Timothius says, "Do you see any fear in us? If what we said was untrue, then we would be shaking in our boots by now from Sovacles' claims." He gives Sovacles a look that Sovacles can FEEL. "Watch your tongue, Sovacles; do not belittle my sisters or my friends, or you will find out first hand what we did to cause a dragon exarch to drop his jaw in terror."

Raichel says, "Can a monkey be trained to do this?" she proceeds to do a staff form with beautiful precision. "Hint: The answer is no."

May says, "And by the way, what we did earlier? I'd like to know when and where You OR Sovacles ever saw monkeys do that. It is not something trained monkeys could do. Raichel here is twice my size, plus the number of weapons I'm wearing weighs quite a bit. Plus... I'm relatively sure a monkey wouldn't be doing pushups with one arm while standing on it. But speaking of things Monkeys can't do;" she goes to pick up Mittens with one arm and then pick up Raichel with the other arm. "Monkey's can't carry one person in each arm, much less make it look easy."

---

Timtimidate: CRIT(33)!
May: Auto-succeed on Athletics
Rai: Auto-succeed on Acrobatics

successes: 8/8 failures: 1/3

  "Sovacles, I wasn't aware the Seed Of Winter was some petty bauble so easily copied. Do you know where I might find a working copy of the Arrow Of Fate then?   Of course, speaking of petty baubles, I suppose an endless keg of Dwarven Ale would fall under such things.  Alas, I fear any sudden drops would make how to make one slip my mind."

"ACK!"  Cachlain jumps to hide behind his throne!

Sovacles looks positively livid and is giving Timothius a death glare.  Kyle didn't improve his mood any.

Cachlain looks relieved and is super impressed with the girls' antics.  "Awesome!"

He claps like an entertained todler.

"Enough!" Sovacles shouts, "Is this how representatives of Inzira behave?!  I think not!  Begone!

"Guards!  Take the Great King to safety!"

Cachlain is escorted out, Sovacles leaving with him.  A few sweatdroping cyclops guards remain to see the heroes out of the throne room.

"So uh... does that mean they go to the banquet?  Or..."

"He said begone.  So um...  we take them out of throne room.  Then we done our job."

"Yeah.  Sounds good."

Mits skews her lips.  "So has Sovacles and Cachlain always been like this?"

The cyclops shrug.  "Ever since we were assigned here, they've been like that."

Timothius nods to the guards. "Lead the way." and follows them out of the throne room before saying to his team, "Sovacles is influencing Cachlain. Probably with some minor mind-control or some kind of charm magics. Just enough to allow Cachlain to seem to act freely. I didn't say anything while we were in there, but this Sovacles is very likely an agent of Sangwyr."

Raichel ohs. "Well... I would say 'that explains his rude behavior', but honestly I expected that regardless."

Timothius leans on Mittens some. "....I didn't mean to scare Cachlain... I was just trying to set Sovacles straight. Seems he reacts to intimidation with anger. I was hoping he would either back down or open up combat with us then and there. The fact he did neither tells me he couldn't afford open combat with us just yet."

May says, "So now what?"

Raichel says, "Well now that we were ejected from the throne room, maybe we poke around and look for some answers."

May nods. "Sounds like a good idea."

  "Likely does not take much to do the job of controlling Cachlain, no wonder he's preferable to Inzira over the one actually capable of plotting, regardless of intentions."

  He considers some options for other obvious problems, and says "I am uncertain if I can think of something that would completely negate the issue, but I doubt any one of us would be surprised if that glass display floor opens up.  At the very least, the harm from falling can be prepared against readily enough."

  They probably wouldn't get away with standing in the safer looking corners of the room talking to the king.

  "Still, for the immediate future, A ring named after banquets is in order."

"You're probably right.  So let's wait for Kyle to make us some magic items before moving on.  Thanks, Kyle!"

She thinks back to the encounter.  "At least now we know why Cachlain would give away the Seed.  He was mind-controlled to.  I think Timo is right that the mind control is limited.  Even looked like Cachlain might have been on the verge of snapping out of it.  Could be another reason for Sovacles to eject us.  We need some evidence that he's a traitor."

She turns to the Cyclops guards.  "What banquet?"

One motions to the double doors to the east.  "There's some banquet going on for our other visitors.  The king's cousin, some slave trader, a dwarf from your world, and...  that other guy.  What was he here for?"

"How could you forget all the nagging?  Border dispute."

Timothius head-nudges. "Then let's go that way. We may not have been invited, but I'm curious enough to check it out."

Raichel nods. "After Kyle's done."

May shrugs. "Unless Kyle can make those on the way to the room and while we find out what's going on?"

 "Banquet ring only needs one, so I can pull that off. I'd prefer some time before the obvious trap door issue."

Banquet Hall
An enormous table fills the center of this room. It’s
made from an enormous, ancient tree split in half,
and a few twigs still grow from it. The table is ringed
with chairs, some sized for Large creatures and others
for Medium creatures.

Seated at the table are a fomorian king, a tiefling woman, a satyr man, three githyanki, and Bram Ironfell!  http://a2irongods.net/wiki/ima.../31/BramIronfell.jpg

Bram ironfell: the PCs met him in “The Lost Mines of Karak”

Everyone looks at the heroes as they enter.  Mits blinks in surprise.  "Ironfell?!  What on earth are you doing here?!"

Bram looks a little ruffled.  "I could ask the same of you."

  "Business as usual, Ironfell.  I do wish those mines were not cleared out long before you asked us to check them for you, for what it is worth." As much because they were being used for some nonspecific enemy funding.

  Kyle grants everyone in the room immunity to ingested shenanigans.

Timothius says, "That's the second time we bumped into a familiar face in the course of our duties..." He looks at the group. "We are the heroes of the Elsir Vale. I'm Timothius, these are my sisters Mittens and Raichel, this is Kyle and May." he introduces as he says their names. "For the time being, we are here because Inzira asked us nicely for a favor that aligns with what we want to do anyway."

May looks up at Kyle. "Might wanna extend our courtesy immunity to the guests here too, if possible..." May discovers her relation to failgator and remains quiet.

Raichel smiles at Ironfell and says, "Alrighty, Mister Ironfell. Timothius answered you first, so kindly answer us now?"

Mittens wouldn't have been so generous to complete strangers (and guy she never trusted) in the Feydark, but whatevs.  She doesn't object.

Bram looks harried and fearful.  Avoiding eye contact, he clears his throat and answers, "I'm serving as an ambassador on behalf of the githyanki."

Mits gawks.  "WHAT?!  You're working for the army that invaded your hometown?!  The one you promised the proceeds from the mine would be used against?!  Never trusted you!"

His githyanki bodyguards are stoic and make no comment.

"No shouting, please," the tiefling requests, annoyed.

The bored fomorian snickers.  "Nah.  Do please carry on.  This is the most fun I've had in weeks.  Have some seats, Heroes of the Elsir Vale."

  "See Mittens, this is what happens when I am not cynical all the time.  Clearly I have been letting myself slip"  All this hugs and friendship stuff must be getting to you.

  "Still, this is the first I've heard of any ambassadorial outreach. How has the job been treating you then, Ironfell?  Any retirement options, or merely more words before they do the usual to you as well?"

Timothius puts a hand on Mitts' shoulder to try to calm her down. "There has to be more to the story..."

Raichel seems surprisingly calm, considering how she tended to react to traitors before. It is because she believes what Timothius said, and last time Rai was upset it turned out there wasn't anything to be upset about.

She's trying not to waste her hate until it's needed.

May says to the fomorian, "Sorry, sir, she said please. We only ever get politeness of that magnitude from our dearest friends, so I am forced to acquiesce to her request. But you said please also... hmm... If you're bored, Timothius plays a mean game of Three Dragon Ante."

Timothius glances at May and rubs behind his head. "...thanks, May, but I can honestly say I'm not up for a game right now... why don't you show him your weapons?" ZOOP! May is suddenly next to the fomorian and begins showing off her arsenal to him.

Timothius then looks at Kyle. "While it has its place, Cynicism is over-rated. I'd rather be happy and unpleasantly surprised than to not be happy ever."

Timothius walks over to take a seat near Ironfell. Everyone he passes can feel peace washing over them and once he sits, all the githyanki can feel peace remaining.

Raichel walked alongside Tim and when he sits in the rather large seat, she sits next to him in the same oversized chair.

Timothius looks at Ironfell. "If this is about survival, at least know Kyle is right; when they are done with you, they will kill you. They might not even wait that long. Now that said, please... explain your position."

Droeth shrugs at May's statement and frowns, impressed with her collection.  All of the guests look uncomfortable with Timothius' aura.

Mits hrms and takes a seat.  "Sarshan was working for the githyanki and said stuff about 'your world will burn' etc.  That might be considered ambassadorial outreach maybe?  But githyanki brazenly playing both sides of the Cachlain / Sangwyr conflict comes as no surprise."

Bram is getting increasingly nervous.  He clears his throat again, still avoiding eye contact.

"Survival.  Yeah.  I'm surprised at your successfully fighting off the githyanki and their allies thus far.  Nothing short of a miracle that you're all still alive.  I've seen what they do to their enemies.  They're merciless.  Leaving nothing behind in the realms they conquer.  After sacking the entire land and destroying everything they find, they leave nothing but a barren wasteland."

He has the look of one who's horrified to recount what he's seen.  The githyanki remain stoic, not reacting to Bram.  Cyclops waitresses arrive and serve food and drink.

Perception Check
DC 25: You detect an odd, sweet scent in the food and
wine.

A PC who succeeds on the Perception check (or is told
about the strange scent) can make a Nature or Thiev
ery check.
DC 20: On closer inspection, you can tell the scent is
typical of alchemical elixirs that cause sleep.

"Sleep poison in the wine," Mits warns before it even hits the table.  She takes a sip then raises her glass in toast to Kyle.  "Good flavor, though.  Thank you, Kyle cynicism."

The waitresses are embarrassed, bow, and hurry away.  Droeth busts out laughing.  The other guests look much less amused.

"What's the meaning of this?!" the satyr demands, jumping out of his seat.

The tiefling is eyeing her glass, silent.  The githyanki glare at Droeth, but say nothing.

  "A toast, to predictability, and fine choice in drugs.  They had the courtesy to select one that will not ruin the taste of the wine."  Drinking on the job isn't very professional, but then spite wins over as he downs half his glass.

  "Though I wouldn't try drinking it in ten minutes, but for now I felt the other guests deserved the same protection.  I wonder if the meal will still be served after the ambush?"

Timothius gives Ironfell a sad smile and says, "You underestimate us, Ironfell. We make our own miracles these days. When we defeated the exarch Chillreaver, we were able to take him alive and shame him throughout the streets of Nefelus. A fate worse than death comes to our enemies who refuse to surrender; and that is shame, dishonor, and then death at the hands of some lawkeeper rather than at the hands of a worthy warrior. Even now, Telicanthus' soul gets to live forever in a bauble that the githzerai he sought to defame get to keep. The githyanki destroy, but we make our enemies wish we had destroyed them."

He drinks his tea. "It's safe, everyone. Kyle gave everyone in the room immunity to poisons. You may drink freely if you wish, but I won't blame you if you don't."

May says, "Whoever comes into the room seeking to ambush us, they clearly meant to drug you also. When they come, feel free to either help us fight them, or take cover if you prefer not to fight. Timothius is a healer and can keep you alive... and even bring you back to life mid-combat if need be."

Raichel sips the tea. "Well I'm ready for a fight." she gets to her feet and grips her staff. Winds swirl from the corners of the room and coalesce at Raichel as lightning dances across her. "Feel free to watch, Ironfell. First hand witness."
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:24, Tue 19 Jan 2016.

Mits grins proudly and shows off the picture of dead Chillreaver.  "Chillreaver Stomping Day is a now a national holiday in Nefelus."

The githyanki look surprisingly nervous and glance to Droeth.  Ironfell's jaw drops and he stares in disbelief.  The other two guests look confused.

"Ambush?  What ambush?" the satyr asks.

Droeth rubs his chin.  "So the plan was to simply put the guests to sleep, kidnap them, and hold them ransom.  No fuss, no muss.  Sangwyr figured it would be a blow to Cachlain whether he paid up or not.  But I didn't count on dragon slayers showing up with magical poison resist stuff."

The nervous satyr starts edging toward the door and Droeth shakes a finger at him.  The githyanki jump up and block off the exits.  They shed their disguises.  They were rakshasa!  Bram is shocked!

Droeth stands up.  "Let's not be hasty.  I'm sure we can work out a deal here."

He looks to Timothius.  "You seem to be interested in this dwarf guy.  You take him, we take the other two, nobody has to get hurt.  Deal?"

  "Or you could just walk away entirely.  It would be poor form to let the other guests be kidnapped, and I'm sorry to say they probably matter more at this point.  Regardless of our past dealings with Ironfell."

  He checks his crossbow,  "Of course, seeing how this is the least impressive premeditated attack I have seen in quite some time?  His odds of immediate survival are looking quite reasonable."  Whether or not the Module really cares about him past this encounter is another matter, but hey, thought that counts right?

  The biggest shocker is that the fact the Gith were really Rakashas in fact, makes their fight easier.  Because these are the Rhakashas that slept in on 'hand out BS vs will powers' day.

Timothius looks around and sighs, then stands up and grips his staff. "I don't know who these people are, so I can not in good conscious allow such. But I do have a counter-offer: When you see how seriously we were not bluffing about how powerful we are, you surrender and we will both spare your life *and* not make you wish you were dead. But you will be our prisoners."

Raichel doesn't say anything, but gets in a ready stance with a stern expression.

May smiles and says, "Heh. You have me at a disadvantage... you have seen some of my arsenal. But you know what they say; it's not the weapon that makes the warrior..."

Raichel says, "Then it begins! Submit!" Lightning shoots all throuout the room, zapping all the enemies present. One of the rakshassa blocking the satyr gets hurt especially bad!

---

Furious Bolts v R1, Oni, R3, R2. Hit(32)! Hit(27)! CRIT(40)! Hit(33)!
 dmg to R1: 33
 dmg to Oni and R2: 26
 dmg to R3: 52
Minor: Blood Fury weapon
Free: Drop weapon
Minor: Razorclaw shifting

R1 HP: 142 - 33 = 109
R2 HP: 142 - 26 = 116
R3 HP: 142 - 52 = 90
Oni HP: 142 - 26 = 116

"You have 10 seconds to comply!" WHACK! "10.. 9..."

---

Weapon Mayster's Strike v Oni. Hit(26)!
 dmg: 17

Oni HP: 117 - 17 = 99

"We have no quarrel with you!" one of the rakshasa screams!

He knocks out the fleeing satyr and starts carrying him to the stairs to the north.

  Kyle sidelines his initial plans against the Oni, and nails the kidnapping Rakshasa in the face with the by now familiar bright purple glowing tanglefoot bag.  We'd love to blame his skill as an alchemist, but really it's targeting keywords that keeps any of it from getting onto the Satyr.

  He summons the dancing weapon to miss terribly twice guard over the Satyr, as he blast the enemy across the room to stick upsidedown against the wall with a forceful crossbow shot. "I'll spare you the quarrel related jokes" because crossbow, haha "But you really were not paying attention if you thought we'd let you run after trying to kidnap people anyways"

Rakshasa 2 HP: 116-27=89
Effects: Rakshasa prone.   Also Immobilized (until end of my next turn),
Rakshasa 2 is glowing bright purple (duration LOL), have fun hiding with shapeshifting now asshole.
AFTEREFFECT; Slowed until end of it's next turn.

Dancing weapon: +23 Vs. AC; 1d10+10 (allowed my assorted bonuses). CAN MAKE AoO ATTACKS.

The rakshasa just groans in reply.

RUMBLE!  Something like the sound of a land-shark breaking through crystal flooring booms from around the northern passage!

"Dear gods you all hit like titans!" the Oni complains, "You gotta understand!  We can't go back empty handed or we're dead men!"

Mits hops up on the table and points an accusing finger.  A magical target appears over the oni.

"Simple solution: Don't go back at all!  Eyebeams!"

She blasts the oni and the northern rakshasa with eyebeams!  Her tail-beam misses the one to the south, unfortunately.

"OW!"

"Still no surrender?  54321lasers!"

She fires a DBZ style rapid-fire attack against the enemies and the oni passes out!  The rakshasa shriek and flee to the north toward the source of the rumble sound!