She sat up suddenly, alert to something being wrong, very wrong! Evilness was abroad and not that far away! Why hadn't Hieronymous feel that? Or maybe he did!
 "Hieronymous! Somethings wrong! Where are you?"
 She tried to get inside Hieronymous' private chambers but the door was sealed. Knowing that time was of an essence, she turned and ran down to stairs toward the Empresses private quarters instead, praying she wasn't too late! She cast Mage Armor upon herself as she went.
 "Guards! Guards! To the Empresses chambers!"
 She pounded down the hallway, seeing the dead guards made her extremely frightened for the girl! She slid to a halt and calmed herself, drawing upon her powers before she stepped through the doors. She cast Detect Magic as she stepped through the doors,

   As Sadina looks around, the ante chamber appears deserted, a large divan overturned an abandoned earthen pitcher on the low table.  Across half of the west wall stands tall wooden shelf filled with scrolls and parchments.  Several marble statues depicting the Empress' Imperial ancestors adorn the corners of the room, seeming to stare at Sadina as she examines the room.  To the north, thick curtains obscure the sleeping chamber from the rest of the room.  A chill breeze comes in from the open doors in the west wall that lead out onto the balcony.  To the east are another set of ornate doors that likely lead to an elaborate bath...

 She was hiding in the cupboard where the bath salts and oils were kept. She'd heard frightning noises coming from out in the hallway, and went immediately to hiding. She kept holding her amulet and calling for Hieronymous and Sadina with all her mental might. She didn't have a lot of power, but enough to trigger the safety protocols. She just wished they'd hurry, because those noises were getting closer and closer.

 She felt a pull from the bathing chamber so she chose to go that direction at the moment. She hoped to find the girl safe and alive, but she had to discover what the trouble was before she could find the girl. Still, if the trouble sought the girl, that was where she had to go.
 "Sissi? Are you in here? Stay put, if you are here. I am hunting the danger."
 She circled the room, looking into alcoves and behind curtains to the various pools.

   Two of the al-muqtar assassins searched for Emperess Sidi; one entered the royal bedchamber, the other slipped into the bath, quiet as cats on the prowl.  Both bore razor sharp jambiya (curved dagger) in their hands, hideous masks obscuring their identities.  They were known as the Silent Ones and killing was a sacred task to their order.  Once they had accepted their victim, they were oath-bound to slay  them, or die in the attempt.  Among the most dangerous of the holy slayer societies, their name alone evoked fear throughout the Sundered Realms.

   Scanning the bath, the assassin could see no trace of his prey.  Swiftly circling the room, he extinguished the lights, then tossed a handful of dust into the air.  As he watched, the dust settled, making footprints appear along the mosaic tiles.  He followed the trail with his eyes and saw the prints end in front of a large storage cupboard...

   Sadina's sharp instincts tell her there is more than one assassin here.  The doors to the bath stand open, the curtain to the bedroom has been pushed to one side, the doors to the balcony also stand ajar.  Suddenly a movement from behind her lets her know she is not alone.

   The third muqtari knelt in the hallway and whispered obscene words into the ears of the slain guards.  His eyes gleamed with demonic glee as they rose with jerky, unatural movements, to their feet; sightless eyes turning towards Sadina...

16:33, Today: Secret Roll: lilbug rolled 8 using 1d20-2. Re-animated guards initiative.

 She ignores the dead guards for now and steps into the bathing room, and starts looking for the evildoers. She casts a wall of force across the doorway behind her so nothing could get in behind her, then cast detect magic when possible to see if she can sense anything evil inside the room with her.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:12, Sun 07 Dec 2008.

 She ignores the dead guards for now and steps into the bathing room, and starts looking for the evildoers. She casts a wall of force across the doorway behind her so nothing could get in behind her, then cast detect magic when possible to see if she can sense anything evil inside the room with her.


   The luxurious Imperial bath room is lit by a multitude of candles in niches along the stone walls.  Ceramic tiles, painted with elaborate mosaics, cover the floor to the edge of the double pools that dominate the spacious chamber.  Along the north and south walls are benches for slaves to wait in attendance, ready to assist the Emperess with anything she might require, should the Emperess desire attendants.  A large laquered wooden cupboard contains various bath salts, exotic oils, unguents, incense, and soaps, along with various brushes and clean linnens necessary for her Majesty's enjoyment.
   Crystal pure water sparkles in the dim light, shadows dance across the walls and all is eerily quiet.  Sadina's first spell causes a cascading wall of light to appear in the entrance behind her.  Her detect magic causes a trail of light to appear between the south wall and the large cupboard, but no other obvious signs of sorcery.
   Suddenly with a high, ululating cry, a figure appears from the shadows and springs towards Sadina. With blinding speed he wields a curved jambiya facing downwards, like a cat's claw, the blade flashing in the dark.

22:51, Today: Secret Roll: lilbug rolled 10 using 1d20+4. Initiative for Muqtari assassin.

22:53, Today: Secret Roll: lilbug rolled 21 using 1d20+6. Muqtari attacks with poison jambiya.

23:02, Today: Secret Roll: lilbug rolled 6 using 1d4+4. damage for muqtari attack.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:10, Mon 15 Dec 2008.

 She tried to duck the charge, having been expecting something, but the attack still surprised her, seeing what it was. She tried to avoid the blade, smelling the poison on it, but slipped on the wet floor and nearly fell.
23:17, Today: Sadina rolled 12 using 1d20+11. reflex.
23:15, Today: Sadina rolled 16 using 1d20+9. Fortitude.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:36, Mon 15 Dec 2008.

   Sadina feels her skin burning as the curved muqtari blade opens up a gash along her left shoulder that would have surely slain a less skilled opponent.  Although a small amount of poison adheres to her wound, her training allows her to resist its paralytic effects. The poison's scent is eerily familiar to the GuildMistress assassin.
   Landing catlike on his feet, the muqtari spins around to face Sadina.  Although he wears a horrible mask, his body language indicates his surprise to see her still standing.  With his foot on the edge of the pool, he cannot go further backwards without entering the water.  He begins to bring his jambiya up for a second strike, but he is not quick enough to avoid an attack from Sadina.

GM:  Your action Sadina, you may move, attack, or some other action.  He is approximately five feet from you, his weapon raised as he crouches in a clearly skilled fighting style (i.e. Sadina can tell he's been well trained in hand to hand combat).

 She growled at the pain of her wound then waved her hand toward him, sending a fireball spell toward him, trying to blast him into oblivion! She had to take him out before he could slash her again with his poisoned blade!
 "Goddess curse you to the deepest coldest hell!" 18:06, Today: Sadina rolled 28 using 1d20+13. ranged.
 18:00, Today: Sadina rolled 41 using 10d6. fireball.
  (reflex save for half damage)

In reply to Sadina (msg #57):

   The astonished muqtari is unable to avoid Sadina's fiery attack, the ball of flame slamming into him and igniting his clothing instantly.  He stepped backwards, teetering on the edge of the pool, his arms pinwheeling as he burned like a living torch.  With a blood curdling wail, a truly horrible inhuman sound, he toppled backwards into the pool with a loud splash.
   Instantly, the two remaining al-muqtar are aware of their brethren's death.  Without hesitation they step into the shadows and emerge in the Imperial Bath, facing the Lady Sadina.  One of the masked assailants sprints towards the cupboard, sensing the Empress, his sacred prey.  With supernatural speed, the second assassin steps towards Sadina and speaks:

"Wallha iqdu ts'bah shaaialthaabayn asqat adwuk!"

   As he speaks, his arms glow and shift, becoming serpents with fanged mouths.  They shoot forth menacingly, attempting to wrap their deadly coils around Sadina!

{Reflex save Sadina:}

22:53, Today: Sadina rolled 29 using 1d20+11. reflex.

   Sadina's years of training and lightning reflexes save her as she twists away from the crushing coils of the Al Muqtar's serpentine arms, but the viper heads' fangs connect long enough to inflict a nasty bite on her wrists.

15:09, Today: Secret Roll: lilbug rolled 8 using 1d4+6. Damage for Viper Fist spell.

   Behind the two combatants, the other 'Silent One' bounds, with a single inhuman leap, to the storage cupboard where its prey, the Empress Sidi is hiding.  In one fluid motion it grabs the door and attempt to yank it open.

 She tried to hold the cabinet door shut but couldn't get a hold on it well enough, so she started lobbing bath oils at the creature, then various bath salts, hoping to blind it and hinder it's actions somehow. She scrabbled deeper into the cabinet then rubbed some of the oils on her arms, legs and body to make herself slippery.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:28, Sun 18 Jan 2009.

 She flinched back then tried to cast another spell, this one at her opponent. She cast Baleful Polymorph at the necromancer, trying to turn it into a small creature, perhaps a puppy. Yes, puppy sounded good! She concentrated and pictured a puppy as she cast her spell.
 "A roly poly puppy you will become, to romp and play and run, to fetch and bark and roll over, I think I'll call you Rover!"

In reply to Sidi (msg #61):

   The Silent One flinched, surprised by the sudden barrage of clay jars full of  salts.  It took step backwards, disoriented by effect of the potent bath salts to its hyper-acute senses.  Recovering within moments, the al Muqtari lunged forwards, attempting to grab hold of the Empress and drag her from the cabinet forcefully.

00:50, Today: Secret Roll: lilbug rolled 24 using 1d20+5. Muqtari attempts to grab oily Empress.

00:52, Today: Secret Roll: lilbug rolled 18 using 1d20+3. Muqtari attempts to throw oily Empress.

   The Muqtari leans in close, its hideous masked face inches from the Empress as its fingers slip and slide off of her oiled clothes and finally grab enough to hold her fast.  With a mighty heave it pulls her from the cabinet and tosses her to the moist tiled floor.  Swiftly it spins around, looming over her menacingly.
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:03, Wed 21 Jan 2009.

   The Muqtari mage falls to his knees, as if struck by a sudden blow.  He is surrounded in a nimbus of brilliant light, his robes and mask tumbling to the floor.  A moment later a small black nose peeks from underneath the mound of discarded clothes, whimpering and snuffling as the little black furry face looks up towards Sadina with large brown eyes.

21:01, Today: Secret Roll: lilbug rolled 9 using 1d20+7. Muqtari necromancer saves against poly.

 She grabbed handsfull of bath salts and tried to toss it into the creatures eyes and nose and mouth. Maybe she could blind it! She aimed at it's face and threw as hard as she could.

22:01, Today: Sidi rolled 27 using 1d20+7. throw bath salts etc.

 Sadina saw the puppy and quickly turned away as she heard Sidi being attacked and thrown by the other creature. She growled angrily and sent a gout of missiles toward the creature. She just hoped the "puppy" was harmless and couldn't use it's magic now!
 "Leave her alone you monster! Take that!"
22:06, Today: Sadina rolled 17 using 5d4+5. magic missiles.

   The final Muqtari warrior squeals as his hyper sensitive eyes are burned by the bath salts.  With a shriek the masked assassin blindly attacks the Emperess with its poisoned bagh nakh (tiger claws)

21:59, Today: Secret Roll: lilbug rolled 5 using 1d3+3. Damage from Muqtari tiger claws.
21:55, Today: Secret Roll: lilbug rolled 5 using 1d20+3.  Blind attack on Emperess.
21:55, Today: Secret Roll: lilbug rolled 22 using 1d20+3. Blind attack on Emperess.

   The assassin manages to claw the Emperess with one tiger claw before he suddenly spins around, jerked off his feet as the eldritch globes of light slam into him and send him sprawling onto the mosaic tiles where he lays unmoving.  The Emperess feels a numbing cold spread from the poison wound...

{I need a fortitude save for the Emperess please}

 She tried to dodge the swipe of the claws, but felt a searing pain in her arm as a single poisoned claw made contact. She let out a scream of pain and collapsed to the floor holding her arm above the scratch, watching the blood pool along the edges of the wound. Remembering about poisons, she tried to make it bleed more to wash away as much poison as possible. Her head started spinning though as she sank to the floor.

17:26, Today: Sidi rolled 12 using 1d20+7. fort save.

 Hearing the girl cry out, Sadina turned toward her, then after a swift searching glance to see if there were any other enemies about to attack, she ran over to the girl to check how badly injured she was. She saw the scratch and bent to examine it trying to see if it was poisoned. Noting the discolored edges of the scratch, she cursed softly and tried to force it to bleed.
17:44, Today: Sadina rolled 20 using 1d20+9.

17:40, Today: Sadina rolled 26 using 1d20+24. spellcraft (if needed).
17:40, Today: Sadina rolled 29 using 1d20+9. know arcana (poison).
17:38, Today: Sadina rolled 6 using 1d20+3. heal.

   The wound quickly grows discoloured, and the Empress begins to visibly shake.  Although Sadina is unable to treat the poison, she has definitely seen this type of poison before.  It belongs to a rare creature, the Snake-head Turtle, a small creature found only in the warm marshes in Valkandis and the southern provinces of Arn, such as Ledos.  Its potent venom affects the central nervous system, causing paralysis and, eventually death as it causes the pulmonary functions to cease.  The victims of such a turtle bite always die within twenty four hours.


   As Lady Sadina kneels over the ailing Empress, suddenly into the baths burst a legion of the Imperial Guard.  They run towards their prone ruler, Sadina's back is to them.
   "Praytell what is yon?  In the name of Her Imperial Majesty, back away from Her Highness now and tell me what has happened here!"   The Centurion brandishes his gilded gladius to emphasize his command.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:50, Tue 05 May 2009.

 "You worthless imbicile! Where the hell have you been? Can't you see that the Empress has been attacked by foul vile creatures? Go summon Hieronymous! The Empress has been poisoned, only he may have the antidote! And take these bodies away! Lock them in a room and don't let anyone near them. And do NOT touch their claws or blades, they are poisoned! Well? Don't just stand there, get to it!"
 She gently picked the Empress up and laid her on a lounge nearby, then tied a tournequet around her arm above the wound, and tightened it slightly to slow the spread of the poison. Then she gently cleaned the wound, trying to remove as much poison as possible without touching it. She prayed that Hieronymous could help.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:08, Mon 06 Apr 2009.

   The officer's eyes widen in recognition and immediately he sweeps his arm backwards, ordering his men silently to sheathe any weapons.  Hearing the urgency in her words, he barks out to the men, to assign specifics.
   "You have heard Her Ladyship's commands: Cadmus, Taraxon, sound the gong to let the Lord Astrologer know he is needed.  And be swift, Her Majesty's life hangs in the balance!   Darius, Flavian, Orestus, find the corpses and dispose of them as ordered!  Laertes, take the rest of the Legion and have them search this entire palace, starting with this room.  And if any more of these assassins remain I want them captured if possible, killed if not.  Brontus, Cicilo, you will stand guard with me over the Empress and no one, other than myself, Lady Sadina, or Lord Hieronymous is to approach her, is that clear?"
  Swiftly he drops to one knee and bows his head, chastened by Sadina's sharp rebuke.  His fist over his bronze breastplate, he casts his eyes to the floor and answers her in an apologetic tone.
   "A thousand apologies, Honoured Lady Sadina.  Had I known you were here in the palace, I should have recognized you at once.  How fares our beloved Empress and what manner of men are these that dare to attempt her death?"  Feeling truly ashamed that his Imperial Guard were unable to protect the Empress, the Centurion accepts that his life is most rightly forfeit.  How could the pride of Arn have failed her Imperial Majesty in her greatest hour of need?
This message was last edited by the player at 22:47, Tue 05 May 2009.