Nikita's mind runs on two tracks, intense and nearly manic.
To the now massive Sagacitas, she thinks firmly: No. We are friends but not one with you. We are different than you - when we become one with you, we die. When your children feed on us, we die. Do not kill us. I am happy that you are whole, and we can help you - have in fact helped you, but we are not one with you.
The rest of Nikita's consciousness is consumed with loathing for Sedgwick and Iuz. The aberration in the service of the demonic cambion lord. Her teeth her set and eyes flashing... the deep scar that runs down her cheek stands out sharply as if rending her face in two.
"Your fate awaits you, Sedgwick. Can you feel her breath? She is very close."
She lashes out, striking Sedgwick with her rapier and the Booming Blade cantrip, encasing him in booming, thunderous energy. To hit: 21 Damage: 12 (max) Extra damage from Booming Blade if Sedgwick moves voluntarily before Nikita's next turn: 1d8 thunder damage.
WIS Save: 13 (with her brain on overdrive, Nikita is barely able to resist Sedgwick's mad gibbering as she moves through her bladesong).
Delivered with deadly accuracy, Nikita's rapier pierces Sedgewick's bloated body near where she believes his putrid heart would be. A look of confusion passes Theodore's face as he looks down at her and clutches as his chest.
The mouths adorning his body cease their gibbering and are still. "But..."Sedgewick starts to say something but stops, no more words are forthcoming. With a crash, the aberration falls to the floor, pus and blood leaving its body in equal amounts. The stench is gut-wrenching as Sedgewick expires; he remains as toxic in death as he was in life.
"Justice,"Asha's voice is clear enough that it sounds as though she is also in the room.
Out of Initiative!
LEVEL UP
Congratulations everyone! Freeing Prospect from Theodore Sedgewick's/the cabal's control represents the another chapter milestone. All characters are now 3rd level.
The Tree Knight Captain steps forth and plants its longsword in Sedgewick's body, keen to confirm the aberration is dead. Removing the sword, the Captain wipes it on the carpet before sheathing it. The other Tree Knights follow their captain's lead before taking up defensive positions around the room, steeling against any other potential threats.
Feelings of joy and freedom abound, as the Sagactias creature plods over to Sedgewick's body. This one is grateful, the adult Sagacitas projects into your minds. This one understands; this one is one, you are other ones.It is clear that the creature is struggling to accurately convey its thoughts. Evil one was other one... but different? That one caused this one much pain, destroyed many, deserved to end.
Following its declaration, the Sagacitas creature plunges its tentacle appendages into Sedgewick's body. The other-worldly creature further increases in size, its frame breaking through the wooden ceiling to the floor above. It crashes through the north wall and stands outside, its mighty form silhouetted by the setting sun.
This one does not belong here. This world is wrong, evil. Many other ones come like evil one. This one must return. The Sagacitas' eyes survey Prospects grounds. Feelings of nervousness and uncertainty wash over the party.
Boyd nearly trips over himself getting out of the way of the massive aberration. "Cor! what have we done... Yes, yes you oughta go home."Boyd points to the crypt where he's pretty sure the portal exists. "Errr... can you still fit inside? I think it's in that building there."
He looks at the wood elves and ponders their next move, but doesn't say anything about them. The older man suddenly looks very haggard. He still clutches his side, despite the sudden burst of healing from Faila. "Those pirates ain't still poking around, you think?" I think I need to rest a bit, and I'm not sure I can make it back to the carnival like this."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Meresaa shakes her head as if to clear it after a bad dream. She looks at her hands and feet, now moving as they should, and then to Sedgewick and the rest.
"That was an unexpected experience in many regards," she says offhandedly. "I now have a much greater appreciation for what some of you were going through than I had in the moment. That was awful."
Seeing the knights confirming the kill, the tall woman's addresses the octophant in the room.
"Nikita, I'm not sure how you've been communicating with this incredible creature, but can you convey to it that it should accompany us to the portal to return home? With Theodore seemingly dead, we still have little time to deal with the instability of this rift. There's no telling what further damage it could do...or may have already done."
She strides over to Boyd and takes his hand. "We can certainly take our chances and rest here once more but I'm worried about the time we've already taken. Do you think you're well enough to press on?"
As she speaks, warmth radiates up Boyd's arm and through his body, further healing his wound as she casts cure wounds to heal him for 10hp.
Faila, standing outside the observatory, keeps standing there as Sedgewick's dying scream reverberates and he goes still... as the tree knights plunge swords into his putrid still flesh... and the Sagacitas absorbs him, becoming a monstrosity that looks, to Faila, much similar to the one they just killed. Finally, looking around, she spots Boyd with Meresaa, and picks her way over the wreckage to join the two of them, shaken.
She takes Boyd's other hand, watching in amazement as Meresaa's healing spell knits his wounds. Then she looks outside towards the hulking, tentacled creature. "How do we get rid of it? Can it go through the portal?" she almost whispers.
Meresaa smiles down to Faila. "In my experience, these fissures can be quite malleable. Less like a crack in a wall and more like an inter-planar sphincter, as unpleasant an analogy as that may be." She shutters slightly. "I wouldn't worry about fitting them through it. I'm more concerned with fitting them through a structure to get to it, as Mr. Nilsson said. But let's demolish that bridge when we get to it, yes?"
Grinning at what passes (in her mind) as wordplay, she continues on to the others to ensure everyone is whole and well.
Nikita shudders, waiting for the feeling of blind rage and loathing at Sedgwick to subside. I will never be free of Iuz. Not if I live a thousand years.
To Meresaa she observes: "My lady. I am conversing with the Sagacitas by thinking at it, as its mode of communication is telepathic. I had thought any of us could do it. Can you not? That being said, I share your sentiment on returning Feywild natives who wish it back to the Feywild."
In Common (and in telepathic thought to the Sagacitas), and then in Elvish for the elven tree warriors, she repeats in turn, addressing everyone: "We have at least one more job to do. The Sagacitas and our elven warrior allies must return to the feywild where they belong. They seem to wish to return as well. Do we all agree on that? If so, the question is whether to take an hour's rest first. Are any of us still seriously hurt? Toska? Any of you elven warriors? I know that I can re-summon my owl familiar Thumbtack and regain a bit of my magic given an hour. We need to be ready for another fight - Toska mentioned Spriggans attacking her. But Meresaa's warning about the portal's potential instability is also well taken. We cannot wait long."
Recognizing that the tree knight and tree warriors cannot respond directly, she asks them to use the same chest-tapping protocol for their responses, yes, no or don't know. For whether they are hurt and need to rest, and whether they are amenable to an hour's rest before making for the portal.
"After that, I personally do not intend to stop. Others need to return to their homes if they wish, I believe we need to rescue Asha Hawkes and close the portal for good. But I do not know how to accomplish any of that, or whether the rest of you would even join me in the latter two. So first things first."
In response to Faila's comment, the Sagacitas relays a statement very matter-of-factly to everyone's minds -This one is whole, before it was not. Its form shimmers and shrinks to the size it was before the Sedgewick fight. Portal is close, this one can lead? This time the statement comes as more of a question, the creature appears unsure as to how the party wishes to proceed.
Toska, unfazed by the injuries sustained in the fight, appears unsteady on her feet. "Think tha' Boyd 'ad the righ' of it. Needa bit of-a rest," she says, wearily. "Was tha' Sedgewick the last of 'em?" Toska's head snaps up and glares at the Tree Knight nearest the door to the south. Its branch arms gestured wildly, indicating someone or something is on the other side of the door. Instantly, the Tree Knight Captain commands, through a series of gestures, the other Tree Knights to take up defensive positions.
With the residues and thrill of her bladesong still shaping her steps and movement, Nikita nods a little too quickly and eagerly at the prospect of a rest.
"Don't know if Sedgwick was the last. Seems too easy." she answers Toska. "You mentioned Spriggans-"
She cuts off at the Tree Knights' alert of a further intruder and takes defensive cover, sheathing her rapier, ready draw either it or her longbow.
Ermasnietsz uses the ribbon attached to her top-hat to create a bow around her wand while blowing whistle to mimic the chirping noise of a clockwork bird. The wand temporarily transforms into a clock with rotating hands. She picks up the hands of the magical clock after removing the dial and breaks the minute hand into two equal pieces, handing one piece to Toska. Rest of the hands will be offered to her allies as tokens of compliment.
The rest of Boyd's wounds snap shut within moments of Meresaa grabbing his hand. "Urf... That tingles."He holds up his arm in partial disbelief, and then checks his ribcage. "Well I'll be... You didn't give my soul away or anything, did you?"He says half-jokingly, and then gets serious as he confirms that the magic hadn't tainted him in any way, "Right...?"
"Anyroads, I think I'm alright to go on now, if the rest of you are." His eyes rest on Toska, who still looks worse for the wear. "We going to follow this, uh, little guy, or -" He's cut off by the sound of the wood elves preparing for battle. Boyd grabs a piece of minute hand from Ermanietsz, thanking her, and then warily heads into the building again.
The Tree Knight Captain waits as everyone gets into position before gesturing at the Knight closest to the door. Following its commander's orders, small viny appendages come from its wooden arms and wrap around the door's handle. No sooner than its vines were wrapped around the handle, the Knight aggressively pulled the door open. A loud crash and splitting of wood can be heard and a mass with what looks like red hair tumbles through the door.
Acting instantly, the Knight pounces on its target holding the figure in place. It's a half-elven woman, her red hair tangled and matted, minor cuts (as if she had got into a fight with a thorn bush) cover her face and limbs, and a wicked-looking wound is visible on her left shoulder. Wearing tight-fitting leather armour and a green scarf that would otherwise have obscured the bottom half of her face. She scowls at the Tree Knight.
"Take yer stinkin' hands off me, you damned dirty..." the woman winces as the Knight applies pressure to his grip, squeezing her wounded shoulder. It is clear that she was eavesdropping at the door to the observatory. The Knight picks her up, her long ginger braids extending down to her backside. "I ain't gonna cause you no trouble now, y'unnerstan'?" she surveys the scene, her face remains unchanged.
"So, which one of y' is in charge?"she asks. The cutlass hanging from her hip is bloody and broken halfway down the blade. "Don' suppose y' could call your... tree? Offa me."
"My heavens, of course!" Meresaa exclaims and she strides forward.
She shoots a look to the Captain and clears her throat as she briefly dusts off the newcomer and attempts to gently extricate her from the tree knight's grasp (not forcing it if they don't let go).
"This is no way to treat someone clearly not threatening us and she's obviously had quite an experience getting here."
Regarding the half-elf to ensure she's otherwise whole, Meresaa says, "So. There's always time for courtesy and civility but we are a bit pressed at the moment so please tell us who you are and why you're here. And do keep in mind that some here are more prone to violence, as you've seen, so I sincerely hope your answers are sufficient to stave them off."
Nikita is not as quick to trust as Meresaa, having just faced off against a lackey of Iuz.
Taking care not to appear as if she is giving orders or usurping the Tree Knight Captain's authority, she speaks to them in Elvish, knowing that the half-elf likely understands: "We do not know if she is friend or foe. My suggestion is to hold her for the moment, but do not hurt her unless she provides cause."
Turning to the newcomer, she asks simply (in Common): "Rosie Molloy? Once protege of Thomas Dolan, betraying him for Theodore Sedgwick?"
She wipes Sedgwick's ichor off her rapier, her expression flat. "Start talking. Now. Do you serve Iuz as he did?"
Meresaa doesn't break her gaze with the newcomer. One hairless eyebrow barely perks up and the faintest hint of a smirk pulls back one corner of her mouth as if to say "See?"
Faila hangs back at first, staring in awe at the Tree Knight captain and his vigilance. She says nothing to the redheaded intruder---not even looking at her, head cast down uncertainly---but helps Meresaa to dust her off.
"My heavens, of course!"Meresaa exclaims and she strides forward.
She shoots a look to the Captain and clears her throat as she briefly dusts off the newcomer and attempts to gently extricate her from the tree knight's grasp (not forcing it if they don't let go).
"This is no way to treat someone clearly not threatening us and she's obviously had quite an experience getting here."
The Tree Knight drops its grip on the woman at the behest of Meresaa. "Thanks, Blue," she says with a wink. "Look, s'as I says, I ain't daft enough t' try anythin'... no' afta I saw y'kill, 'im." She leaves it abundantly clear that the him she refers to is the creature that was once Sedgewick. "Y' 'ave the right of it, Blue. No sooner than I se' foot in this damned place then me an' my crew were attacked. Blas'ed beasts cu' down Dreikin an' Gukesh afore they even knew what 'it 'em."
She pulls a hipflask from her jerkin and drinks deeply.
Regarding the half-elf to ensure she's otherwise whole, Meresaa says,"So. There's always time for courtesy and civility but we are a bit pressed at the moment so please tell us who you are and why you're here. And do keep in mind that some here are more prone to violence, as you've seen, so I sincerely hope your answers are sufficient to stave them off."
"Prone t' violence, eh? Ain't be they're lookin' for a crew?"she casts her eye around those gathered before her. "Jus' so happens I los' mos' o' mine. Could always be usin' some prone t' violence sorts aboard th' Finger."
"Wha' 'bout tha' one over there," she gestures towards Boyd. "Ain't sure I'd be in a mood t' stave 'im off." She lets out a soft chuckle.
Taking care not to appear as if she is giving orders or usurping the Tree Knight Captain's authority, she speaks to them in Elvish, knowing that the half-elf likely understands: "We do not know if she is friend or foe. My suggestion is to hold her for the moment, but do not hurt her unless she provides cause."
The woman proceeds to turn in Nikita's direction. The Tree Knight is fast acting as it quickly, at Nikita's commands, grabs the woman once more. She grits her teeth as pressure is applied to her wound. "Good t' take precautions, I s'pose,"she growls at Nikita.
Turning to the newcomer, she asks simply (in Common): "Rosie Molloy? Once protege of Thomas Dolan, betraying him for Theodore Sedgwick?"
The woman looks wide-eyed at Nikita, a confused look on her face and then bursts out into laughter. "A swin' an a miss,"she says between breaths. "Does I loo' like a stuck-up ***** t' ya?"she asks before quickly adding, "don't answer tha'."
"Lexi. Lexi Rosetta," she says by way of introduction. "Cap'n of th' Finger. Th' Flayed Finger tha' is. Name used t' carry weigh' once." She stares at Nikita silently for a few seconds. "I ain't betrayed no one, 'cause th' only people I care 'bout is me an' mine. I'm afraid you've jus' killed my employer. Can't say I'm mighty bothered 'bout it... well, 'cept t' say tha' I am now outta pocket." Once more she stares, deadpan, at Nikita.
She wipes Sedgwick's ichor off her rapier, her expression flat. "Start talking. Now. Do you serve Iuz as he did?"
Once more a look of confusion crosses Lexi's face. "Ain't got nowt t' do with tha' wha' y' mention," for once fear seems to grip at her. She hisses, "Iuz. Wan' nothin' t' do wit' all tha'. Y'unnerstan'?"
Faila hangs back at first, staring in awe at the Tree Knight captain and his vigilance. She says nothing to the redheaded intruder---not even looking at her, head cast down uncertainly---but helps Meresaa to dust her off.
Lexi takes note of Faila not wanting to make eye contact. Looking around at each party member in turn, she speaks up, "Ways I saw it, you're the only 'ope I've go' of gettin' outta this place. Ain't much of a threa' t' ya an' ain't able to travel back t' town with... well, those odd, violent, sorts about ou'side. Ne'er know, perhaps a deal migh' be made, should y' return me to tha' Finger."
She pauses and glares at Nikita. "Y'want Molloy? I can give y' Molloy."
"Wha' 'bout tha' one over there," she gestures towards Boyd. "Ain't sure I'd be in a mood t' stave 'im off." She lets out a soft chuckle.
Boyd blushes and turns his head. She was as bold as any in Monmouth!
Boyd leans to Ermanietsz and Faila, who are standing near him, and says, "Can't trust these types as far as you can throw 'em. They're always looking for a chance to stab you in the back. Slavers - the whole lot of 'em around these parts."
Nikita does not break her gaze with Rosetta. The scar down her cheek stands out like a dark sliver in the sun's setting rays.
In Elvish, she explains to the Tree Knights, knowing Rosetta understands as well: "Hold her fast. She is of our world. A criminal."
Back in Common: "Swing and a miss yourself, Rosetta. If Sedgwick was your employer, you do serve Iuz. Perhaps you just did not know it yet. So. Just a patsy after all? Do you enjoy being used?" Nikita walks up to Rosetta and calmly takes away the red-haired half-elf's cutlass.
Both the weapon and the woman need to be handed over to O'Toole when we get back, Nikita thinks grimly.
"We can get to Molloy soon. But why rush when you are right here. Captain without a crew." Nikita lingers on the phrase a moment. "Are you of the Sanguine Cabal? The Scarlet Brotherhood? Who else is? Who else helped you kidnap the children Esther Freyn and Billy from the Carnival? What of the 'singing doll' you used? What do you know of the portal and its defenses? And yes, what do you know of Molloy?"
Nikita pauses, adding as an afterthought. "I don't think I even need to ask if you are a pirate. Hopefully a talkative pirate?"
Insight on Rosetta's reactions to each question and assertion: 24
Nikita's mind runs on two tracks, intense and nearly manic.
To the now massive Sagacitas, she thinks firmly:
No. We are friends but not one with you. We are different than you - when we become one with you, we die. When your children feed on us, we die. Do not kill us. I am happy that you are whole, and we can help you - have in fact helped you, but we are not one with you.
The rest of Nikita's consciousness is consumed with loathing for Sedgwick and Iuz. The aberration in the service of the demonic cambion lord. Her teeth her set and eyes flashing... the deep scar that runs down her cheek stands out sharply as if rending her face in two.
"Your fate awaits you, Sedgwick. Can you feel her breath? She is very close."
She lashes out, striking Sedgwick with her rapier and the Booming Blade cantrip, encasing him in booming, thunderous energy.
To hit: 21
Damage: 12 (max)
Extra damage from Booming Blade if Sedgwick moves voluntarily before Nikita's next turn: 1d8 thunder damage.
WIS Save: 13 (with her brain on overdrive, Nikita is barely able to resist Sedgwick's mad gibbering as she moves through her bladesong).
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Sedgewick Scrap! - Round #4 - Nikita's Turn
Nikita's Turn
Delivered with deadly accuracy, Nikita's rapier pierces Sedgewick's bloated body near where she believes his putrid heart would be. A look of confusion passes Theodore's face as he looks down at her and clutches as his chest.
The mouths adorning his body cease their gibbering and are still. "But..." Sedgewick starts to say something but stops, no more words are forthcoming. With a crash, the aberration falls to the floor, pus and blood leaving its body in equal amounts. The stench is gut-wrenching as Sedgewick expires; he remains as toxic in death as he was in life.
"Justice," Asha's voice is clear enough that it sounds as though she is also in the room.
Out of Initiative!
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Evening - Day 3 - Prospect's Observatory
The Tree Knight Captain steps forth and plants its longsword in Sedgewick's body, keen to confirm the aberration is dead. Removing the sword, the Captain wipes it on the carpet before sheathing it. The other Tree Knights follow their captain's lead before taking up defensive positions around the room, steeling against any other potential threats.
Feelings of joy and freedom abound, as the Sagactias creature plods over to Sedgewick's body. This one is grateful, the adult Sagacitas projects into your minds. This one understands; this one is one, you are other ones. It is clear that the creature is struggling to accurately convey its thoughts. Evil one was other one... but different? That one caused this one much pain, destroyed many, deserved to end.
Following its declaration, the Sagacitas creature plunges its tentacle appendages into Sedgewick's body. The other-worldly creature further increases in size, its frame breaking through the wooden ceiling to the floor above. It crashes through the north wall and stands outside, its mighty form silhouetted by the setting sun.
This one does not belong here. This world is wrong, evil. Many other ones come like evil one. This one must return. The Sagacitas' eyes survey Prospects grounds. Feelings of nervousness and uncertainty wash over the party.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Boyd nearly trips over himself getting out of the way of the massive aberration. "Cor! what have we done... Yes, yes you oughta go home." Boyd points to the crypt where he's pretty sure the portal exists. "Errr... can you still fit inside? I think it's in that building there."
He looks at the wood elves and ponders their next move, but doesn't say anything about them. The older man suddenly looks very haggard. He still clutches his side, despite the sudden burst of healing from Faila. "Those pirates ain't still poking around, you think?" I think I need to rest a bit, and I'm not sure I can make it back to the carnival like this."
Meresaa shakes her head as if to clear it after a bad dream. She looks at her hands and feet, now moving as they should, and then to Sedgewick and the rest.
"That was an unexpected experience in many regards," she says offhandedly. "I now have a much greater appreciation for what some of you were going through than I had in the moment. That was awful."
Seeing the knights confirming the kill, the tall woman's addresses the octophant in the room.
"Nikita, I'm not sure how you've been communicating with this incredible creature, but can you convey to it that it should accompany us to the portal to return home? With Theodore seemingly dead, we still have little time to deal with the instability of this rift. There's no telling what further damage it could do...or may have already done."
She strides over to Boyd and takes his hand. "We can certainly take our chances and rest here once more but I'm worried about the time we've already taken. Do you think you're well enough to press on?"
As she speaks, warmth radiates up Boyd's arm and through his body, further healing his wound as she casts cure wounds to heal him for 10hp.
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age
Faila, standing outside the observatory, keeps standing there as Sedgewick's dying scream reverberates and he goes still... as the tree knights plunge swords into his putrid still flesh... and the Sagacitas absorbs him, becoming a monstrosity that looks, to Faila, much similar to the one they just killed. Finally, looking around, she spots Boyd with Meresaa, and picks her way over the wreckage to join the two of them, shaken.
She takes Boyd's other hand, watching in amazement as Meresaa's healing spell knits his wounds. Then she looks outside towards the hulking, tentacled creature. "How do we get rid of it? Can it go through the portal?" she almost whispers.
Meresaa smiles down to Faila. "In my experience, these fissures can be quite malleable. Less like a crack in a wall and more like an inter-planar sphincter, as unpleasant an analogy as that may be." She shutters slightly. "I wouldn't worry about fitting them through it. I'm more concerned with fitting them through a structure to get to it, as Mr. Nilsson said. But let's demolish that bridge when we get to it, yes?"
Grinning at what passes (in her mind) as wordplay, she continues on to the others to ensure everyone is whole and well.
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age
Nikita shudders, waiting for the feeling of blind rage and loathing at Sedgwick to subside. I will never be free of Iuz. Not if I live a thousand years.
To Meresaa she observes: "My lady. I am conversing with the Sagacitas by thinking at it, as its mode of communication is telepathic. I had thought any of us could do it. Can you not? That being said, I share your sentiment on returning Feywild natives who wish it back to the Feywild."
In Common (and in telepathic thought to the Sagacitas), and then in Elvish for the elven tree warriors, she repeats in turn, addressing everyone:
"We have at least one more job to do. The Sagacitas and our elven warrior allies must return to the feywild where they belong. They seem to wish to return as well. Do we all agree on that? If so, the question is whether to take an hour's rest first. Are any of us still seriously hurt? Toska? Any of you elven warriors? I know that I can re-summon my owl familiar Thumbtack and regain a bit of my magic given an hour. We need to be ready for another fight - Toska mentioned Spriggans attacking her. But Meresaa's warning about the portal's potential instability is also well taken. We cannot wait long."
Recognizing that the tree knight and tree warriors cannot respond directly, she asks them to use the same chest-tapping protocol for their responses, yes, no or don't know. For whether they are hurt and need to rest, and whether they are amenable to an hour's rest before making for the portal.
"After that, I personally do not intend to stop. Others need to return to their homes if they wish, I believe we need to rescue Asha Hawkes and close the portal for good. But I do not know how to accomplish any of that, or whether the rest of you would even join me in the latter two. So first things first."
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
In response to Faila's comment, the Sagacitas relays a statement very matter-of-factly to everyone's minds - This one is whole, before it was not. Its form shimmers and shrinks to the size it was before the Sedgewick fight. Portal is close, this one can lead? This time the statement comes as more of a question, the creature appears unsure as to how the party wishes to proceed.
Toska, unfazed by the injuries sustained in the fight, appears unsteady on her feet. "Think tha' Boyd 'ad the righ' of it. Needa bit of-a rest," she says, wearily. "Was tha' Sedgewick the last of 'em?" Toska's head snaps up and glares at the Tree Knight nearest the door to the south. Its branch arms gestured wildly, indicating someone or something is on the other side of the door. Instantly, the Tree Knight Captain commands, through a series of gestures, the other Tree Knights to take up defensive positions.
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
With the residues and thrill of her bladesong still shaping her steps and movement, Nikita nods a little too quickly and eagerly at the prospect of a rest.
"Don't know if Sedgwick was the last. Seems too easy." she answers Toska. "You mentioned Spriggans-"
She cuts off at the Tree Knights' alert of a further intruder and takes defensive cover, sheathing her rapier, ready draw either it or her longbow.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Ermasnietsz (The Timekeeper)
Ermasnietsz uses the ribbon attached to her top-hat to create a bow around her wand while blowing whistle to mimic the chirping noise of a clockwork bird. The wand temporarily transforms into a clock with rotating hands. She picks up the hands of the magical clock after removing the dial and breaks the minute hand into two equal pieces, handing one piece to Toska. Rest of the hands will be offered to her allies as tokens of compliment.
InkedBee (Undead_Analyst)
Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts - Jenviel Tsumara: Fallen Aasimar- Monk|Crimson Sands of Time - Navarra Iltazyara: Human- Druid/Warlock| Bleak Prospect - Ermasnietsz: Reborn- Clockwork Soul Sorcerer
The rest of Boyd's wounds snap shut within moments of Meresaa grabbing his hand. "Urf... That tingles." He holds up his arm in partial disbelief, and then checks his ribcage. "Well I'll be... You didn't give my soul away or anything, did you?" He says half-jokingly, and then gets serious as he confirms that the magic hadn't tainted him in any way, "Right...?"
"Anyroads, I think I'm alright to go on now, if the rest of you are." His eyes rest on Toska, who still looks worse for the wear. "We going to follow this, uh, little guy, or -" He's cut off by the sound of the wood elves preparing for battle. Boyd grabs a piece of minute hand from Ermanietsz, thanking her, and then warily heads into the building again.
Evening - Day 3 - Prospect's Observatory
The Tree Knight Captain waits as everyone gets into position before gesturing at the Knight closest to the door. Following its commander's orders, small viny appendages come from its wooden arms and wrap around the door's handle. No sooner than its vines were wrapped around the handle, the Knight aggressively pulled the door open. A loud crash and splitting of wood can be heard and a mass with what looks like red hair tumbles through the door.
Acting instantly, the Knight pounces on its target holding the figure in place. It's a half-elven woman, her red hair tangled and matted, minor cuts (as if she had got into a fight with a thorn bush) cover her face and limbs, and a wicked-looking wound is visible on her left shoulder. Wearing tight-fitting leather armour and a green scarf that would otherwise have obscured the bottom half of her face. She scowls at the Tree Knight.
"Take yer stinkin' hands off me, you damned dirty..." the woman winces as the Knight applies pressure to his grip, squeezing her wounded shoulder. It is clear that she was eavesdropping at the door to the observatory. The Knight picks her up, her long ginger braids extending down to her backside. "I ain't gonna cause you no trouble now, y'unnerstan'?" she surveys the scene, her face remains unchanged.
"So, which one of y' is in charge?" she asks. The cutlass hanging from her hip is bloody and broken halfway down the blade. "Don' suppose y' could call your... tree? Offa me."
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
"My heavens, of course!" Meresaa exclaims and she strides forward.
She shoots a look to the Captain and clears her throat as she briefly dusts off the newcomer and attempts to gently extricate her from the tree knight's grasp (not forcing it if they don't let go).
"This is no way to treat someone clearly not threatening us and she's obviously had quite an experience getting here."
Regarding the half-elf to ensure she's otherwise whole, Meresaa says, "So. There's always time for courtesy and civility but we are a bit pressed at the moment so please tell us who you are and why you're here. And do keep in mind that some here are more prone to violence, as you've seen, so I sincerely hope your answers are sufficient to stave them off."
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age
Nikita is not as quick to trust as Meresaa, having just faced off against a lackey of Iuz.
Taking care not to appear as if she is giving orders or usurping the Tree Knight Captain's authority, she speaks to them in Elvish, knowing that the half-elf likely understands: "We do not know if she is friend or foe. My suggestion is to hold her for the moment, but do not hurt her unless she provides cause."
Turning to the newcomer, she asks simply (in Common): "Rosie Molloy? Once protege of Thomas Dolan, betraying him for Theodore Sedgwick?"
She wipes Sedgwick's ichor off her rapier, her expression flat. "Start talking. Now. Do you serve Iuz as he did?"
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Meresaa doesn't break her gaze with the newcomer. One hairless eyebrow barely perks up and the faintest hint of a smirk pulls back one corner of her mouth as if to say "See?"
Characters currently being ruined on this forum:
Neria Tallfellow (Halfling Rogue) - Curse of the Crimson Throne with Ashen_Age
Faila hangs back at first, staring in awe at the Tree Knight captain and his vigilance. She says nothing to the redheaded intruder---not even looking at her, head cast down uncertainly---but helps Meresaa to dust her off.
Evening - Day 3 - Aftermath
The Tree Knight drops its grip on the woman at the behest of Meresaa. "Thanks, Blue," she says with a wink. "Look, s'as I says, I ain't daft enough t' try anythin'... no' afta I saw y'kill, 'im." She leaves it abundantly clear that the him she refers to is the creature that was once Sedgewick. "Y' 'ave the right of it, Blue. No sooner than I se' foot in this damned place then me an' my crew were attacked. Blas'ed beasts cu' down Dreikin an' Gukesh afore they even knew what 'it 'em."
She pulls a hipflask from her jerkin and drinks deeply.
"Prone t' violence, eh? Ain't be they're lookin' for a crew?" she casts her eye around those gathered before her. "Jus' so happens I los' mos' o' mine. Could always be usin' some prone t' violence sorts aboard th' Finger."
"Wha' 'bout tha' one over there," she gestures towards Boyd. "Ain't sure I'd be in a mood t' stave 'im off." She lets out a soft chuckle.
The woman proceeds to turn in Nikita's direction. The Tree Knight is fast acting as it quickly, at Nikita's commands, grabs the woman once more. She grits her teeth as pressure is applied to her wound. "Good t' take precautions, I s'pose," she growls at Nikita.
The woman looks wide-eyed at Nikita, a confused look on her face and then bursts out into laughter. "A swin' an a miss," she says between breaths. "Does I loo' like a stuck-up ***** t' ya?" she asks before quickly adding, "don't answer tha'."
"Lexi. Lexi Rosetta," she says by way of introduction. "Cap'n of th' Finger. Th' Flayed Finger tha' is. Name used t' carry weigh' once." She stares at Nikita silently for a few seconds. "I ain't betrayed no one, 'cause th' only people I care 'bout is me an' mine. I'm afraid you've jus' killed my employer. Can't say I'm mighty bothered 'bout it... well, 'cept t' say tha' I am now outta pocket." Once more she stares, deadpan, at Nikita.
Once more a look of confusion crosses Lexi's face. "Ain't got nowt t' do with tha' wha' y' mention," for once fear seems to grip at her. She hisses, "Iuz. Wan' nothin' t' do wit' all tha'. Y'unnerstan'?"
Lexi takes note of Faila not wanting to make eye contact. Looking around at each party member in turn, she speaks up, "Ways I saw it, you're the only 'ope I've go' of gettin' outta this place. Ain't much of a threa' t' ya an' ain't able to travel back t' town with... well, those odd, violent, sorts about ou'side. Ne'er know, perhaps a deal migh' be made, should y' return me to tha' Finger."
She pauses and glares at Nikita. "Y'want Molloy? I can give y' Molloy."
DM - The Call of Strahd (CoS); Feyrealm Campaign, Chapter 0 - Bleak Prospect (BP), Chapter 1 - Destination Unknown (DU)
Boyd blushes and turns his head. She was as bold as any in Monmouth!
Boyd leans to Ermanietsz and Faila, who are standing near him, and says, "Can't trust these types as far as you can throw 'em. They're always looking for a chance to stab you in the back. Slavers - the whole lot of 'em around these parts."
Nikita does not break her gaze with Rosetta. The scar down her cheek stands out like a dark sliver in the sun's setting rays.
In Elvish, she explains to the Tree Knights, knowing Rosetta understands as well: "Hold her fast. She is of our world. A criminal."
Back in Common: "Swing and a miss yourself, Rosetta. If Sedgwick was your employer, you do serve Iuz. Perhaps you just did not know it yet. So. Just a patsy after all? Do you enjoy being used?" Nikita walks up to Rosetta and calmly takes away the red-haired half-elf's cutlass.
Both the weapon and the woman need to be handed over to O'Toole when we get back, Nikita thinks grimly.
"We can get to Molloy soon. But why rush when you are right here. Captain without a crew." Nikita lingers on the phrase a moment. "Are you of the Sanguine Cabal? The Scarlet Brotherhood? Who else is? Who else helped you kidnap the children Esther Freyn and Billy from the Carnival? What of the 'singing doll' you used? What do you know of the portal and its defenses? And yes, what do you know of Molloy?"
Nikita pauses, adding as an afterthought. "I don't think I even need to ask if you are a pirate. Hopefully a talkative pirate?"
Insight on Rosetta's reactions to each question and assertion: 24
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk