Selvin and Zac were both wounded and breathing heavily. He thought about taking a moment for a healing spell on his symbiote, but wasn't sure Zuni could spare the time. He was keeping Zac on this plane by taking the damage himself at this point. He growled softly and flew in a charge towards the Baron, electricity streaking behind him.

OOC: Hit Ac 27 for 13 dmg and 3 electrical.
Hit AC 17 for 12 dmg and 1 electrical.
Hit AC 28 for 13 dmg and 6 electrical.
Hit Natural 20 confirmed with a 2nd Natural 20 for 23 dmg and 1 electrical.
Hit AC 15 for 11 dmg and 3 electrical (but I'm assuming that missed).
Missed AC 13.

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 132):

The Baron's body sort of arcs backwards and lays still.  He seems dead.  You can probably relax now.  Go to sleep.  It's okay now.  Really.

Selvin let out a long breath. Then he remembered how one of the sisters had gotten back after he dropped her. He turned to look at both of the sisters. If they were still down, he proceeded to cut the baron's head from the body.

"How do we keep 'em down?"

"Fire?"  Zuni replied, breathing heavily.  She winced and pressed a hand to one of the bites that the Baron had given her.  Had she ever bled so much in one day before this?  It was fast becoming a bad habit.

She slid her blade into its scabbard and hefted the axe.  "Or maybe we can use this.  Chop him up into little bitty pieces."

OOC:
What knowledge do we need to roll?

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 135):

I would say Arcana.  Nature with a higher DC.

Although, as experienced adventurers you know the answer.  You've already said it.  Light 'em up.

Let's get this weenie roasted.  We are within a stone's throw of finishing this book, so let's plow ahead.  I'll assume the customary looting is occurring...

You find no less than 12 sealed potion containers on their bodies.  Eight are deep purple, so you assume those will help tend your wounds.  Two of them are a milky, cloudy color.  One is as red as fresh blood and the last as black as a new moon evening.  One of the jars contains a mixture that smells sweet like honey and aloe.  There's enough in there for about 5 draughts of...whatever it does.

The Arkonas are wearing various bits of fine jewelry 1275 gp if anyone is counting.  The monk wears an amulet depicting two cobras encircling a mongoose.  The Baron's boots have odd runes etched into them.

He also has a key in one pocket.  You find a door hidden behind one of the curtains.  It's locked and the key probably fits into it...

I'll allow ya'll to process all that before we charge on.  By the by...what level is everyone?

Zuni assists with the looting of the bodies, taking what she can and stuffing it into her pack.  There wasn't much that she could do to identify strange liquids that they'd found, short of drinking them down and she had a few bottles of wine left that would probably taste much better.

The key she could deal with but first it would be best to tend to their wounds.  "I don't suppose that any of you know what these potions could be?"

Zuni is 8th level.

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 137):

Thanks.  That's what I thought.  Bump up to 9th please.

Anyone else who is 8th, you are now 9th.  Go ahead and update and we'll continue.  Thanks

Selvin let the others loot while he saw to the final destruction of each of the weretiger corpses. He hesitated over his former comrades and glanced at Izzick to see if there was anything that could be done for them.

Then he tried to sniff and gingerly examine (and sometimes taste) each of the potions and the jar to see if he could identify what each of their magical properties were.

Then he he checked on Chandanar and began to heal his symbiote.

19:14, Today: Selvin Larst rolled 11,14,24,15,27 using d20+9,d20+9,d20+9,d20+9,d20+9.  Spellcraft to Identify Potions (2 Milky, 1 Red, 1 Black, 1 Jar).
This message was last edited by the player at 02:17, Mon 09 Jan 2017.

Izzick aids in identifying the potions while the bodies burn in the pyre they constructed.

10:38, Today: Izzick rolled 53 using 5d20 with rolls of 11,6,13,11,12. +11 so:
22
17
24
22
23


With that task accomplished, he sits down for a much needed rest.

The two magicians consult over the potions...

The milky extract seems to be condensed aethereal vapors.  Probably the potion used by Monk to become all cloudified.

The red potion is refined stallion blood.  It should soup you up and get you moving quickly.

The black, tarry goo smells like aloe and garlic.  Probably a healing ointment for use treating diseased flesh.

The water in the jar is fresh and clean.  Nothing special about it.  However, when you tip it out of the jar, the jar somehow fills back up.

So you got 2 draughts gaseous form, 1 draught haste, and 1 cure disease.  The jar is just a source of fresh water.

Chandanar moans and says I can't go to lessons today Ma.  A dragon ate my homework  He stands and gets around to patching everyone up Everyone is all cured

Ragnar and Tarrov don't move.  Chandanar examines them and says I think I can break their curse.  But I'll need some time to meditate and get all...you know.  Holified.  Can we hang here for a bit while you guys play stump the door?

There's not much behind the door.  Just some guy who's bound and gagged.  He looks like he's seen better days, but you think he may be the Chamberlin you originally came here to find.  He opens his eyes and blinks at you.

Selvin took a drink from the jar of water. His eyes closed. "Mmmm. Okay. That's good." He and Izzick made short work of what the potions were that they'd found. "Not bad."

He chuckled and nodded at Chandanar. "No prob."

Upon opening the door, he moved in and begin slicing the bonds on the bound person. But he left the talking to the non-scary looking people.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 01:55, Wed 11 Jan 2017.

The Chamberlain rubs his neck and massages the areas of his wrist which are rope burned.  Thank you... he mutters.  Chandanar gives some water and basic first aid.  The Chamberlain sighs and looks at you all.  Well...you haven't killed me.  So you aren't with the Arkonas or Her Majesty the Dragon.  Who are you?

"I guess we're..."  Zuni starts to respond and pauses to glance around at her comrades.  "...an interesting third party.  Why were the Arkonas keeping you locked up in here?"

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 144):



<Purple>Oh they had me in a much nicer room.  Still tied up and what not.  But the carpet was comfortable.  Then they said some 'tasty morsels' showed up and that I was being moved 'so as not to ruin the game'.  I assume you know what that means better than I do.

Anyway, I can only trust that you are not involved with Her Highness,</Aqua> he says that word with a sneer.  </Aqua>What is your interest?  Or better yet, are you for hire?  Times being what they are, I would be happy to have anyone who can mess up a lycanthrope on the payroll</Aqua>

Selvin stepped back as Zuni and the Chamberlain spoke. He looked around to make sure there was no danger in the room that could be spied. But mostly he kept his eyes on the person that they'd just freed, with his eyes occasionally shifting to Zuni.

"We should go. Who knows what else may still try t'kill us here."

"Agreed. Selvin, grab the potions. And Chandanar, perhaps you could make sure you take care of my...lovely lovely arranged marriage as well." He lifted his hand up to display the ring, as they prepared to move out, though even thinking of the hell hole they were in, he began to wonder, "Do we really have a safe place to go? The city isn't exactly in the nicest of places right now."

In reply to Izzick (msg # 147):

Deeeeeeep breath.  Crack the knuckles.  And away we go

Well funny you should mention that, says the Chamberlain, standing with the difficulty of a man who's been bound for who knows how long.  I may have an idea of where you could go-

Hey Buddy!  Don't get ugly now! Chandanar says.

Moving right along... says the Chamberlain.  That door you found leads to a stairwell heading up to a gazebo not far from the mansion.  It's how they brought me down.  As we walk up, let me tell you a little story-

Chandanar groans.  Never in the history of mankind has any story that started off as 'Let me tell you a little story' been an actual little story

Are you sure you didn't want to let the Arkonas eat him?  Anyway, as you may know I serve...served...our late King as Chamberlain.  I served the family for years and I was actually one of those who helped arrange his marriage to the current Queen.  I know how that sounds.  At the time it was a good match.  It helped seal a valuable alliance with certain powerful Chelaxian nobility, and kept managed to weaken some of the support the Asmodian Church was...well.  Anyway.  There were definite benefits to the match.

And believe it or not, at first, her Highness wasn't a bad sort.  For a Chelaxian.  She was the typical pampered princess sort.  But she did seem to have a soft spot for the King.  And in time, she seemed to want more and more of his attention.  I think she was coming to care for him.

Now, I need to digress.  History lesson.  Did you know that the land this city was built on was once territory of the Ashlander tribes?  No?  Well it was.  In fact it was considered sacred ground.  The Ashlanders actually had a stone temple built here.  When the founders of the city conquered the area, they seized that temple.  It was actually quite well built.  And so they decided that instead of tearing it down, they would renovate it.  Can you guess what it was turned into?  Anyone?  You all must give him a 'shut the hell up' look, because he scratches his cheek, shrugs, and continues.  Yes.  Well.  The top portion of it was redone into the Palace.  The foundation was left intact.  And it's been that way for all this time.

Now.  Back to the present.  About a year ago, we started to expand the wine cellars.  During the work, we came across a section of the old temple we hadn't known about before.  We were going to seal the section off and have the mages look into it.  I mean, we are mindful of these things you know.  But...  He stops climbing the stairs, sighs for effect, and shakes his head as sadly as if he was expecting the audience to draw a baited breath.

Chandanar rolls his eyes and puts a hand to his ear.  Listen...Crickets...

The Chamerlain shoots him a look and turns back up the steps.  Yes.  Well.  There was an incident about this time.  A silly affair.  Well.  Perhaps a bad choice of words.  The King decided to have his portrait done.  And the artists selected was a beautiful young woman by the name of Trina Ogatz

The image of chasing a young blond woman across a rooftop crosses your mind Selvin  You look over and see Tarrov looking back at you.  Under Chandanar's care, the bard is looking better.

Trina is a young woman this party had saved from being executed by the Queen a few weeks ago.  She was smuggled outside of the City by your missing ally Vencarlo.

The Chamberlain continues climbing the steps with you.  The King and she did not have an affair.  Not that it was out of the question.  Our Lord King was a healthy sort of man.  But this seemed to be more of a doting father type of relationship that sprung up. That didn't stop people from talking though.  Word soon reached the Queen.  And she became jealous.

There was a scene.  The Queen ran off and actually managed to lose her guard.  We all went searching for her.  I recalled she had shown some interest in the discovered temple area and wondered if she might have run off there to hide.  So I went to look there.

The guard that we had placed to block off the area were missing.  I never did discover what happened to them.  I proceeded a bit further and found a section of the wall had been swung open.  Some kind of hidden door we had missed when we first explored the area.  There was a light and an odd sort of dead-fish smell.  I took a peek.

You may or may not believe what I saw.  I'm still not sure I do.  There was a small chamber beyond the wall.  The floor and walls and ceiling were covered in runes.  Runes of a type I've never seen before.  In the middle of the room was a pedestal upon which was what looked to be the skull of a dragon.  The skull sort of glowed and the Queen stood before it, staring at it like a child staring at the first firefly she's ever seen.  We both just stood there for what seemed like ages.  Then she turned and looked at me.  I'll never forget it.  She seemed like one possessed.  There was a definite change to the look in her eyes.  She seemed...harder.  More mature.  And determined.  She said something to me, thanking me for finding her and saying she had gotten lost.  After that day, her personality changed.  She became more aggressive.  And biting.

Well to make a long story short-

Too late
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:35, Sat 14 Jan 2017.

In reply to The Dealer (msg # 148):

Yes.  Well to make a long story SHORTER I made some inquires about the temple and the dragon skull.  But events moved faster than I thought they would.  The Queen began making plays at Court.  She soon built up a faction and the King became more and more ill.  I don't doubt that she poisoned him.  But I have no proof.  But more than that I think the Queen has become possessed.  Something happened in that room before I got there.  I know not what.  Whatever happened bodes ill for Korvosa.

I think we need to know what we are up against.  And the only ones I can think of who might know would be the Ashlanders.  They built that temple. Perhaps some stories about what was housed there exist still amongst them.  I was unable to gain their trust when they were here.  And I fear the Queen means to launch an assault against them.  Someone needs to reach out to the Ashlanders, not only to gain their knowledge but to warn them of the Queen's ambitions.  And hopefully convince them not to attack Korvosa while we are in this weakened state.

Now, when we return to the surface-

I'm sorry.  But we've been up on the surface for like ages.  I've had time to boil water, make tea, and serve pimento and tomato sandwiches.  Want another one?  Chandanar passes the plate around.  So we just wander out into the Ashlands, find some old guy of one of the Clans who can tell us what's going on, and bring back the intel. Right?  You see how I said that in like three or four sentences?

Snarkery aside,Chandanar has hit upon it  Tarrov rises unsteadily, wiping pimento crumbs off his chin.  I think we need to split our forces.  Someone needs to stay here.  To try to rally support and build a force to work against the Queen.  I think my gifts are better suited to that.  Selvin.  Old friend.  It feels like years since you and I and those others went after Lamm.  I never thought it would end us up here.  As rebels. But I think our time to travel together has come to an end.  He turns to the half orc.  Izzick.  You are a wise man.  Your strength has saved us on so many occasions now.  I hope you will continue to watch over everyone for me.  He turns to the swordswoman.  Zuni.  We haven't been companions long.  But I know with you watching their backs, no mission is out of reach.

Tarrov puts a hand on Chandanar's shoulder.  Chandanar looks back at him.  Tarrov pats his shoulder and looks at the rest of you.  Why don't you take him with you?

The Bard sighs and chuckles.  Friends.  Please.  I ask you as simply as I can.  Go forth and find this information.  Help me save Korvosa.  It is our home.

Zuni took a long sip from one of the bottle of wine that she had taken from the Arkonas estate.  Only a short time ago she was going to toss it at giant hornets and light them on fire but this was a much more pleasant way to expend the bottles contents.  She looked over at Selvin and Izzick, taking some time to consider her answer.

 "Okay.  I'm in.  It's not like I was doing anything grand for the rebels anyways and some time outside of Korvosa might do some good."

From being found in a necromancer's hovel to being the savior of the city - much had happened in the few weeks that Izzick knew the rest, but he nodded at the task. "The Acadamae better be kissing my damned green ass begging for me to come back after all this," he said, thinking back to his sorcerous expulsion from the wizard academy.

Selvin frowned as he listened and his eyes shifted to Chandanar a few times as the man kept piping up during the story. After it was all done, Zuni and Izzick spoke up as well. Finally, Selvin spoke. "So. The Queen's likely possessed. That makes sense." He let out a small sigh but shrugged. "Man. It feels like we've been runnin' around non-stop for weeks on end since Lamm." There was a small pause and the cat-like but stingered tail swished back and forth. "I'll help."

Zuni looked over at Selvin.  His words about Lamm suddenly interested her.  Looking like she was stumbling for the right words to say what she was feeling, Zuni took a moment before asking him what she was partially dreading hearing.  "What...what did you guys have to do with...with Lamm?"

Selvin slowly turned to look at Zuni. He kept his tone as flat as he could but there was a hint of faded anger or hatred in it. His lips twisted a bit in a frown. "We killed him."

Zuni looked at Selvin for a long moment, her expression impassive.  "I'd heard that he was killed.  Only sorry that I couldn't do it myself but I didn't think that I...I guess I should thank you all then.  Gaedren Lamm was a monster."

Selvin let out a long breath and looked down. After a moment he finally gave a nod. "That he was." He looked back up at Zuni and shrugged slightly. "I'd say killin' isn't somethin' t'get used to, but death an' combat seem t'follow me around like an old frien' or lover."

He turned away and began to walk away, muttering something unintelligible.