Varielky

The high priestess of Idiwala closes her eyes for a moment before answering the shield-maiden coolly.

“There is always more to every tale, for even if words could encompass all that a scholar has seen or known, the words still but scratch the surface of the truth, like an ant delving into the cracks of a mountainside. Yet the words are still our most powerful means of knowing. Just as an ant carries many times its weight, so do words — ephemera, symbols on a page —carry meaning, history, knowledge, the weight of ages.”

“However,” she moves toward her desk as she continues, “the hour is late, and by tradition, city temples close during the final days of the spring festival. Return in the new month, with a fresh offering, and perhaps Idiwala will lead you to greater truths.” She motions toward the door politely, holding a key at eye level, and in this way politely making her wishes known. 

(OOC: the place names she mentioned are ones Varielky has heard before, but her terrible history roll indicates that she’ll need someone else to help refresh her memory.)

Asking Tamazaert for assistance, Auger makes his own copies of the letters for Strewn to help interpret upon his return. And also so he can return the letters to the stacks without them being missed.

He shares his speculations with Ednyss and Varielky about what it all could mean. They have a pointer to a summer house of the Abziri in the vale that might take them closer to finding Safiya. In addition, given the likelihood that Safiya worked in service to the Abziri leaders, there is a small chance that the Abziri here in Kalahata might be a useful connection to help create an understanding of the ancient weapon's origins.

While waiting for Strewn Auger continues going to the archives with Tamazaert, returns the letters to the stacks and tries to learn a more precise location of the summer house of the Abziri in the Vale.

Varielky wishes to protest but stops herself. The priestess told her so much she could have never known by herself, it's wrong and undignified to be rude. She bows slightly. "Thank you for today. I'll see if I can come here again in the future." She then leaves the temple and continues to the rest of her plans for today (which were detailed in a previous post).

The Red Cypress

Night falls on the last day of the month of Beauty. The Spring Festival’s final day is tomorrow, the 1st day of the month of Grandeur. The temples and archives closed their doors to visitors today in honor of the preeminence of Ritha Demsha. Auger and Tamazaert have carefully copied the aged yemma Abziri’s correspondence. There has been no word from Granophyre.

After a warm, dry evening, the waning moon is just peeking over the eastern horizon above the Blistering Sands, as the first stars peek down through azure skies darkening to steel blue. 

The next day will be the Arena Games, and Varielky is prepared to rise early and take her place among the contenders.

Tamazaert has finished clearing the evening meal and is in her bedroom nursing Suya.

The quiet evening is disturbed by a knock on the door, which Ednyss hears first and answers. It is the teenage girl the war cleric caught trying to pickpocket him that first day in Kalahata. She reveals herself from the shadows in the hallway and with a terrified expression, tells him, “I am in danger telling you this, but I’ve seen them following you and...be careful! Beware The Red Cypress!,” and with that, she dashes back down the stairs. Ednyss notes that, unlike before, under a cloak and scarf, she is wearing the uniform of a casino waitress -- she seems to have taken his advice and gained real employment. The dwarf's powers of insight tell him her intentions were honest, and that, at least from her perspective, the danger is real.

As he returns upstairs to inquisitive looks from the others, Ednyss, whose powers of perception are likewise remarkable, hears something else. Some kind of buzzing sound, out on the terrace. And a moment later, everyone hears screams coming from Tamazaert’s bedroom, shrieks of terror.

Here is a map of your suite. The stairs go down to an entry hallway on the fifth floor. You are on the sixth floor. The arches indicate windows of thick clear glass which can be opened. There is a door to the terrace on the north wall. There is enough ambient light for normal vision outdoors up to 60’. There are lanterns giving off light in the suite’s main room, but not the bedrooms.

(OOC: Please state Round 1 actions in any order, or ask questions about the surroundings etc., if more information is needed. Until @Math has had a chance to rejoin, we’ll hold here.)

(OOC: While we have a minute... could you explain a little bit about the map? Queries follow:

Starting with surroundings

• The map shows some rooftops - does this mean those are building we are looking down upon and the roofs are possibly traversable?
• Do the features at E24 and P24 connect with our building? Can we walk out to connecting rooftops through there?
• A1 and any tile like it is the street - 6 stories below, correct?

And then the terrace

• I see two surfaces and expect that a space like M7 is completely traversable.
• Are M6 and M5 also spaces we can occupy? And are we correct to think that section extends away from the building and so a hole in the floor would yield a 6-story fall?
• How high are the walls of the balcony? From previous text I assume we can lean over the edge.

)

(After gambling)

Ednyss is very shaken by his experience at the casino. He had been comfortable being away from Demesh for a short time because he was confident in his own abilities at cards, but after losing more than 30GP in one night, he was starting to doubt himself again. As soon as he left the casino, however, his tattoo once again felt warm against his skin and his confidence was restored. If his god believed in him, then he would as well. He heads straight home that night and goes to sleep after saying his prayers.

(Day 2)

The next morning, after his prayer to Demesh, he tries reciting the new prayer that he learned to Ritha Demsha. It is clumsy, and not nearly as eloquently spoken as the acolyte who taught him, but he manages to get through all of it and gives a small nod of confirmation to himself. It would be slow going, but eventually, he would try to build a connection and find his answers. Ever since renouncing his earlier purpose of restoring the full dwarven empire and renewed his faith in his god, Ednyss felt satisfied that he finally had a new purpose.

After his horrible mess of gambling the night before, Ednyss also realizes that he will need another job in order to be able to continue gambling if he wants any money left over. He might also be able to glean more information if it seemed like he was from his Kalahata than if he was an outsider. It wouldn't feel right trying to get a job in a smithy without Ingrid, but Ednyss has an amalgamation of skills that he had learned from his time in the Core, so he heads out towards the Benepota Amboule in search of a restaurant or tavern that might offer employment for a barkeep. Ednyss informs that this would be a short-term arrangement, but given the added crowd from the festival, he figures seasonal workers might be needed. Besides, barkeeps can learn a stunning amount of information just by keeping their ears open.

(OOC: Ednyss has proficiency in Cook's Utensil's and Brewer's Supplies)

(Encounter)

The war priest is shocked and surprised to see the teenage girl approach him, and her warning is equally cryptic. Regardless, Ednyss is happy to see that she has tried to get a real job and her voice seems sincere. As she turns away, Ednyss concentrates for a second and says, "Thank you for the warning. A quick ward. For your journey back." The tattoo on his shoulder glows for a moment as a shimmering aura of protection gathers around the girl. It wouldn't last forever, but if she hurried, it might protect her on the journey home.

Ednyss hears the scream and rushes without hesitation to the door. Running at full speed, the stout dwarf is barely able to make it to the door and swing it open for his friends. He manages to call out between heaving breaths, "It came from the terrace. A buzzing."

Re: The map shows some rooftops - does this mean those are building we are looking down upon and the roofs are possibly traversable? YES

Do the features at E24 and P24 connect with our building? YES.

Can we walk out to connecting rooftops through there? NO. 2 floors/20’ down. 

A1 and any tile like it is the street - 6 stories below, correct? YES

I see two surfaces and expect that a space like M7 is completely traversable. YES

Are M6 and M5 also spaces we can occupy? YES

 And are we correct to think that section extends away from the building and so a hole in the floor would yield a 6-story fall? NO. THE TERRACE FLOOR IS THE ROOF OF THE 5th STORY.

How high are the walls of the balcony? TERRACE WALLS ARE 4’

Then, I'll also start with questions, before actions. What is in Varielky's hands, and what is she wearing? Or, to be more precise, is she donning her armour right now or not? Is her shield/sword in her hands/within reach? I suppose Varielky wouldn't have a reason to walk armoured in their own suite, but maybe she just arrived and didn't have the time to doff it yet? I assume she did doff it already, as that would make the most sense, but your call. As for the weapons... I'm not sure. I did specify that Varielky often observed the Dreyen sword in the evenings, but nothing about her shield or normal sword. 
Secondly, how far can Varielky reach using normal movement from where she is into Tamazaert's room? Because, most likely, that will be her course of action, with the actual "action" part of the turn depending on what she'll see once she arrives there.

(OOC: Also... not included in my post, but Ednyss wouldn't be carrying either his War Pick or his Shield (or wearing his armor). They would all be in his room. That being said, his spellcasting should still work fine because the holy symbol tattoo in his arm can function as a divine focus.)

All characters but Ednyss have a goblet of wine or a cup of tea in hand. This takes place after the party shared an evening meal, and you are sitting comparing notes from the day. 

Here is a detail showing which bedroom belongs to whom, and therefore, where each person’s heavy equipment is stored. Armor & large weapons are not worn, but if your character usually wears a dagger or knife (or whatever) at all times, then so be it.

Each square is 5’. Ednyss rushes to the door, opens it, and Varielky can rush inside, Benita beside her, a knife in her hand, if she wishes.
Does Auger rush in beside Benita?

Py, there is trouble, see what is going on, Auger sends as he summons the small fey into the area. While doing that Auger calls his coat to him from where it floats in the bedroom and then he follows after the others.

Py and Auger

Varielky rushes into Tamazaert's room. While she does so, she makes the motion of grasping a sword, trying to summon the Dreyen sword to her hand. At least inside the apartment, there should be no consequences to using this weapon and, anyway, she doesn't have the time to rush to her room first. 
What does she see when she gets in? This will determine her actions*.

*Unless you want me to declare actions before seeing what's inside. In that case, Varielky will move as far into the room as she can, then take the Ready to move in between Tamazaert and anything that looks hostile, if there's any such thing inside. If, when she enters, she does see anything hostile, Varielky will use her reaction to move between them and Tamazaert.

Round 1 Results (partial)

We’re going to say that we began with all doors closed, and one window in each room open, except for the living room, where several windows are open for ventilation. The cool evening air is welcome due to the otherwise uncomfortable warmth still held within the suite’s walls, resulting from its location on the top floor, and the sunny day.

I am also going to point out that each story is 15’, so the top of the terrace wall is about 80’ above the dusty cobblestones below.

Varielky, after rushing into the bedroom, does see something and leaps forward to put herself between it and Tamazaert. The red-steel blade materializes in her hand as she skids to a halt. Benita rushes into the room but remains near the doorway. Py flits into the room and sends one word to Auger: ‘bees,’ and from the doorway, Ednyss can also see the object of Tamazaert’s terror as a rectangle of light falls on the otherwise darkened bedroom floor. A loud buzzing sound assaults all those in the room, and can be heard clearly by Auger now that the door is open.

In the center of the room is a swirling column of what must be many hundreds -- even, thousands -- of bees.

“THEY CAME IN THROUGH THE WINDOW!!!,” yells Tamazaert, trying to cover Sura with her body and a nursing blanket, and you see there are a few bees crawling on her, and on every surface in the room.

Auger hears a rustling sound and a slight pattering coming from behind his bedroom door -- the robe is trying to reach him but can’t. A few seconds later, he sees it has exited his bedroom window to fly out over the terrace and back into the living room window over the stairway. It shoots straight toward him, fluttering, and engulfs him. (The robe is now equipped.) 

Auger still has his movement action this round. Varielky has used all of her movement for Round 1 to get where she is, but she still has her action/bonus action. Same with Benita, who is following Varielky’s lead. Ednyss has dashed, but still has a bonus action if he wishes.

You are now situated like so. Please post final actions for Round 1.

ALSO, Auger & Ednyss, please make perception rolls.

(I originally planned to get some light into the room upon entering, but it seems I forgot to include that.)

Varielky, is confused, but not for long. ["May Odur's light shine upon this room!"] She calls in Dreyen as her eyes kindle and begin to illuminate the room, revealing what's in front of her. 

"What?" Is Varielky's first reaction. She did not expect... bees. Moreover, she has no idea how to deal with those. Even if she could cut a dozen with a single swing, what will it matter against this many? Her shieldncould be useful, and so would be her armour, but she doesn't have them with her at the moment. Not sure what to do, she decides to protect Tamazaert and her son. The others were more capable than she was at hitting this many enemies at once.

BA: Cast Light through her sword.

Action: Varielky hopes to protect the mother and her son somehow. There isn't really an action for that, so whatever seems most fitting. If nothing else, she will at least try to take the damage for them (if they're attacked) or provide cover.

(OOC: Btw, I do have an idea, but I don't think Varielky will immediately consider it. If no surprises occur, she'll think about it next round.)

Perception: 20

Ednyss sees the bees in the room and is given pause. His heart freezes as he thinks that this could be some kind of retribution from Demsha for trying to build a connection. He doesn't feel comfortable attacking the bees just yet, as they haven't actively harmed anyone that Ednyss can see. However, he does quickly pick up on Tamazaert's panic and with a brief incantation, he repeats the phrase that he mumbled as the teenage girl left and creates a small protective aura around Tama (and her baby?).

Bees? Auger thinks and, with his recent magical explorations in mind, yells, "Perhaps this is illusion! Strike at them and you will know!" Rather than rush after everyone else Auger stays where he is and listens for activity in the suites or the other bedrooms.

Perception: 6

Round 1 Results (completion)

As the red glyph of Dreyen royalty shines prominently on Varielky’s forehead, twin beams of light emanate from her eyes, flashing around the room as she confronts the swarm.

Ednyss’ connection to the God of War holds strong, and he casts an invisible radiance around Tamazaert, giving her protection. He then notices movement on the terrace through the window.

Auger casts an eye and ear around the suite, but with the buzzing and shouting and movement, he senses nothing himself, but hears Py’s voice as the fey alyasub sends, ‘Movement on the terrace!’

The column of bees tightens up, their buzz becomes uniform and the pitch rises, and suddenly it bolts forward, over Varielky’s head, towards Tamazaert, but seems to be deflected by an invisible shield protecting both the young mother and her child (RP--sanctuary canceled this attack). The swarm reforms, and divides in two, half of it surrounding Varielky and stinging her exposed arms, legs, and neck, for 14HP damage, while the other half buzzes out the door, past Ednyss, and under the closed door to Granophyre’s bedroom (there is plenty of room for a bee to crawl under the door).

At that moment, the terrace door explodes inward off of its hinges, as what looks like a twisting column of tough vines blasts through it, knocking over the coffee table and some cushions. The vines flop to the ground, and there, seem to age a thousand years in an instant, decomposing then transforming into dust which blows away on the cool breeze.

Outside the newly made opening, Auger and Ednyss see a male human, dressed in black and red, with a red silken scarf over his head and another twisting to cover his nose and mouth. Vines reach outward from him left, right, and behind. His eyes meet yours, and a grimace forms when he sees Ednyss. “The Dwarf!,” he growls.

You are now situated like so.

Please state actions for Round 2.

Ednyss

"If this is an illusion, it still hurts!" Varielky barks in response to Auger. She realises there's trouble in the other room as well when she hears the explosion. The rest of the bees, perhaps.
Speaking of bees, she needs to take care of those in front of her. She looks back towards Tamazaert to check whether the mother and her child are still okay. Perfectly fine, it seems. Good. Now, she needs to find the opposite of a sword. If a sword must be sharp and cut through hard armour and bones, she needs something wide. She needs something that can hit all those small targets at the same time. Varielky sees the blanket Tamazaert used to protect Sura. She sees the sheets on the bed on which Tamazaert is sitting. An idea comes to her mind.
(Now, I'm not sure what is the mechanical way this will work, so I'll only write Varielky's intentions.)
Varielky plans to turn around and take the other bed's blanket/sheets (whichever is more accessible at the moment). Then, she'll try to use both hands, if possible (Hopefully? I assume this will require more than just one hand, but dropping the sword will make the light go away. If it's possible to hold both a blanket/sheet and a sword in one hand, she'll do that. If she can't, she'll leave the sword on the bed and try to execute the rest of her plan in the dark.), to use the blanket/sheet like a sack and catch as many bees as possible. Then, if she managed to catch a significant amount of them, she'll try to smash the improvised bag down on the floor, hopefully squashing the bees, at least some of them, on the floor.

Varielky and Benita, R2-R3 (n.b., this will take two rounds).

Varielky tries to capture the bees as dozens of them fall off her, their stingers still in her body, their bodies writhing then slowing in death. Seeing her friend’s intention, Benita rushes to help. While Varielky grabs two corners of the nearest sheet, Benita grabs the opposite two corners of the same covering, and then, springing up off of the bed and rolling in the air while pulling the covering up after her and over the buzzing swarm, lands just beside Varielky and shoves the two sheet corners into the shield maiden’s hands, capturing most of the insects within. Varielky has to drop the sword, and her eyes dim while she quickly gathers all four of the corners together, twists them into one hand and around her forearm, forming a bag which she then slams against the wall repeatedly, stunning most of the bees. Benita rips a drawer out of the dresser, raises it over her head, and, as Varielky holds the bag upon the top of the bureau, smashes the remaining trapped bees flat as the drawer explodes into pieces. In the process, both Benita and Varielky have taken 7HP damage from bee stings, but the swarm is defeated, and only a dozen or so remain in the room, their cohesion lost. Tamazaert stomps one of them with her boot (ending Ednyss' spell), and screams "BUGGER!," fury written on her face at whoever raised an arm to her child. 

Auger and Ednyss can post Round 2 actions while this is happening (and then, after enemies act, will continue to round 3, before Varielky and Benita will be finished with the above actions and can rejoin for round 4 if needed).

Py, get outside and look to see if there is anyone else out there!

Auger steps to the side in order to get a clear look at their assailant. Surprised at the strength and audacity of the attack from a single person Auger chooses to hit as hard as he can. Drawing from the Sea of Stars he does multiple things at once. He sends the dragonfly dripping purple energies inexorably into the human. Even as the dragonfly heads into its target Auger draws and twists his again and again. Using untapped resource he had identified earlier comes easier than expected and Auger releases two twisting beams at the human on the balcony.

Py 

Auger