Grim Deed: Finale
Reithak has arrived.
The sun sets at Manor Umbergloom...
The party had victoriously defeated the lone mimic and retrieved the Grim Deed! However, the butler had reappeared with a letter from Lady Blythe, the vampire, offering the party a chance to retreat to lick their wounds and come back to fight at a better time.
An offer, the party chooses to take. The Butler, after a while, offers to take them to the nearby town - he was going that way regardless - for the party to recover. Instead of entering the town proper, the Butler diverts towards one of the more fancier looking mansions overlooking the small town, leaving the adventurers to their own devices. There is a distinct feeling of ease midway during the trip - almost as if the sun shines once more, the air breathes and the good life hums along.
Having rested, the party returns to the snowy steps of Manor Umbergloom. Gloomy as always. Yet, the door is unlocked. There is no servant greeting them. No invitation asked.
The entrance hallway - with the heavy double door opened - was dark, unlit. The warm galore of yore, gone and replaced. It was dark and gloomy. Most things, including the armors, have been removed or covered with white sheets. Was anyone here after all?
Culix elected to ride her own horse back to town- as much as she grumbles about the ornery mare, and it tries to bite her on a fairly regular basis, she doesn't quite trust the butler. And only partly because they have tangle footed him twice now.
When they return, she likewise rides her horse and dismounts some distance away to give her a bag of feed and tie her off. "Right, so, this will definitely be a trap." she says, just incase anyone else wasn't already thinking that.
"Mhm," Carver responds. She did not much care if it was, seems to be the given indication. "So if you have any last minute preparations, now would likely be the time to cast them or whatever it is you need to do." She noticeably does not tie Deathless off, still standing beside her trusted steed.
Carver has partially disconnected.
Likewise not trusting the butler, and only partially because he was the one that kept tanglefoot bagging him, Skyler also rode his own horse. "Definitely." He confirms with a nod, glancing around, "But at the same time, it's a trap we know is there." Beat. "Unlike every other fucking time we came to this place."
To Carver, he gives a thumbs up as he draws his sword, tossing it into the air for a showy catch before giving it a couple experimental swipes. "So how do we wanna do this? Charge in and gank the bitch, or do we wanna try and have our sneaky sneaks sneak inside to ambush her when she attacks the vanguard?"
Reithak wasn't too pleased to be returning to the manor, especially not when they were almost assuredly walking into a trap, but when the alternative was leaving a Vampire to run amok in the area, the egalrin was back in the area.
She had brought a horse with her to not slow down the rest of the group, but they weren't nearly at ease at riding than the others. Hopping off, she went about hitching their horse nearby. "Well, chances are they're expecting us, but, fingers crossed they're so full of themselves they underestimate this. Not holding out hope though." The egalring shrugged. "Let's get this done, yeah?"
The emptiness of the manor makes one suspect that it is empty, Carver's many monstrous trinkets shivering as she turns, taking it all in. The unlocked door, the covered statues of knights, the hollow sound of their voices echoing. "Quite the drama."
GAME: Carver casts Protection From Evil. Caster Level: 2 DC: 15
GAME: Carver refreshes spells.
GAME: Carver casts Barkskin. Caster Level: 14 DC: 16
GAME: Carver casts Flame Arrow. Caster Level: 14 DC: 17
GAME: Carver casts Perceive Cues. Caster Level: 14 DC: 16
GAME: Skyler rolls perception: (12)+15: 27
GAME: Reithak casts Bless. Caster Level: 5 DC: 13
"I got an idea, actually. Might not work, but might be able to lure her out without putting you guys up front first. Either way, figure me and Carver should try to sneak up." she says then drawing her own dagger and rolling it over her knuckles, "When we're ready to spring this trap, I can try to conjure up an illusion to spring it for us." she explains. "Either way, if she turns to smoke again, keep stabbing. I don't think she's invincible like that, just- you know, gassy."
And with that she pulls her hood up to stoop towards the building, keeping to the shadows.
GAME: Culix rolls perception: (11)+14: 25
GAME: Culix rolls stealth+2+4: (13)+21+2+4: 40
GAME: Carver rolls perception+6+5: (20)+23+6+5: 54
GAME: Carver rolls stealth: (12)+31: 43
GAME: Carver used a Potion of See Invisibility.
GAME: Reithak rolls perception: (15)+19: 34
As Culix and Carver sneak inside the Manor, they find the place completely empty. Abandoned. Almost as if the whole staff had packed up and left. There were even cobwebs - cobwebs! - littering the paintings, tables and chairs, and it has not even been more few nights.
None of this probably matters to Carver.
Because Carver can see her quarry, despite the shroud of invisibility, calmly walking down the hallway towards the foyer, the back of the mansion. There's a chilling wind that blows through the courtyard.
Carver catches Culix's attention, two fingers to her own green motes, then up toward the foyer. "Invisibility. Final stand there, maybe." She does not question the grand change the manor has undertaken, this house of lies on its corpse foundations. Just more kindle to the fire when they burn it down.
Culix nods once in reply to Carver pointing out the invisible figure, and then she takes a step away- just in case she is spotted, so she doesn't give Carver's position away as well, and then she reaches down plunging her hand into the shadows around her. She pulls it back out, and the whirling darkness coalescess into a pretty convincing Simulacrum of Skyler, who goes wandering into the manor right past where Carver indicated, without a care in the world.
The Simulacrum of Skyler pauses his walking to scratch an itch, beaming with joy at the simple pleasure of scritching under his arm under the great coat he's wearing. "It always get so swampy under there." He mutters to himself, oblivious to any vampires that might be creeping on him. He smells his fingers and gags.
Lady Blythe barely turns when Skyler passes her - she casually reaches out to touch him, before she suddenly stops. The vampire looks at the passing 'Skyler', then back towards the Entrance, peering into the gloom. A moment later, she turns on her heels and follows on after this handsomely gagging fake-lad into the dark of the foyer.
Carver shakes her head, when Lady Blythe does not take the bait. Whatever happens here, happens in that foyer. Such is the way of things sometimes. One can only hope that they are not sent on another grand chase through its twisty corridors and tunnels. "I think we just go into the beast's den." Not her home. Den.
Carver whistles sharply. A signal for the other two, and of course, Deathless. This throws Carver's cover but not Culix's.
GAME: Culix rolls use magic device: (9)+13: 22
GAME: Culix used a Wand of Blur.
Culix shrugs over Carver's way, 'worth a shot' she mouths, and then pulls her wand from her belt. She flourishes it, and the outline of her form fuzzes and blurs, blending with the background, before she ducks low and continues onwards, towards the Foyer and the direction that Carver indicated while she calls for the noisier party members.
"We're up!" Skyler... the *real* Skyler!... says to Reithak cheerfully, from where he was, indeed, scratching an armpit. No tanglefoot bags, unfortunately, but his sword shimmers along the edge with divine energy as he politely motions for the egalrin to proceed him...
Mostly so no one sees him sniff his finger and make a face. "Think that town has a bathhouse?"
Reithak perked up at whistling, already ready to go and on edge waiting, uncertain if her allies had been found or not. "Yeah, no waiting." Reithak nodded, drawing her rapier and striding into the building ahead of her ally, uncertain what awaited them, but determined to make sure her allies were not in trouble.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ATTENTION -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Aelwyn has dropped a TIMESTOP!
Please +init, then cease all roleplay and actions immediately and wait for Aelwyn to instruct you further. You may earn RPP by logging a scene for a GM.
For in-combat commands, type: +thelp.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
GAME: Skyler rolls perception: (19)+15: 34
GAME: Skyler refreshes special ability pools.
GAME: Reithak rolls perception: (3)+19: 22
GAME: Reithak rolls init: (12)+6: 18
The Foyer is also covered with sheets; even the plants. The large windows would gaze onto the garden beyond - but they have been covered and boarded up. It makes the large room feel that much more still, choked. Lady Blythe observes the 'Skyler' for a moment, before the adventurers begin to make their way into the hallway. Carver can see a small, teasing smile appear across those crimson lips, as she raises her hand. The game begins.
Reithak has reconnected.
GAME: Aelwyn advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 28.
It is now Carver's turn! Skyler is next!
GAME: Carver rolls weapon24+7-5+2+1: (16)+26+7+-5+2+1: 47
GAME: Carver rolls 1d8+2d6+2d6+1d6+13: (7)+(6)+(10)+(5)+13: 41
GAME: Reithak rolls reflex: (7)+5: 12
<OOC> Carver says, "Deathless is immune to webs."
GAME: Skyler spends ONE use of CHARMED LIFE.
GAME: Skyler rolls reflex+3+4: (4)+14+3+4: 25
Reithak has partially disconnected.
Reithak has reconnected.
The hunter finds its mark - and there is a harrowing loud scream, as the vampire gets struck. Lady Blythe brings her hand down and the cobwebs themselves attack the party. Deathless and Skyler avoid the sticky strands by their shared virtues, but unfortunately Reithak's feathers provide much easier prey, tangling the egalrin.
"Ah-ah, that was such a _brutal_ thrust, my hero." Lady Blythe's voice coyly echoes in the foyer, her form remaining invisible. "Let us place our bets in the ultimate gamble, brave adventurers. I have been so, so, _deprived_." Maybe there was no Lady Blythe. Maybe there was no Manor. Maybe it was all in the party's heads?
GAME: Carver rolls 1d20+26: (4)+26: 30
Carver gives another, sharp whistle after a brief chant, and the hallway's floors groan as Deathless suddenly begins to grow. Bigger, and bigger, a god-horse. Not quite Pig King grandeur but surprisingly close-horse teeth gently take Reithak by the collar and lift them up, webs tearing away, before gently depositing into the room. Sadly Deathless cannot follow. Far too large for the door.
As this happens, Carver wheels to her left, a single arrow with heated arrowheads the colors of low-embers sent flying across the room and into something.
Something that remains yet unseen.
"Mchachke," The ranger coldly calls back to their last face to face. "I told you to run. Hubris before the fall."
GAME: Carver casts Animal Growth. Caster Level: 14 DC: 18
GAME: Aelwyn advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 21.
It is now Skyler's turn! Reithak is next!
GAME: Reithak rolls cmb: (19)+6: 25
<OOC> Aelwyn says, "You are freed, Reithak!"
GAME: Skyler used a Alchemist's Fire.
GAME: Aelwyn rolls 2d4: (5): 5
GAME: Skyler rolls ranged: (14)+17: 31
GAME: Skyler rolls reflex+3: (4)+14+3: 21
Never let it be said that Skyler doesn't appreciate a dramatic moment. The moment Carver makes her challenge to the vampire, there's a a crash of glass and a burst of flames as the web and the entire freakin' *hall* catches flames in a burst of fire.
And through it tumbles a singed Skyler, boots shimmering with arcane energy and sword gleaming. He strikes a pose behind Carver that's only slightly marred by the ends of his hair smoking as he lifts a braided strand of beaded hair and blows on it, extinguishing the ends. "That lipstick washes you out, cow!" He calls, and then blinks. "Where is she? Did she run away, *already*?"
GAME: Aelwyn advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 15.
It is now Reithak's turn! Culix is next!
Round One - Init 13.
It is now Culix's turn! Lady Blythe is next!
GAME: Culix rolls weapon20: (1)+14: 15 (EPIC FAIL)
Round One - Init 9.
It is now Lady Blythe's turn! Carver is next!
Culix hisses in frustration as the webs fly out, and the woman remains invisible. She dashes across the room, her cloak fluttering behind her as she dashes silently across the boards of the foyer. Her shadow stretches and separates from her as she moves, and she skids to a stop where she thinks the woman is- even though she can't see her, she trusts her instincts and spins the dagger into a reverse grip, attempting to hammer-blow it into where she guesses the vampire's back is.
The dagger bites only at the air, and she grunts in frustration even as her shadow takes up position opposite her. "Flour!" she barks a suggestion even as she spins the dagger back around and readies herself for a counter attack from an enemy she can't see.
Reithak gave a squawk of alarm as they were promptly stuck in place immediately upon entering, was grabbed by a giant horse out of said webs, and was nearly set on fire by one of her allies. The egalrin managed to extricate herself from the situation with assistance, but that left the problem of not actually seeing what her allies were attacking.
"You there, don't think you're shooting air for no reason! You got this since my eyesight isn't good enough to see things that don't exist!" The egalrin shouted, waving one hand in their direction. "I reckon that our vampire is somewhere over there, and your days are numbered! No longer will you harry these lands!" She shouted, instilling herself, and more importantly the ranger with even more strength behind their weapons.
<OOC> Aelwyn says, "Blythe turns towards Culix, roll Will save for me!"
GAME: Culix rolls will: (20)+5: 25 (CRITICAL SUCCESS)
The threats thrown Blythe's way make her only sip her wine casually. "Oh darling, if you insist to speak in tongues, you must press your lips close to mine." She languidly replies to Carver. The sudden explosion on the hallway makes her suddenly seethe in a very nonlady like manner. "You FOOLS!" She seethes.
For some reason, Culix can feel this very clearly hammering at her mind - but the feeling passes, along with a sudden shattering of glass. "Very well, darling. If this is what you desire." Carver can see the vampire fast approaching her.
GAME: NEW ROUND!
Aelwyn advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 28.
It is now Carver's turn! Skyler is next!
Reithak has partially disconnected.
GAME: Carver rolls 2d8+34+5d6+1d8+17+5d6+1d8+17+5d6+1d8+17+5d6+1d8+17+5d6: (6)+34+(16)+(5)+17+(12)+(1)+17+(15)+(3)+17+(20)+(8)+17+(13): 201
"Kissy-Face, Bitch." Carver sneers out a Skyler line, as Reithak's blessing sparks off her arrows. The comet tail of their flaming arc pierces into and through the underprepared vampire, her rapid release almost supernatural. Which as it is magically enhanced, actually just is. Smoke curls out from burning hallway, turning and nodding toward Skyler. "Finish this."
Lady Blythe has no time to evaluate her mistake. Just a moment of widening of eyes, before THONK. THONK. THONK. THONK.
... THONK, thud, collapse. Lady Blythe, the former guest of Manor Umbergloom, falls down onto the floor, visible to the naked eye. All her expensive clothes and unnatural life did not save her from being the hunter's quarry.
Whistling a merry tune, Skyler grins broadly at Carver. "Attagirl!" He enthuses, "Fuck that was *nasty*." He shifts his grip on his sword, staring down at Lady Blythe. And at Carver's request, he takes a knee and draws his sword across the vampire's throat. A burst of energy illuminates the room as the enchantment against undead burns across the blade, and he surfaces with her head held by the hair.
He considers the head, and snorts. "Good riddance for bad trash. Lets get out of here and watch the place burn. I think Carver and I were going to do a jig in the ashes if you all want to join us?"
And because while a double tap is good, a triple tap is better- Culix pulls that broken chair leg she's been carrying around since they first met her, and drives it into the decapitated vampire's chest. She uses the hilt of her dagger as an impromptu hammer and drives the wood in with several more hits.
She eyes the inferno, and sighs. "I suppose we should probably put that out." she says, though does not immediately make any move to do so. She seriously considers not doing anything about it for several long moments. But then inhales deeply, and blows. Shadows rush from her lips to whip across the intervening space and extinguish the flames. "Now let's get the hell back to Alexandria. I need a drink." she huffs, and stows her dagger again.
Carver, smelling of smoke, cackles as the fires burn. She does seem vaguely disappointed when Culix puts them out but understands. Their contract states the return of the deed AND the manor to its owner, even if Graves does not deserve it. "We will get a chance to jig in the fires one day, I am certain." She loops an arm around both Reithak's and Skyler's shoulder, unusually happy.
Killing monsters puts her in a good mood. "Let's go home."
Reithak was left caught off guard again at the abruptness of everything, with the vampire being gone, just like that. "Makes me wonder how they even manage to be a threat with folks like you around dealing with them." Reithak laughed. "Yeah, I'd feel little for this place burning, but it's the job we agreed to, I suppose. Now, come on, we'll head back to Alexandria, I know they've got baths there to clean up like you were wanting to, Skyler. There's better places for a dance, anyways."
- Fade to Next Scene, the Epilogue*
The return trip to Alexandria is uneventful. The cold is still there. The blizzard, that is; it never seemed to give up.
Back at the Adventurer's Guild, Quintin Graves, Lord-Captain Maximilian aka. 'Max the Golem', and a third old looking man with a withered cap and a really long white beard were eagerly waiting for the adventurers' return.
Well.
Graves was. The large suit of armor and the old man sorting out his books were completely focused on other things. "Well, well? Did you find the deed? Please do not tell me I left it in the sock drawer, that would be the worst place to leave it in." The hooded man in his mask says, not bothering to pause and greet properly. "And the tea and biscuit? Were they still delicious? They do say the coffee gets cold and biscuits become dry if the owner is not there."
The old man slowly, shakily, raises his eyes and pulls out scarily formal looking piece of parchment.
Carver crosses her arms, still stinking of the road and more faintly of smoke. She lets the other's get their well-earned words in. Let heads roll and all that.
Rather than answering, Skyler opens a bag hanging from his hip, pulling out the stale, rotting head of the vampire out and holds it up by the hair. "The hospitality was impressive, wasn't it, Lady Blythe?" He asks the head, and with one hand under her chin begins to mime talking "'Oh yes, it was peachy keen.'". Beat. "Thanks, Lady Blythe!" And he tosses the head on top of the desk, and glares expressionlessly at the golem and the two men.
Carver has reconnected.
Reithak, along with the others, idled behind Skyler slowly. "Oh yes, it was a lovely place, I personally loved all of the amenities provided in the building, particularly the basement and house guests." The egalring grumbled. "I've got half a mind to turn this deed over to the guard and let them search the place, as clearly in spite of our best efforts, it is still too dangerous for someone to move into at this moment in time."
Culix, for her part, tosses the document they had retrieved onto the desk and then pins it there by slamming her dagger into it. "Frankly, I don't give a shit what kind of freaky bollocks you get up to. I just want to get paid.
The old man slowly begins to rise to his feet. "I am the Archscivener Theobold Blatho... Blam... Blathothy... Blathomus..."
The head is revealed. It hits the table with a thud. Both Quintin and Max, the armor-probably-golem look at it. It takes a solid two seconds, before Graves holds up his hand over his mask. "Oh no." He looks towards 'Max', back at the adventurers, lowers his hand. "Anyway! Do you have the deed?" The 'armor' rolls his helmet and turns to address Reithak. "Nobody is moving in. We apologize for the inconvenience." The hollow voice replies.
Meanwhile, the old man continues on, "... Blathomuous from the guild of Arcane Appropriations. Young man," He points accusingly at Skyler with a withered finger. "This is a highly unusual, skulls have not been accepted as official documentation in centuries."
"Eat my *whole* ass." Skyler tells the old man flatly, and nods towards Culix as she throws the deed onto the table. "You're lucky we didn't burn the damn house down. Flammable black slimes? Vampires in the lounge? Enslaved spore monsters? Carnivorous plants in the wine cellar? *Mimics*?" He shakes his head in disgust, and points a finger at Quintin, "Listen here, you golem-fucker. If this had been an Adventurer's Guild sponsored gig, I'd have you black listed for the lies. Why the hells didn't you tell us what we would be dealing with? That butler was the worst!"
Carver has her intuition about this, but her satisfaction was completed with the death of Lady Blythe. She looks instead to the others, at Graves's surprisingly subdued response, "Theobold, for sake of curiosity, how much were the accumulated taxes?"
Reithak shrugged, expressions hard to read on Egalrin when they tried not to be more readable. "To be honest, this whole job stinks worse than the refuse in the basement of that place. Were you planning on having us die to that vampire or something? Maybe something else there? Hard to say what the plan was, but the fact that we were told basically nothing before going into that death trap is, concerning. Or have you been sending people to that place to get the deed without much thought for them never coming back? Both are pretty bad looks, you know."
Culix gestures towards the deed she just impaled to the table with an eyes wide, slack jawed, mocking caricature of befuddlement when asked about the deed, and then settles back to folding her arms across her chest. "Yup, still don't care, where's the pay?" she says then.
The 'golem' reaches out for the document, giving a bow to Culix. It is then offered to Quintin, who eagerly snatches it up. "Yes!" He exclaims, then offers it to the older man. "And this undeniably proves my ownership of the mansion, especially with its former owner on the... well, table there." He gives a vague gesture towards the once-a-vampire.
The questions Skyler and Reithak poses makes the hooded man mostly... just shrug. "How can I tell lies if you do not ask? Are adventurers not always prepared? Though I agree, poor butler hasn't been quite the same after the neck incident." He glances at Max. "Maybe a less intrusive bolt next time."
The old man picks up the paper shakily, adjusts the half-moon glasses on his nose and points at the paper, reading it. Carver's question makes him pause and look at the young woman - actual sign of life in his eyes at once. His favorite subject! "That is a question we spent a lot of time considering... the number, is, of course, confidential..."
Quintin picks up his backpack and his shovel, as Maximilian the Golem starts to make way towards the door. "... but one can imagine that in a century, or perhaps several, unpaid taxes on the land, the property..." The Archscivener continues, slowly winking.
Quintin interrupts cheerfully, "The Guild shall pass along the payment! Along with a free shipment of wine from the Graves' best!" The masked man calls out, creeping out towards the door. "... no more questions, have a good day!"
"... a king's ransom. That is, a very large number, young lady. Enough to take posession of all Mr. Graves' experiments." Adjusting glasses. "And pay the fees for the adventurers required for such a task, of course, if it had come down to actual posession. This tiny paper will clear the ownership, for now, due to the dangerous nature of the experiments and arrangement with Mr. Graves himself."
And now Max and Quintin are both actively fleeing. "Speaking of, Mr. Graves... Mr. Graves?"