Selvin's symbiote spit out blood and let out a huff of air. As the half-elf looked around, he saw the 'crest' and grimaced. "Man. This place." He shook his head.

He glanced at Chandanar and hesitated. "Well...Zac could use some healin', but I can give him a bit instead or in addition to, if ya wanna give him a bit."

Zuni lowered her bow, keeping the arrow dangling between her fingers.  "I could use a bit of your healing touch, Chandanar." she said to him.  The crest on the door was disturbing but not entirely unusual in this place.  Shaking her head slowly, trying to imagine why anyone would find being torn apart by tigers pleasurable, and hooked her bow into its place on her pack.

"These are very odd folks." she said, stepping over to their fallen opponent.  He wouldn't miss whatever was in his pockets.

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 32):

Should we do somethin' about Ms. Wand over there? Chandanar says between healing chants. Selvin, you get back 17.  Zuni, 20.  Izzy?

The fallen soldier has elaborate armor.  Quite functional if gaudy.  The crossbow is nice.  And mildly glowy on the mage's radar Masterwork chain mail.  Crossbow +1

There is a decent amount of coin scattered on the ground.  225 GP

"Could use some too if you can spare it," Izzick said, though he's hoped to keep himself from being wounded much further. Wasn't exactly easy in this place. "Think we've almost found them?" Izzick asked, the door fit the rest of their decorations pretty well.

In reply to Izzick (msg # 35):

Chandanar mumbles and lays a hand on Izzick's shoulder. Glo waves at him as he says, That's my guess. Whadda ya think happened to the others?

Selvin eyed the woman and then eyed the black tentacles. He glanced back at Izzick. "So....is it...safe to go over there and get her? I don't wanna get...grabbed by those things..." He sounded uncertain.

Zuni stuffed the coins into a belt pouch and picked up the crossbow.  She'd have to strip the armor off of the man when they had more time.  Standing up, she pointed the crossbow at the trapped woman.

"Okay, lady.  How about you tell us who you are and what's going on here before those black tentacles suck the life out of you."

Izzick raised a brow, "Not really, I'm not controlling them, I can just make them. They grab naturally. But who knows what they're going to do to her." His eyes turned on the woman currently bound in the black tentacles, accentuating that Zuni might have been entirely right.

19:50, Today: Izzick rolled 21 using 1d20+11.  Intimidation.

In reply to Izzick (msg # 39):

They'll crush me, but not for much longer She says with a grunt, glaring back at Izzick . She then glares at Zuni . I work for the family. They're inside there. In the temple. One last game for you to play. And no. I don't know what it is. I just hope you get what's comin' to you. Oh these damn things are grabbing me in all the most unpleasant places.

Wow, says Chandanar, finishing his work on Izzick. The mental pictures that last statement conjures up could put a man off octopus dumplings for like...forever.

I have no idea why my dice like Izzy so much. 22 points healing Izzy

Zuni glared back at the woman.  Get what's coming to them?  Kind of a funny thing for an evil family to say.

"Who all is in there?  We've already defeated the Baron so he can't be counted amongst the number."  Zuni asked as she slowly stepped to Selvins side.

Keeping her voice low so that she wouldn't miss any reply, Zuni asked Selvin a question.  "I don't think that I can get to this woman and avoid those tentacles.  Can you fly over to her and knock her out while she's stuck?  It might be good to take someone back alive from this place to corroborate any of our stories."

Selvin's lips twisted in to a snarl. "Us? We're not the bad guys here. The family is a bunch o'twisted immoral asses, an' YOU work for 'em!" He glanced at Zuni and gave a hesitant nod. "Gimme a reason why I shouldn't kill you."

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 41):

She laughs humorlessly. I'm already dead. You think the Arkonas are going to let me off if I apologize? As for the Baron, I doubt you killed him. Maybe his mouthpiece. But the Baron wouldn't die by the likes of youl.l

That wasn't the Baron that Izzick and Zuni had fought before?  That was a chilling thought and hopefully one that was not true.

"You're thinking about this wrong." Zuni replied to the woman.  "If the Arkonas are gone, then you would have the run of this place.  That is, assuming that you cooperate with us.  I know what I could do with a place like this and a mind full of self gratifyingly sinful thoughts.  Of course, if you'd rather end your life..."

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 44):

If I thought you could win, I would take you up on that in a moment. But I'Lloyd are you a deal. Let me go. I won't interfere. Hell. I'll get the hell outta here. In exchange, I'll tell you what I know. Deal?

Zuni was a little surprised that the woman had actually decided to make a counter offer, hell she was surprised that the woman had said something other than another threat.

As tempting as the offer was, Zuni was not the leader of these companions and decision was not just hers to make.  She looked at her companions to see what they thought of the offer.

"Given your position, I think you'd better give up what you know first. It's not like we can get past you without ending the spell. So it's sit here and wait, or fess up and get the hell out."

Selvin frowned and thought for a long moment. Finally, he nodded. "If she's really just a hired hand, I guess I'm willin' t'hear what she has t'say an' then let her leave." He looked at the woman once more with steel in his voice as he spoke. "However, if you're ever on the wrong side against me again, or if I hear you've been workin' fer people in this city again an' killin' good people, you die. Plain an' simple. I'd suggest you leave the city honestly. Less chance of us crossin' paths again ever."

Zuni nodded at her companions and then turned to the trapped woman.  "That's probably the best deal that you're going to get.  Time to hold up your end and start talking."

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 49):

Alright...fair enough.  She glances in the direction of the door and then speaks quietly.  They're lycanthropes.  All of 'em.  Tigers.  They get off pretending to be some kind of...weird demon called a Raksasha.  But that's bogus.  They just magic up their skin.  Not that they need it much.  Even without the defensive charms, they're pretty tough.  The sisters are both skilled at unarmed combat.  I mean really skilled.  The shorter one...she'll have blackish fur.  More like a panther than a tiger...she likes to envenom her claws.  The other one has some alchemical training.  So watch yourself there.

The real problem is the Baron.  He's the real deal. Albino tiger fur.  You know the spell Mirror Image?  He has a ring that will cast it.  So yeah.  Watch out for that.  Other than that though you need to slug it out with him.  He'll be protected against most spells.

Lastly, they have a couple of pets.  Big tigers.  The primitive kind with the big teeth.  They're well trained.  So, counting them, the Baron, and his two sisters, you guys are outnumbered.

But...Hell.  Might as well.  Baron is kind of a gambling addict.  You might be able to use that to your advantage.  I don't know how.  But he will not turn down most wagers.

Now then. That really is all I know.

Selvin tried not to look surprised by the news but he couldn't help it. The news was so unexpected! Plus, the tiger-shaped symbiote around seemed eager, confused and a bit wary all at once. It wasn't sure how it felt about fighting tiger-shaped people. Selvin wasn't sure either, but for different reasons. His face looked a bit pensive as he mulled it over.

He nodded and waved a hand. "Very well. I think we should let her go."

"...yeah...sure...a deals a deal..." Zuni said, her attention now focussed on the door and what lay behind it.  Lycanthropes with magical defenses and venom.  It was not what she wanted to hear, even less was that the Baron was most likely still alive.  she was beginning to wonder if she should have gone shopping for additional gear before coming here, but then how was she to know that they'd end up in a dungeon below the city fighting Were-cats.  "I don't suppose you know where there are any silver weapons lying around?"

Not really.  Probably not a surprise the Arkonas don't like us keeping such around  She stumbles forward as Izzick cancels the spell.

But I doubt it'd do you much good.  They've got themselves so magicked up...well. Best of luck.

And she sprints for the ledge.

Izzick released the spell and watched the woman take off. Now was their time to prepare. Or at least as much  as they could. From his bag he took two things, the first a scroll, enchanting himself with a magical shield. The second object looked more like a pouch of finely ground herbs which Izzick crushed in his hands. If there had ever been a time for him to use the one thing he still had from his father, now was it.

Finally he'd offer, "Alright, let's get this over with." Finishing off an incantation, he'd cover each of them in his sorcerous protection.

Going to use the scroll to cast Shield on myself and then take my War Spirit Pouch - an orc who inhales the herbs gets 1d4+1 temp HP for 10 minutes. (15:49, Today: Izzick rolled 5 using 1d4+1.
)

Finally, Izzick will cast Communal Protection from Evil on the group. 2 Minutes on Izzick and 3 on Selvin and Zuni.
First, the subject gains a +2 deflection bonus to AC and a +2 resistance bonus on saves. Both these bonuses apply against attacks made or effects created by evil creatures.
Second, While under the effects of this spell, the target is immune to any new attempts to possess or exercise mental control over the target
Third, the spell prevents bodily contact by evil summoned creatures.

Selvin gave a nod of thanks to Izzick. He held off on casting any of his own spells for the moment. Most of them didn't last long and he didn't want to take the chance that they'd all get dispelled or ruin a chance to make them useful by wasting them now. He stepped forward to go meet the 'tigers'.

This was going to be a tough fight.  Zuni had no doubt about it.  The fight with the Baron had been difficult enough, and Izzick and her had the guy outnumbered.  She reached into a pouch on her belt and withdrew a long red strip of what looked to be a torn flag.  It was the remains of the banner that Paddox, her mentor, had carried with him on his campaigns.  The insignia was still visible though worn by age and conflict.  He said that it always brought him and his fighting companions good luck.  She quickly folded the cloth several times and tied it about her head like a bandana.

Zuni pulled out the magical battle-ax that they had found on the corpse of the 'Baron'.  It did not feel as light as her sword did, but it might come in handy against the remaining family members.  She hooked it into a spot from where she could rapidly draw the weapon if she needed it.

"I don't know what the situation is going to be like in there," Zuni said as she drew out her sword.  She paused to momentarily kiss the hilt.  "but we should try and work together to get into flanking positions against the Baron and his cronies.  We might luck out and maybe only one at a time will engage us physically.  You guys ready?"

OOC:
Cavalier Banner (Bandana) should give us +2 morale bonus against Fear and a +1 bonus to attack on a charge.

Teamwork feat is Precise Strike and would give us an additional 1D6 to damage when we're flanking a foe.