The Vampires of Veyshan

Log Info

• Title: The Vampires of Veyshan
• Emitter: Elleandra
• Characters: Merek, Arynne, Cryosanthia, Seldan, Kira
• Place: RPFive, The Docks of Alexandria, Veyshan and a desert town.
• Time: Sunday, March 22, 2020, 4:55 PM
• Summary: Merek has promised to deliver a letter for Elleandra to a Khazad merchant in Nishabad, a modest city in South Veyshan. Just as he intends to leave, he meets the merchant at the Alexandrian docks. Upon delivering the letter, Merek learns that the true recipient is a half-sil named Kamaria, who used to be domineered by her father but has since slain him and taken up residence with a suspicious group in the Nishabad Palace. He provides a map of this location and wishes the sage luck. Further, the Khazad advises Merek to collect a crew to assist him. Merek brings together Arynne, Cryosanthia, Seldan and Kira. The group embarks on a week long airship journey, and a similar trek through the desert. On the way, the party weathers a sandstorm using Seldan's Rope Trick. When they arrive at Nishabad in the night, they find its been reduced to chaos with fires and angry mobs. Merek and Seldan awe the angry mobs with angelic wings and diplomatic skills and learn that the source of all trouble is in the palace. Entering that dark place, the party eventually come to battle three vampires and two lackeys in the throne room. Cryo manages to get a hostile Kamaria out of the room and into a protective spell, which temporarily frees her from domination. The others use their special talents to tear away the vampire's attempts at stealth. With one of their number defeated, the vampires retreat. Kamaria is eventually freed and agrees to return with the others to Alexandria.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Appearing, in Order  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Merek        5'10"    215 Lb     Human             Male      A black-haired, dusky male with golden eyes.
Arynne       5'2"     120 Lb     Dawn Elf          Female    Blonde Sildanyari with Blue eyes.
Cryosanthia  6'7"     245 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A dashingly tall, lithe white lizardgirl with tattoos.
Seldan       5'11"    187 Lb     Human             Male      Red-blonde Eldanar man wearing Eluna's colors and symbol.
Kira         5'0"     120 Lb     Human             Female    A young blonde woman wearing simple robes.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  As the GM  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Elleandra   5'4"     108 Lb     Wild Elf          Female    Blue-haired, green-eyes, Sylvanori in green leather.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--

It's a fair day for sailing the skys. The weather has taken a break from cold rain and dreary greys to present a breath-taking vista of sapphire skies, dotted with ivory clouds. There is a wind, fresh and warm coming from the south. It drives the spring with it.

While Merek waits, the airship is turning over its passengers. Among these is a group of richly-dressed khazad, their clothes a mix of whites and vivid scarves from the south. Their leader has gauntlets of shimmering silver stuffed in his belt and chains of gold about his neck. Strapped to his side is a broad sword. He gives his orders in a commanding voice. At his direction, ten men are loading numerous crates from the hold of the airship into a waiting carts. On each of the crates, the outline of a pair of hands has been written with the name 'Silverhands' stamped below it.

At the side of the dwarven leader, a younger khazad is checking items off a list. After no less than fifty crates are loaded, he speaks, "Well, Master Silverhands, that is all we were able to salvage. By fortune, what we have left behind has dealt us little harm." Replying to him, Master Silverhands says, "What was left behind was opportunity, and its loss has done great harm for us. But perhaps you are right to be optimistic. This city has good bones under it and a strong market."

Merek looks to the khazad, as well as to the letter, then back. He tucks that away, and finds the person with the tattoo, "Greetings, is your name Kain?" he asks.

The wealthy trader pauses mid-sentence with his assistant to turn his eyes to Merek. After some pause, with a bit of suspicion in his eyes, he nods. "Kain Silverhands, at your service." He raises his left hand to give a tug on his right earlobe, then rubs his chin before going on. "Do we know each other? Perhaps I sold you something in the south. You clearly are thinking of heading to Veyshan if you are lingering here."

"Ah, I was given a message to deliver was all, it has your name on it," Merek says, while he lifts up his letter with a look to the man, and a nod as well.

Walking her way into the airstation, Arynne looks to Merek as he speaks and tilts her head. She doesn't say much initially, but she does look about a little...like she hasn't been in here before.

The khazad takes the letter and thumbs the envelope open, flicking off the wax seal with practiced ease. His assistant is peering at Merek up and down, looking even more suspicious than his boss. When the assistant lets out a 'tsk' the trader raises a hand to silence him.

"I know Elly," says Kain. "It's been some time since I last saw that one. She did me a great service. Had a knack for getting me out of trouble and getting herself into it." The khazad settles his right hand on his golden chains and polishes them with a thick thumb as he considers his words. "I know what this is all about.." He regards Merek with a weighing sort of look, "You aren't a messenger. Why did you agree to deliver this letter to me?

"Well, I offered to do it without charge," Merek mentions, while he nods a bit to Kain then, looking a little bit perplexed about it all thoughtfully.

"So are you a friend, then?" asks the khazad, sounding a bit short, no pun intended. "Right about now, some friends might be able to do some good. If the full story gets back to the sender, no doubt she'll head south, she's going to get herself in trouble far beyond her abilities to survive."

"What do you mean?" Merek asks then of the khazad.

Kain arches an eyebrow. "I mean that the letter you were bringing was for me, but inside this is the real message." He draws out a smaller envelope from inside the first one. On that letter the script is written with great care, as if every letter were meant to be a work of art in itself. Written there is the name 'Kamaria'. "I was meant to smuggle this to Elly's umm, friend. I had my ways, and I'd done it before. That friend is the source of the whole problem, though, and no doubt that silly elf cook will want to come save the day. But it's a death sentence for her."

Merek looks a bit perplexed about it all, then nods, "Well, I still think it's best to bring it to her friend, either way, I can work the details with them," he says, "Upon full delivery."

Kain nods quickly, "Good! So it's settled. You are going to gather yourself some friends, and I will meet you back here in.. let's say three hours time. I will tell you what I know of Kam and you will travel to Nishabad and resolve the issue. I owe that girl something, so you can consider it a job. I have a few things to see to. Gather some willing hands! You will need them."

Merek looks then to Kain and nods, "I'll find people," he says, then he's on the way to do all that.

Arynne clears her throat as Merek starts his way past. "One."

Merek tags Arynne when she mentions the 'One' and of course will be about his way to collect people, telling them there's an important message for delivery, and he's offering coin to anyone that agrees!

Cryosanthia is a dragony damsel, rescued from distress. She lay in great peril, in the icy clutches of the Tornmwrar, in danger of losing her afternoon to hours of idle paddling and a pic-nic. The time whittled away in frivolous conversation with the water spirits, or at least Amythyst, who though she lives underneath a bridge is not troll-like in the least. Doomed to an evening watching a light sunset amidst the melting ice. Until the arrival of brave Sir Merek, who vanquished the disquiet doldrums and dragged her from lethargic leisure.

"Is this Elly's message? Of course this one will come." She straps on her armour. Lazy afternoon, we shall have to meet again sometime.

Merek says, "Saved you from BOREDOM of FREE TIME."

Having already agreed to share a journey with Merek, Seldan is willing enough, money or not, and arrives to the appointed meeting point. In fact, he had been preparing when Merek asked, and so was ready in short order. He opts for full adventuring gear, but wears a full tabard of dove-grey fabric beneath his robes, nearly entirely covering the metal armor beneath. It is fairly unusual to see the paladin carrying as much as he is, but it does not appear to trouble him in the least.

Arynne chuckles before she goes and gets materials for the adventure to come. Once she's back though, she's reading through a book....one she likely takes on her journeys. "Everyone's on their way, I imagine."

Kira isn't the most mercenary sort, though that may be due to her being far more one to simply volunteer and offer aid to any in need. So, when she hears of Merek looking for some (quite likely with a Seldan also in the vicinity), she is happy to seek them out. She perhaps feels more obligated than usual, considering the events in the gardens some time past. Perhaps quite some time past. Has it been so long.

"Hello," she greets all as she approaches, then looks to Merek specifically. "I heard that you were making an important delivery?"

With everyone gathered as requested (and at the proper time!) Kain steps right up and begins to speak, answering Kira's question for Merek. "Yes, it's a very important delivery. Maybe more than that, but first, you need to know what you're in." He frowns thoughtfully, trying to sort his thoughts out. "The trouble began after Elly left the south some fifteen years ago. Not trouble for me and mine, you understand. We have made great profits! I mean, the weapon sales alone..." He realizes he's veering off-course and grumbles at himself. "Apologies. Trade is all my life, so.. in any case, you likely know that the letter is meant for Kam--err, Kamaria, rather--Elly's lover. And that's the rub of this. It seems that with Elly's departure and the whole mess about trying to get away from Kam's father, the half-sil decided it was time for a change in things. She managed to escape and turned her attention to bringing down those who had wronged her. What followed was mighty good for trade, until Kam killed the Shah, her father, heck everyone of good coin and rank was either running for their lives or had no lives left to preserve."

Kain frowns thoughtfully and tugs on his right earlobe with his left hand. "So what you are going to have to do is deliver this letter to Kam and, I suggest, get her out of there. She's had her taste of vengeance, now it's time for her to come to the last home she could hope to have." He looks at the group seriously, "Kam's a good kid. It's just.." He struggles for words, then suddenly has an idea. His tone changes and he speaks much more quickly and confidently. "She's like a rookie who'd never gotten paid for her work, and then suddenly there's this great chance for a new, lucrative job with great hours, promotion opportunities, commision, the whole thing! Only her current boss won't let her go, nor even visit that establishment to just see what it's like there. If I were in that position, I'd slit some throats myself, and probably accept offers from some pretty nasty folks to pull it off, too. But I get this feeling that Kam can't quit her current job, even though I bet this letter makes it clear that the original position is still out there, waiting." He seems quite pleased with his metaphor.

After a moment, he adds, "You are going to have to deal with her current employers, but I'm sure you can figure that out. Probably by rendering them inert." Kain nods curtly, "In any case, here's a map to Nishabad." He offers a very detailed map at this point. "It's a total disaster there now. Murder, mayhem, and worse yet, looting, is going on at all hours. Be lucky to have any city left there. Last I heard, the trouble makers were all living in the palace."

Merek listens to that all, then nods a bit, while he looks to the party, "Well, I think that is all managable, we can do it without issue, I would like to be the diplomat," he says.

"No arguments here. SO we're delivering the letter or are we getting someone out?" Arynne states quite simply.

Seldan's relaxed air fades as he listens to the explanation from the khazad. "We are then being asked to extricate this Kamaria from a war zone, or simply to deliver a letter? Will she come if asked, do you think, and who might choose to stop her?"

Kain looks from Arynne to Seldan, "I'd hope you can get Kam out of there," he says. "The letter will probably be enough for her. But I doubt her new friends will let her run off at this point. I've heard rumors, and have only seen Kam from a distance. Pretty shady situation."

"I think we have to fight our way in, deliver the letter, then fight our way out. Oh, right, that's not a question. Um..." Cryosanthia says, looking between Kira and Seldan. She shakes her head, "So, her father is dead? Who keeps her now, and as what? A Pirate Queen, a vizier? a Harem slave?"

"Whatever her use is now, the stories say it was her blade that ended her father's life," replies Kain. "Which is something I wouldn't have thought possible."

"Then whoever it is that holds her is more dangerous than a father," Seldan observes quietly. "Else they would not hold her. We must walk with care."

Kira just blinks. Several times. From message delivery to... murdered parents, assassins and possibly enslaved daughters?! She doesn't have any single question that comes to the forefront to ask.

The airship journey is unremarkable, except that the weather is incredibly pleasant on the way. The quarters are the norm, which is to say comfortable, but cramped. The arrival is at a location far less remarkable than Alexandria. The destination is a city, to be sure, but the dock is far smaller, having room for no more than one ship to disembark at a time.

When landing, Merek looks to the party, his dark attire on while he wears a nice hat as well, his boots keeping the place feeling nice, not to mention this is the homeland which he is from. He does look to the place, "Alright, well let's make our way to find Kam, I will do a bit of diplomacy, and... I don't think we'll need any fighting!"

Cryo spends her time on the airship knocking about her cabin. Literally. It's dimensions are such that she keeps forgetting where the walls and ceiling are, and bumps them constantly with her head and tail. Once disembarked, she gets some water.

Everyone seems to be wearing white. Fortunately, the sith-makar already has that covered.

Arynne tilts her head at Merek and chuckles. "Yeah. I'm still ready, just in case."

Merek wears black in this weather, a bard's hat, and a scarf. A shemagh/scarf combo.

GAME: Merek rolls fort+4: (7)+11+4: 22

Seldan seems to be a bit more accustomed to airship travel, and only hits his head on the doorframe of the cabin once. Once docked, he ducks into the market long enough to purchase an outfit such as a caravaner might wear, white in color and including a mask and headcovering included, and big enough to be worn over the armor. Only when they are preparing to set off across the desert does he cast a spell to protect him from the heat during travel and don the clothing, an effect that nearly entirely conceals his face and all metal items.

GAME: Seldan casts Endure Elements. Caster Level: 12 DC: 16

The road to Nishbad is a well worn caravan route, and the party encounters a fair amount of traffic heading in the opposite direction, towards the greater cities of central Veyshan. The path is marked by peaceful oases where travelers can get water and find rest. For the first portion of the journey, things go well and travel is easy.

Things grow more interesting on the fifth day out. Just as the party stops for the day and begins to prepare to rest near an oasis, there is a feeling that they haven't sensed thus far into the journey. There is a steady wind picking up, and in the west a towering wall of sand looms, approaching swiftly.

GAME: Kira rolls survival: (9)+6: 15
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls survival: (8)+0: 8
GAME: Seldan rolls survival: (8)+17: 25
GAME: Merek rolls survival: (10)+4: 14

Merek looks to the sandstorm which is coming up, with a nod while he speaks to people, "We have a sandstorm coming up." The past few days he has been doing his best with supplies, which is easy when you can create water, he brought a lot of food. He then begins to build a little nice shelter for folk as well.

The white-scaled sith-makar made sure to purchase a lot of water-skins, and a backpack to carry them in. The start of each nightly walk, she freezes them with her cantrips, casting them over and over until the task is complete. They thaw while they are walking and have mostly done so, when she sees the wall of sand, feels the wind picking up and hears Merek's warning. "I grew up in a jungle, what am I supposed to be doing about it?"

Merek does add to the conversation, "Cover your face completely and lay down when the shelter is complete, you'll need to wait it all out. Please stay where you are." That's as he finishes a makeshift material to keep the wind a bit more at bay, then he leans onto the sand in front of that, facing the material while he keeps his scarf on his features.

Cryosanthia is torn. She knows Merek is more experienced, much more wise and learned, but he also wears black in the desert, walks through explosions without noticing them and throws spells around like candy. "So, lie down in the sand and wait for it to go away? Can I go lie down in the Oasis instead? They survive these things, right?"

"Better still." Seldan frowns as he looks at the approaching wall of sand, then at Merek. "I know the rope trick. I have not had chance to try it, but it may serve us better, and will yet be more comfortable. What say you? We have not much time."

Navigation aids are going to be handy. The caravan route is going to be unrecognizable after this Seldan says, "Navigation is one of the reason one travels by night in the desert. It is hard to tell where you are from landmarks. The stars are the most reliable guide one has."

"You can, since you can swim, but it'll take a while to get by, unless... I have some water breathing potions, I intended to use them for the Plane of Water, but if you all want to get into the oasis you can," Merek says, then he's looking to Seldan, "Yes, that might work, still you need to cover your face, completely. Or we will be inhaling sand, not to mention you underestimate the power of sand and wind. You need to make up your minds, whatever you do, please keep yourself nicely covered."

Arynne says, "the oasis then. it'd likely be easier...if we can run that is.""

"If we must stay for a time," Kira offers, far from a survival expert, "it would be best to do so with water available." She isn't sure how long they may have to wait. "But we should move quickly."

"That's where there is a hiding place above the rope?" Cryosanthia asks, looking at Seldan. She looks at the approaching storm, at the effort to build things, the distance to the oasis. "I like that idea Seldan. I like the idea of swimming in the Oasis. I don't know how to build things and don't like the idea of waiting here. If there's enough room at the top of the rope for all of us, lets do that, otherwise I'm going to the Oasis."

"There is enough room for all," Seldan assures Cryosanthia, with another glance at the storm. He seems to already be preparing, but looks back to the oasis. "Seer, the rope trick creates an extradimensional space from which the rope hangs. It is a safe place to hide and is not affected by wind or sand. Let us cast it in the oasis, that the trees might serve as some shield to the rope, and that we might have water when we emerge. Come, we have not much time." Already he is turning for the oasis.

"Alright, just keep in mind if anyone visits the oasis, it is a place where oaths are kept, if you meet in its auspice you can negotiate," Merek mentions, then he moves to follow Seldan, "Well, it looks like if we have that rope we won't need to deal with the other method. All the same, try tying off with the tree," he says.

"Lets get going then." Arynne says as she starts for the oasis....as best she can anyways. She's only an elf.

Cryo grabs her backpack straps and runs for the Oasis, kicking up huge sprays of sand. She's got the running on hot surfaces down. "Okay everyone, that's the plan. Yell if you get stuck or see something."

Kira moves with the others towards the oasis, though keeps an eye out for any having issues or falling behind. She's fairly confident that she can catch up if she needs to.

"A good notion," Seldan agrees, pulling from his pack a length of spidersilk rope and taking off at a run in the direction of the oasis. Once there, he takes one end, some twenty feet long, and lashes it around the base of the sturdiest palm tree he can find, ties it securely, then begins the spell with the free end looped over his arm. A few drawn sigils in the air, and he speaks an arcane phrase, and then a second to them. They burst into silver-golden life in front of him, and he takes the end of the rope looped over his arm, touching a coil to the sigils. They vanish, the rope glows golden-silver for a moment, then begins to rise into the air, ending near the top of the tree some thirty feet up.

"One person on the rope at a time, use the tree to help you climb," he tells the others. "I will go last."

GAME: Seldan casts Rope Trick. Caster Level: 12 DC: 17

"Got it. I'll go first. I have the hardest time with ropes." Arynne says already starting up the rope.

GAME: Arynne rolls athletics: (4)+0: 4
GAME: Merek rolls athletics: (16)+2: 18
GAME: Arynne rolls athletics+2: (18)+0+2: 20
GAME: Seldan rolls athletics: (4)+1: 5
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls athletics: (1)+7: 8 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Kira rolls athletics: (7)+11: 18

Arynne thuds on the ground. "Called it." She says before she brushes her hand across her amulet...and tries again.

>>NYOOM<< And Arynne's up the rope rather quickly. "That's never happened before." And in the hole she goes.

Merek looks between the ones still there, and waits, he will go up after Cryosanthia and before Seldan, taking the time to adjust his gloves to better manage it as well.

"Kira, hurry up and get up there, Merek and Seldan are going to stand around waiting until we do." Cryo calls. She turns and starts up the rope. She is usually very good with ropes, so this should be easy. Except it's not. She almost slices the rope in half, would have if it weren't enchanted, and breaks a claw. Her backpack catches on the edge of the interdimensional space, which shouldn't be possible, except fiddling with the straps drops it into the Oasis. Also, she gets her tail tangled up in it, resulting in her hanging painfully, and then pulling herself up using the talons on her feet. Success! Very... embarassing, revealing... success. She sits at the furthest edge of nowhere in here.

Cryosanthia consoles herself that they won't understand what they've seen.

Seldan is the last one up the rope, and by the time all of the others have climbed to the extradimensional space at the top, it's a good thing he lashed the rope to a tree. Climbing hand-over-hand in armor, even armor so light as his, is a difficult task at best, and made more difficult still by storm-force winds that are beginning to drive sand particles into skin, clothing, and every chink in his armor. Grunting the last few feet as the winds pick up still more, he finally rolls into the extradimensional space just as the driving sandstorm reaches the rope, and rolls over, a few tiny spots of blood visible on the alabaster-fair skin where wind-driven sand particles found his flesh.

Kira waits her turn patiently, though realizes that Seldan, as the rope wrangler, may need to climb last. That puts her second-to-, by choice. When she does climb, it seems she hasn't forgotten all that training at the monastery from years past. She's on and inchworming her way up to the top rather easily.

The storm lasts a long time. It is a full three hours before the mighty mix of wind and sand has departed, leaving behind a whole new set of dunes and removing all trace of the party's passage.

The oasis has weathered it fairly well. Water can still be reached, though there is a need to wait a few more hours for the sand to settle back out of the water.

It is possible to watch for the passage of the storm through a small window in the space Seldan created, although for those three solid hours, it shows only wind-driven sand. When it shows light again and more than sand, that is a cue that it is over, and Seldan, who had spent his time in the extradimensional space removing, thoroughly cleaning sand from, and putting back on his armor, then cleaning the rest of his gear, looks up, looks out. "It seems to have passed."

Merek eventually makes a way from the space, while he nods a bit, to the party. He has managed well, using his technique he mentioned before. He does take a moment to nod up to folk, "Alright, we need to be back on our way guys!"

The sith-makar sits in the 'corner' of the space, seemingly somewhat fascinated by it. She also watches the sand blast by the window, for a time. Then she falls asleep. Everyone starting their way down the rope rouses her. First she sticks her head out, looking around from on high, and looking back at the nothing she's occupying. "This is crazy weird. Everything looks different. Hey, would it have been a bad idea to take a portable hole in here?"

With that thought out of the way, she takes her turn and climbs down the rope, then looks around in the water to see if she can locate her pack.

Arynne says, "it would have been, yes." she says as she makes her way down the ropes to the ground. Not as athletically inclined as the rest."

"Good thing this one is poor!" Cryo says cheerfully, digging in the sand and hunting around in the murky water.

"Yes, that would have troublesome," Seldan agrees. As he was the last up, so he is the last down, and shimmies down rather more quickly than he'd climbed up. Another few minutes to unlash the rope and stow it while Cryosanthia finds her pack again, and by the time the others are ready to go, he is as well.

Fortunately, the rest of the journey is free of bad weather or troubles. When the players reach Nishabad, it is night time. Even in the dark, it is easy to see that the remnant of the sandstorm's passing has not even been cleared away from the city. Worse, what was once a prosperous place appears to have been ravaged by an invading army. Even now, smoke rises in dozens of places as fires smolder themselves to exhaustion. The sounds of shouting and screams for help can be heard in the distance.

GAME: Merek rolls perception: (4)+25: 29
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls perception: (2)+5: 7
GAME: Arynne rolls perception: (13)+10: 23
GAME: Seldan rolls perception: (8)+5: 13
GAME: Kira rolls perception: (15)+21: 36

The sith notices nothing beyond her hunger, while the paladin struggles to tell which scream is nearest. There are no less than three, the nearest scream is to the south, towards the city center. Two female voices, one sounds young.

GAME: Merek casts Angelic Aspect. Caster Level: 9 DC: 19

Merek looks amidst the whole place, while he considers the situation, then he takes a moment to motion with both hands while he begins to stretch his two black-silver wings. "It looks like it's the city center, I will meet you all there," he says, then he takes off, making a way into the sky, then he maneuvers to the place, while he begins to make his way to come upon all of them with a lift of his wings, keeping flight.

Cryosanthia is shaking sand out of her hat and ears. She's noticed the smoke, not the screams, "I am ready to lie down. Oh, and I'm hungry. Feeling very, very hungry. The sandstorm sure did a number on this place. AHH! Angel Merek"

She jumps back against a wall, exhaling strongly.

Arynne watches as Merek takes off. "I suppose it's too much to ask for us to stick together, hmm?" Arynne says as she makes her way for the screams as well...but...jogging.

Kira gasps at the sight. Not the remnants of the sandstorm (which she hopes the city was enough shelter for people), but the state of the rest of it. And the screams. Screams are never a good thing. Her smile wavers. "Oh my. This is terrible. These people need our help. They are in pain, frightened. I think some have even taken up violence against each other!" Because people do terrible things when they're frightened and in pain. "We should help them!"

Seldan cannot tell where the screams are coming from, so it is a good thing that others can. He breaks into a run, following Arynne. "It's all right, Cryosanthia, I will explain later. Come on!" He gestures her to follow before turning and taking off for the city center himself.

"I don't know what there is to explain. The fight is where everyone else is going. Come Kira, you'll miss the fun." Cryo says, drawing her rapier and loping off after Seldan.

GAME: Merek rolls diplomacy: (7)+24: 31
GAME: Seldan rolls diplomacy+5: (3)+16+5: 24

The party rushes ahead, and in the distance the sound of havoc continues to be heard, but far more immediate is what lies ahead. The screams grow more desperate, and then, at a last turn into the wide open area that had been a bazaar before these troubles is reached. Before the party (and below Merek) a woman and three children cower near a broken statue. Before them a mob of twenty five people stand, armed sometimes with swords or real weapons, but usually makeshift things such as hammers, knives, and the like.

Merek begins to take his wings to a shift, stretching them so that their full lift can be put on display. Then he begins to land in front of the crowd, looking to them with his golden eyes, then back to the woman and kids, then back to the mob. "What, is the meaning of this?" he asks, his voice smoky while he looks to all of them in thought.

Kira gasps at the sight and immediately darts to join Merek to stand between the crowd at the woman and children. She can move quickly when she needs to. Very quickly when she -really- needs to. She holds out her hands. "Stop! Please! We're here to help!"

Arynne does run her way up, but as she sees the mob, she slows down and keeps towards the edge. Let the diplomats sort things out.

Cryo stops besides Arynne, lowering her rapier and watching the scene. She shakes her head, attempting to clear her ears in case something else is going on. "They've got it. I'd be making jokes and making things worse."

"I would like to know the same," Seldan calls, removing the headdress and facecovering to reveal his full complexion. It does mess up his hair some, which means that the mop looks much as it always does. He, too, pauses, and white-feathered angelic wings burst from his own shoulder blades, mottled in places with irregular patches of gray and inky black ones. Instead of placing himself between the woman and children and the mob, though, he launches himself to stand at the northern entrance to the square, allowing his armor to gleam in the starlight, his weapons and headband to be clearly visible, and the wings to tower above him, one pinion mottled black and the other snow-white. "What is the meaning of this?" he calls to the newly formed mob.

The wings look -exactly- like Merek's, but sized for Seldan, and mottled irregular black, gray, white instead of being pure white.

Mobs held at bay, it takes some time to get an answer. And the answer is.. confusion. None seem to know just why they were doing this. They look embarassed. Glances from face to face in the mobs make it clear that they are horrified, as if they were woken only now from a nightmare. One man near Seldan looks at the blade in his hands, which is stained red and frantically asks of the others, "What.. what have I done? Tell me what have I done!!" In front of Merek, a woman breaks down in tears, her sobs finding no comfort as memory comes crashing back upon her.

GAME: Merek rolls knowledge/arcana: (5)+12: 17
GAME: Merek casts Calm Emotions. Caster Level: 9 DC: 16
GAME: Seldan rolls knowledge/arcana: (10)+11: 21
GAME: Arynne rolls knowledge/arcana+2: (1)+14+2: 17 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Kira rolls knowledge/arcana: Trained Use Only: 0

"C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon." Cryo hunches, clenching up her shoulders, squeezing her hands tight, willing wings to suddenly appear. Gnnnnnnnn!

Nothing. "Egg-snatchers! I really hoped it was catching."

Arynne places her hand on Cryosanthia's shoulder. "It's strange, but I can't figure out what's going on."

Merek lifts up a hand, while he offers a prayer with his divine focus presented, it looks like there is a calm which comes upon the mob, taking away excess of emotion while he begins to weave into a pattern. "This is definitely a magical influence. We'll need to calm the people we find. I can cast it a few more times, as a Theurge."

Seeing that he has the attention of the mob, Seldan relaxes the wings, folding them and allowing them to dissipate into nothingness, leaving only himself standing there, watching the mob intently. "What do you last remember?" he asks of the man with a bloodied sword in his hand. There is no hint of going for a weapon in his stance or demeanor, only level sternness. "All of you, what is the last that you remember?"

The pary is the city square, and the palace is now only a couple hundred yards away.

Seldan is answered in a variety of ways. There are some themes to be their replies. They all met beautiful people who were from the north. Or at least had pale skin and spoke with an unusual accent. After that, they felt a need to protect these new leaders from those who might stop them.

Cryo relaxes at Arynne's touch, "Well, this is likely a distraction. They weren't expecting us, so they needed some reason to keep these people away, from... the palace? Wherever they're going. Having them attack that woman and the child makes no sense otherwise if they're all locals."

The sith-makar calls out, "Do you remember where the lovely people went?"

Cryosanthia's question is answered by one man shakily pointing to the palace. "That place. There. We are to keep that place clear and safe from harm." He looks at the others, his eyes lowering in shame. "Now it is clear that perhaps we should have been bringing that place to ruin."

Slowly, Seldan speaks as he listens. "And you ... followed their instructions." He nods shortly to the bloodied blade in the man's hand. "To the point where you were willing to kill to do so. Have you any further need of your weapons?" he asks them pointedly. "IF you do not, I would have you drop them." He looks around, at other places in the city.

Merek looks between the party, and nods a bit, "If we take care of the source of this issue, which might be back at the palace, we could fix it all, while finding Kam, if you would, when you're finished with questioning," he says to Seldan. For all of his chaotic-like work, he does seem to always have something in mind, like he did in the desert.

Kira relaxes some, though she isn't entirely happy that people came to their senses. Rather, she's not happy that they were coerced or enchanted or otherwise seem to have been manipulated. "Why would they do this to their own people? They should be protecting their people..." She looks to her peers with concern.

Arynne says, "Not everyone is up for helping others, Kira. Come on. Let's get to the palace and see whats going on." And she starts for the palace."

"Okay, so sounds like they put their weapons down and we go check out the palace, look for Kam," Cryo says, taking a few steps across the square, her tail swaying slowly. "Sounds good. Watch out for them being really persuasive." She increases her speed until she's running for the palace.

Seldan waits for the mob to put their weapons down and disperse before turning and following the others to the palace, and if they do not, he will not leave. The last thing any of them need is to have an angry mob between them and the exit to the city.

Once there, Seldan draws his sword and holds it up in front of them "Fallia, Tisa ... I know not what lies beyond those gates, but I have seen such mind control before. Will you shield me from evil?"

After a moment, it's the grandmotherly voice. "If you think it's important, Seldan. A small thing, really."

At the words of Seldan, the mob disperses. Many haunted faces go back to their homes to face nightmares that will know no waking. Friends and family harmed, some killed. There will be no fixing it all.

As for the palace, it is in perfect condition. The most likely of all looting targets has been untouched. There are many dead bodies that come into view as the party approaches the front gate. So much blood, as well, is on the stones. More than usual slaying. At the front of the palace, the gates stand sealed tight until they are perhaps ten feet distant. With an ominous squeal they swing wide, revealing an inside that is utterly dark. No candle, no torch, no lantern is lit there.

GAME: Merek casts Dancing Lights. Caster Level: 8 DC: 15
GAME: Merek casts True Seeing. Caster Level: 9 DC: 19

Merek looks within the gates, then he nods, while he begins to walk forward, lifting up hands while lights circle to the place to light it all up, while he looks about a bit, shifting both hands to begin a divine magic, bringing the place into true seeing.

Cryosanthia slows, walking between the bodies. Avoiding their blood but unable to tear her eyes away. Each one gets a long stare, and when her gaze finally breaks, there's another to look at. So much blood.

"This is... a lot of blood. A lot. A ceremonial amount. I think you'd have to spread it around to get this much."

She halts as the gates open, and stares into the darkness. Her gaze travels around the outside of the palace. There are other ways in, for the daring.

Arynne says, "well...this is too dark, even for me." She says as she brings a coin out of her pack. She then touches it and says a few spidery words before it begins to glow. "Should make a gem for this, this is silly.""

"Oh my..." Now Kira better understands why the past crowd was so upset, after they mentioned protecting the palace. "This should be a haven for the people when in need..." Her smile droops, saddened. Still, she goes to check the fallen, to see if some might yet be saved. After that she can worry about having a discussion with the nobility here on the proper role of nobility.

Merek's dancing lights create a perfectly symmetrical shift.

GAME: Kira rolls perception: (20)+21: 41
GAME: Kira rolls heal: (8)+15: 23
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls perception: (9)+5: 14
GAME: Seldan rolls perception: (13)+5: 18
GAME: Seldan rolls heal: (14)+10: 24
GAME: Merek rolls perception: (6)+25: 31
GAME: Merek rolls will: (17)+17: 34
GAME: Merek rolls knowledge/dungeoneering: (20)+8: 28

Seldan's eyes close as he walks among the bodies, and he murmurs a silent prayer for the fallen as his slow steps take him in the direction of the palace. He, too, cannot keep his eyes closed long, and he looks among the bodies as he walks, searching for some clue.

Kira steps through the fallen and blood, kneeling at each. It may make a mess of her white robes, but clothes can be washed. Her slim, worried smile doesn't grow as she checks one, then another, and another. It's barely present when she finishes checking the last.

She exhales a long sigh as she stands. "They're all gone... may they find peace." Her eyes are wet as she looks to the others. "The other citizens did not do this. They have been ravaged. Throats torn. Bitten. Drained. At least three difference ...creatures did this." It's apparent she doesn't think they were attacked by anything human.

Merek looks between the people that are on the floor, then he lifts a brow in thought, while he stands up. "Vampires, probably." He then looks to the place as a whole, "It's definitely vampires." Then he takes a moment to stretch his wings, while he lifts up his axe he keeps with him, nodding a bit, maneuvering into the center of the palace. "Show yourselves!" He has a personal dislike for vampires.

The challenge is met with silence. The palace gates are open, but none are coming to answer Merek's call.

Arynne sighs. "Well..if they didn't know we were here before...they certainly know we're here now." She then rubs an ear....then slides her fingers over and under her eyes...making them glow blue.

"The Sentinel has the right of it," Seldan agrees, nodding to Kira as he moves towards the gates. "I do not think they will so boldly answer," he adds to Merek. "We will need to find them, and be certain that they have laid a trap." He looks ahead, into the darkness, and removes from his belt pouch a small stone. This he holds up near his temple, and it promptly begins to orbit his head, glowing with a golden-silver light. "Vampires are quite capable of controling minds," he warns. "Including yours."

"Soooo..... If they don't come out, should we rush in?' Cryosanthia looks around at the palace, checking the various windows for movements, silhouettes, conveniently dangling rope ladders, a long braid of hair. The sorts of things she expects from her Penny Dreadfulls. "I could go in. If I get mind controlled, I'd probably be a push-over for you guys. Or y'know, we all go."

Her eyes follow the ioun stone orbiting Seldan's head. "Interesting..."

Arynne is pretty much ignoring the group right now......and looking around....

Before too much more is said, Arynne reaches behind her and nudges Seldan on the chest. She then holds up four fingers and points straight ahead. "Take the lead if you would."

Merek looks about, then he takes a moment to consider it. "Ya, no mind control today," he says, then he yells, "We know you are here, come and fight us, enough with this!"

A moment later, Arynne can sense a new, faint magical aura near the others. The voice of a woman, cold, but amused, rings out amongst the party just as that aura appears. "Come inside, if you wish to satisfy my thirst."

"They may just be waiting for us..." Kira shares what could be obvious, though this doesn't stop her from stepping forward. The things inside can afford to just wait, but they can't. Kira doesn't think they can, at least. Then there's an answer to Merek's actions. Maybe they don't want to wait. Well, either way, she continues ahead.

Seldan fixes Merek with a -look- that is sharp, measuring, and holds not an ounce of good humor. "Seer, this is foolhardiness. Let us go. Together. Do not stray." He nods at Arynne. "What do you see?"

Arynne simply shakes her head and walks her way in. "Well....This is a good start."

The white-scale sith-makar looks around. Some of the party is moving, some are lingering. She's definitely in the lingering group. Merek seems to be inside, Seldan close on his heels. The others are following, a little, it seems... She shakes her head and shoulders, loosening them up, adjusts her cape. Time to be bold. Yes. Let's be the last to enter. She strides up to the gate, and heads inside.

Merek nods to Seldan, "Take it the way you want, I am not letting the vampires free in the nation of the people I call kin to control people's mind." He then walks forward when the party does as well, then he spins that axe while he motions, "Come and fight." This is definitely personal for him.

Just inside the gate, with the various lights the team has brought, things are much easier to make out than previously. There is a large entry way, with doors on the right and left. The main passage is clearly straight ahead, where the hallway curves to the right. What lies further along that way is out of sight where the party stands now.

"Nor will I, Seer, and for that, I stand beside you. You will get your fight, I think, but calling upon Her protection might shield the minds of all of us better than will a shouted challenge." Seldan moves up towards the front of the party, to lead as Arynne indicated. "I can call upon the magic circle as well. Let us go and set this place to rights."

"We'll get everything back the way it should be," Kira assures, "the people sage and Kam her letter." She moves up with Seldan and then looks to him. "Which way should we go first?" She isn't a palace expert.

Arynne taps Seldan onthe shoulder. "They're ahead and to the right. That path that leads to the throne room seems to lead to the auras I see. I'm assuming it's them." She says quietly to Seldan.

Cryo looks around the palace, up at the ceiling, at the various places lit by the dancing lights, the other sources of illumination. She purses her lips, makes a clicking noise, "Ooooooooh. Oh. That would be bad. I figured out what is worse than a dad."

She inhales, then calls out loudly. "KAMI! I HOPE YOU'RE NOT ONE OF THE VAMPIRES. IF YOU AREN'T, MAKE SOME NOISE WE HAVE A LETTER FOR YOU. IF YOU ARE. UM. I'D STILL LIKE TO DELIVER THE LETTER BUT I'D LIKE SOME PROMISES OF SAFETY."

The same cold voice from before calls out to the group, "Are you coming or not? We are waiting here with baited breath."

Merek seems thoughtful, and nods a bit, "Well, we shall onward, we'll learn what it's all about, I don't have a lot of protection to put upon people until we're in a fight."

When the party goes farther, they reach what is undoubtably the throne room's entrance. The gate is ornate and large and lays on the left side of the hall. Judging by the space between other doors, it is a good sixty feet wide. The depth isn't clear. Arynne is able to tell the party that two of the auras are about twenty feet past the door. The third lingers to the right, just inside the door. About ten feet from the entrance.

The hallway bends, entrance to the throne is on the left hand side. Two auras are inside by about twenty feet (straight in from the door). Another is close, just right of the door by about ten feet.

Arynne actually stops Seldan, and points to the right of the doorway. Making sure the Paladin is aware of a possible ambush.

GAME: Arynne casts Arcane Sight. Caster Level: 6 DC: 19
GAME: Arynne casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 6 DC: 16
GAME: Arynne rolls perception: (8)+10: 18
GAME: Merek casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 8 DC: 16
GAME: Merek casts Blessing of Fervor. Caster Level: 9 DC: 18
GAME: Seldan casts Protection From Evil. Caster Level: 6 DC: 16
GAME: Seldan casts Magic Circle Against Evil. Caster Level: 12 DC: 18

"This must be the place..." Kira looks to the others. "Whenever we're ready?" She plans to get to the bottom of things, but that doesn't mean they rush in unprepared.

Seldan stops, looks surprised, but nods his thanks to Arynne and stops indeed, taking his holy symbol between his hands and invoking a prayer. A silver-blue glow is his answer, pooling in a foot-wide space around him before vanishing.

Kamari, the one the party is looking for, has black hair and green eyes, and of course attractive. About the same height as Elleandra, and half-sil.

The white-scale sith-makar moves over near the door, looking at the others. She says quietly, "Okay, you know where they are right? get ready to do your thing. I'll pull it."

Arynne can tell by the way the aura near the door is staying very, very still compared to the others, that it appears that being is trying to act stealthy.

Merek nods to the party, while he thinks about it a bit, "I will do what I can," he says, then he's maneuvering to wait for all of the people.

His spell cast, Seldan looks around at the others, and his shoulders slump. "Stay close, unless battle is joined," he murmurs to the others, then draws a series of sigils in the air, connecting them all with the crescent-and-sphere of Eluna before making a gesture and tapping Merek on the shoulder, laying them down in a circle around the cleric. It is similar to the prayer he laid down a moment ago, but stronger and more complex.

Everyone seems prepared, the spells are cast. Cryo has her rapier out. Stay close to the seer seems to be the instruction. That's probably good advice. She leans and pulls open the doors to the throne room, expecting to find someone hiding right on the other side. Tip up, en garde!

And the party is greeted to a throne room that is dimly lit. On the throne sits a man wearing full plate armor. To the left of him stands a pale-skinned woman in black robes. Before her are two humans. They are not Veyshan, and Arynne can detect no aura of magic indicating control of them. The look unpleasant, but their skin does not show the palor of the undead. The hidden aura to the right is not in view.

Standing in the middle of the room in a lightly tanned woman. She has dark hair, hanging to her waist. Her ears are pointed, and she wears a revealing outfit. The kind of thing a woman wears in a harem. She bears a dagger in her right hand and Arynne is able to detect an aura of magic settling on her just as the door opens.

Arynne: attack the stealthy one
GAME: Arynne casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 6 DC: 16
GAME: Arynne rolls 3d4+3: (5)+3: 8

Arynne sticks pretty close to Merek as the doors open, but she does take a step into the doors....turns to her right and shoots out three green bolts to the hidden person at the side. "The one in the harem outfit is under a spell, draw her attention...."

Cryosanthia: Grapple Kamaria to pull her out
GAME: Elleandra rolls 1d20+5: (5)+5: 10
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+7: (18)+7: 25
Cryosanthia: Success Grapple, Round 1

Cryosanthia starts moving the minute Arynne fires off her spells. Fortunatley she's far enough away from the lurker she's not in range. Running wildly, she crosses the short distance to the half-sil. She smiles, very toothily.

"Hello, nice to meet you and pardon my hands, I'm going to deliver you to the letter."

A sharp dagger is shoved her way, for her trouble, but the sith wiggles around it and gets a good solid grip on Kamira. She can't resist blowing a kiss, "Don't worry, even though I'll sweep you off your feet, I know your heart belongs to Elly."

Cryo is now ~10 feet into the room, 10 feet from where Mr. Armor is sitting and the robed female vampire. There are two nasty goons of non-vampiric kind about 10' from Cryo, as well.

Kira realizes that things might not be talked out, but she can still defer to keeping others safe. She darts up to Cryosanthia and her rescuing the damsel in distress. All to make sure neither of them wind up in distress. "Get her out as quick as you can!"

Merek: Triple shot gloomblind bolts on armored vamp. 
Stepping it up 1 level to make all damage acid for bonus.
GAME: Merek casts Gloomblind Bolts/A1. Caster Level: 8 DC: 19
GAME: Merek rolls ranged: (17)+11: 28
GAME: Merek rolls ranged: (18)+11: 29
GAME: Merek rolls ranged: (7)+11: 18
GAME: Merek rolls 4d6+4: (19)+4: 23
GAME: Merek rolls 4d6+4: (9)+4: 13
GAME: Merek rolls 4d6+4: (15)+4: 19
55 Acid Damage.
Vamp, Reflex to save on blind."
GAME: Elleandra rolls 1d20+11: (16)+11: 27
GAME: Elleandra rolls 1d20+11: (6)+11: 17
GAME: Elleandra rolls 1d20+11: (8)+11: 19

Merek takes up what looks like a shadow bow, then he strings three acid arrow bolts within it, firing all three at the vampire, slamming into him with clear strikes while a mist begins to form upon the knight vampire, then he nods a bit.

Magic missile at Kira.
GAME: Elleandra rolls 5d4+5: (15)+5: 20

The robed vampire snorts at the party in disdain. "Die, rabble!" That voice is familiar, the same cold one they heard upon entering. Five bolts of magic leap from her fingers and strike Kira.

The vampire on the throne rises, but can do little more, for his sight is lost to him. He does pull out a wicked looking longsword and stands as ready as one can when one cannot see.

GAME: Elleandra rolls 1d20+14: (4)+14: 18

The concealed vampire leaps forward, stepping through the shadows in a way that is positively eerie. Nonetheless, her blade fails to find Seldan's flesh.

Swordsman is going to move forward towards Kira and Cryo. He is in position to attack Cryo, which is what he's going to do. Brawler is moving up at his side, also attacking Cryo."

GAME: Elleandra rolls 1d20+8: (10)+8: 18
GAME: Elleandra rolls 1d20+6: (3)+6: 9

While the two mortal enemies move up quickly to deal with Cryo's attempt to kidnap Kamaria, their attacks are no match for the swashbuckler, with a sword whistling just shy of finding its mark and the other blade coming nowhere near its target.

Kamaria, escape grapple attempt
GAME: Elleandra rolls 1d20+6: (12)+6: 18

Kamaria herself, is unable to wriggle free from Cryosanthia's grip.

GAME: Seldan rolls weapon1+1+5-3+2: (15)+16+1+5+-3+2: 36
GAME: Seldan rolls 1d8+8+6+6: (7)+8+12+6: 33

Got me on my knees, Layla - or, the vampire wishes she had Seldan on his knees. But she doesn't, and the paladin's sword frees itself from its sheath with a rasp of leather on metal as she takes a swing at him. "In Eluna's holy name, I'll see you sent to the Dread Lady's halls where you belong," he snarls, the formerly-covered metal of his armor flashing with what appears to be moonlight. The sword suddenly is held in both hands, flashing out in a quick, decisive, and deadly strike that is sure to get the stealthy one's attention.

GAME: Arynne casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 6 DC: 17
GAME: Arynne rolls ranged+1: (12)+6+1: 19
GAME: Arynne rolls 4d6: (16): 16

Not willing to chance hitting Seldan in the back, Arynne takes a few steps around Seldan. She then points two fingers together at Layla...to arc a burning beam across the woman's chest. She doesn't even taunt the woman......not worth it.

Cryosanthia says, "Continuing my grapple then. I have +5 circumstance, since I have hands on her already. if i'm successful, I can move her 1/2 my move. I'm using the BoF to give myself the 30' move, so my total move this turn would be 60, 1/2, is 30'. Moving away from the Brawler and Swordsmans will probably give them AOOs on me. Kami doesn't get any action at this point in the grapple, she'd get to do things on her turn."
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+10: (2)+10: 12
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "fine, spending 3 RPP to re-roll that."
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+10: (5)+10: 15
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "wow, that fails too."
<OOC> Elleandra says, "I have to do some math and positioning. She can't fall /forward/ into the goons. She can't fall to the side.. she will fall.. towards the door."

Kamaria struggles like a thing possessed with Cryosanthia, and some measure of her frantic, dominated nature is aided by fate, and she tears away, stepping back towards the door.... and into the range of Seldan's protective spell centered on Merek. The young half-elf stands dumb struck there, staggering and nearly falling back from the shock of suddenly being her own once more.

"Haha boys, Sorry, that dance wasn't for you!" Cryo says gleefully, holding up her hands, which turn into claws. She menaces the brawler and swordsman. She's ready for some swiping and fighting, retreating this round is beyond her. She bounces from foot to foot.

Kira: smite the robed one. Move to her and attempt to grab her. 
Adept Champion lets me convert half the damage bonus from smite to bonus on CMB for manuevers.
GAME: Elleandra rolls 1d20+8: (2)+8: 10
GAME: Kira rolls cmb+7+paladin+charisma: (3)+18+7+9+5: 42

Kira didn't like getting zotted with magic. more importantly, she doesn't want Cryo (or even worse, Kam, now that she might be coming out of things) zotted. "Oh no you don't!" She darts for the robed one, the swordsman striking where she used to be. There, she grabs a wrist, turns, then grabs another. Kira may be a Sentinel, but she knows enough about magic to know that it usually requires hands free. So she addresses that!

Merek: Stepping back from cover into the place proper and another barrage on knight guy.
GAME: Merek casts Gloomblind Bolts/A1. Caster Level: 8 DC: 19
GAME: Merek rolls ranged+2: (14)+11+2: 27
GAME: Merek rolls ranged+2: (6)+11+2: 19
GAME: Merek rolls ranged+2: (9)+11+2: 22
GAME: Merek rolls 4d6+4: (16)+4: 20
GAME: Merek rolls 4d6+4: (20)+4: 24
GAME: Merek rolls 4d6+4: (17)+4: 21
<OOC> Merek says, "65 damage"
GAME: Elleandra rolls 1d20+11: (11)+11: 22
GAME: Elleandra rolls 1d20+11: (12)+11: 23
GAME: Elleandra rolls 1d20+11: (6)+11: 17

Merek steps away from cover, while he begins to lift up his bow again, then he places a few more acid arrows right into the vampire, the mist shifting about him while he nods a bit, then he speaks to the party, "Alright!"

Zahra does not even try to wrestle her way from Kira, knowing well enough that she's met more than her match. Instead, she simply fades into a gaseous form and slips away.

While the armored vampire is blind, he does have something of a vague idea of where people are. He moves forward towards his enemies and takes a series of wild swings.

GAME: Elleandra rolls 1d20+18: (14)+18: 32
GAME: Elleandra rolls 1d20+8: (9)+8: 17
GAME: Elleandra rolls 1d20+6: (13)+6: 19

While the vampires regroup as best they can to address the party's coordinated attacks, their two mortal warriors continue to direct their ire at the swashbuckler. They move slightly, preparing to either flank her or reach Kam.

Layla has absconded from sight by stepping through a shadow. To Seldan's left is a blind vampire knight and a fleeing gaseous mage.

Kamaria is clearly confused. She looks around, seeing the vampires and their allies. She knows they are trouble. She hasn't a clear idea at all who has come to fight them. It's easy for her to tell that she's not up to this, feeling both nauseated and weakened. In the midst of the fight, it is easy to miss the relatively fresh bite marks on her neck.

The most obviously injured vampire is Fazil, the knight, who is blind has attacked in something resembling the party's direction. The mighty vampire lord fighter has been reduced to a pinata by constant blindness. The others are either out of sight or gaseous form. And the two mortal warriors, about 15' away.

Seldan: 2H the sword, charge with haste already activated, swift for arcane strike.
GAME: Seldan rolls weapon1: (6)+16: 22
GAME: Seldan rolls 1d8+8+3: (3)+8+3: 14

Seldan snarls when Layla vanishes. Well, no help for it, she is at least no threat for the moment. He looks around and spots the vampire knight, badly injured, and breaks into a run, bring the sword crashing down across his body in a two-handed blow. Not the most accurate of swings, but it lands glancingly, and it very likely now has his attention.

GAME: Arynne rolls perception: (3)+10: 13

Arynne looked to where the gaseous form person went, but in doing so...lost sight of the one that was trying to sneak around. So after a quick look about, she finds her again.....but she lost her opportunity to strike.

Cryosanthia: draw my rapier and stab at the swordsman, and tell him to go away
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls weapon2+2: (7)+7+2: 16
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls damage2+3: aliased to 1D6+2+3: (2)+2+3: 7
Cryosanthia: intimidating swordplay
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls intimidate: (4)+3: 7

Cryosanthia whips out her rapier, meanacing the swordsman approaching her, and thrusting in a quick strike that draws blood. She's aware the brawler is circling around behind her, and is doing her best to keep them at bay. "Rawr! Stay back."

There is one vampire in play and one in gaeous form who is moving away on the winds. The other is god knows where, and there are two humans that Cryo is dealing with.

GAME: Merek casts Gloomblind Bolts/A1. Caster Level: 8 DC: 19
GAME: Merek rolls ranged+2: (15)+11+2: 28
GAME: Merek rolls ranged+2: (1)+11+2: 14 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Merek rolls ranged+2: (2)+11+2: 15
GAME: Merek rolls 4d6+4: (11)+4: 15
GAME: Merek rolls 4d6+4: (10)+4: 14

The armored knight of a vampire takes two more blasts form Merek. It is simply too much for his body to take. He fades into a gaseous form, and starts to flee.

Merek keeps on the target with the vampire, then he strikes the man twice. The next seems to begin to swing upon things while it spins around, before it begins to swing into a wall.

With the loss of the knight, the other vampires take flight. Their arrogance led them to over-estimate their abilities and not properly prepare for the coming of their enemies. As for the two servants they have left behind.. they can always find more who are willing to serve. There is one last ominous message, "We will not forget this, mortals. Our memories never fade!" And then, silence.

"I always SAID vampires suck, buddy. Maybe you should suck less next time. Or...better yet...get a suntan." Arynne says with a chuckle. "I swear you'd think they were a hydra with the 'I'm gonna bite-bite-bite-bite-bite you!'"

After the fight, the city is set to something resembling order without too much more effort. Relieved of the vampiric influences, proper authorities reclaim their positions and clean-up begins. Amnesty is granted to all the citizens under mind control, and the two willing servants of the vampires.. well, suffice it to say they lost their heads in a literal sense for serving the undead. There is a lot of work to do to ensure that the dead sleep in peace after so many are lost, and holy men face many long nights without rest.

Kamaria, for her part, is greatly relieved when she is freed of the domination of the vampires. The half-sil is deeply embarassed by her role in this. While she is forgiven of most of her crimes, she is banished from the city and ordered to leave with the party for her role in the murder of the Shah and her father.

Kamaria takes the news of her banishment hard, but it is not unexpected. "I wonder where I can go now?" she wonders aloud.

"Well... we did come all this way to deliver a letter," Cryosanthia answers Kamaria, her tail swishing, "to you. I think it might have some interesting ... hmm... well you'd better read it."

"Come on, Kamaria. Alexandria is a good place. Shoot....we stay there. I'm sure you'd like it there too." Arynne says as she holds out her left hand. "But you've gotta choose to go."

"Merek, the letter, for Kamaria?" Cryosanthia asks.

Merek takes a letter from the pack, then delivers that to Kam, "From Elleandra," he says.

Kamaria takes Arynne's hand with an uncertain smile. "I have a feeling it's pretty cold there, isn't it? Is there snow?" The news of a letter piques her interest. With a smile at Cryosanthia and Arynne, she accepts it and looks at the envelope. "This is..." She removes the wax seal on the envelope slowly and draws out the message with shaky hands. As she reads it, her eyes well with tears. She cups her right hand over her mouth, and a smile curves her lips, but the tears fall in a sudden rush. "She's.. she's okay? Where is she?"

"Alexandria, she is alright," Merek says. "We came here to bring you to safety, so you can see your love."

The sith-makar slips in behind the half-sil, so she can read over her shoulder. Wait, it's supposed to be private. But! It's going to be so romantic, she just has to. Ah, discrestion, she finds she can't actually read over her shoulder after all. Rather un-romantically she says, "Yes, there is snow."

"Please.. please take me to her," says Kamaria softly. "I will go to her, and leave this place. I don't know how I can thank all of you for all you have done for me and my city, but if there is some way I can help you in the future, I will lend you my aid."

"I will have a few questions..." Cryosanthia says, and she does. Her questions to Kamaria take up most of the trip through the desert. The rest of them are a running 'so how do you like the heat?' joke which actually does get funny around the 4th day, only because the sith is so relentless with it.

On the airship ride back however, she corners Seldan. "Peace on your scabbard, Seldan, I had a few things to ask. And your sword, hi Seldan's sword. Seldan, have you given it a name. Fallia, did you know Seldan has wings? Like an Angel? Is that NORMAL for your family? And they're not white wings either. They're speckled, like they are dirty. Merek is a regular angel, but you're some sort of dirty angel?" >thock< "Ow these ceilings are low. So, what I want to know is, WINGS? HOW?"

And so it goes...

Dramatis Personae

Arynne
Standing 5'2", This woman has blonde hair trailing down to her waist, usually braided. She has an angular face with large blue eyes. Her hair frames her eyes, to make them look a little fiercer than they normally would. She also has full pink lips and pointed ears.
She has a slender body, but not malnourished. She still has feminine curves, but they're more slight than a normal human's. She typically wears white robes over her body along with a belt to keep her pouches on.

Kira
This young woman is of average to slight stature, and her quiet poise doesn't make her appear any larger. What skin is exposed shows some weathering from sun and wind, but is relatively smooth. Blonde hair falls to past her shoulders, though it is generally pulled back and gathered together by a simple leather thong at the base of her skull. This exposes prominent ears that are only overshadowed by the brightness of her blue eyes. Her remaining facial features are pleasant, but subdued, from button nose to full lips and cheeks.
If the woman seems mostly unremarkable, her clothing is entirely so. She wears a simple travelling robe of light gray cloth with a stylized rose dyed blue on the breast. A similar cloak worn overtop in inclement weather. Well worn boots and the bottoms of tan breeches are visible at times below the hem of the robe. The only visible possession is a large duffle carried over her right shoulder.

Merek
This man stands at around five foot ten, while he has a lissome and a somewhat muscular build to his form, and also skin which is dusky in tone. The male has smooth hair which comes towards his chin, the color which is like midnight and sable, although metallic-like tones, have been fashioned within that roguishly unkempt mane. He has eyes much alike a golden amber, catlike within look also.
He wears black attire which is decorated with golden tone. He has on an amulet of the Moon Maiden, Eluna. The boots which he wears are adjusted about both of his feet, while he has a cloak that is the same color of his attire, which has been placed about his frame. He has on his gloves, that are made with material which is sleek. He wears a nice desert scarf which is adjusted about him also.

Seldan
There is something about him, if one is human.
It is not easy to pin down exactly what, though. He is not the biggest man, despite a warrior's physique, just shy of six feet tall with a frame more closely resembling that of a gymnast than that of a brawler. Fair as a spring day, with hair equally balanced between ginger and blonde that is grown out of a military cut to fall in his eyes if not disciplined. Ice-blue eyes with blonde lashes hold wisdom and kindness, set into features that are even, straight, and strong. But - in certain lights, and at certain times, humans might almost see in this Eldanar man a glimpse of what a warrior of the Millennium Kingdom might once have looked like.
The warrior theme is carried again in the full platemail that he wears, its finish not a bright polish so much as a shimmer that recalls moonlight when under bright light, and quiescence in shadow. Over the platemail hangs an open, sleeveless robe of midnight-blue with moon-silvery edging and celestial symbols and creatures picked out in silver thread adorning it, and a steel pendant bearing the symbol of a crescent and sphere. Weapons hang from an ornate belt of silver links around it, a longsword from a sheath on his left hip with an ornately-carved pommel and a guard designed in an ancient style, and a much newer-looking heavy mace on his right hip. A belt pouch completes the contents of the belt, and a sturdy cloak over all in midnight blue bears the crescent-and-sphere of Eluna picked out in a mosaic of thousands of tiny silver crystals on the back. A simple, unadorned cloak pin holds it in place. Over his back, the top of an elkhorn, wood, and steel longbow is visible, along with a quiver of arrows made of red leather and trimmed in white fur.

Cryosanthia
Cryosanthia is a tall, lithe lizardgirl with flamboyant mannerisms and a flashy style. Her scales are a bright, snow white, complimented by her frills and keratin-scale 'hair' which are the pale blue found in glacial ice. This gleaming tapestry is marred by dark tattoos gouged in her hide, green-black in colouration, which at times have a dark glow. Her snout is long and tapers elegantly. Her legs and tail are likewise graceful, despite being a significant portion of her size and mass. She seems light on her talons and energetic, head glancing quick from side to side. Her eyes are bright and like her frills, the palest of blues with a dramatic slit pupil.
Cryosanthia's clothes are a simple kit of kilted leather armour in white. It is close fitting enough to seem a part of her, but it lacks the lustre of her scales having instead a dull finish. She has sandals that leave her talons free, as well as a hat that is hanging to the back as often as it is on her head. A long blue feather is tucked into the woven band. Finally, she wears a cloak, likewise fashioned from white leather but with a satin interior that matches her eyes. It gleams when the light catches it right. Belted to her hip she has a rapier, a couple of pouches, and a tiny bag on a thong around her long neck.