless. Caster Level: 5 DC: 15
<OOC> Irshya says, "That is for Ashes."

Irshya huffs at the dog. "Ewh, Mal, turn your head the other way. Trying t'tie him up.", she complains. She ends up dragging the unconscious man a short distance away, to continue trussing him up. Soup is eyed a few times during his proclamation, but the Gobbo has no comment in reply. She looks to Sabina.

"We do want to talk to him, yes?" She lets out a breath and begins to mumble something, softly, while turning to Ashes. A quick flash of light emanates from one of her upraised palms. "Rada, bless this adherent in the battle against evil with courage and calm."

Another breath and a few moments later, Irshya is healing some of the man's wounds. "He is obviously drinking much too much."

GAME: Irshya casts Cure Moderate Wounds. Caster Level: 5 DC: 16
GAME: Irshya rolls 2d8+5: (12)+5: 17
<OOC> Irshya says, "Thats healing for Gerzon."

Sabina nods to Irshya as she moves to Ashes and inspect her. "Are you feeling better? I was likely some sort of spell, Ashley. But we can double check to make sure." To the others she says. "We should look through this place for evidence and then question him on what we find. Then take him to the authorites..back in alexandria."

"Yes." Ash says, breathing carefully, "It was a spell, it's over now. We should find that evidence. Thanks, for showing up in time."

GAME: Ashes rolls perception: (7)+3: 10
GAME: Irshya rolls perception: (9)+11: 20
GAME: Sabina rolls perception: (10)+5: 15
GAME: Soup rolls perception: (10)+10: 20
GAME: Lysos rolls perception: (19)+6: 25

"Yes, yes! No need to dwell on what could have been. We are victorious! All the Glory! Hopefully quite a bit of coin too." The little Gnomish knight says gleefully. He pulls on the reigns to lead the Dire Corgi in the other direction at Irshya's shoo'ing. Now on all fours the happy back and forth of the giant Corgi's tail is like a fluffy palm fan. Pulling out his lyre Soup strums a few notes.

"The necromancer raised his last pawn. A bite sized head torn and tossed with a yawn. A knight a steed and..." He pauses, and adjusts a strings on the instrument. "Mmm, I think something a bit more in D, what do you think Mal?" The Dire Corgi turns it's head and looks up at Soup and barks.

Once it seems Ashes is feeling batter, Lysos pats her arm once then steps away. She looks at Gerzon, then taps her chin as she looks away from him towards where he'd been fiddling with... something... when she started her initial spell duel with him. She shudders a bit when she remembers the magic he hit her with, then gives her head a swift shake as she moves towards where he'd been. She toes around a bit, then, "Ahas!" She turns about, triumphant. "I found a hidden underneath!" she declares to the others before she kneels down to fiddle with it and see if she can open it.

As lysos starts to fiddle with the trap door, there is only a whisper of grinding stone before she discovers that the trapdoor doesn't open out...

It opens down.

Down she plummets, skimming the spiral staircase to land in something with a a sickening SPLASH.

"Oh dear!" Soup says and nudges Mal over to the edge of the trap door so he can lean over and look down. "Are you alright? Anything broken? Anything shiny down there?" The little knight leans forward in his sadle and peers at the hole to see the steps, then leading his canine steed down them carefully. "Come along Mal! There might be something to eat in here."

"Ah S-- ow! Ugh! Ouch! Da--" SPLOOSH. A moment passes, then another.. and then Lysos is coughing and sputtering from underneath. "I'm okay!" she calls up. Then a little less loudly. "Wait a minute... oh stars.. oh stars... " And then yes, she is screaming.

Ashlee is looking around the warehouse, and not finding anything. Perhaps her search was more of an excuse to get a few moments to herself and calm down. That touch was unsettling, she's sure it left no lasting effect, but it felt like it did. She's distracted.

Half listening as Sabina and Lysos discuss finding the trap door. Not hearing it open, aware of the splash, and more conversation.

It's the screaming though, that cuts through and focuses her mind.

"Get Lysos out." She orders, turning and moving directly there, looking for anything that will serve that purpose. A rope, a ladder. She'll lie flat and reach if nothing presents itself. She smells blood. She has a good idea what her friend has found.

Once the Knightly duo make their way down the spiral stair Soup looks around and makes a 'thch' noise. "Well this is going to mean a bit of a cleaning for Mal." The dog for it's part makes a whining noise and tromps it's paws around in the gooey mess. Then with a light tap of his hand, and a few sung arcane words, a light spreads over Lysos. The mystical spell cleaning much of mess off her from the waist up. It being pointless to try and clean anything near to or still in the blood mire. "Does anyone have a light? I do not think I have one in the packs. Was not planning on swimming in a blood sewer this evening." Soup states.

Down in the sunken hideaway is an ornately, if grotesquely carved bathtub of generous proportions, scribed with arcane runes. The tub, with a slablike lid standing nearby, is set on a lift system that ascends to the main floor, set on a small series of wheels for easy transport.

"Lysos has Eye Blight that prevents her from seeing in light and lets her see in darkness." Ashlee calls down the spiral staircase. She can also see in the dark, so a light isn't something she brings along. She tries her best, long distance consolation as she descends the steps, "Lysos. Everything will be all right. Cast a Light Cantrip and come up."

And it is within that terrifying bathtub that Lysos is now standing.. though it's clear from how covered she is in its contents that she went right under. And she's still screaming, even as Soup and Mal make their way down. Even as the gnome's magic is cast, she's lost in that scream.. at least until the magic starts to clear some of it away from her. By the time the spell runs out the screams are done, though her breathing is quick, almost like panting. She stares at the gnome knight and his giant puppy.. then hears Ashes. "Ash?" she calls up. A breath. Another breath. Then a rough shake of her head. She fumbles with a pouch at her belt, still slick from the recent blood... then pulls out a small pebble and utters, "Luminos." The pebble begins to emit light, then, growing to the brightness of a torch... though, as Ashes reveals, it only makes it darker for her. Which is, perhaps, a blessing. And then she remembers she is still STANDING IN IT! She moans, scrambling to get out, spraying its contents haphazardly.. and nearly slips on the ground when she exits the tub.

GAME: Lysos casts Light. Caster Level: 6 DC: 15

"I'm here Lysos." Mourner Ashlee Ciaradh, the ashen arvec of the time between light and darkness, stillborn and comfortable with death and the whisperings from the other side, steps over and takes her friend's arm. She is solid in this circumstance like no other can be. Her voice, with all her flat intonation is comforting. It suggests she is steady, bored even, that there is nothing to worry about. She sounds calm, she is here.

She guides Lysos out of the bath, towards the stairs. A glance and a nod at Soup and Mal for them to follow her. With her bright skull face, faded clothes, she resembles a Hand of Vardama but she takes Lysos not to her final rest, but to safety and cleanliness that is away from here.

"Step with me. It is Ok. I have you."

After a quick half-hearted search Soup follows the duo up. His own face troubled at the screaming. He reaches down and scratches between the Corgi's ears to help calm the animal as it's puffed coat and worried expression show it's been unnerved by the exclimation of anguish from Lysos. However, unable to remain silent long Soup finally speaks up as they leave the horrendous basement. "Well, do we have a place to take the prisoner or shall we just drag him around town until he feels like talking? There is a street in the stock yards with many uneven cobbles and quite a bit of bovine traffic."

Lysos has, unfortunately, little to offer in terms of opinions regarding Gerzan's treatment. She just isn't made of the sterner stuff that Ashes and the others seem to be. She isn't exactly clinging to the mourner, but she's taking a definite comfort in the woman's presence.. and her focus seems to be mostly upon her enchanted light.

Ash wipes unnecessarily at Lysos' face, a soothing gesture. Soup's prestidigitation got at least this much of her. She hopes the contact will help her forget the other contact. As she does, she explains, "They don't have the facilities here. We should take him to Alexandria, to the Temple Authorities. The bathtub also."

She stares around, "This warehouse should be left as is, locked up and guarded. The Temples can investigate it more thoroughly. The bath will be proof enough of his crimes."

Ashlee moves in front of Lysos, puts her hands on both her shoulders and squeezes. "You're going to be Ok. It's over. We'll get ice cream."

Not cherry.

"Whu.. what?" The Necromancer awakes, confused. Then he finds his mouth, nose and eyes filled with dog drool. "WHERE IS THE MONEY?" Soup roars. "Arrggh!" Geznos shrieks, coughing, only to find more stinking dog spittle shoved into his face. "TELL ME WHERE THE MONEY IS OR I WILL LET HIM EAT THE CAT POOP!" Soup demands. "No! You monster!" Geznos gargles as he's slowly drool-boarded.

Once the team has searched the building, finding coded ledgers and some trade bars that weigh down certain pockets, the building is locked up.

Some discussion is had, at length with local authorities, and ultimately, the captain of the Sky Danger to signal the temples of the Grey Lady and the Dawnfather, who, quite incensed, have their agents arrive via spellwork within the hour. These guys look -Grim-.

The group is thanked, which accolades and commendations for compensation assured via the Explorer's Guild for their grand work, chasing down and stopping the foul fellow.

The archicet of the Baetriov transformation.

The author of woe.

The method behind Ellastra Vorhearst's descent into vampirism.

Another monster is set toward justice, and the particular vine of corruption has been hewn away to harm no more....

Combatty Stuff

 ===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 5 =====================
 ---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
     21   Ashes            1  
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     17   Gerzon           1  
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     16   Soup             1  
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     12   Muscle           1  
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  >> 10   Lysos            1   <<
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     9    Burai            1  
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     5    Faranmidahn      1  
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     5    Sabina           1  
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