Benny-ficiary
Log Info
- Title: Benny-ficiary
- GM: Telamon
- Place: Isobar
Adventurer's Guild, midday
The days are growing shorter and cooler, but villainy never sleeps. And the posting got picked up pretty fast on this one, as Granaulg, for all his humble station, is well known for supplying excellent poultry and eggs -- in considerable sizes, no less.
"The letter came a week ago," Granaulg says, the five of you plus himself occupying one of the guild's briefing rooms. "It wasn't real specific -- just said Benny was due to inherit some things from a distant relative off in Isobar of all places." The half-orc shrugs. "Hell, I didn't know he had any family outside of Alexandros, let alone the Myrrish kingdoms. But evidently they're sticklers for making sure everything gets done proper in Isobar. So Benny went out to the tavern after work to sink a few tankards in memory of whoever was leaving him whatever."
Granaulg scowls. "Benny in his cups, well... he's not always the sharpest axe on the wall. I figure he must've been bragging and someone decided to put the arm on him, 'cause he didn't come home that night. Jolyne was frantic, and me and the boys started lookin', but... no dice. Then I remembered we'd gotten adventurers to deal with a problem before, so... that's where you come in. I can pay -- in gold and produce, iff'n you need a merry Yule chicken and the fixin's."
Thoth is quiet for the most part as it stands in the guild's briefing rooms. Chairs aren't really necessary for the War Golem. It just stands there, unmoving, almost like a statue. A four feet nothing statue, but a statue none-the-less. And a broken one at that, if its wings are any tell. Spokes and damaged metalic feathers show that this thing has been through the wringer.
It isn't familiar with the previous adventures of Benny and Granaulg. It has only just arrived to town, so it has not yet filled anything internally with recent localnews. All it has is information that has, over many centuries, become utterly useless for most intents and purposes.
Then, finally, its beak opens. "This one does not require sustenance. What search patterns have already been enacted in searching for 'Benny' around the 'Tavern'." It inquires. Only its beak moving.
Despite his words, Lheo had been quick to pick up what appeared to be a job well within his capabilities, and now has taken a chair in the briefing room, full wizard robes and trousers in colors of deep rust and ochre, a gray cloak with a leather-padded shoulder over it. On that perch sits a gray hawk, talons sunk into the thick leather, wearing a hood but no jesses.
"I see. He wasn't expecting an inheritance? I smell a scam, what say you, brother?" He turns to look at the man in the room who looks almost exactly like him, only much, much thicker and more muscular.
Theo stands at his brother's side rather than sitting, his eyes hard and his expression slightly troubled. When Lheo speaks up he sighs and then nods. "Much as I hate to say it. Either he was swindled, or as you suspect he was taken because he said a little too much to the wrong person. Either way we'll do our best to track him down. Do you have any other information aside from which bar he was drinking at?" Any little detail could help.
The Gnome listens carefully at Granaulg speaks, and at the end, taps at her chin. "Did anyone see him leave that tavern? And are you willing to show us the likely path he'd have taken to go home from that tavern?" From a pouch on her hip, Zelany pulls a small notebook, and a pencil, immediately jotting down notes in point form.
Her eyes go to Thoth and Lheo, their questions also being taken down. The Gnome glance at Theo when he speaks, nodding slowly as she continues writing.
Zero pads up to the twin brothers Lheo and Theo, the mul'niessa man dressed in more subtle leathers compared to his usual peacock pageantry on the stage at the TarRaCe. He's a full foot smaller than them, but that doesn't stop him from approaching the boys like they're all dear friends. He seems to eye them for a moment before taking Theo's arm. The pain, having to pick between handsome twins! The agony!
"I wish that more people would offer to pay me in cock," Zero says in his purring way. He's smiling from pointed ear to ear. "A Yule chicken! A delectable meal." What? He meant nothing else by it. "But I do agree with you both, my fine friends. It sounds positively... Fishy."
He makes a face. "I don't care for fish," he adds. "But nonetheless. It does stink."
Granaulg shakes his head. "If it was a scam, someone went to a lot of trouble. And who'd scam -Benny-? It ain't like we're nobles. A lot of what we make gets plowed right back into the farm, between feed, stock, and payin' the bills for hands what get laid up by the chickens." He pauses. "Oh yeah. You might not've heard. We raise dire chickens." He holds his hand up about six feet in the air.
That said, Granaulg nods. "He was at the Stone Slab -- it's a khazadi-run place, but it's pretty cozy. Bartender said he'd seen Benny leavin' with two other guys he didn't know. Thought the two guys were hands from the farm come to collect Benny and pour him into bed."
"So, great big cocks," Lheo drawls, a smirk firmly planted on the narrow features. "There's no telling what a man will do if he's hard up enough." His green eyes are fixed on Granaulg, and look neither left nor right now. "He doesn't remember what the men looked like, does he, by chance?" One hand reaches up to stroke the gray hawk on his shoulder.
Thoth quiets again, beak closed, listening to the others speak. Noticing the intense note-taking by Zelany. Of course, Zero and Lheo's innuendo go completely over its head. So it instead just tilts its head a few times in confusion, trying its best to understand what is being said. But between then and now, a lot of new cultural sayings have entered the dictionary, let alone the language-drift.
"This one 'hopes' Benny has not been fed to the Dire Chickens by Activists." As if that were some kind of thing that would normally happen. It isn't much of a leader - it has only recently started Adventuring. So it is still learning the spirit of it all. "But if they were dangerous men, is Other - Benny - capable of beating them off by himself?"
Theo spares a glance for both Zero and then Lheo, his expression blank and as fair-weather as might be. He continues on as if they aren't sporting between the two of them. "Best we start there then." He says smoothly then eyes his brother. "Unless you're not done trying to measure up to our employers' flock?" Okay maybe there's something to be said for them being twins after all.
"Ahah!", Zelany crows, "The plot thickens!" Her pencil continues scratching on the small page. "Maybe not a scam, but if he was drunkenly disclosing that he'd inherited some gold, that might be enough for someone to consider rolling the man."
The Gnome glances to others, "Are any of you a tracker or ranger of some skill? Their trail may yet be fresh, or we may find some evidence of fowl play."
Her eyes look back to Granaulg, "Dire chickens? That's a lot of c..." Her mouth closes for a moment, "Bird. That's a lot of bird." From that same pouch the notebook came from, she pulls a small pink cube. And begins furiously erasing something on the page, then writes something else down.
"Oh, I'll do more than measure you up to the... Mmm... _dire chickens_, darling," Zero purrs at Theo, although he's grinning from ear to ear with Lheo and Thoth's remarks. "Well yes, a man hard up might go... beating them off."
He's having way too much of a good time before he clears his throat. "No, I agree with Theo, let's start there. Before we get a... head of ourselves. Mmm?"
The worst thing in the world is a bard who thinks he's clever.
Granaulg seems about to say something, but with the group evidently eager to get on with things, he decides not to pursue it. "Benny's my best hand," he grumbles instead. "Bring him back in one piece, if you don't mind."
With that, you're off to the Stone Slab. Granaulg was right -- it's definitely a khazadi establishment, wrought of good stout stone construction. The signpost out front is in fact a jutting gray rectangle of stone, with the establishment's name engraved on it. A heavyset older dwarf stands outside, sweeping around the front door, a pipe jutting from his beard as he hums tunelessly.
As he so often does when in company, Lheo has said little since he left, about chickens or otherwise, instead allowing the more talkative ones to take the lead. Instead, he hangs back among the group, watching and listening, and occasionally reaching up to stroke the hawk on his shoulder with a hand on which he'd donned a thick leather glove before leaving.
Now, though, he turns towards the hawk, and offers her a hand, to which she hops at once in what is clearly a communicated gesture. "Go keep an eye out, Tarna. Follow if we move." With that, he throws her into the air, and she immediately takes off in a rush of feathered wings, soaring up to the rooftops in search of a suitable perch.
Surprisingly, or perhaps unsurprisingly if one really knows Theo, the paladin is not one of the more talkative ones on the trip to the bar. However as they come up to the location he seems to shake off the dust of his thoughts and approaches the older dwarf sitting outside. "Greetings sir." He begins casually and with warmth. "Have you perchance seen a man known as Benny at this establishment recently?"
Once outside of the guild, a dark blue feathered owl lands on Thoth's shoulder, and it takes the backseat to the group alongside Lheo. It needs someone to lead and allow it to understand how to tackle problems such as this. Unlike Lheo, it doesn't need a glove. Its body made of metal, with enough imperfections and detailing that the owl can easily settle its talons comfortably.
Once Lheo sends out Tarna, Thoth takes this as a hint, and metalically chirps at Ra. The owl hoots, before taking off right after Tarna, joining the hawk in flight. There's a sense of mimicry behind its actions. Yet, it did not speak to Ra in that moment.
"This one inquires with Other - " Aka Lheo, " - do they have experience with these kinds of... 'quests'?"
"No trackers or rangers, but comedians galore.", the Gnome says with a sigh. "We'll bring him back, sir, don't you worry about that."
The loosing of the hawk catches Zelany's eye, and she leans upon her staff to watch the bird fly up over the rooftops. "Familiar?", she asks of Lheo, tilting her chin at hawk. "Or a companion?" The owl's path is also eyed, the Gnome's head canted slightly.
Her attention turns as Theo approaches the older dwarf out front of the Stone Slab, watching with interest.
Zero has been more than happy to do all of the chatting and talking that Lheo and Theo do not on the way there. It's a role that he falls into easily, filling their silence with his commentary without it feeling awkward. It's mindless chatter, really, about everything from the rain to Yule chickens (and Zero's yearning for them).
When Theo greets the dwarf, Zero claps his hand onto Theo's arm. "Yes! Our bonny friend Benny. We would like to see him if he's here." Nevermind the fact that Zero's never met the man before in his life.
"Yes." Thoth answers Zelany, in a boolean statement kind of way, when she asks whether the bird(s) going up are Familiar or Companion.
The dwarf turns to regard the motley group with a gimlet eye. "Granaulg sent you, eh? Well... after his boys came lookin', I asked around a bit too. Been waitin' on ye." The pipe works from one side of his mouth to the other without the use of his hands, as he sets the broom to the side.
"They seemed a little too friendly for just farmhands. And one had that weedy look -- sorry, lad," he says to Lheo. "But nobody works on a farm and looks like a rake. Anyways, one o'my regulars said they'd rented a house a few blocks from here." He fishes out a slip of parchment, and offers it to Theo. "Y'might ask there."
"Yes," Lheo answers Zelany absently. "Tarna's my familiar." The tone is soft with an affection he hadn't previously shown, and he runs a hand across the stomach of his robes, glancing over at Thoth. "I have done a few. I'll tell you what I was told, _stick together, keep sharp, and be ready for anything._"
He glances over at Theo, and shuts up again, listening to what the dwarf has to say. "Don't worry about it," he answers automatically, not seeming like he really even paid the remark any mind.
"We appreciate your help." Theo remarks to the dwarf smoothly, taking the paper and offering a bow to the man. He glances down at the directions in brief before making to make away from here and toward where they need to go. Zero, for his part gets a half-rueful smile and escorted like the gentleman that he is.
Stick together, keep sharp, be ready for anything. Thoth nods its head. "Understood." As it takes off one of its broken feathers from its wings, and then begins to sharpen it a bit with its beak. "How sharp must this one be?" It then inquires while Theo is getting quite useful information out of the dwarf at the tavern.
It is impressed.
It looks to Theo and the rest for a moment, then back to Lheo, expectantly.
Zelany regards Thoth a moment, an eyebrow raised. But a more decisive answer comes from Lheo, and she nods, smiling. "A magnificent bird." The Gnome nods in agreement with the advice the wizard repeats to the Khazad. "That's sensible advice."
Her gaze returns to Thoth, that eyebrow raised again. "Erm. Sharp, in this context, means alertness. Stay sharp means be watchful and mindful of your surroundings.", she offers the bird-golem.
"Mmm, about half as sharp as the blade that might be going for our guts if this really does turn out to be a setup, dear," Zero answers Thoth. "Not that's much an issue for you, but it _is_ an issue for those of us with, ah, soft insides."
He walks with Theo, letting the Serrielite lead the way a tad but not straying far from him at all.
The address the bartender gave you leads down to a less-well to do neighborhood, with fewer people on the streets. The house in particular looks a little run down, with a window facing the street as well as a patched front door. The window itself isn't even fitted with glass, just shutters. It might be a setup; it might not.
Regardless, this is where the trail has led so far.
Almost at once, Lheo reaches towards the perch on his shoulder, finds it empty, starts to put fingers to teeth to whistle, and thinks better of it. Quiet is probably the better part of valor here. "Not all of us should be visible," he points out, staring at the patched front door, and surveying the house in search of another way in.
Metal on metal isn't a pleasant sound. Thoth stops sharpening however, as Zelany gives out a bit more... useful advice. A nod. "This one understands." It remarks, like a cat that flopped out of its seat while falling asleep, and walks it off as if it meant to do that. "This one shall remain alert. Ra shall aid in this endevour."
A small nod at Zero's extra remark. "This one is still vulnerable to sharp blades. If this one is too damaged, it too will cease to exist." It then adds.
"But this one is not permitted to allow lethal damage to come to Master's property."
Once they arrive in the street with the group, Thoth warns; "This one is not very stealthy." And as if to make this clear, it clicks its metalic talons on the ground a few times. Click clack. It then seems to almost make a nervous twitch with one of its eyes.
It suddenly tucks its beak against its broken horrendous looking wings, preening at them for a few seconds, before it draws its head back out again. Not really managing to do anything about those broken things.
GAME: Zerthos rolls Perception: (16)+9: 25 GAME: Theo rolls Perception: (20)+1: 21 GAME: Zelany rolls perception: (15)+3: 18 GAME: Thoth rolls 10: (7)+10: 17 GAME: Thoth rolls perception: (9)+2: 11 GAME: Lheo rolls perception: (15)+5: 20
Theo nods to Lheo, a trace of worry on his brow. He disliked being separated from his brother, but... "Thoth, if you would mind following Lheo?" He glanced at the house and wrapped his arm around Zero. "Come along Zero, we've villains to distract!" Zalany would find her place with either group. He wasn't sure where she belonged in truth.
"Aye, that's the rub, isn't it. Keeping the insides inside, and sharp, pointy things outside.", the Gnome says with a chuckle. "Easier said than done, some days." She offers a grin to Thoth, "Ra is your owl, then? Neat name!"
She nods to the Khazad after the parchment is given over, "Our thanks!"
Lheo's advice is taken, when they come upon the house in question. She ducks behind the wizard. "Thamks.", she whispers, "You are full of good advice. Erm... I've a spell that makes mist, really good cover but uh kind of obvious. Should I risk using it?" Zel pauses a moment, squinting. "Oh. Someone is watching, it looks like... maybe we should just carry on, babbling to ourselves.", the Gnome whispers.
"I'd be more than happy to come with you, Theo, especially in that back door," Zero purrs, wagging his eyebrows at Theo. Is it a come-on or vital information?
Either way, he follows Theo's direction. He trusts the Serrielite's plan. Sauntering like nothing's the issue at all and everything will go smoothly. Even if adventures don't always go smoothly.
Around the back, the house is no less unimpressive. The door looks even -more- ragged than the front, but it it's closed. As battered as it is, it's not stout or solid enough to prevent the sound of voices from inside from leaking out as the small group approaches.
GAME: Thoth casts Mage Armor. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15 GAME: Thoth casts Shield. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15 GAME: Zelany casts Spectral Hand. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15 GAME: Lheo casts Invisibility. Caster Level: 3 DC: 16
"Other" - Zelany - "is correct." Thoth answers the Gnome as she remarks on the owl. "She is more perceptive than I am. Especially in the dark." It continues to point out in an almost utilitarian way. It then continues to move with the others, walking as quietly as it can. At least it can try not to look 'too obvious'.
Once they arrive near the back, and it seems like people are about to try and head in, Thoth tries to - as quietly as it can - cast a spell of Shieling onto its body, to protect it from further harm. After all, as it had mentioned, it wishes for no permanent damage to occur on its Master's property.
"Please lead the way." Thoth then remarks, waiting quietly.
Lheo stops short when Theo proposes splitting up, clearly surprised, but seems neither dismayed nor offended, merely surprised. "The mist will help once we're a little closer," he mutters, eyeing the rickety back door. "Try to be quiet."
With that, he pulls from one of his many pouches an eyelash encased in some sort of substance. He speaks several words, audibly but fairly quietly, and the thing in his hand melts into nothingness, even as he, too, fades from view. The prints of his boots on the grass of the yard are the only clue to his whereabouts.
GAME: Zelany casts Obscuring Mist. Caster Level: 3 DC: 14
Theo meanwhile heads directly for the front door with Zero on hand and knocks on the door as loudly and as obnoxiously as he possibly can. "HELLO!"
The Gnome stays behind Lheo for the journey behind the house, and her ears perk up as the invisibility spell is cast. Zel works through two spells in fairly quick succession, her too-long fingers weaving arcane symbols in the air, whispering the words of power required. A small, ghostly image of a small hand appears, moments after, a gush of mist begins filling the immediate area around her. "Ready when you are."
"Yes, hello~! We're friendly travelers looking to say hello to the locals!" Zero calls out. Taking Theo's hand and looking for all intents and purposes like a bizarre... couple? lost in the middle of nowhere.
Of course, who knows how well he's selling it. A mul'niessa bard and a Serrielite paladin holding hands at the front door of a random house? For what purpose?
GAME: Zerthos rolls Perform/Sing: (18)+10: 28 (Versatile Performance) GAME: Zelany rolls 1d4: (4): 4 GAME: Theo rolls Bluff: (1)+4: 5 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Theo rolls Bluff: (8)+4: 12
Whatever they were talking about in the house comes to a dead stop as Theo and Zero begin banging on the door. After a minute, it cracks open to reveal an unshaven face, glaring at the two. "The fuck you want, man? We're tryin' to sleep here! Why you botherin' us?" He rubs his nose. "Don'tcha know that folks are tryin' to get over hangovers?"
Beyond the door, there's some whispering, but no more talking.
Theo looks blandly at the man that answered the door. His expression just... not there. "We are looking for your quick-wedding service? We heard you offered them in exchange for a fee?" It's hard to tell if he's joking or not with his lack of intonation or expression. Surely not.
GAME: Lheo casts Mage Hand. Caster Level: 3 DC: 14
From nowhere, within the mist, there's another sound - Lheo's voice, casting another spell, bare moments after all talking in the back silences. "I'll try the door. Stay back, just in case," he mutters to the others through the mist, his voice sounding disembodied.
It takes somehow every iota of Zero's self-control to _not_ blink in surprise at that. Where was this hiding in Theo? But he starts getting handsy.
Which is to say he puts his arm around Theo's a little tighter and leans into the taller man, looking all kinds of smug. "We are simply too _eager_ to do the whole full ceremony, you know!" he says, fanning himself with his other free hand. "I've got to lock down this tall, dark and handsome before anyone else sets eyes on him! I saw him from across the way and we had to have each other!"
Zero bats his eyelashes up at Theo like he's a smitten kitten, of course. Those pretty, pretty white eyelashes on his red-pink eyes.
Zelany moves a few more steps to the side, should something come flying through the door unannounced. "Okay, I'm in a safe spot... such as that may be.", the Gnome whispers. "I'll be in a few steps behind you, okay?"
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+5: (18)+5: 23
The door opens at Lheo's magical urging, swinging inward and letting the trio (with their personal fogbank, supplied by Zelany) start to creep in. Meanwhile, the man at the front door just kind of stares at Zero and Theo in absolute befuddlement, before his face contorts in a snarl. "Is this some kinda joke? Does this look like a fuckin' temple? Why don't you--"
What he's about to suggest the two do goes unsaid as there's a sudden shout from inside. Two other men are there -- a weedy looking fellow, and another man gripping a dagger. The two of them have turned to see the back door swing open, and they yell, "Hey, what the hell's going on here?!"
The weedy looking guy suddenly pulls out a wand, and marches over to the door. "Alright, I don't know what the hell you two crazy bastards are doing, but do it someplace else! Rory! Go shut that damned door, where the hell is that fog coming from?"
The aforementioned Rory goes jogging to the back door, slowing as he enters the fog. "What the... man, it's like pea soup! Where's it comin' from?" He starts waving his hands back and forth, trying to find the door in the magically conjured murk.
GAME: Zelany rolls intimidate: (11)+2: 13
The Gnome counts to herself, first trying on her fingers, but tuts since she can't see her hand in front of her face right now. Under her breath, she gives Lheo a three count before she quickly steps in behind him. She barely avoids running face first into the guy coming to shut the back down, and she scuttles back a step or two.
With the mists swirling around her, she poses her hands in a way that looks almost painful, as if some palsy had taken control of her nimble fingers. "Ohhh, they were right! Fresh meat for the taking. Fear, mortal, for you face the ending of your life... fear the FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH!" Her previous spell, the ghostly image of a hand, lunges out of the mists trailing translucent bits behind it, moving right at the man's face.
GAME: Thoth rolls Intimidate: (6)+0: 6
"Greetings, Others. This is an investigation into a recent missing persons report. Please politely lay down your arms and step towards the wall - then tell us where the person designated 'Benny' is." The War Golem answers the weedy fellow and the bedaggered one. "Or this one will be required to incinerate you. As per its contract."
And out from the mists comes... a four foot tall mechanical bird. With the intimidation factor of a 9 year old. Staring at the man with its glowing golden eyes and its click-clackity beak.
Another skinny-looking fellow, this one holding a staff, comes out from behind the curtain, evidently having heard 'Benny'. "Oh shit! They're onto us, guys! Waste 'em! WASTE 'EM!" Sadly, Lheo is invisible, Zelany and Thoth are hidden in the mist, and Theo and Zero are outside, so he's left looking for a target.
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+4: (3)+4: 7
A snarl contorts the unshaven man's face as the alarm is raised. "You think you're so smart, don'tcha?" Suddenly a heavy leaf-shaped dagger is pulled from his belt and he lunges, trying to gut Theo. This is less than effective as the blade bounces off Theo's armor. "SHIT!"
GAME: Zerthos spends ONE use of BARDIC PERFORMANCE.
"Oh darling! Take down this _brute!_" Zero cries out to Theo, letting go of the Serrielite and beginning to sing one of his characteristic arias of heroic inspiration. It's a courageous-feeling song, even if one doesn't necessarily understand the Sildanyari that he chooses to almost exclusively sing in. One that's magically bolstering.
GAME: Theo rolls 1d20+6+1: (17)+6+1: 24 GAME: Theo rolls 1d8+4+1: (3)+4+1: 8
Theo didn't exactly need the direction, but it didn't hurt. He smiled grimly at the man that had tried to stab him and lifted his heavy mace. "Mmmm. My turn I think?" His smile became a bit wicked and he slammed the weapon heavily into the man's shoulder.
GAME: Lheo casts Flaming Sphere. Caster Level: 3 DC: 16 GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+2: (3)+2: 5 GAME: Lheo rolls 3d6: (14): 14
"Wasting you? Sounds like an excellent idea. Thanks for proving we found you," Lheo drawls, his tone positively nasty. From another of his pouches, he withdraws a small dab of tallow, a pinch of something powdery, and a pinch of brimstone. These he rolls together into a ball and throws at the new arrival's feet.
Instantly, a ball of spongy fire bursts into being, right in the man's face, and leaves him screaming as he burns to a crisp, blacking out in seconds.
Instantly, as the spell is cast, he bursts into view, and he steps backwards into the corner of the room, clearly expecting retaliation.
GAME: Theo rolls Will: (7)+8: 15
The wand-wielding wizard doesn't see his fellow get turned into a crispy critter, as he points his wand at Theo. "Take a nap!" he snarls, and... nothing happens. "FUCK!" he yells angrily, turning to see his buddy get incinerated. "Get out here! We need some help!"
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+4: (11)+4: 15 GAME: Telamon rolls 1d4+3: (3)+3: 6
The thug comes yelling back out of the fog. "Severed hands! Metal birds! Holy shit, guys, it's adventurers!" Catching sight of someone who -doesn't- belong and doesn't look weird, he lunges at Lheo, giving the wizard a good cut with his knife. "They're back here, guys! Quick!" Evidently he hasn't realized they're getting hit from two different sides.
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+4: (16)+4: 20 GAME: Telamon rolls 2d6+3: (5)+3: 8
A third guard comes charging out from behind the curtain, toting a heavy leather sap in his fist. Smoothly, he slides along the wall, past the flaming sphere, and manages to come up in a position flanking Lheo. The sap comes up, and then descends, slamming into the wizard and giving him a remarkable headache.
GAME: Zelany casts Sleep. Caster Level: 3 DC: 14 GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20: (11): 11 GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20: (17): 17
The Gnome feels almost safe in the mists, a comforting muting of sounds and mostly hidden from view. But the noises aren't quite muted enough, and she hears the nearby sounds of something solidly hitting someone. Taking a deep breath, Zelany charges out of the mists, skidding to a stop near the man originally trying to shut the door.
"I do hope this works... on the right persons.", she mutters. A larger arcane symbol is traced, this time on the ground as she dribbles fine sand from her hand. "Nap time!", she screeches, mocking ol' Sparklehead. With a broad gesture waved, one of the thugs attempting to waylay Lheo suddenly slackens, and drops to the ground as if his legs were boneless. The snores can be heard almost immediately. She glares at the other thug, and points her rat-skull topped staff at him. "You're NEXT!"
GAME: Thoth casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 3 DC: 17 GAME: Thoth rolls BAB+Intelligence-4: (2)+1+4+-4: 3 GAME: Thoth rolls BAB+Intelligence-4: (15)+1+4+-4: 16 GAME: Thoth rolls 4d6: (18): 18
"Retreating is not within the requested parameters." Thoth remarks, stepping out of the mists. "This one requested your surrender. When will you learn, that your actions have consequences?" Followed by the War Golem shifting its shoulders a bit. A series of small pinions on its back suddenly glowing red-hot, followed by a singular red scorching ray flashing from it and searing through the man, burning the thug without a mote of remorse.
"This one recommends the others to surrender, unless they too wish to be incinerated. Please release the one designated 'Benny'. You have 5 seconds to comply."
GAME: Telamon rolls 1d20+4: (7)+4: 11
The thug coughs from the heavy mace hit, staggering. "I got 'em! I'll hold 'em off!" Evidently he hasn't realized two of his companions have been rendered into barbeque and a third is sleeping it off. The dagger slams out at Theo again, glancing off the paladin's mail. "Man, I knew we shoulda gotten swords for this!"
GAME: Theo rolls 1d20+6+1: (8)+6+1: 15 GAME: Theo rolls 1d8+4+1: (4)+4+1: 9
Theo is astonished by the spellwork he knows to be his brothers. "Lheo?" He querries, and then the two thugs attack his brother and his vision goes red. It doesn't matter to him that his brother had killed one of theirs. It doesn't matter that he's about to send this man before him to his maker. All that matters is that there's someone between him and the blood that stains his brother's robes. "LHEO!"
The heavy mace swings again and Theo is already moving forward. He doesn't care if the man is dead. Doesn't care if he takes a hit. The body is out of his way and Lheo needs him!
GAME: Zerthos rolls weapon1+1: (2)+6+1: 9 GAME: Zerthos rolls weapon1+1: (9)+6+1: 16 GAME: Zerthos rolls damage1+1: aliased to 1d4+0+1: (2)+0+1: 3
Zero, seeing Theo take down the enemy blocking their way, nods his appreciation, unable to interrupt his song to offer a little quip so as to keep the momentum of his artistry in motion.
But then there's the matter of the wand-waving idiot in the corner. Zero takes his hand crossbow and fires it at a bit of a parting shot. He keeps singing his aria in the meantime, dedicated bard that he is.
And just like that, in seconds, Lheo's in a world of hurt. Blood stains his robes from a nasty gash across his chest, the ochre of the fabric turning a nasty crimson as he staggers backwards half a pace towards the wall, pain suddenly blooming in the back of his head, his head swimming, his ears ringing. "I owe you two," he calls to Thoth and Zelany.
He remembers one thing, though, amid the miasma. That sphere will set the place on fire if he doesn't keep it moving! A flick of green eyes towards the remaining opponent, and he marshals his wits enough to gesture towards it, sending it to cutt off the remaining wizard's escape from his enraged brother.
Seeing a lost cause, the wand wielding wizard takes a different tack -- he sprints westward, brushing through the curtain and vanishing from view!
GAME: Zelany rolls perception: (18)+3: 21
The Gnome looks relieved at the cessation of the combat for now, and she shakes her head at Lheo. "It's what I hope others would do were I in the same position. That you're still on the right side of the grass is thanks enough, my friend."
The little woman moves towards the inner wall, and practically throws herself prone, her eyes narrowing to a squint. "I would forget my glasses today of all days." She suddenly holds up a hand, and begins to gesture, pointing at a spot on the curtain, pantomiming a figure walking with two fingers of her other hand.
GAME: Thoth casts Scorching Ray. Caster Level: 3 DC: 17 GAME: Thoth rolls BAB+Intelligence: (5)+1+4: 10 GAME: Thoth rolls 1d10: (6): 6
The man failing to dagger a paladin declares about that they should have gotten swords for this. "One of many miscalculations on thine part." The archaic-languaged War Golem remarks. When thanks are lifted its way, it simply remarks; "This one does not wish its allies to perish." Suggesting that its allies are not just some variables.
It then proceeds onwards as Sparkles tries to flee, leaving the sleeping one to sleep, and approaches the curtain. Using that long ibis-like beak to poke through the edge between curtain and wall. And soon, it kind of jolts its head, pushing the curtain aside just a bit, and points at 'Sparkles'. "Halt immediately, and surrender." It demands from him, right before firing a bolt of flames at him, aimed at him, but blasting the wall instead as Sparkles manages to move too quickly.
GAME: Theo rolls Perception: (6)+1: 7
There was a look. A need to heal his brother but Lheo... The battle wasn't over and his training told him that the wizard - someone like his brother - was the most dangerous of adversaries. So he let the injuries stand and felt the cold breath of hurt from it. "Someone help Lheo!" He said, hoping that someone besides himself _could_.
GAME: Zerthos casts Cure Light Wounds. Caster Level: 3 DC: 15 GAME: Zerthos rolls 1d8+3: (2)+3: 5
Zero answers Theo's call, making his way almost serenely to Lheo. Still singing, he gets to a point in his epic aria where the swan-may gives a healing embrace to Lheo, and he reaches out with his hand on a theatrical moment where the verse matches his healing intent, the magic of the Hymn flowing into Lheo.
It'd be really a lovely moment. If you understood Sildanyari, that is. Otherwise it's just very bombastic healing.
The healing magic flows into the injured wizard, healing the worst of both the wound and the headache. He straightens, and although some of the headache and bruising lingers, it will fade as time goes on. He straightens, steadying considerably, and blinks, regarding Zerthos with some surprise. "I didn't know you could do that. Thank you."
He takes the opportunity to move away, though, following after his brother and guiding the ball of fire into a corner to die. "That one needs to be dumped on the guards' door cobbles," he jerks a chin at the sleeping thug.
The wand-slinger ducks as Thoth's scorching ray smacks the wall next to his head, and manages to undo the catch on the shutters. Shouldering them open, he rolls out the window, landing on his feet before starting to run away from the house. Definitely fleeing the crime.
With the only opposition left still snoring on the floor, it's trivial to head into the room past the curtains. Inside, you find a rawboned, wiry man tied to a chair, with a bag over his head. Removing the bag reveals a somewhat hangdog countenance, and he nervously stares up at you. "Um... I ain't got no money..."
This of course turns out to be Benny. Getting him cut loose, and bringing him back to the guild, is easier than expected since he's highly cooperative. Seems getting kidnapped will do that to you. Granaulg is of course delighted, and makes certain you're paid in gold, as well as the opportunity to select a prime bird come Yule.
But a few days later, word comes about Benny's inheritance. The height of irony: Benny didn't inherit a fortune. He inherited a little gold, and some distinctly nonmagical furniture. Kidnapping him was just stupid, and it wouldn't have made near the money the thieves had imagined.
One could almost sense the hand of the Coyote in this debacle. It certainly wouldn't be the first time.