Dragon of Icespire Peak ***CLOSED***

The escaping anchorite runs into a break in the pumpkin patches near the southeast side of the house and out of sight any party members.

Tabesha'l dusts off her robes, wrinkling her nose at the smell of melting flesh. She gives a small curtsy of thanks to Tink, before re-focusing her thoughts on her familiar:

" Creature ? What hath thou discovered ?"

"Ah, Mistress...I was so worried that you may have perished! How horrible that would be for me to have to return to the Abyss... concerning your query, this house is quite in desrepair, although it does not appear to be completely uninhabited. There is a long, L-shaped hall at the top of the front stair...some brave huntsman has mounted the head of a horrible insect - like the ones you fought yesterday - above the mantle of a fireplace here. There is a large hole in the roof above the eastern end of the hall, making it much easier for those with poor vision to see, however the other end of the hall around the corner is bathed in lovely darkness...which would explain why there appears to be a colony of some small, winged creatures clinging to the ceiling there...."

The quasit had a dastardly thought just then and let out a terrifying screech at the huddled mass...15 stirges erupted from the ceiling and began swirling around the room in panic as Arvi faded back into invisibility, laughing maniacally in his alien, demonic tone. A few of the creatures find the hole in the roof and fly out, followed shortly by the rest of the winged horde, which Tabesha'l could clearly see escaping from her position outside. They swirled around in several tight circles before suddenly diving at something on the south side of the house, out of her line of sight...

Connak continues to pursue the fleeing half orc, keeping it in his line of sight but remaining approximately 40 feet behind it.  (Movement + Cunning Action Dash as required).

He then shoots his longbow...

Longbow Attack: 8 Damage: 12

Connak then yells out (in common):  "You can't run from me!  If you stop and talk, I'll stop shooting!"

As Connak rounds the corner of the house and releases his arrow, he watches it strike the fleeing shapechanger an instant before a swarm of small flying shadows slams down from above, knocking it off it's feet. The half-orc howled as the parasitic, bat-like stirges covered it's body, latched on with needle-like teeth and quickly began syphoning off it's life-blood...

(END OF COMBAT)

Seeing the stirges, Connak wants no part of that and quickly runs back to the party before they notice him.

Catching her breath, Tink draws closer to her companions, "That was quite an experience wasn't it? I have never seen shape shifting boars before. Does anyone need some patching up?"

Vaxis picks off a few scales, deadened from the lightning bolt that struck him earlier. Blood seeps through cauterized wounds, oozing out in trickles from his exposed skin. He raises his holy symbol to the sky, offering a short prayer to Bahamut for seeing him through this trial.

"I am fine for the moment, friend Tink. Let us now see what our friend Tabesha'l has discovered about this manse."

He limps his way towards Tabesha'l.

Tink is skeptical about Vaxis condition and hurries after him. Keeping pace she asks, "Are you sure Vaxis? Your leg doesn't seem to be performing at optimal levels there. I can give you some additional medical assistance."

Tabesha'l snaps back from her transe-like state just in time to hear Vaxis and Tink's exchange. She addresses the dragonborn:

" T'would seem my 'horrible demon' hath found an upper floor to yon manse, which is decorated with grim markings and boar heads. Arvi also was the cause for the release of yon blood-sucking stirges. Whoever or whatever else is hiding behind yon walls hath no intention of being spotted, perhaps ? That should come as no surprise to thee, friend Vaxis, as thou seemeth to be intent on announcing our presence to every fiend within a mile-wide radius. Now, I daresay that was not what I would have expected as far as a working strategy for our group, but since we are all here and - somewhat - still standing, we may as well proceed forth."

She raises an eyebrow towards the rest of the group: " I wouldst suggest next time one of us does something as rash as what we just witnessed from our valiant cleric, we do make an effort to concert with the rest beforehand. Now that this is settled... How shall we enter said-manse, praytell ?"

As she waits for the group's answer, it becomes visible that the elf is also bruised and scorched by the fight and in somewhat of a foul mood, although she maintains her usual veneer of aloof politeness.

Minsys goes and picks up his thrown axe before returning to the others.  "Good battle," he says and then nudges one of the dead creatures with the malformed body growth.  "Not good meat though."  He give a small chuckle and then quickly moves his hand to his side where he's bleeding from a puncture wound. 

Looking at Tink, he says, "Perhaps I can use a few more scales. Thank you, friend Tink."

Looking to Tabesha'l, he says, "They are murdering innocents. I could not stand idly by as this happens. Hopefully that will be the end of this. We shall stamp out this corruption, no matter how many miles they are having. As for how to get in...perhaps we should enter as most people do...through the front door."

The party regroups to mend their wounds and decide on their next actions. After some discussion, they collect near the ornate door to the large manse, which is cocked open just a few inches. Approaching slowly, one can look inside to find the interior hall quiet and empty.

Connak takes position about 20 feet back with line of sight to be able to shoot through the door into the house once that door is opened.

" Creature, 'tis time for thee to stop taunting yon stirges and keep thy eyes and ears open." Tabesha'l uses her telepathic link with Arvi one last time to make sure the coast is clear, before coming back to herself.

" I daresay we might use magic to levitate to yon roof, since there seems to be a hole through it. Maybe an unexpected entrance would prove to our advantage ? Anyone amongst thee all willing to test such a procedure ?" the elf asks the group matter-of-factly, as she secures her hold on her arcane staff and readjusts her very tall pointy hat.

"Ok. Just hold steady for a moment if you please," Tink says to Vaxis as she pulls out a vial filled with red liquid and inserts it into a slot on the bracer she wears on her left hand. Then extending her left hand the liquid in the vial would be ejected through a nozzle in the bracer in a fine reddish mist covering the dragonborn, rapidly regenerating some of his scales.

Cure Wounds on Vaxis: 4

She then calls Whisker to her side as they prepare to enter the manse. Hearing Tabesha'l's question, Tink would answer enthusiastically, "I would very much like to experience that. The mysteries of vertical lift has still escaped me thus far, perhaps experiencing it for myself will allow me to have an epiphany of sorts. Maybe I'll even be able to build an upgrade module one day for you Whisker! Wouldn't you like that? Oh I'd like to see the faces on those old fogies' faces when I do that!"

Upon hearing this Whisker hisses and slinks away from Tink's side to hide behind Connak.

Standing before the large front entrance to the manse, the party sees a double door with a giant boar’s head crudely carved into it. Wide, short stone steps ascend from the lawn up to the portico which has a stone balcony overhanging it at a height of ten feet. Vines wrap around the balcony’s support pillars and its crumbling stone railing. An unmarred double door stands closed on the balcony. From their current vantage point, they cannot see the large hole in the roof, however Tabesha'l surmises that it lies directly to the east on the opposite side of the house.

Connak and Minsys size up and keep watch over the front entrance and Vaxis rubs his new scales into place while Tabesha'l explains the arcane origins of her levitate spell to Tink (who made the mistake of showing the slightest interest in learning more about the noble wizard's spell) to include its original incantor, the stern elven teacher who taught it to her, the type of paper and she used to transcribe the spell into her spellbook and other banal minutia...

A few moments later, a the screeching of rusty hinges can be heard coming from the balcony above, followed shortly by the screeching, alien voice calling out to them from above: "Oh Mistress, doth any arcane detail exist that thou do not already knoweth and wish to thrust upon these your lowly squires? Do they even understand or do they just enjoy basking in the glow of your knowledge?" queries Arvi mockingly.

Looking up, the party sees no one, but a few telltale bits of dust and grime fall from the railing where the invisible demon is perched.

"We need in there right?" Minsys asks.  Then he makes a knocking gesture with one hand and holds up the maul in the other.  "Soft knock or hard knock?"  He smiles as he says hard knock.

A slow smile creeps on Tabesha'l's perfectly painted lips as she turns towards Tink.

" Well, if thou art so intent on experimenting with the Arcane, I shall be more than happy to oblige. What doeth thee say if thou and meself do adjourn up to yon balcony, then ? It would seem my familiar, however uncouth and taunting he may be, has opened the way for us there..."

She looks at W.H.I.S.K.E.R.S. and frowns. " Of course, there is the small matter of having more than one individual or... item going upwards in such manner. That could generate some interesting preparatory scheme. Let us think of a way, perhaps ? Thou seemeth to be possessed of a keen mind as am I, Friend Tink, so doubtlessly by putting our intellectual faculties together we can arrive at a satisfying outcome !"

Vaxis bows graciously.

"Thank you, Tink. Your devices are beyond extraordinary." He says as new silver scales cover where the old ones were electrified off.

As Tabesha'l goes on and on about arcane theory, almost all of it going over his head, he looks at Minsys.

"Seeing as this manse is not friendly, perhaps a hard knock is in order, Minsys. I shall have covering you."

Vaxis readies a sacred flame on any hostile activity that occurs once Minsys politely opens the door kicks the door in.