Zorg's Lost Souls III

Rowan's smile broadens when the unicorn comes across the water. He returns the bow without really registering the issue of whether or not his name has been spoken. Though for a moment he does teeter on the edge of spiraling down a hole wondering if he knows his own name or not. He was pretty sure he'd introduced himself to the others but did he just say Hi I'm me. Or did he use a name

"Killing probably makes us a bit like her," Rowan muses, "But getting rid of here might help these woods and this land become bright again. Maybe she could go work in the other carnival. Make he work for others for awhile."

Barria grins widely as the unicorn joins their little group.  A REAL UNICORN.  How was this possible?  She has to consciously keep the giggling, freaking out little girl dwarf inside of her so she doesn't startle the poor creature.  She curtsies after being addressed, and let's the others talk to her first.  

"May I ask, what may we call you?  And I must say that I am curious, why do you call me, Bearer of the Sacred?  What a peculiar name!  As for what we ask of you?  Why, your wisdom and companionship would be most welcome!  Yes, some of us are looking for items, but as we have wandered these fae lands, I think we are attempting to help bring them back to their former glory, however it is done."  

The unicorn stands still, her horned head patiently turning to each speaker as they say their part. Her ears even seem to twitch as Mulligan speaks to the others over their private mental link. She listens attentively, but her deep green eyes seem to take in much more than what is contained in the words.

Finally, after Barria has spoken, the unicorn replies. This time the voice does not come through the mind, but is spoken in the Common tongue, and heard by all. Her tone is strong and regal, but also sad. And as she speaks, the surface of the lake behind her stir... shapes begin to form as water rises and curls... and soon a full-sized effigy of a male unicorn has formed, and canters over to stand beside her. It is greater in stature, broader in form... yet no more magnificent.

I am called Lamorna. Long have I and my mate watched over the land of Prismeer, the land ruled by the Fey Queen known as Zybilna. From the Palace of Heart's Desire she reigned - deceitful and vainglorious at times, as many fey are - but her magic kept Prismeer safe and isolated.

All changed when her three advisors, the sisters known as the Hourglass Coven, captured my beloved Elidon. They stole his horn and used its magic to imprison Zybilna within her own stronghold.

Of what has transpired since, I know but little... yet I sense that their designs have not entirely unfolded as they intended. For though the Coven bend the Rule of Three to their will, their sovereignty is stolen - born of broken trust. Such things do not go unanswered. The Rule does not break... it bends the world until balance is restored.

The water effigy of Elidon turns and trots back to the lake, and then disassociates... the water returning to the lake.

And so I watch for the signs. Others have been sent to find me, with ill intent... which tells me Elidon's horn is no longer in their keeping.

Lamorna then turns to face Barria directly, and continues:

And now you come, Bearer of the Sacred. Your heart is pure, and your intentions noble, like those of some of your companions. (There is the briefest side-eye at Greginald.) I sense the presence of that which you carry... such is the nature of our magic, for our hearts are bound, mine and Elidon's. I trust you to bear it now, for I sense you will soon be faced with a choice concerning it.

==========================================
Greginald

Barria's mouth drops open when the other unicorn appears.  She watches and listens intently as Lamorna tells her story.  She nods vehemently when the unicorn talks directly to her.  "I will protect with everything I am.  Do you want it back?  I will gladly give it to you if you do.  But... a choice?  What do you mean?"

She waits with baited breath, all of this almost too much for her to handle.  She is basically bursting with excitement, and is ready to swear her life over to these incredible creatures.

Greg looks down frustrated and slightly shamed as the unicorn side eyes him, he tries to organise his thoughts into a message to respond, 

 But even as his words formulate in his private message, his mind races in the background wondering if he could ask for a strand of tail hair, and what great powers might come of a wand which had a core of the hair of such a powerful celestial. His thoughts also pass briefly over the horn, the information about it's use to lock away Zybilna, perhaps it could be used as the key to undo such an imprisonment.

Rowan listens as carefully as he can to everything that has been said and then nods.

"I've been told not to speak for everyone, so I won't do that, but I will try to free Elidon. Zybilna being captured has led to a lot of bad things," Rowan says "so seems like we should free her too. Is the Palace of Heart's Desire a real place? And is it the heart's desire for everyone or just one person? I mean I think most heart's desire blood to pump. But maybe some want to do other things instead."

He looks around the lake.

"I don't suppose the palace is nearby is it? Though maybe removing Granny Hag from power here would be a good first step anyway."

Lamorna nods solemnly, and says:

If your chosen course is to confront Skabatha Nightshade, then I will aid you how I may. It is perilous for me to leave the safety of this glade, but I can guide you to Will of the Feywild.

Then to Barria she adds:

Bearer of the Sacred... if you are willing, you may ride on my back.

The unicorn then looks off into the distance, in a direction that Greginald perceives is toward the 'center' of this entire realm... not just Thither, but all of Prismeer. With a wistful sigh, she says:

As for the Palace, I cannot go there even should I wish to. I am no fey, and only with a guide can one...

Without warning, Lamorna cuts off. A short, hooded figure has appeared suddenly, crouched astride the unicorn's back! ... one hand knotted in her silken mane, the other sawing a short, wicked dagger at the base of her horn!. A crude, wooden replica of a unicorn's horn is lashed to it's brow with a leather thong.

The unicorn screams... no gentle whinny, but a sharp, ringing cray that shatters the stillness of the lake. She rears up on her hind legs, but the grey-skinned creature grips on with gloved hands, its blade flashing as it continues its villainous work. Then in an instant, the unicorn is gone... vanishing entirely. The hooded creature hits the ground hard, tumbling in a tangle of limbs as the false horn slips free.

Curses! Didn't know they could do that. Shoulda gone fer the throat...

Greg is wholly surprised by the appearance of the grey being, teleportation? Or perhaps some Fae nonsense. He thinks to ask a question of the creature, but then, the unicorn Lamorna had just offered them aid... Talking to this creature would not help a bit. He forgoes words for action and remembering that there cannot be any open flame on this lakeside he chooses ice magic, casting forth before the creature can utter more complaints and hopefully reducing the creatures speed in the process. 

(Ray of Frost, 19 to hit, 9 cold damage and speed reduced by 10ft until the start of Greg's next turn on a hit)

OUCH!! Hey! Cut it out!

The creature picks himself up as frost begins to crystallise over his body. What is he? Too chunky for a goblin... Even a beardless dwarf could never look that ugly... With those rotting porcine tusks, he can only be a short-statured, grey-skinned orc.

I didn't even get the horn! The short orc displays his open hands to demonstrate, although one still holds the dagger.

     Mulligan rubs his fingertips together and summons a psychic blade to each hand immediately upon seeing the creature on the unicorn's back.  Once he realized it was going after it's horn he would throw the blades without a second thought.

Action: Psychic blade attack vs Horn Thief - 22 to hit for 8 psychic damage 
Bonus Action: Psychic Blade attack vs same target - 19 to hit for 7 psychic damage
     Sneak Attack?  I'm unsure if any of the others are within 5' of the thing when Mulligan can attack so no idea if he would get Sneak Attack damage or not. Sounds like Barria may have been as close to the unicorn as it'd allow and as it was offering he a ride... But *shrug* If Sneak Attack is available then add 13 more damage.  If not, then not.

     While Mulligan does have Group Chat up and will relay any mental chatter from one to the rest, he himself has nothing to say at the moment.  They're being attacked, the response seems obvious.  

The sudden attack and then the reaction from his companions spurs Rowan into action as he races forward (moving full 45’ if needed), drawing his sword as he does. His mind begins to cloud with emotion - that was a decent unicorn, you can’t just go around attacking them - not enough for rage to settle in, but enough that Rowan is reckless in his attacks.

Attack 1 - 15 to hit for 8 slashing

Attack 2 - 24 to hit for 4 slashing 

OUCH! Hey, I've got no beef with you guys! OUCH!

The little monster is struck with one psychic blade, and then another... although he seems to have been ready for one of them, and with uncanny skill avoids the worst of it. Rowan is up in his face now, and swinging wildly, landing two solid blows on the little orc.

 OUCH! What the...? We could split the reward, you know... OUCH! 

Finally, the now-heavily-bleeding creature scowls up at Rowan, and draws a small hip flask from his belt.

If Kelek didn't send you for the horn, then who did? he asks, before taking a swig and immediately vanishing from sight!

...

There isn't a sound from the creature's former location, and no sign of footprints on the grassy lake shore. However, Barria and Rowan do happen to spot some fresh blood striking the grass a short distance away...

-----------------------------------------------------------

((This is all out-of-initiative theater-of-the-mind stuff. I'll take it as Mulligan attacks, the unicorn vanishes, Greg attacks, Rowan attacks, then the assassin disappears. This order is also consistent with the type of engagement each character had with the unicorn at the time. Barria can jump in too, and I'll retcon it if applicable. I've credited the Sneak Attack because the unicorn counts as an enemy of the target, and it's said that Mulligan attacked while the unicorn was still present. The creature's Stealth check (12) was sufficient to exceed the passive Perception of Mulligan and Greginald, but not that of Barria and Rowan.))

     Mulligan's thumbs flickered across his fingertips, gathering his thoughts into a pair of psychic daggers but the foe was gone...

     Kelek? 

     The name leaks from his head out into the Group Chat.

     Reward?

Rowan charges after the dripping blood looking to grab the little gray goblin, taking no care to protect himself in the process.

"The hag said she wanted the unicorn," Rowan says to Mulligan. Then he adds "I saw this one in a puppet show back at the carnival. Same with Creepy Lynn. They're part of some group. League of Violence? No. Malevolence. That's it. League of Malevolence."

Grapple (assuming disadvantage from invisibility gets nullified by advantage from Reckless Attack) - Athletics - 16+10 = 26

Not having seen the blood spatter Greg simply watches Rowan's actions and calls out "if they're part of a group then try to take them alive! And don't get any blood in the lake!" As he prepared another attack 

Barria blushes as the unicorn offers her a ride on her back.  "Really?  That would be beyond anything I've ever could have dreamed!" she exclaims with her palms pressed together.

But then the ugly creature appears and at first Barria is stunned, but when Lamorna screams, it jolts the dwarf into action and she brings the sound of the bells.
(DC WIS save of 14 or 13 necrotic damage)

She chases after Rowan when she spots the blood as well, reaching her arms out attempting to touch anything she can't see.  Listening as hard as she can.
Perception: 6

     Mulligan has nothing useful to do at this point as he cannot see the invisible in any way and can only presume Rowan and Barria maybe can somehow since they seem to be moving in a similar direction?  So Mulligan strafes a bit to one side to try to keep a sightline on (something he can't see) their target and just readies a throw of a psionic knife in case they become visible again...

(WIS save vs Toll: 16. Acrobatics v Grapple: 26. Stealth to Hide: 21)
(Reckless Attack technically only applies to melee attack rolls. I'd credit Rowan with the advantage by virtue of Help, but in this case the little orc wins the contest anyway)

-----------------------------------

With Barria converging on the same spot, Rowan manages to crash himself right into the invisible form. He feels the figure hit the ground, but it deftly rolls backward and slips free of Rowan's grasp. The voice is heard again nearby, moving away from the lake.

Yeah, League of Malevolence, that's right! You want the horn for yourself then? Or are you a bunch of do-gooders?

The voice goes silent. There isn't a sound of footfalls, and not a glimpse of blood drips either. The creature can't have gotten far though...

-----------------------------------

(A Perception check of 21 or higher is required to locate the assassin, at least by normal senses.)

Greg's mind goes faster than he expects as he watches Rowan definitely hit resistance. Knowing that the creature is slowed by his own spell and the flattening of the grass around Greg calculates the movements of the creature, rising to his feet after and slowed he must still be quite close to Rowan and moving away from the group, fingers twitch, his arm raises and he fires off another icy blast.

(Ray of Frost, 13 to hit with disadvantage, 12 cold damage and reslowed 10ft if hit)

Greg's frozen beam flies outward from his fingertips, shooting off into the distance. But although the ray didn't strike anything, there is a muffled curse and a shuffle from a spot very close to the magic's trajectory....

------------------------------

(I won't detail the lengthy ruling considerations, but I allowed Greginald to use passive Investigation against the target's Stealth to 'guess' the target's location)
(Miss for Ray of Frost, but the target's location is now revealed to everyone. Still invisible, so still disadvantage on attack rolls, but you know where to strike)