Boreas!  Try to calm Chomper; he's not going to be happy about this.

Maeve then turns her attention toward Giles, pointing her weapon at him in a defensive stance.

Of all the damnable, foolish things you could have done Giles, this takes the cake.  Yes she's an evil fiend, but we could have gotten information from her!  Found out how Keef's staff works!  Maybe what's going on in this forest. *Something!* As it stands, you had best pray that Zuriel is able to stabilize her or so help me, I will not lift a finger as the wolverine eats you!

You say you're a hero.  A hero doesn't mercilessly slay an enemy once they've laid down their arms.  Nor does a soldier with a lick of honor.  Keef can learn from better than you.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:28, Mon 14 Oct 2013.

Giles the Brave, nobly shooting his opponents after they surrender!  Put that in your epic tale.

He turns to speak to Chomper.

Chomper, I understand your anger.  We are still trying to save your friend, but this man was foolish.  Please, friend, stand down.  If you do, perhaps we can still help her.

[Wild Empathy 13]
This message was last edited by the player at 03:05, Mon 14 Oct 2013.

In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 423):

~~ Combat Setup ~~

The room is small, with lots of furniture.  No more than three people will be able to get within 5 feet of Cassandra without doing something about the bed, due to the combination of the wall and the furniture and the enclosed space.  Nor can she be approached without getting within five feet of Chompers, who is upon the bed itself.  Everyone is within one move action of each other.

Cassie is down but stable, and an oversized wolverine seems intent on doing something about it.  Combat continues...

~~ Initiative ~~

Zuriel 20
Boreas 17
Lyriel 11
Chomper 9
Keef 8
Cassandra 5
Giles 4
Maeve 4

In reply to Maeve (msg # 422):

And what reason do you have to take any of what she would offer you on faith? We had no reason to believe from previous experience in battle that with a simple word from her lips animals could double in size and people could be seriously injured.

An ever-important aspect of heroism is self perpetuation. When a dog bites your hand Maeve, you've got to put the dog down.

Now are we quite finished here?

That's as may be, but a hero is also prepared.  You've heard the phrase 'know your enemy?'  This was a chance to do precisely that.  Well played, sir.  Well played.

But I'll speak at you no longer. I've said my piece.  I have nothing more to discuss with you, Giles. Hopefully for a long time.  I doubt that Zuriel will be of the same mind.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:49, Mon 14 Oct 2013.

Zuriel for his part, remains intent on preserving Cassandra's life. He continues to cradle her body, albeit in such a manner that she is shielded from further aggression by Giles.

"Lyriel, she's going to die here if we don't do something."

His hands continue to apply pressure to her more serious wounds, further slowing the bleeding, though no healing energy remains within him.

In reply to Zuriel Silendril (msg # 427):

Keef holds the staff defensively and backs slowly away from... everyone.  He mumbles quietly to himself but doesn't seem to be making any sense.

At the dar side of the room he sinks down along the wall and pulls his knees up under his chin.

In reply to Keef (msg # 428):

Lyriel nods at Zuriel and springs into action, lying her hands over Cassie's more grievous wounds and offering up a prayer of healing to her goddess. While this woman may be evil she does not deserve to die by our hands especially since she had willingly surrendered. Then looking towards Keef she continues,I hope you are taking note of this Keef, while I am pledged as a servant of Tassada to combat evil I would most willingly spare this woman because she had agreed to surrender. Heroes must always judge fairly.

[Cure Minor Wounds x2]

[OOC: This should bring her to the point where she will be conscious and can speak/ call off chomper, but cannot act or she will become unconscious again. /OOC]

In reply to Lyriel Vesper (msg # 429):

I am literally drowning in this metaphorical altruism. ..Or am I metaphorically drowning in this literal altruism? Gods- I can never keep my grammatical modifiers straight.

Alright Cassie, you've been restored to health. Perhaps you now find yourself more inclined to share your secrets after a taste of what Thistleworth interrogation potentially lays in wait?

In reply to Giles Thistleworth (msg # 430):

With a significant glance from Cassie, Chomper calms down.  Though only slightly.  The wolverine attempts to push his overlarge frame past the heroes and near his mistress, (taking the space Keef just vacated).  He growls at Giles, but does not strike.

~~ End Combat ~~

"Ok, heroes," Cassie says warily, opening her hands palms outward to demonstrate a lack of threat.  "We'll do it your way.  What happens next?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:52, Mon 14 Oct 2013.

Zuriel's face exhibits obvious relief at Cassie's awakening. Wordlessly, he takes the manacles they used for Gregor and binds her hands. Then, he gently helps her to her feet, supporting her with his shoulder as he walks her over to the bed, Chomper nuzzling anxiously at her side. He helps her to sit and then says to her brusquely, "In a moment, we will talk, like civilized people. But there is something I must attend to first, for your safety."

Zuriel stands up from the bed and turns to face Giles. His face is livid and his amber eyes blaze. "How DARE you execute an unarmed and surrendering prisoner?!?! I don't care what the circumstances. She surrendered. WE. DO. NOT. MURDER. PRISONERS. END OF DISCUSSION. If that basic moral concept is too difficult to wrap your oversized ego around then consider it through the lens of your jaded, self-centered, arrogant existence. You were willing to forgo learning more about this vault to slake your bloodlust, to say nothing of forcing us to put down an enraged and ensorcelled wolverine, AFTER WE HAD ALREADY WON."

Zuriel's fists are clenched at his side, and he is literally shaking with rage.

[private to Lyriel Vesper: In your experience, Zuriel has always debated ideology calmly. You have never, ever seen him so furious.]

In a slightly calmer voice, he continues. "Once we are done here, and finish extracting what we need from the vault, we are done. You take your fair share of your loot, and you leave. We clearly have very, very different opinions on justice."

He looks back at Cassie.

"Nobody is beyond redemption."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:21, Mon 14 Oct 2013.

First, you disarm entirely.  All your possessions, save clothing.  We've seen what you can do.  Also, dismiss your spell and return Chomper to his normal size.

Then, we have some questions.

Boreas, assuming the others are holding Cassie at swordpoint, will search and assist her in removing all the requested items, assuming she complies.  He wears gloves, both for a modicum of propriety and to protection from any cursed items.

[Notice 15]

Once the process is complete, he will bind her hands and feet, assuming she complies.

[OOC]Boreas would offer to have a woman do the search, but he's the most perceptive in the group and doesn't trust Cassie not to hide something.[/OOC]

At some point, Boreas also addresses Chomper:

Thank you, Chomper, for standing down.  I am sorry things had to go this way, but I hope we can save Cassie so you aren't left without a companion.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:22, Mon 14 Oct 2013.

In reply to Zuriel Silendril (msg # 432):

You have tactically misassessed, noble Zuriel. I have no particular bloodlust with this woman; indeed, I did no more or less damage to her person than you or Maeve. Rather, I have a long track record of trusting my instincts when it comes to self preservation.

Where you see an opportunity to rehabilitate and save, I see the opportunity to be betrayed and attacked once more. I have not lived this long or had the success I have by giving those who sought to end my life second opportunities to do so.

As you say, we shall finish our expedition of the vault, and if the party wills it, we may part ways with our split of the loot. Until then, will you be forcing this druid to atone for her sins as her judge and jury, or will her refusal once again place you as her executioner?

Or is there yet more pontification to be unleashed?

Maeve frowns a little at Zuriel's pronouncement about redemption--Her?  I rather doubt it --but shrugs and eases her stance as Boreas searches the now-captive druid.  She's willing to listen.

What we want, Cassie, is information.  Let's start with *that* Maeve points a finger at the Everstaff, held in a death grip by Keef, who is still trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible in a corner.  What is its story?
This message was lightly edited by the player at 15:31, Mon 14 Oct 2013.

In reply to Maeve (msg # 435):

Waiting for the druid's reply Lyriel spots Keef off to the side against the wall mumbling to himself. Well this can't be good. Walking over she places a hand on Keef's shoulder. How are you doing Keef? I know this is an awful lot to take in, it is even for me and I am more than twice your age. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help. She takes a moment to offer him a kind smile and ruffle his hair.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 15:36, Mon 14 Oct 2013.

In reply to Maeve (msg # 435):

It's a strange scene that a passer-by would be treated to, with seven people huddled in a bedroom along with a wolfhound, a toad, a wolverine, and a dead body.

Cassandra appears to cooperate with the search, which reveals a dagger carved of black ivory and what appears to be a simple whip along with the hide-hilted scimitar she was wielding earlier.  A belt pouch contains two identical-looking potions and a handful of berries, but no money.  She doesn't appear to be wearing any jewelry beyond the choker, which does not appear to have a clasp of any kind and thus is not removed from her person.  You do relieve her of her hide armor, though, leaving her in a tunic and breeches to go with her supple leather boots and gloves.

Once this process is completed, she gently reaches over to scratch Chomper behind his ears, whispering quiet words as she does so. The creature twitches his back leg reflexively, enjoying the attention so much he hardly notices shrinking back to his appropriate size.

This completed, she rolls her wrists and cracks her knuckles, then plays absently with a loose strand of blonde hair as she speaks.

"That's the Everstaff," she says, smiling innocently.  "So named for its ability to artificially extend lifeforces beyond their limits.  Such magic always has a price, of course, but everyone who's ever wielded it has declared the requisite sacrifice more than worthwhile."
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:43, Mon 14 Oct 2013.

In reply to DM (msg # 437):

And by "artificially extending lifeforce" do you mean literally making the bearer live beyond his allotted lifespan?  Or is it somewhat more cryptic than that? Maeve asks.  The rest of what Cassie says makes sense; of *course* an evil magical item would demand something from its wielder.

And naturally this wound up in the questionably capable hands of our young mage-in-training.  Simply wonderful.

Boreas places the possessions in the middle of the room as Cassie surrenders them.

Maeve, can you keep an eye on these for now?  We'll deal with them after we've finished talking to Cassie and Chomper.

He turns back to face Cassie.

Interesting.  What is the price of using it?  And if this sacrifice is so worthwhile, why was it locked away?

His voice has lost a bit of its anger, and his eye, while still glinting supernaturally, no longer crackles with energy.  He reaches down and deftly binds Cassie's hands and feet.

[OOC]Consider Boreas to have a readied action to blast Cassie if she attempts to do anything hostile, like activating the choker.[/OOC]
This message was last edited by the player at 16:02, Mon 14 Oct 2013.

In reply to Maeve (msg # 438):

At Lyriel's touch, Keef stops mumbling, but he remains curled up annd more or less nonresponsive.

In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 439):

"It was locked away because we didn't need it.  Look at me.  I'm sure you've noticed that I'm the very definition of youth," she answers, flicking back her hair with a shake of her head before using her shoulder to awkwardly wipe at the blood caked beneath her nose, where Keef struck her.

"Besides, the price is blood.  Energy for energy.  But the Everstaff has a rather voracious appetite, and it's been known to... forage... if not kept sated."  She continues, somewhat cryptically, "Veilspire had other ways to keep it quiet, but those secrets were buried with him."
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:07, Mon 14 Oct 2013.

In reply to Keef (msg # 440):

Lyriel looks up from the non-responsive Keef, I think whatever that staff has required of him is already taking its toll, we need to get him some help, and quickly!

Yes, someone get that thing away from Keef.  He doesn't look too good.

I'll attend to Cassie here.

As the others (assumed) deal with Keef, Boreas turns back to Cassie.

So you and your Master were trying to open the vault.  What kind of protections are in place?  What is the nature of the barrier he created?  What happened to the animals you so cruelly sacrificed when they tried to cross inside?
This message was last edited by the player at 16:18, Mon 14 Oct 2013.

In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 443):

Lyriel takes a pair of gloves from inside her cloak and puts them on before bending to gently remove the staff from Keef's grasp. I think the question that begs to be asked is what should we do with it? We obviously can't leave this thing about so that any unsuspecting person could happen upon it. It seems like that could lead to a whole world of trouble.

In reply to Lyriel Vesper (msg # 444):

OOC: You will not be able to relieve Keef of the staff without a roll unless he allows it.

Cassie betrays a smile at the cleric's attempts to relieve the boy of the staff, which he grips firmly in his hands.  She then turns to address Boreas.

"They're easier to show you than to explain.  I already tried to discuss the problems we were having when you walked in.  They are barriers that become progressively more difficult to pass through, until you simply falter and turn back or perish.  The animals mostly succumbed to the latter."

She grumbles slightly at this.  "I was so optimistic about the elephant, too."
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:22, Mon 14 Oct 2013.

Zuriel looks over, concerned. He joins Lyriel at Keef's side. Speaking in soothing tones, he turns a kind gaze to the overwhelmed young adventurer. "You've done well, Keef. We won. You can put the staff down now, and you will feel much better."

He waits for a response from the boy, making no attempt to forcibly take the staff from Keef.