Insanity Defense

Log Info

• Title: Insanity Defense
• Emitter: Jinks
• Characters: Skielstregar, Telamon, Vaera
• Place: Lower Gardens District, Theatre District
• Time: Friday, January 29, 2022, 5:30 PM
• Summary: Skielstregar, Telamon, and Vaera encounter an unfamiliar Vanguard escorting a curiously-happy prisoner. Confronting the Serrielite, the three adventurers are informed that the Lucht woman is in fact some manner of demon that had been captured and shackled attempting to reach a patient in the Soldier's Defense. The "Lucht" claims she seeks redemption and wants to help the city's do-gooders find a missing soldier in exchange for favorable treatment. Dubious, the quartet agree to join ranks and escort the prisoner.

They travel from the lower gardens, through the trades and markets, and into the theatre district, locating the block the "Lucht" had called home. The entire row seems to contain plagued tenants and soon the group is assaulted by four such individuals. Rendering the mob unconscious, the four sometimes-mercenaries locate the missing soldier in a sorry state. The cleric manages to identify the ailment and they resolve to cordon off the block while more-skilled help can be assembled.

• Encounter 1: CR6 XP2400
  • (4) Rogue 3, (2) Acanian, (1) Aesir, and (1) Oruch, (CR2, XP600 ea)

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Appearing, in Order  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Skielstregar 7'2"     330 Lb     Sith-Makar     Male      A bronze/silver scale with fangs and empty eyes.
Telamon      5'6"     140 Lb     Half-Sil       Male      A platinum-blond half-sil man with dancing dark eyes 
Vaera        7'0"     262 Lb     Sith-Makar     Female    A tall, dark red Makari with a wooden leg.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=


-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Notable NPCs  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 
the "Lucht"           ???           A curvaceous and salacious 'halfling' in skimpy dress. 
Saana Omondi          Sylvanori     Dark-skinned Vanguard with thin blonde braids.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=


-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  As the GM  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 
Jinks        3'4"     39 Lb      Gnome             Male      A gnomish fellow in fancy garb and jewelry.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

The facade of the Soldier's Defense is close-by, warm and welcoming under a sky just beginning to twinkle with night's stars. The western gardens sprawl out around, kept verdant in the winters by the blessings of the the Giver of Fruits and the Comforter. A good handful of the city's commonfolk enjoy the respite from the coming bitter night. Eluna is full and beginning to glow.

A Sylvanori Vanguard escorts a surprisingly chipper prisoner from the building by himself, a look of concerned confusion set into his wide, hazel eyes and thin, downturned lips. His hair is a darker blonde and portioned off into dozens of dangling braids draped against his dark skin. He looks more a soldier than a holyman; gold-trimmed mithril breastplate catching every light and parma bouncing on his back over his grey winter cloak.

His prisoner hums an up-tempo tune, partically skipping as manacle chains dangle against her rump. One of the Lucht, she has olive-toned skin and dark, wavy hair. Her eyes are a startling grey with a striped shock of brown in the left one. Her clothes are thin and suggestive and her hips wide.

Telamon walks alongside Skielstregar, his expression a bit dour. Ever since he found 'Lana in a state outside this hospital it makes him a little more cautious, a little more concerned. Not for the injury she'd suffered, but how it had stung her emotionally -- and whatever his other flaws are, he is nothing if not sensitive to his lady's well-being. "Skiel," he comments, "have you ever been inside that place?" He takes note of the guard escoring out... a prisoner? His eyebrow rises fractionally.

A silver and bronze mixscaled makari in armor with a polearm on his back is walking alongside Telamon with a slow gait so he doesn't outpace the shorter man. "Mmm. Yesss," he rumbles. "Thisss one had to go there after being cut a number of timesss from an angry, misssguided woman. Your mate wasss there," he intones as the conversation shifts towards more serious matters.

He too spots the jaunty prisoner. They were... happy to be in shackles? Most odd.

"Oh, come my lovely. This trip will take us into our winter years if you don't put some bounce in your step." The Lucht drawls, turning to walk backwards and look up at her captor, giving a lascivious wink. "If you fear leaving me behind you could hoist me up over those strong shoulders of yours and carry me the whole way."

The Vanguard remains unamused and continues to stay two steps behind the woman, stopping when she stops, and moving on when she does so. He cradles a crossbow already cocked with a bolt tipped in a matte-black cold iron. He has a thin gold loop piercing his nose that catches the starlight when he flares his nostrils in contempt.

"Oh, fine." The Lucht laments lamely, kicking a loose bit of stone and making a show of pivoting her hips back to walk on towards their destination to the west. She stops and sniffs audibly nearing Telamon, smile splitting to show teeth. "You have the smell of her on you. The delicious little thing with the white raven. Hello!" And then she tilts her head to consider Skielstregar. "Oh, yes, and I know you, too. So concerned," she adds in a mock pout. With her arms chained behind her back she has quite the excuse to pull her shoulders back.

Well, that probably isn't the best thing to say to Telamon. He stops hard, his dark eyes fixing on the lucht, a flash of temper there. After a moment, he moves his gaze to the Vanguard, taking a deep breath. "Good evening, sir. All is well, I hope?" His fingers flex a bit, before relaxing.

Skielstregar blinks dumbly. Opens his fanged maw to say something, but Telamon is faster to the draw. He takes stock of the situation, and his jaw shuts with a soft 'click'. Though, he squints at the prisoner.

Vaera was finally catching up to Skielstregar, and comes to a stop nearby. She looks to the guard, and to the lucht, and chuffs.

"Good evening, hope you're doing alright." The red makari greets. "Cold iron? What's the deal with the temptress?"

"No. This creature attempted to collect a wounded soldier for some fool's errand and was captured." Explains the Vanguard, drawing a playactor's wounded expression from the Lucht. His accent is thick as if he doesn't have much occasion to speak in the trade language. He's also an unfamiliar face. "She says she has another in a similar state locked away and we go to collect."

"I repent my sinful ways," the Lucht singsongs, affecting a cower and bowing her head. "And my other toy is almost completely broken." She sobs, convincingly, but then allows the bemoaning to warp into unabashed tittering as she stands back up. A pause and she licks her lips. "True friends, once. Blackhearted and cruel together. Not so friendly now... and quite boring when they're too weak to walk." She wrinkles her nose. "... and the smell," she grouses.

"Demon," the Sylvanori spits, finger twitching near the trigger of the crossbow. His braids move subtly when he shakes his head, stilling his temper. "A runner has been sent to the watch but the Defense is thin-staffed. The manacles are enchanted and should keep her fast but I am on guard and the Guiding Star is high overhead."

"So deliciously brave," taunts the thing-in-Lucht-clothing. She looks again to Telamon and puckers her full lips.

"Peace, cousin," Telamon addresses the Vanguard in Sildanyari, having gotten his own temper under control. "If it has some poor soul chained up, we'll need to free them before returning it to its proper place." He gives the 'lucht' a flinty look and switches back to tradespeak. "I saw something like this at the docks. A demon, pretending to be a lucht, loosed three fire elementals there." He pauses, then adds, "It's dead now. Cousin," he addresses the Vanguard, "will you let us aid you?"

Skielstregar perks up as he hears a familiar clank-step behind him, the towering makari shifting subtly to stand just in front of the redscale. "Peace on your nest," he rumbles to her natively. <Draconic>

His attention shifts to the duo, and his scaled brow furrows.

"Yesss..." he says, just a tinge of a growl to it as his hand wraps around the Dragonfather amulet dangling from his neck. "Do we need to check thisss for you?"

"So, she is leading you to where they are." Vaera sighs. "This sounds like a trap, and a lot for one single person to manage. That would explain partially why they seem so unbothered by everything going on."

"How did you end up dealing with this? Sounds like there is more to what happened before they were apprehended."

The Vanguard moves to speak but the Lucht tsk-tsks. "A trap? My goodness, why should my charitable nature fall into such doubt? Careful your cynicism doesn't drain all of the color from your world." She sighs and sniffs, sucking and puckering her lips. "I left affairs elsewhere... neglected and certain bigger fish are... unamused." She rolls her eyes; so much fuss over something so minor!

"I was going to reunite the two friends in exchange for a comfortable pillow for my cell beneath the Society and maybe a book of bawdry lyrics to amuse me." She flutters her eyelashes, innocently. "What's a few centuries in a cell? Maybe things will smooth themselves out. Certain people might realize it's not my fault this city puckered itself up too tight to squeeze through." She grins again, catching the tip of her tongue between her teeth.

"Yes, a trap." The elf finally grunts after the creature has said its peace. "Star guide you, I am Omondi. Saana Omondi, Vanguard. I am recovered from a wound taken on the road from Mythwood and was asked to help. I welcome aid."

GAME: Vaera rolls sense motive: (15)+7+2: 24

<OOC> Jinks says, "ohno ohye!"

Telamon makes a short bow to the Vanguard. "Telamon Atlon at your service then, Vanguard. I am happy to assist you." He gives the 'lucht' another flinty look, but doesn't deign to even reply to the creature. He just thinks about small boxes, and deep, deep oceans. "Skiel, up for a little evening stroll?" he inquires of his companion.

Skiel flicks his eyes to the prisoner before chuffing. "Thisss one is Skiel, Warrior caste," he nods towards the elf. "Thisss one would. Redssscale?" he asks, daisy chaining the question towards Vaera.

"Most fiends don't need to sleep. And you aren't going to be inviting people into your cell to roll in the hay." Vaera snorts. "So, we have no clue what their aim is in doing this."

"I am alright in joining to determine what is going on, yes. And I would not wish to leave one person to go and do this, either." she continues with a nod, to the others. "So, what is going on here? You get in trouble and you're expecting us to clean up your mess, Lucht?"

"Oh, nothing so... presumptuous." The Lucht grins, tilting her head and eyeing Vaera like dessert for a moment. "I've noticed a... pattern in this city. The wasps and furies and cultists. They have their little games until they get too big for their britches and then--" she claps her hands behind her back sharply, making the manacles jangle-- "Splat! Some horrible mercenary or god-knight comes along and ruins their fun. I'd rather just relax and dream for a bit..." She grins and considers each of her four escorts in turn.

"And left to my own devices... well. We all have urges, right? You have urges." She grins hungry at Skielstregar and lifts her eyebrows. "Those things that make you feel... alive." She sighs, wistfully, and skips again as she resumes leading the group. "So I'll be a good little girl (or little boy) and sit in my corner and think about what I've done. Maybe one of your gods gets lonely in their beds and could teach me a virtue or two while we get to know each other."

The Vanguard narrows his eyes after nodding his thanks for the offered assistance. "Four stars in the Guiding Sentinel; this is a good omen." He checks the release on his gladius and then shifts the bundle of bolts further in front of his hip. Looking between the other three he wonders, "Do they imprison creatures such as this? Simpler to see them slain," he opines as he walks on.

Telamon looks to Vaera grimly. "It's not a lucht. Like I said, there was something on the docks doing a pretty poor lucht impersonation before it started setting fires. This one's no different." As the little group moves on, he nods to the Vanguard. "It's... complicated. Creatures like this, they're tricky to destroy permanently. Sometimes it's easier to put them in a very small box... and then just drop them someplace to think about their errors. Like the ocean depths."

Skielstregar starts to follow along after the group, him reaching behind his back to grab his polearm. "If you don't mind..." he murmurs, taking free his halberd from its frog and using it as a walking stick.

He squints at the little demon, the side of his lip twitching up in a snarl. But he keeps the growl out of his tone. "The difference between thisss one and you isss they know that sssome urgessss are never meant to be fed." He glances to Vaera before shaking his head.

"Telamon hasss the right of it. Though, thisss one thinksss it isss best to leave itsss fate up to thossse that have greater insssight into... whatever thisss thing is."

"It might not do much to slay them, yes." Vaera sighs. "They will just go elsewhere, and be back again. So, if it is possible to keep them safely, it is better in the long run."

"And you have run around the question about what you're actually doing here. Are we to believe you willingly turned yourself in, when there is not consequences, save for being sent back where you came from?"

"I am curious what led to you taking up this job, Omondi. It seems like a lot to put on a single person for this. But how did this situation even come up, anyways?"

"I was simply being me. Enjoying myself." The Lucht chirps for Vaera, shrugging in a way that thrusts her chest out further for a moment. "Sadly, you mortal things are so, so very fragile..." She sighs, eyes closing before she issues a salacious, rolling chuckle. "But I promise if you sponsor my redemption I'll be sure to treat you gently and withold what you can't be ready for." Her grins is stretching wider than seems possible for her face as she talks about it, her pulse quickening. She purses her lips and exhales forcefully, her skin losing the faintest shade of indigo it seemed to be taking on.

Omondi is quiet for some time after that, his resolve wavering at the hint of the thing hiding in the flesh of the Lucht. He checks the draw on his gladius again and braces the crossbow into his shoulder to make even-more ready.

"I had a vision that brought me from Mythwood." The Vanguard tells Vaera, his eyes locked on the small leader of the procession. "Followed the vision. I was on your Kultari Road when I was charged by a pale stag and gored. It seemed Mahal would have me at your house of healing... but there I was lost." He tilts his head. "Then I was asked to do this. This must be my task."

<OOC> Jinks says, "If you have more questions, V, feel free. I'm gonna start working on the FF pose."

Telamon curls his lip at the 'lucht'. "Of course," he says so sarcastically you could use the biting tone for forging swords. He shifts his attention back to Omondi, and nods. "It seems calling you cousin wasn't just being polite," he remarks with a small grin. "I hail from Ylvaliel myself. It is good to see another of the Mythwood here. And indeed, the gods can be subtle sometimes, or even inscrutable. But I -am- glad to have you with us. These things are dangerous indeed."

Skiel furrows his brow, and he tightens the grip on his weapon. "Thisss one isss glad your vision lead to thisss. This creature should not poison any more folk."

He chuffs. Fragile. The walking silver man was anything but fragile.

GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+18: (10)+18: 28
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+18: (19)+18: 37
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+18: (5)+18: 23
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+18: (18)+18: 36
<OOC> Jinks says, "So, on the way, the Lucht takes a trip into each of your heads to communicate telepathically. She promises to behave and be quiet in her cell. But she's only a visit away if you need her. Those were diplomacy rolls (not bluff, mind you!) so Skiel (28), Tel (37), Vaera (23). You can respond to those after we FF."

The Lucht falls quiet as you leave the gardens, giving a delightfully exaggerated shiver in her skimpy clothing when the enchanted warmth of left behind for the frigid evening. She strolls confidently through the streets, eventually humming to herself and skipping again. The looks she draws run a proper gamut from shocked to curious, lustful to repulsed. Most spying the group following her make a point to cross the street-- or at least step aside.

Your path takes you through the lower markets, pausing there so Vaera can obtain ammunition tipped with deliberately-forged arrowheads. Here, the creature takes a moment to consider Telamon and smile demurely. When the one-legged sith-makar returns, the Lucht leads again grinning and blowing kisses to one or two people that seem to recognize her and offer concerned looks. She shakes her head to ward them off.

She cuts through Goblintown, taking a turn to glance back at Vaera and wink at her before forging on around a bend and beneath a sign that forces the taller folk to duck. You come out to one side of the Hope Theatre, the lights and sounds assaulting you as rehearsals and street performers are in full-swing. Omondi pauses here, frowning and looking confused as his crossbow dips. The Lucht laughs again and tosses his head towards a row of ramshackle housing for stagehands, short-term visitors, and starving artists.

She clucks her tongue and idles briefly at the end of the block to consider Skielstregar silently. Then she steps on her way.

"I had another home... and quite the project! But I apparently borrowed goods that had been marked for this city's puckering-up and some of you strong-armed mercenary types came and ruined the man I was having built for myself..."

Telamon simply puts on a bland, blank expression -- the equivalent of unflavored, unseasoned porridge. The creature clearly is irritating him, but he seems to find some inner focus to keep his cool. "It makes sense. This place would make for a good hunting ground for a monster." He pauses. "Wait. 'The man you were having built'?" He furrows his brow suddenly, looking to the others.

Skielstregar is busy taking up the front, clearing a path for them as they go on through. Most concerned looks are met with a simple, "Demon," explanation.

He slows as he hears thoughts that aren't his own. His face twitches some, and a growl rumbles in his chest. "... the only time thisss one will visit your cell is if they are assigned to run you through. Ssstay out of thisss one'sss head..." he growls in warning, wiping off come black ichor that drops from his mouth with the back of his hand. If she was going for a reaction, the demon certainly got one.

The towering makari in the theatre is a massive sore thumb, but at least he'd make for good stage lighting were a spotlight focused on him. "Thisss one doesss not know," he answers Telamon honestly. He actually looks a bit... uneasy here. "... thisss one doesss not want another Happy Valley incident..." he mumbles, glancing to Vaera.

Vaera was quick with her business, and keen to continue on as quickly as possible. With the arrows purchased, her bow was taken out and held idly in her hands as they walked. Though she does stop to growl at the lucht for one moment. "Did I not make myself clear when I said there would be no business like that in the prison?" She states firmly. "I do not know what is meant by building a person. Sounds like we should be careful, if she is making people to follow her."

GAME: Skielstregar rolls perception: (15)+8: 23 GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+8: (18)+8: 26 GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+8: (1)+8: 9 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+8: (11)+8: 19 GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+8: (4)+8: 12 GAME: Vaera rolls perception: (14)+11+2: 27 GAME: Telamon rolls perception: (11)+8: 19 GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+4: (8)+4: 12 (Omondi Perception)

The Lucht sighs and slumps at all the boring responses to her pleas. "Well... if you ever find yourself especially cold and lonely I can truly be whatever you want..." She trails off, an eyebrow quirking as she stops and turns to look between the windows and doorways of the street.

"Oooooh, right..." she laughs. "Oops!"

And then the doors burst open.

GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+7: (17)+7: 24
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d6+2+2d6: (3)+2+(7): 12
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+7: (8)+7: 15

The doors are thrown open with shouts of alarm and devotion, the city's poor spilling out into the street in raggedy leathers carrying bludgeons salved from their homes. Fire pokers, heavy pans, and clubs kept for home defense.

Their skin is pale and their features drawn. Open sores ruin their lips, yellow-brown and weeping grease. Eyes are glassy and unfocused as they move in to attack.

The first-- an oruch man long in years with thinning, grey hair-- shouts for the Lucht and calls you monsters, sweeping in his poker with a two-handed grip that takes Vaera in the knee. The next-- this one a human woman with greasy red hair-- comes after the Vanguard but her baton skips off a pauldron.

GAME: Telamon casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 4 DC: 17

Telamon's eyes go wide as suddenly gaunt, wasted forms charge the group. "Damn!" He backpedals as one plows into Vaera, hands suddenly moving in practiced gestures. "Akar irhandi!" he declares, and starlight wraps around him, a shimmering suit of force that swiftly fades. His hand shoots to his dagger, though he doesn't draw it; these poor souls may be victims as much as they are foes.

GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+7: (13)+7: 20
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d6+2+2d6: (4)+2+(5): 11

One more for the fray! Another human snarls and bursts out of his home. A skillet crashes against the back of the sith-makar's skull, heavy and hard.

GAME: Skielstregar rolls weapon12-4: (8)+10+-4: 14
GAME: Skielstregar rolls damage12+6: aliased to 1d10+7+6: (5)+7+6: 18

And then things go to shit.

Skielstregar is reeling as things start to hammer in on people, and he looks behind towards their redscale to check on he-

His eye twitches. "CEASSSSE AND DESSSIST!" he snarls, turning the flat of the weapon and crashing it against the side of an attacker.

"They look ssssick! Like the guard that attacked usss prior!" he shouts out. "Their mindsss may not be their own!"

GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+7: (11)+7: 18

"You can't have her. No!" Shouts a young man, his pimples mixing with the angry buboes. Charges from his door, smashing a full glass bottle against Skielstregar's armor and showering him with the stink of cheap ale. He reaches for a truncheon hanging from his belt.

GAME: Vaera rolls sense motive: (17)+7: 24
GAME: Vaera rolls heal: (8)+7: 15
GAME: Vaera rolls 1d20+6+1 -4: (15)+6+1+-4: 18
GAME: Vaera rolls 1d8+1: (3)+1: 4

Vaera had no time to process the trap that was happening, as much as they expected one. Still reeling a bit from the strike, they step backwards and pull out a warhammer from their mace, swinging it into the attacker's side in an attempt to knock the wind out of them. "Not their minds, yes. Charmed, and sick with something."

GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+7: (20)+7: 27
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+7: (11)+7: 18
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+7: (2)+7: 9
<OOC> Jinks says, "lol, confirming"
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+7: (19)+7: 26
GAME: Jinks rolls 2d6+4: (7)+4: 11
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+7: (14)+7: 21
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d6+2: (5)+2: 7

The Sylvanori ducks low and turns in a tight circle, taking up his parma in the process and then dashing back and forth through the melee. Two hits clang solidly off the shield before the Vanguard settles with his back into Skielstregar.

"My path to you, Guiding Star!" He calls, touching his holy symbol as the Guiding Sentinel seems to flare in the heavens above.

Then he grimaces, blood flowing through the creases of his armor.

The bewitched brigand sees an opening, surging further out of his home and smashing his weapon into the elven man again.

GAME: Telamon rolls ranged+1: (4)+4+1: 9
GAME: Telamon casts Ray of Enfeeblement. Caster Level: 4 DC: 17

It's a madhouse. Telamon presses back against the wall of the shack, as the melee progresses. Suddenly one is clear, and he takes the opportunity. Making a cupping gesture with his hands, he murmurs, "Idim gibarbara," a ghostly droplet of darkness forming there. He slings his hand at one of the madmen, and the droplet lengthens impossibly into a beam of darkness which zips past their head, spattering off the wall opposite. "Stand STILL."

GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+7: (12)+7: 19

The wrathful peasants continue their attacks, pressing into the Vanguard in the hopes of knocking him off of his feet. Down comes the skillet-- but she almost loses her grip when the crockery smashes firmly into the center of the shield.

GAME: Skielstregar RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 8 temporary HP
GAME: Skielstregar rolls weapon12-4: (18)+12+-4: 26
GAME: Skielstregar rolls damage12+6: aliased to 1d10+9+6: (4)+9+6: 19

Skielstregar is busy fending off other hits with his weapon held up sideways to block and deter, and he looks over his shoulder towards Vaera. A quick glance to the building situation, and he decides to tap into that anger. Especially after the blows on the redscale.

Black ichor drips from betwixt his scales, another set of fangs grow from his maw, and his dead eyes gleam crimson. He cocks his weapon back, turns it sideways, and delivers a bone shattering smash against the enthralled one's jaw. Oops. At least they aren't dead.

"KEEP THISSS UP AND YOUR OBJECT OF LUST WILL MEET DEATH AT A DIFFERENT KIND OF SSSPEAR!" he roars, pointing the halberd at the "Lucht".

GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+7: (13)+7: 20
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d6+2: (6)+2: 8

The pimple-faced boy has his truncheon now and-- heedless of the monstrous sith's warning-- slams it down on the knuckles of a clawed hand holding the polearm.

"Monsters can't have me Tinabelle!" He growls, sores tearing open to bleed as he presses into the creature in an attempt to force it away from his love.

The Lucht just sits on the ground and cups her hands over her mouth. She's managed to work her shackles beneath her feet. "No, please, stop!" She half-heartedly cries, trying to hide her amusement.

GAME: Vaera rolls 1d20+6+1 -4: (10)+6+1+-4+1: 14
GAME: Vaera rolls 1d20+1+1 -4: (13)+1+1+-4+1: 12
GAME: Vaera rolls 1d8+1: (5)+1: 6

Vaera grunts as the people fall in on them. "You are aware we did not come here to kill or harm her, yes?" The makari growls. She takes another swing at the first person, smashing them in the shoulder before she ducks back, attempting to stop them from collapsing further on to the cleric.

GAME: Jinks rolls 2d6: (5): 5
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+7: (3)+7: 10

Omondi continues to hold onto his holy symbol, shield raised to ward off the continued attacks. "The Dawn Comes," he intones, drawing down a thin shaft of starlight that blasts down over him, bringing warmth, and splashes out to find his allies. The light seems to avoid the wounded brigands, leaving them in shadow.

The commoner steps up next to Vaera, bringing down their bludgeon in an attempt to batter the sorcerer but unable to make contact.

GAME: Telamon casts Flare. Caster Level: 4 DC: 16
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+3: (19)+3: 22

Telamon leans back as the club whistles by his head. "Calm down!" he growls, even though it's clear diplomacy isn't going to work on these poor souls. Backpedaling again, he thrusts out a hand at the wild-eyed indigent. "Napahu!" he snaps, and a brilliant flash of light bursts around the fellow, but fails to dazzle or blind him as needed. "Damn it, I don't want to hurt you, back off!"

GAME: Jinks rolls 1d3: (1): 1
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+7: (1)+7: 8 (EPIC FAIL)

Down comes the kitchen implement again. Again it finds the Vanguard's parma but this time it breaks! The pot goes clattering away and the incensed lover is left with little more than a cast iron handle.

GAME: Skielstregar rolls weapon12+1+2-4: (9)+12+1+-4: 18
GAME: Skielstregar rolls damage12+6: aliased to 1d10+9+6: (8)+9+6: 23
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+7: (2)+7: 9

Skielstregar growls at the fiend enjoying the show. "Ssshut your mouth, nasssty creature."

He cocks his weapon back, turns it blunt end, and crashes it against the side of human, his body slamming into the side of the building. He wobbles on his feet, trying to bludgeon the Forgotten makari but whiffs it from the discombobulation.

"Thisss one is WELL AWARE OF THE CRITERIA!" he yells at his teammates.

Though, those that are closet to him know he's not actually angry with them.

GAME: Vaera rolls 1d20+6+2 -4: (1)+6+2+-4: 5 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Vaera rolls 1d20+1+2 -4: (12)+1+2+-4: 11

Vaera blinks as the rest of the people continue to attack them. "We have not harmed her."

Not yet, at least. She was just about ready to send a shot at the lucht, but that may not be the best course yet. She swings again at the assailants, but attempting to blunt the blows made them too easy to be dodged.

GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+3+1+2-4: (16)+3+1+2+-4: 18 
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d8: (8): 8
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+7+2: (8)+7+2: 17

Omondi slides his gladius free and turns, dropping the pommel onto the youth so-focused on Skielstregar and knocking him to the ground senseless. "The smells of this city..." he chokes as the unclean bodies riddled with diseased start to choke the elf.

Up goes the second-to-last brigand, standing opposite his follow-defender in an attempt to thwart the vicious kidnappers. The oruch tries to slam his makeshift weapon into Vaera but fails to connect in spite of his tactical advantage.

GAME: Telamon casts Ray of Enfeeblement. Caster Level: 4 DC: 17
GAME: Telamon rolls ranged+1: (12)+4+1: 17
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d6+2: (1)+2: 3
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+3: (15)+3: 18

Telamon yells back at Skiel, "I'm sure they're all very nice people, when some demon hasn't got her hooks into them!" Seeing an opportunity, he rapidly lines up a shot, and invokes, "Idim gibarbara," once again. The chilling lash strikes at the maddened commoner, but it's not as effective as it should've been. "This is ridiculous! LIE DOWN AND BE GOOD!"

GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+7+2: (13)+7+2: 22
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d6+2+2d6: (1)+2+(4): 7

The two press their advantage. The woman with the greasy hair has produced a wooden bludgeon of her own. Well, it's a piece of firewood! She holds it in both hands and drives it into Vaera's snout, snarling her rage through yellowed teeth.

GAME: Skielstregar rolls weapon12-4+1: (10)+12+-4+1: 19
GAME: Skielstregar rolls damage12+6: aliased to 1d10+9+6: (8)+9+6: 23

Skielstregar snarls, slithering up and bringing his weapon careening skyward against the one that harmed Vaera. "LIE DOWN AND BE GOOD! LEAVE MY KIN ALONE!" he wetly snaps at them. He's keeping a crimson eye on the Lucht. Never leaving her alone and within slamming range.

GAME: Vaera rolls 1d20+6+2 -4: (17)+6+2+-4: 21
GAME: Vaera rolls 1d20+1+2 -4: (12)+1+2+-4: 11
GAME: Vaera rolls 1d8+1: (3)+1: 4
 

"I am fine. Do not worry about this one." Vaera chuffs, turning to the one closest to the other makari, and smacking them up the side of their head, sending them crumpling to the ground. "I thought you saw the error of your ways? What purpose did you have bringing us here?" She growls to the Lucht.

<OOC> Jinks says, "Omondi will sheath as a move action and attempt a hold person on the last guy."
<OOC> Jinks says, "DC is 14"
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+0: (4)+0: 4
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+0: (3)+0: 3

The Vanguard slides his weapon away as he notes the enemy ranks thinning. He touches his fingers to the holy symbol again and clenches the empty air near his breast. "Your mind is troubled. Be still." 

The rogue freezes in place, twitching. Its glassy eyes bulging and it groans through clenched teeth. It struggles further but can't seem to move for the moment.

GAME: Telamon rolls perception: (4)+8: 12
GAME: Telamon casts Ray of Enfeeblement. Caster Level: 4 DC: 17
GAME: Telamon rolls ranged+1: (19)+4+1: 24
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d6+2: (4)+2: 6
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+3: (7)+3: 10

Telamon doesn't realize at first the last one is paralyzed, and by the time he fires off another ray of strength sapping energy, it's too late. "Whoops," he says a bit ruefully, as the pulse enervates the target. When that paralysis wears off, that guy is going to be feeling less than chipper for a bit. How embarrassing though.

Skielstregar thuds over, dripping black, necromantic ichor as he holds his axe back like an executioner readying two cleave. "Do nothing, and you stay safe," he warns in a hiss.

GAME: Vaera rolls 1d20+6+2 -4: (17)+6+2+-4: 21
GAME: Vaera rolls 1d20+1+2 -4: (18)+1+2+-4: 17
GAME: Vaera rolls 1d8+1: (7)+1: 8
GAME: Vaera rolls 1d8+1: (1)+1: 2

Vaera looks to the last one there, and not wishing to risk them sneaking up behind them, she turns to knock them out with the side of their warhammer.

"Well, that was unfortunate. I do not wish to do that, but clearly they aren't even aware of being sick to be able to seek treatment. And I just wonder for what reason that would be." Vaera growls, turning to glare at the Lucht.

The Lucht holds up her small hands with the chain dangling between them, knees drawn up against her bossom. It's not the most dignified pose in her outfit. "No, oh no. I only want to comply. That was a shame, really. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Poor dears. They all live, I hope?"

The Vanguard, Omondi, is still bloodied and he's taken a moment in prayer to call down further healing magics for himself after re-slinging his parma. He looks around and produces several short lengths of rope. He offers them about and then sets to tying the hands of one of the attackers. Just to be safe.

There's movement at some of the other doors, scattered individuals peering through windows. Other lovers that lack the bloodlust of the four that rushed the group. Most look tired. Others have sores. Another Lucht woman-- nearly the spitting image of your captive-- appears near death.

You hear it then, echoing in your minds for all nearby to hear. "No, my lovelies, there's no point now. I'll be fine. There will be other nights. Stay warm and be safe..." she calls out without moving her lips.

"Shall we..." she's speaking again, looking at Skielstregar questioningly as she waits for approval to get up. "Finish what we came here to do?"

Telamon's expression tightens. How long has this fiend been here, preying on the weak, the poor? He turns towards the 'lucht', his eyes full of fury; a cold anger, the darkness lit by distant stars visible in his gaze. For a long moment, he struggles to keep his temper, before remarking, "Unsurprising. A petty act, though. Small, pathetic... and one that will be scrubbed away in time."

Skielstregar's anger fades, and is replaced with fatigue as his features return to his normal half-Forgotten self. He growls somewhat, abating the setting of his weapon by resting it on his shoulder. He looks around to all of the folk coming out of the woodworks, and he scowls. "... thisss place needs ssshamansss badly..." he points out, ignoring the Lucht.

Then... insight? "... the fiend feeds on the unseen and neglected soulsss of the city," he grumbles. "Of courssse you go unchecked. Curse your scales," he spits.

Vaera looks around after tying up those who were out there, to the windows. "It is terrible, yes. But you had no intention of having us do what we came here for. Why should we listen now? "

"That one in the window, the lucht like her. She may not survive if we leave her here. She needs care, and soon. Not that I think her lover cares."

"This is love, lover," the Lucht disagrees with Skielstregar, slowly standing with her hands in plain view. She smiles as she watches the Vanguard about his work securing the unconscious bodies, licking her lips and heaving a heavy sigh. "I give them everything I have and they give me all in return." She offers a come-hither look and curls fingers for you to follow. "Damn your makers for not piecing you together better."

"... of course I did?" She smiles faintly at Vaera, gesturing with both hands towards a door on a narrow building. The Lucht waits for Omondi to return from retrieving his dropped crossbow and then heads to one of the smaller buildings. The front window is boarded and the boards draped with a tattered sheet. She moves to the door and presses it lightly, causing it to swing in on rusting, abused hinges. She turns back and cocks her head.

Omondi wavers and looks back to the others, unsure. It's clear the adventure is beginning to wear on him-- but he remembers his duty and manges to lift the crossbow to point at the Lucht.

Skielstregar glances to the one at the window, him sighing some as he collects himself to shake off the fatigue. "Love doesss not charm and infect. To wither to nothing. Love to supposed to be greater than the sum of itsss partsss. It isss not uss that are made weak. It isss you who isss weak for squandering potential," he chastises. "We can ensssure she makes it back," he gestures to the almost deathly, not demon Lucht.

The half-dead makari looks to Omondi, then back to the entrance before nodding towards the demon. "Thisss one will check it out. Your mending hasss made thisss one unscathed. And thisss one thanksss you."

The Warrior hefts his weapon, and advances to the door. "If there isss a trap in there, you besst not try anything," he calls out to the door as he peeks his head in, weapon in front of him.

"This is true. You say you give everything, yet you yourself look healthy and whole." Vaera sighs. "Take heart, Omondi, we will see this through. And help all these people in the process."

Vaera stops, and takes out her firearm after stowing the warhammer away, before following through into the rather questionable looking building. "I am sure you had no intention of any of this happening."

"No traps, my dears," promises the Lucht.

Omondi smiles thinly in thanks, trying his best not to let his relief be too obvious. "Star guide you," he offers with a tight nod.

What once might have been a home is now little more than a hovel. The building was always modest but its fallen into a sorry state, some months now without a cleaning. The stench finds you with the dark of the interior, just past the front door and into a narrow hall. Part brothel and part butcher's with both halves poorly masked by several strong incenses.

It's a single-room home and the whole of the place has been converted into what could be best-described as a nest. A mattress lies piled high with bedclothes, tangled and swirled and stacked with a dozen mismatched pillows. Candles are everywhere, wax pooling across the floor, with only a few of them still burning or fit to burn. There's paper, too, scattered everywhere, loose or in journals, on a desk, in the sink, and covering the floor. Figures carved from stone or wood or forged in brass and gold.

The walls are painted in murals of monstrous carnal acts. A repeated figure, beautiful and terrible, with blue skin and curved, black horns and cruel black claws. Sometimes male, others female, or neither, or both, but always with a awful, hungry mouth full of wicked fangs. Most of the art leans towards the tortured and abstract. There are various styles from different hands, some works overlapping.

No, not a nest. A temple.

GAME: Skielstregar rolls perception: (11)+8: 19
GAME: Vaera rolls perception+2: (14)+11+2: 27
<OOC> Jinks says, "The works around the room are all devotional. Love letters, poetry, artworks, etc. But they use various names and descriptions. Even the statues are of different humanoid shapes."

Skielstregar freezes in the doorway. His maw ajar as his gaze swoops over the blasphemous temple of carnal depravity. He's not one to shy away from the topic, but this was... truly sinful. "Dragonfather's scales..." he murmurs. The man glances over his shoulder, and reaches back to rest on Vaera's arm. "... thisss one thinksss they were worshiping the demon."

He looks back to the cleric. ".... thissss isss sssome kind of demon worship going on in here. Thisss needs to be sssanctified."

Vaera stopped, stuck behind at the doorway, and she peered over the other makari's shoulder. Her gaze darkened before she stepped further inside, stopping to read many of the letters. "It should be, and the people around here tended to." Vaera nods. "So, continue on. Why did you bring us to this horrid place? Please do not waste more of our time, fiend."

Vaera spends more time looking around, and she stops to squint at some of the paintings. "I am surprised you haven't tried to kill me yourself, what with your hatred of the color red." The makari chuffs, before looking further around. She stops near the bedding, and uses the butt of her firearm to push over some of the cloth, before she gestures quickly to the Cleric. "I need you here right now, Omondi. This woman needs care immediately, before we bring her out." She shouts, gesturing to the emaciated woman. "She was one of the guards we saw before."

GAME: Jinks rolls 1d20+8+2: (10)+8+2: 20

Omondi steels himself for the interior after hearing the sith-makars' calls. Turning the crossbow in his hand he pushes the Lucht's shoulder and forces her through the door, then to one side of the room. She laughs, nonplussed, and her chains jangle as she raises her hands to ward the shoving.

The elf chokes at the smell, making a retching sound and swooning. He blinks, catching himself, and moves towards Vaera, gesturing for Skielstregar to watch the woman as he drops to his knees and produces a set of healer's tools from a series of pouches on his belt.

"Plague." Offers the Vanguard, frowning deeply. He takes a canvas cloth and finds one of the larger buboe, pressing at its edge and getting nothing for his efforts until it bleeds dark blood.

The Sylvanori mutters the word in his native Sildanyari, first, and then repeats it awkwardly in the common tongue. "Bubonic plague."

"She's not had water in days." He looks up, hoping for a skin. "If this sickness has the whole block it needs blocking off."

The Lucht laces her fingers and walks around the bed, crouching down with her hands between her ankles. The chain tangles on the ground between her feet. "She was so mad when her little friend wouldn't have anything to do with her... she had such delightful feelings she never wanted to admit to herself."

Skielstregar's eyes widen as he somehow /missed/ a dying person right in front of him. He clutches his amulet tighter, his jaw tensing. He draws forth a waterskin, and hands it over to the elf. "Perhapsss thisss isss why your goddess sssent for you," he intones. "To help thessse people."

He looks down at the Lucht, a clear rage building in his frame, but he quells it by reaching over and holding Vaera's hand.

He is ever. So. Barely. Containing himself.

Vaera steps back, and while they work, keeps an eye on the Lucht. "So you starve them until they are nearly dead, and nearly kill them. That seems fair for someone emotionally vulnerable." The makari growls. "If this is a plague, we should go see the clerics immediately after. And, this place needs to be taken care of."

The Lucht looks up at Skielstregar from where she crouches. For the first time this evening her expression is inscrutable. The mask the demon wears-- borrowed from the wasting Lucht in a nearby home-- is chiseled from stone to be impassive. She stands and kicks through the pages on the ground, wandering until she finds one on a table to inspect. She smiles fondly, folds it, and tucks it into her brassiere.

"I..." Omondi's hands are shaking as he takes the waterskin. He opens and closes his hands and sets his jaw. "We all may be infected. You can take the plague from the air." He shakes his head, his braids swaying. He wets a cloth and dabs it against the woman's lips, sighing with some relief when she eventually puckers and sucks in reflex. The Vanguard adjusts his kneeling position and works to cradle her head and drip more water into her mouth.

"Our cousin, the wizard should go to your wardens and get better healers. With his face covered. We can stay and see to the worst if you will help." The cleric looks between to two sith-makar, sounding less-than-sure about this course of action. "We can deliver the creature after these people have help."

The demon grins at one of the paintings on the wall, meandering into a corner of the room and sliding down to sit among her devotions one last time.

Skielstregar sighs heavily at the explanation. "Yessss, that iss the wissest course of action."

A glance to the demon, shoving something away into her clothes. "Enjoy those that prossstrate themssselves to you for now. Thisss isss going to be burned and tarnisshed later," he threatens, stepping back to crumple some of the pages on the ground.

He yells out of the ramshackle home, "Ssshaman Telamon! Fetch more healerssss from the Defenssse, and wear a masssk to cover your breathing! There isss disease here! Bubonic plague, the sssshaman sssays!"

He squeezes Vaera's hand one more time before rifling around for spare clean cloth to wrap around his face. "... vile and wretched..." he hisses to himself, walking over to help the cleric as he drags his taloned feet through the scattered statues and papers.

"Stay strong, cleric." Vaera reassures the cleric, while keeping an eye on the Lucht. "We did good here today. And catching this plague before it spreads even further is an unexpected boon as well. The gods do smile on us, and I do not believe any here are beyond saving."

Vaera does stop to put a hand on Skielstregar's shoulder. "You did good as well, and do not worry about me. I will be fine, and the healers coming by can tend to the worst of it. Luckily that one went for my metal knee, and not the flesh and bone one first."

She then stops to look around the area, before she helps to gather up the letters, in case there was anything important in there. "And do not think I did not see the one you took. We will see it, so that there is nothing left hidden here."

Saana Omondi holds the crippled soldier's head up and continues to slowly and deliberately see her watered. He glances up and nods again to the two sith-makar before returning full to his task. The Sylvanori whispers prayer, a chant in his native tongue that becomes half a song as he repeats the verse.

Outside the block stirs as Telamon goes running for aid, more of the sick venturing into the street to see what's become of their lady love.

Back inside the creature's den the Lucht issues a heavy sigh and offers Vaera a chagrinned look. "Can't a lady have any secrets?"

Combatty

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 |     Name      |  CHP (T) |  HP  |
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 | Skielstregar..|   43     |  43  |
 | Telamon.......|   19     |  19  |
 | Vaera.........|   35     |  53  |
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 1 =====================
 ---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
     24   BKB2                
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     23   BKB4                
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     18   Telamon          1  Flat-footed (0 rnds active)                  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     13   BKB1                
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     12   Skielstregar     1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     9    BKB3                
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     8    Vaera            1  Flat-footed (0 rnds active)                  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ==============================================================================

Map: https://www.mipui.net/app/index.html?mid=mwy8dzd4hpj

OOC

<OOC> Jinks says, "tinyurl.com/3sp9d9nt" <OOC> Jinks says, "One version of the critter" <OOC> Jinks says, "tinyurl.com/3wevs89z another"

-End Scene-