*Anduin pulls the dagger out of the lifeless body and becomes visible*
*Anduin casts identify on Dagger*
I need to know...
Ignatius waits and watches, knowing very well that any interference will be simply in vain and will lead to himself being accused for another's crime. He keeps an eye on the gnome (but does not enter inside yet), and will silently and invisibly follow him if he moves anywhere within the house, so as to strike when the time is right.
@Nimran rolled some checks for me off thread so that what your party knows and what I know are separate. Just so you are aware but still kept unaware, if you catch my drift...*
Kaled, being Chaotic Neutral as he is, just walks away. The guards watch him go until he walks out of sight. They then open the door and usher the party inside.
The interior of the house’s foyer is ornately decorated. Numerous weapons and animal heads adorn the walls as trophies. There are two large, comfortable couches sitting on opposite ends of the room. One of the guards walks over to a door at the back of the room and walks through it. The other guard gestures to the couches and says “Have a seat. Our employer will meet with you shortly.” He then leaves through the door leading outside.
A soultaker dagger? I knew it... I knew it! But why? Why! And who?
*Anduin bows his head*
I know why...
*Anduin lifts his head and his eyes harden, he addresses the pommel of the dagger, it glows with Sir Stralchus's soul.*
I do not have the spells to rebind your soul to your body Sir Stralchus, but I know of others who can. Still I will do what I can as a gesture of goodwill, and a sign of my sincerity, I can heal your body.
*Anduin lays his free hand above the blooded corpse and casts heal on Sir Stralchus, the hole in the mans chest knits itself together, yet the knight's pallor remains grey and lifeless*
*Anduin turns and bows his head to the pommel*
Please noble knight, a weapon in your collection was taken, allow me to find this weapon for you, ensure justice is meted out for your unholy incarceration, and use it for its true purpose.
All I ask is for you to tell me what you know or...
*Anduin walks to the window and holds the dagger flat in the palm of his hand and holds it before him*
What screaming is that? I've re-read twice now and I still can't figure out what screams that are continuing. Is that anything our chars hear down to the hallway and the sofas?
Vaga follows the guards in and sits down, not on the sofa, but on the floor. On his knees as always.
The party wouldn’t know about it (well, aside from Ignatius, depending on how close he is to the dagger). That’s why I PM’d Anduin about it first, rather than mentioning it on this thread.
As Anduin continues holding the dagger out in front of him, he hears a snap of fingers behind him, and it vanishes from his hand. “Well, what do we have here?” he hears a feminine voice behind him saying. He and Ignatius turn to see a red-haired young woman standing in the doorway, her arms crossed and the dagger in her hand. She has a wicked smile on her face as she looks from the gnome to the invisible floating boy in the window.
Before you stands the saviour of miserable sinners!
*Anduin casts hold person*
[Spoiler]I'll need a high roll... Work may get in the way but I will be back GMT afternoon time. I will try my best at retrieving the item and will only lightly fry at most those who try to stop me.[/spoiler]
The woman chuckles as the spell fizzles. “So cute,” she says playfully. “You fancy yourself a savior. Well then, savior, I’d hate to get in your way. However, this soul is more important than your little crusade, so I’ll be taking it now. Have a nice day.” She turns and leaves, and as she does, a portal opens, and three dretches appear from within. They glare at Anduin and shuffle forward to attack.
They surround Anduin and start biting and clawing at him, and he takes six hits from the assault. The woman says “Have fun,” and closes and locks the door behind her.
Meanwhile, the party downstairs continues to wait for a bit before the guard who left through the door in the back returns with a young red-haired woman. “Sorry to keep you waiting,” she says. “I was distracted by a delightful little bird that flew into my window.” She looks at each of the party members and curtsies. “My name is Veronica,” she says. “You have my sincerest apologies, friends, for Sir Stralchus is deathly ill and is in no condition to see anyone. I am his wife, and I will be happy to hear your request.”
Vaga looks around.. He's not the best spokesperson, he knows this, but since noone else immediately steps forward, he takes the lead.
"Well Veronica, we're on an important mission and need to talk to Sir Stralchus and none other than Sir Stralchus. He's the mayor of this town, a town under imminent attack, and also a knight and his engagement is needed. No doubt you are a ... eeh.. capable woman, but it's the Sir we need to speak to."
This woman, so intense.. Vaga is not a charismatic man, but he has keen senses and great wisdom and he sense this woman is no mere wallflower.
"May I inquire what illness has befallen him? We have a cleric.. sorta.. with us. Perhaps with the aid of Chauntea our companion here.. " Vaga gestures towards Guston who probably crumbles up at the mere thought of getting such attention "..we can help restore the Sir to health again?"
How extraordinarily complicated circumstances... but I know what to do!
So Sir Stralchus's wife Veronica is the assassin... I wonder how I would convey it to the others. If only Fiora or Kaled casts Detect Evil down there...
Ignatius floats down through the air, and hovers lightly on to the ground.
He grabs Fiora's sword and shield and Guston's dagger which they had kept outside the door. He now quietly enters inside (being still invisible for he had not done anything that breaks the spell) through the already open door. Once inside, he levitates up to the ceiling and goes right above where the party is standing. He drops the weapons right in front of them, and becomes visible, still hovering.
He addresses the two guards:
"Ho there! You bunch of nitwit fools! Dumb as the fat ogre who drools. Like wee goblins, you are smelly, Cowards, if you dare, come, catch me!"
After this, I hope a Taunt check is no longer necessary. Anyways, I hope I could distract the guards and make them come after me? (Since they're already angry on me, they should get a penalty to their Resist Taunt check against me. Moreover, I have a high Charisma. )
Ignatius hovers away with the guards after him. While going away, he yells out to the party:
"This evil woman, with red hair Has killed her husband with the Soultaker Dagger! In any case, don't let her flee, I'll come back in a minute, don't worry 'bout me!"
Ignatius flies outside with the guards pursuing him.
The three guards in the room don’t give chase. Instead, they take out their crossbows and fire at the fleeing Ignatius.
Guards: Attack: 6, 21, 12
Two bolts hit their mark, and Ignatius feels a sharp pain in his leg. The guards shout “He’s outside! Fire at will!” Ignatius can see windows opening all along the manor, with crossbows being aimed at him from each one. The guard at the entrance also takes out his crossbow and fires.
Guard: Attack: 5
The bolt whizzes past Ignatius and hits another building.
Veronica frowns for a bit, but her frown soon turns back into a smile. “Poor dear,” she says. “He must have suffered an attack at the hands of an unwanted intruder that was found upstairs. The little fiend must have cast a spell on him. Not to worry, though. That little gnome won’t bother my husband anymore.”
Ignatius becomes invisible again. He skillfully pulls out the bolt stuck in his leg and drops it. He hovers again to the second floor window to see what the gnome was doing and try to help him, if possible. He doesn't know what the gnome's intentions are, and if they are good or evil, but he does know that those of Veronica's are truly sinister.
Let’s make some Attack rolls to see how that goes: Anduin: Attack: 17, 14, 7 Dretch: Attack: 4, 17, 16 16, 10, 6 23 (crit), 14, 2
Anduin lays into the dretches with his club, and hits one of them twice. The dretch barely notices the hits and continues its assault, along with its buddies. Anduin takes six more hits from their claws and bites, and one hits him squarely on his face.
“Well, I’m afraid my husband is far too ill to see anyone,” Veronica continues. “If you do not wish to discuss matters with me, then I suggest you leave.” She walks over to the door and gestures for Vaga to leave.
Vaga: Will save: 20+3
Vaga suddenly feels a strange sensation in the back of his mind, but he is quickly able to shake it off.
Fire! Fire! Everything in the room is fire! The bodies of the dretches are on fire! Anduin is on fire! Sir Stralchus is on fire! The carpet, bed sheets, bed, drapes, windows, door, trophies, dressers, and walls are on fire!
Comments
The interior of the house’s foyer is ornately decorated. Numerous weapons and animal heads adorn the walls as trophies. There are two large, comfortable couches sitting on opposite ends of the room. One of the guards walks over to a door at the back of the room and walks through it. The other guard gestures to the couches and says “Have a seat. Our employer will meet with you shortly.” He then leaves through the door leading outside.
*Anduin holds the dagger and speaks authoritatively into the pommel*
Please stop screaming. I am here to help, if I can.
*Anduin bows his head*
I know why...
*Anduin lifts his head and his eyes harden, he addresses the pommel of the dagger, it glows with Sir Stralchus's soul.*
I do not have the spells to rebind your soul to your body Sir Stralchus, but I know of others who can. Still I will do what I can as a gesture of goodwill, and a sign of my sincerity, I can heal your body.
*Anduin lays his free hand above the blooded corpse and casts heal on Sir Stralchus, the hole in the mans chest knits itself together, yet the knight's pallor remains grey and lifeless*
*Anduin turns and bows his head to the pommel*
Please noble knight, a weapon in your collection was taken, allow me to find this weapon for you, ensure justice is meted out for your unholy incarceration, and use it for its true purpose.
All I ask is for you to tell me what you know or...
*Anduin walks to the window and holds the dagger flat in the palm of his hand and holds it before him*
Point the way...
Vaga follows the guards in and sits down, not on the sofa, but on the floor. On his knees as always.
As Anduin continues holding the dagger out in front of him, he hears a snap of fingers behind him, and it vanishes from his hand. “Well, what do we have here?” he hears a feminine voice behind him saying. He and Ignatius turn to see a red-haired young woman standing in the doorway, her arms crossed and the dagger in her hand. She has a wicked smile on her face as she looks from the gnome to the invisible floating boy in the window.
*Anduin casts hold person*
[Spoiler]I'll need a high roll... Work may get in the way but I will be back GMT afternoon time. I will try my best at retrieving the item and will only lightly fry at most those who try to stop me.[/spoiler]
Dretch: Attack: 20, 14, 14
Dretch: Attack: 14, 9, 17
They surround Anduin and start biting and clawing at him, and he takes six hits from the assault. The woman says “Have fun,” and closes and locks the door behind her.
"Well Veronica, we're on an important mission and need to talk to Sir Stralchus and none other than Sir Stralchus. He's the mayor of this town, a town under imminent attack, and also a knight and his engagement is needed. No doubt you are a ... eeh.. capable woman, but it's the Sir we need to speak to."
This woman, so intense.. Vaga is not a charismatic man, but he has keen senses and great wisdom and he sense this woman is no mere wallflower.
"May I inquire what illness has befallen him? We have a cleric.. sorta.. with us. Perhaps with the aid of Chauntea our companion here.. " Vaga gestures towards Guston who probably crumbles up at the mere thought of getting such attention "..we can help restore the Sir to health again?"
So Sir Stralchus's wife Veronica is the assassin... I wonder how I would convey it to the others. If only Fiora or Kaled casts Detect Evil down there...
Ignatius floats down through the air, and hovers lightly on to the ground.
He grabs Fiora's sword and shield and Guston's dagger which they had kept outside the door. He now quietly enters inside (being still invisible for he had not done anything that breaks the spell) through the already open door. Once inside, he levitates up to the ceiling and goes right above where the party is standing. He drops the weapons right in front of them, and becomes visible, still hovering.
He addresses the two guards:
"Ho there! You bunch of nitwit fools!
Dumb as the fat ogre who drools.
Like wee goblins, you are smelly,
Cowards, if you dare, come, catch me!"
Ignatius hovers away with the guards after him. While going away, he yells out to the party:
"This evil woman, with red hair
Has killed her husband with the Soultaker Dagger!
In any case, don't let her flee,
I'll come back in a minute, don't worry 'bout me!"
Ignatius flies outside with the guards pursuing him.
Two bolts hit their mark, and Ignatius feels a sharp pain in his leg. The guards shout “He’s outside! Fire at will!” Ignatius can see windows opening all along the manor, with crossbows being aimed at him from each one. The guard at the entrance also takes out his crossbow and fires.
The bolt whizzes past Ignatius and hits another building.
Veronica frowns for a bit, but her frown soon turns back into a smile. “Poor dear,” she says. “He must have suffered an attack at the hands of an unwanted intruder that was found upstairs. The little fiend must have cast a spell on him. Not to worry, though. That little gnome won’t bother my husband anymore.”
Demoness! Succubus! Harpy of the nine hells! You are in league with demons!
*Anduin grabs a club from inside his cloak and starts laying into the nearest drench.*
You will not stop me! You will not!
Anduin: Attack: 17, 14, 7
Dretch: Attack: 4, 17, 16
16, 10, 6
23 (crit), 14, 2
Anduin lays into the dretches with his club, and hits one of them twice. The dretch barely notices the hits and continues its assault, along with its buddies. Anduin takes six more hits from their claws and bites, and one hits him squarely on his face.
Vaga suddenly feels a strange sensation in the back of his mind, but he is quickly able to shake it off.
Attack! Attack! Demons! YOU ARE THE WORST GUARDS EVER! Help me save your master!
*Anduin casts fireball at the group of dretches.*
Fire! Fire! Everything in the room is fire! The bodies of the dretches are on fire! Anduin is on fire! Sir Stralchus is on fire! The carpet, bed sheets, bed, drapes, windows, door, trophies, dressers, and walls are on fire!
Ignatius, fortunately, is not on fire!