1.10: Sic Transit Gloria

[Sierra]

[12:02] <Leona> OOC: lets actually go back and grab Santiago before following the trail, too. He can sing the song of tracking to make up for the trail having more time to go cold, and it's better with a full party.
01[12:02] <El-Cideon> OOC: okay!
01[12:05] <El-Cideon> The construct's track leads Morrison, Leona, Luiza, Santiago, and Isabel several miles south out of town across open plains before terminating abruptly. There is a low hill here, little more than a knoll amidst the gently waving grasslands of Verdana's heartland, and the trail of pawprints simply stops at the base of the hill.
[12:07] <Leona> Leona is back in her monstrous form now so as to be ready for trouble. "Isn't this like the zombie cave?" she wonders, peering around for secret passages into the hill.
[12:07] <Leona> roll 1d20+8 perceptions
[12:07] <Rei-chan> 6,0Leona rolled :6,0 1d20+8 1,0perceptions --> 6,0[ 1d20=18 ]4,0{26}
[12:08] <Leona> "Aha!" she lifts up the cunningly concealed hatch!
[12:08] <Luiza> Luiza claps.
01[12:09] <El-Cideon> A tunnel descends into the earth just beyond. It looks comfortably tall enough for a human to stand up within it. It's also dark.
[12:10] <Leona> That's not a problem for Leona at least as she leads the way down it.
[12:11] <@Santiago> "From what I heard at the guild," Santiago remarks, "We're likely dealing with a one-of-a-kind genius inventor, who mastered both magic and clockworks as a prerequisite to constructing that creature." He squints into the darkness. "Let's hope he's not violent," he mutters, creating a ball of light to guide the rest of them on the way.
01[12:11] <El-Cideon> "Did anyone bring a lantern?" Isabel asks, finding an excuse to dally and take up the rear before descending into the earth to face the unknown. "Oh, that's even better!" she says with an approving clap.
[12:12] <Leona> "So why would he care about a weaver's journal?" Leona wonders aloud.
01[12:20] <El-Cideon> The tunnel leads a short ways underground, through walls of bare earth, before opening out into a circular room--the hill, it seems, is hollow, and this artificial shelter must comprise most of its interior. It looks like this single room is the whole of this little subterranean hideout, as you see no doors leading elsewhere, though a beam of waning sunlight breaks in through a small hole in the roof. This looks like a workshop--there is a bench with tools, and a rickety wooden desk with several documents scattered about it along with one familiar-looking, sodden journal. There is nothing to suggest regular human occupation--no bed, no evident food stores. Its inhabitants upon your arrival are wholly artificial: there are two humanoid constructs, with four arms each and standing upon a tripod of legs, most of their appendages fitted with tools more than weapons. A rudimentary face has been forged for them, a noble-looking man's, simple but somber. One of them has just finished applying some repairs to your quarry when you arrive. Above you, upon rafters, more constructs line the walls of the workshop: a handful of mechanical ravens, and some smaller drones that are little more than eyes with wings.
[12:22] <Luiza> Luiza ignores the terror of being trapped with killer automata underground and looks at the creature they've been chasing to see if the items it was carrying are still there.
01[12:22] <El-Cideon> They are not--its rib cage carrying case has been emptied.
[12:23] <Leona> "Hello?" Leona tries talking in case they're intelligent enough for speech! Also they have four arms too... she's not used to being at such a disadvantage!
01[12:26] <El-Cideon> The repair drones each face Leona. The one that hadn't been seeing to the dog's repairs speaks in a voice that sounds like a careful recreation of a human's voice--the cadence and intonation could've come from a real person with actual moods, but the timbre is tinny and cold. Its speech sounds cultured, educated, and more than a little stodgy and old-fashioned. "Murder is not this drone's intended function, but interference in my operations will not be tolerated. Leave now, intruder, or hostilities will commence."
[12:28] <@Santiago> Santiago doesn't like the sound of that! They're clearly outnumbered, after all, and who knows what strange abilities these things have? He studies the humanoid constructs to determine the materials used in their make.
01[12:28] <El-Cideon> The flock of ravens and eyeball drones each turns to carefully watch the intruders' actions in response to this ultimatum.
[12:28] <Luiza> "How can we talk to your master?" Luiza asks, taking a step back.
[12:28] <Leona> Leona looks at Santiago with a helpless shrug. She doesn't much like these odds if they get into a fight given how tough that single dog was. "We won't interfere, but is there anyone that can talk to us?" she tries, backing off.
01[12:32] <El-Cideon> "You cannot," is its brusque response to Luiza's question. Leona gets a more elaborate answer: "This drone's information is limited. It may only be able to answer simple questions in the interest of mitigating unnecessary carnage. There is no 'master' present for you to interrogate."
[12:34] <@Santiago> "Alright, then!" replies Santiago, putting on a round of cheer. "So, what are you doing here?"
01[12:36] <El-Cideon> "Watching," it says, and this simulacrum personality's follow-up answer conveys an almost aristocratic disdain for detailed inquiry on sensitive subjects: "Further information about my larger purpose is NOT within this drone's sphere of knowledge."
[12:36] <Luiza> "What is your interest in Gloria Cadena? Or Glorivaineth, to use her birth name?" Luiza decides to ask, going on a different tangent.
01[12:40] <El-Cideon> "That information is NOT within this drone's sphere of knowledge," the construct repeats. "Its function is repair. And, if necessary, defense," it repeats, not conveying a great deal of pleasure at continuing to have uninvited guests.
[12:42] <Luiza> "Who sent that... drone?" Luiza asks, pointing uncertainly at the creature being repaired. "Who sent it out before?"
01[12:44] <El-Cideon> "Its function is to investigate anomalies," the repair drone says. "That is all." As if perceiving that your inquiries aren't likely to end anytime soon, it appends an order to the host of winged constructs watching above: "Solfrina observation post compromised. All reconnaissance units, scatter and report to secondary stations." The mechanical ravens and flying eyes take wing and start to disperse out the roof of the cavern as you continue to talk.
[12:45] <@Santiago> "Define anomaly?"
01[12:48] <El-Cideon> "Activities deleterious to the health and well-being of Verdani subjects," is the mechanical man's answer. Again, the man's sardonic air cuts in: "It betrays little to acknowledge that this much motive IS within this drone's sphere of knowledge."
[12:48] <@Santiago> "Are you actually the drone? Or are you just some guy pretending to be a drone and snarking at us from a hundred miles away?"
01[12:50] <El-Cideon> The hollow echoes briefly with the sound of mechanical wings taking flight as the flock of recon constructs empties out of the roof. "That information," the repair drone adds drily, "was NOT gifted to this mechanism."
[12:51] <Luiza> "So what was the anomaly? Her death or her body's disappearance? Something else?"
[12:52] <Leona> Leona watches the mechanical avians flee but they can't exactly do much about it.
[12:52] <@Santiago> "And in any case! We are the militia!" Santiago declares. "We also investigate such things. If what you say is true, we should have common cause!"
[12:53] <Morrison> "Maybe we should just ask it if we can meet with its master, since they're obviously not here." Morrison says.
01[12:57] <El-Cideon> The mechanical dog stands up on all fours, quite repaired now. The repair drone answers simply: "Humans and elves die every day. This much is unremarkable. Reanimation is a more singular occurrence of considerable danger." It turns to Santiago: "This drone does not possess the capacity to carefully consider and establish alliances. Your interest has been observed and will be reported, but this station is no longer of value due to discovery and must be abandoned. The remaining units will now vacate these premises. Do not pursue them further." The repair drones and the dog look set on marching out the door now unless someone physically stops them.
[12:57] <@Santiago> That seems like a losing proposition, so Santiago simple stands aside and glances around the workshop instead.
01[12:58] <El-Cideon> What's left in their wake is mostly a collection of old gears and cogs, some very basic tools, and a desk with a scattering of documents and what might be a very waterlogged journal.
[12:58] <Leona> Leona backs off to let them go past her!
[12:59] <Luiza> "Who does have that capacity?" Luiza decides to ask, moving aside as well. "How will you get back to us?"
01[13:01] <El-Cideon> "You will be contacted if it is deemed of value to do so," the drone says in parting. "Finding you will not be difficult."
[13:02] <Leona> "We're going to wake up one night with golems on our pillows," Leona mutters.
[13:02] <Luiza> "Better zombie-slaying golems than zombies," Luiza firmly asserts.
[13:03] <@Santiago> Santiago scratches his head, and walks over to peer over the documents. "Haven't we just witnessed something of a miracle?" he asks.
[13:04] <Luiza> "If by miracle you mean really incredible magic then yes."
01[13:07] <El-Cideon> Santiago sees among this collection: a small book that is still dripping wet; the most recent edition of the Solfrina Courier; what looks like a personal letter; and a more formal letter on finer parchment that looks rather similar in form to an incident report that one might find Cala working on while in her office.
06[13:08] * @Santiago picks up the incident report and takes a look.
[13:08] <Luiza> "I don't suppose there is less incredible magic to dry out a book?"
[13:10] <@Santiago> "Don't know if simple mending spells work on such a niche case. But time and patience do," replies Santiago.
01[13:10] <El-Cideon> Santiago quickly sees that it's an official report of a murder, written by Captain Arata of the Solfrina Militia. The victim was one Sergio Montes--he and his master, a senior member of the local weaver's guild, were brutally slaughtered overnight. The report is dated this morning.
[13:12] <@Santiago> Santiago grimaces. "It looks as though Gloria has been busy seeing to getting her own justice," he states, passing the report to Luiza, before taking a look at the personal letter.
[13:12] <Luiza> Luiza shudders, even as she commits the report to memory.
[13:12] <Leona> "Those constructs didn't exactly confirm that they put her down again," Leona feels compelled to mention. They probably did sure, but... maybe not!
[13:13] <@Santiago> "It didn't sound as though they did," agrees Santiago.
01[13:14] <El-Cideon> "Did you find it?" Isabel says with interest, approaching the journal eagerly--but Santiago's disclosure quickly distracts her. "What?!" is the most articulate she can find it in herself to be right now. As for the second letter, it's written to "Don Bruno," thanking the captain for his assistance with the writer's son's "spot of difficulty." It's signed by one Master Glaciano.
[13:15] <Luiza> Luiza checks on the dripping book, merely seeking to confirm it as the missing journal.
[13:17] <@Santiago> While they're here, Santiago takes a look around for any missing jewelry.
01[13:17] <El-Cideon> If so, its trip through the river did the journal few favors. The writing is in elven, you can make out that much, but the ink has run, and many of the pages are now falling apart or plastered together. You could maybe make out a few key words here and there if you're persistent, but full sentences of legible information don't seem to have survived.
01[13:18] <El-Cideon> Santiago does not see any jewelry among the sparse amount of mechanical bric-a-brac left behind by the automatons.
[13:18] <Leona> Leona tries using a mending cantrip on the journal to see if that helps!
01[13:22] <El-Cideon> It may still be a little soggy, but Leona's magic brings it back to at least a largely readable condition!
01[13:22] <El-Cideon> OOC: loot post
[13:22] <Luiza> Luiza wastes no time reading it!
01[13:23] <El-Cideon> Isabel, meanwhile, has got hold of the captain's report and is vigorously shaking her head. "She wouldn't kill anyone," she insists in defense of her dead mentor. "She couldn't! You didn't know her. She wouldn't ever have hurt anyone."
[13:24] <Leona> "The undead don't have the same reservations as we do," Leona says, reverting back to her more pleasant half-elf appearance now that the immediate danger is passed.
[13:26] <Luiza> "Is there anything magical remaining here?" Luiza voices.
06[13:26] * @Santiago takes a look around to find out.
01[13:26] <El-Cideon> "I guess I wouldn't know anything about the undead at all," Isabel admits in a sulk.
[13:31] <@Santiago> "Not anymore," Santiago tells Luiza. "What do you think of the journal?"
[13:32] <Luiza> "There were three murderers, and the local militia was friendly with them. Now one is dead, and that leaves two more. I think we'll need to split up and cover both to get to the bottom of this."
[13:34] <@Santiago> Santiago grunts unhappily. "Investigating is actually meaningless unless we make sure we're in a position to actually enforce any charges we plan to bring," he notes. "From the letter, it looks like the militia captain was in on it. So who do we get sanction from instead?"
01[13:37] <El-Cideon> Isabel picks up the other letter, and after a moment's thoughtful silence speaks out: "I didn't ask you to arrest the murderers, because I knew you couldn't," she says glumly. "But, we could still find her. That was all I wanted to do! You think she killed one of them, don't you? Do you think she's done?"
[13:38] <Leona> "She could have already murdered them while we've been running around after the dog all day," Leona points out. "She's had plenty of time."
[13:38] <Luiza> "I was actually hoping that we might offer to intervene if one of the murderers confesses to the crime," Luiza admits. "We'll wait, and once we spot the attack, they won't have much of a choice. Or! Maybe this is some mistake, and we'll get to the bottom of this if we follow both remaining ones." To Isabel, she says, "I think she's really dead, and her body is reanimated. But there's only one
[13:38] <Luiza> way to know for sure."
[13:40] <@Santiago> "The honor of the militia is at stake, if one of our own officers is party to murder," Santiago says. "We'll have to forward all of these to the capital. But in any case, she does need to be stopped. Who knows what she'll do once she's done with her murderers? Expand her targets to competing weavers in general?"
[13:41] <Luiza> "We can forward all this to the capital from home, once we're back," Luiza agrees. "It won't do us any good here."
01[13:41] <El-Cideon> "Then we should hurry!" she says to Leona. "I won't have any idea how to look for her anymore if she's already...already done," she says, still having a little difficulty getting fully onboard with her mentor being a marauding undead menace.
[13:42] <Luiza> "Are we splitting up, then? Or trying to guess right?"
[13:44] <@Santiago> "Let's stick together and investigate them one by one. No telling how strong this zombie is. These people are murderers... no sense risking ourselves more than necessary," Santiago suggests.
[13:45] <Leona> "Splitting up didn't work well last time, lets stay together," Leona agrees.
[13:45] <Luiza> "Alright," Luiza relents. "Let's get back and see if there's been any other disturbance."
01[13:51] <El-Cideon> Opting to follow the names listed in Gloria's journal--which Isabel confirms belonged to the three most notable for harassing her late mentor--the squad heads back into the city to see where casing the surviving apprentices' homes takes them. Rafael Figueroa's master's home is in one of Solfrina's nicer districts; the houses here have ample yards, and a few could likely suit even a baron's sense of dignity. However, a sturdy front door has not deterred some unwelcome caller from battering their way right inside.
01[13:51] <El-Cideon> You arrive at an opportune moment to hear the screams—what sounds like at least a pair of men, arguing in a panic, and a woman wailing incoherently. One of the male voices cuts off in a strangled yelp just as you reach the scene. Then there's another yell, and the sound of wood splintering echoes out even onto the street.
[13:52] <Luiza> "What's going on here?" Luiza calls out, hand on the hilt of her rapier.
[13:52] <@Santiago> "Coming through!" calls out Santiago, drawing his sword and rushing through the gap.
[13:54] <Leona> Leona curses that she doesn't have time to don her meatsuit, hefting her crossbow and running after Santiago!
01[13:55] <El-Cideon> Night has fallen by now, and only starlight and the reflected nighttime glare of great Pyregon light the street outside. Inside, a flickering oil lamp lights a scene of carnage in the manor's main foyer: there is a dead man on the floor, armed and armored but nonetheless now a piece of wreckage with his throat torn out. There is also a young woman dressed as a maid, cringing in one corner. Stairs sweep up to a second floor, and doors flank the main hall, but the battered door swinging nearly off its hinges directly across from you looks like where the action just went.
[13:57] <@Santiago> "Go, get out of here!" Santiago calls before running through the door.
[13:57] <Leona> Leona doesn't waste time asking obvious questions of the maid, running through the battered door! "Militia, coming through!" she shouts even if she's not in uniform.
01[13:58] <El-Cideon> The maid isn't arguing with anyone commanding her to leave a violent scene right now, that's for sure--she quickly scurries outside into the street. The back door looks to lead out into the manor's rear yard:
[13:58] <Luiza> Since no one intends to fill her in, Luiza has no choice but to follow her friends!
01[13:59] <El-Cideon> You emerge into a walled garden, some thirty feet square. Vines climb trellises along the walls, low wooden benches sit in the corners, and a stone sundial stands prominently in the center. Two people also occupy the center of this normally picturesque yard.
01[13:59] <El-Cideon> One is human, a young man dressed in the plain garb of a bound apprentice. Terror is writ large on his unshaven face as he scuttles backwards from his assailant in an ungentlemanly manner.
01[13:59] <El-Cideon> The standing figure in the garden is of much grimmer aspect. It's an elf woman, tall, with long crimson hair clotted with clumps of dirt and with a single white rose plaited into the mess. She wears a fine silk burial gown, once white but now similarly soiled from her passage out from the earth's embrace. She turns to look at you upon your approach, and her face is a ghastly picture: swollen with bruises, eyes shot red with ruptured vessels, jaw shattered, all held together only by some palpable supernatural fury. Her hands end in monstrous, bloodied claws.
01[13:59] <El-Cideon> Glorivaineth opens a mouth full of shattered teeth and speaks. The voice that emanates forth from this tortured frame is of no mortal nature—it's as if two voices were speaking in unison, one deep and sonorous, the other higher and clearer, but both riven with odd overtones that combine into a menacing harmony. Her tone brooks no opposition or contradiction, the warning but a courtesy offered to ants crossing her path. Disobey and she will not be accountable for what happens.
01[13:59] <El-Cideon> "More oathbreakers appear? Stand not between this shell and its prey. Interfere, and be rent asunder."
[14:02] <@Santiago> It takes Santiago a moment to properly process the actual words, so powerful and harmonic is the undead elf's voice and tone. "We're the ones who serve justice on this earth!" Santiago declares. "You, apprentice! Do you confess your crimes to us and receive the judgement of mortal law? Or is this your preference? Speak!"
[14:03] <Leona> Hey that's good thinking! Leona shoots Santiago a look of respect for his gambit.
01[14:03] <El-Cideon> The young man scurries back until he's up against the far wall. "Kill it and I'll say anything!" he shrieks.
01[14:04] <El-Cideon> "Gloria?!" Isabel gasps in shock from behind the militia members. The apparition in the center of the garden makes no show of hearing her or acknowledging this name.
[14:05] <Leona> "What oath was broken, anyway?" Leona asks since the boy hasn't taken the obvious route of confessing to his crime for all to hear.
01[14:08] <El-Cideon> Somehow, Leona's question proves to be the worst thing this entity could've heard--Glorivaineth howls with unearthly rage, hauls up a bench from the ground and prepares to hurl it at the intruding squad.
01[14:08] <El-Cideon> OOC: init
[14:08] <@Santiago> It'll have to do. "Isabel, stand back! That thing is no longer your mistress- only an elemental of blind vengeance!"
[14:08] <@Santiago> roll 1d20+8 scary
[14:08] <Rei-chan> 6,0Santiago rolled :6,0 1d20+8 1,0scary --> 6,0[ 1d20=17 ]4,0{25}
01[14:08] <El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 Gloria?
[14:08] <Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+2 1,0Gloria? --> 6,0[ 1d20=3 ]4,0{5}
[14:08] <Luiza> roll 1d20+8 I knew it'd be zombies
[14:08] <Rei-chan> 6,0Luiza rolled :6,0 1d20+8 1,0I knew it'd be zombies --> 6,0[ 1d20=8 ]4,0{16}
01[14:08] <El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 Isabel in case it matters
[14:08] <Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+2 1,0Isabel in case it matters --> 6,0[ 1d20=11 ]4,0{13}
[14:08] <Morrison> roll 1d20+4
[14:08] <Rei-chan> 6,0Morrison rolled :6,0 1d20+4 --> 6,0[ 1d20=18 ]4,0{22}
[14:10] <Leona> roll 1d20+2
[14:10] <Rei-chan> 6,0Leona rolled :6,0 1d20+2 --> 6,0[ 1d20=20 ]4,0{22}
03[14:10] * El-Cideon changes topic to 'Santiago (25) > Leona = Morrison (22) > Luiza (16) > Isabel (13) > Glorivaineth (5)'
01[14:10] <El-Cideon> OOC: Santiago is up first!
[14:11] <@Santiago> Santiago waves his hands and slickens the ground beneath the apparition in hopes of sending it tumbling to the ground, and the bench tumbling on her head!
[14:11] <@Santiago> OOC: grease keeps on giving, DC 15
[14:11] <@Santiago> OOC: leaving space for people to stand in front of her and hit her
01[14:11] <El-Cideon> roll 1d20+4 ref
[14:11] <Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+4 1,0ref --> 6,0[ 1d20=5 ]4,0{9}
01[14:12] <El-Cideon> The apparition of vengeance slips in place and tumbles onto the ground, the bench crashing to the flagstones by her side!
01[14:12] <El-Cideon> OOC: she's prone. Leona + Morrison are up
[14:14] <Morrison> Morrison really has nothing to say, so he just closes in within 30ft of Gloria, or whatever is left of her, and fires off two shots!
[14:14] <Morrison> roll 2#1d20+7+2 (+2 favored enemy)
[14:14] <Rei-chan> 6,0Morrison rolled :6,0 2#1d20+7+2 1,0(+2 favored enemy) --> 6,0[ 1d20=2 ]4,0{11}, 6,0[ 1d20=18 ]4,0{27}
01[14:14] <El-Cideon> OOC: latter hits
[14:14] <Morrison> roll 1d8+4
[14:14] <Rei-chan> 6,0Morrison rolled :6,0 1d8+4 --> 6,0[ 1d8=1 ]4,0{5}
[14:15] <Leona> Leona summons a giant ant to bite into Gloriavaineth!
[14:15] <Leona> roll 1d20+3+4 for prone bonus
[14:15] <Rei-chan> 6,0Leona rolled :6,0 1d20+3+4 1,0for prone bonus --> 6,0[ 1d20=2 ]4,0{9}
01[14:15] <El-Cideon> OOC: it's more that she takes a penalty on her AC, but misses either way
01[14:16] <El-Cideon> OOC: Luiza
[14:17] <Luiza> Luiza carefully circles around so that she's protecting the terrified murderer and attacks!
[14:17] <Luiza> roll 1d20+9+2 flanking
[14:17] <Rei-chan> 6,0Luiza rolled :6,0 1d20+9+2 1,0flanking --> 6,0[ 1d20=13 ]4,0{24}
01[14:17] <El-Cideon> OOC: hits
[14:18] <Luiza> roll 1d6+2+3
[14:18] <Rei-chan> 6,0Luiza rolled :6,0 1d6+2+3 --> 6,0[ 1d6=3 ]4,0{8}
01[14:19] <El-Cideon> OOC: Isabel passes until further notice. Gloria's up.
01[14:19] <El-Cideon> Shot and stabbed, the revenant that was Glorivaineth growls with savage bloodlust and pulls herself to her feet--
01[14:20] <El-Cideon> OOC: provokes AoO from those in reach
[14:20] <Luiza> roll 1d20+9 intimidate!
[14:20] <Rei-chan> 6,0Luiza rolled :6,0 1d20+9 1,0intimidate! --> 6,0[ 1d20=13 ]4,0{22}
[14:20] <Luiza> roll 1d20+9+2 AoO
[14:20] <Leona> roll 1d20+3 ant bite
[14:20] <Rei-chan> 6,0Luiza rolled :6,0 1d20+9+2 1,0AoO --> 6,0[ 1d20=9 ]4,0{20}
[14:20] <Rei-chan> 6,0Leona rolled :6,0 1d20+3 1,0ant bite --> 6,0[ 1d20=8 ]4,0{11}
01[14:20] <El-Cideon> OOC: Luiza hits
[14:20] <Luiza> roll 1d6+2+3
[14:20] <Rei-chan> 6,0Luiza rolled :6,0 1d6+2+3 --> 6,0[ 1d6=6 ]4,0{11}
01[14:22] <El-Cideon> "Perfidious insect!" Glora screams at Luiza in old-fashioned elven, swiping at her with one claw after regaining her footing.
01[14:22] <El-Cideon> roll 1d20+12
[14:22] <Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+12 --> 6,0[ 1d20=15 ]4,0{27}
01[14:22] <El-Cideon> roll 1d20+14 grab attempt
[14:22] <Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+14 1,0grab attempt --> 6,0[ 1d20=6 ]4,0{20}
01[14:22] <El-Cideon> roll 1d4+5 damage
[14:22] <Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d4+5 1,0damage --> 6,0[ 1d4=1 ]4,0{6}
[14:23] <Luiza> OOC: dodging panache as immediate!
01[14:23] <El-Cideon> OOC: remind me what that does?
[14:23] <Luiza> Clutching her bleeding shoulder, Luiza steps aside just in time to avoid the grab!
01[14:24] <El-Cideon> OOC: Santiago is up again
[14:24] <Luiza> OOC: +3 to defense and a 5ft step as immediate
[14:26] <@Santiago> "It is time to dance the dance of death!" exclaims Santiago, raising his voice in a fast-paced Rocinian funeral ballad, mournful and celebratory in equal measure!
[14:26] <@Santiago> OOC: a +1 for you, a +1 for you, a +1 for everyone
01[14:26] <El-Cideon> OOC: L&M are up
[14:27] <Leona> Leona backs off a bit and aims her crossbow at Gloriavaineth, firing into the crowded melee as the ant keeps trying to bite her!
[14:27] <Leona> roll 1d20+6-4 I don't have precise shot, the crossbow is just for show
[14:27] <Rei-chan> 6,0Leona rolled :6,0 1d20+6-4 1,0I don't have precise shot, the crossbow is just for show --> 6,0[ 1d20=2 ]4,0{4}
[14:27] <Leona> roll 1d20+6 ant bite, flanking with Luiza now
[14:27] <Rei-chan> 6,0Leona rolled :6,0 1d20+6 1,0ant bite, flanking with Luiza now --> 6,0[ 1d20=18 ]4,0{24}
[14:28] <Leona> roll 1d6+3
[14:28] <Rei-chan> 6,0Leona rolled :6,0 1d6+3 --> 6,0[ 1d6=2 ]4,0{5}
[14:28] <Leona> OOC: oh, not flanking actually. Think 22 still hits.
01[14:29] <El-Cideon> OOC: it does
[14:34] <Luiza> Luiza tosses her rapier to her undamaged left hand, and shifts her stance accordingly before venturing into the melee once more!
[14:34] <Luiza> roll 1d20+9+2+1
[14:34] <Rei-chan> 6,0Luiza rolled :6,0 1d20+9+2+1 --> 6,0[ 1d20=14 ]4,0{26}
01[14:34] <El-Cideon> OOC: hit-o
[14:35] <Luiza> roll 1d6+2+3+1
[14:35] <Rei-chan> 6,0Luiza rolled :6,0 1d6+2+3+1 --> 6,0[ 1d6=5 ]4,0{11}
[14:36] <Morrison> Morrison will fire two more shots!
[14:36] <Morrison> roll 2#1d20+7+2 (+2 favored enemy)
[14:36] <Rei-chan> 6,0Morrison rolled :6,0 2#1d20+7+2 1,0(+2 favored enemy) --> 6,0[ 1d20=10 ]4,0{19}, 6,0[ 1d20=10 ]4,0{19}
01[14:37] <El-Cideon> OOC: it's a miss on both unless you forgot to factor in Santiago's bonus
[14:38] <Morrison> OOC: I did, so it's 20
[14:38] <Morrison> OOC: If that matters
01[14:38] <El-Cideon> OOC: both hit, then
[14:38] <Morrison> roll 2#1d8+4
[14:38] <Rei-chan> 6,0Morrison rolled :6,0 2#1d8+4 --> 6,0[ 1d8=5 ]4,0{9}, 6,0[ 1d8=1 ]4,0{5}
01[14:40] <El-Cideon> Gloria's body is riddled with yet more arrows and rapier stabs, yet something within keeps her standing and fighting. The apparition rears back its head and howls a ghastly, shivering cry that echoes across across the rooftops and down the street, before turning to swing her grisly claws twice at Luiza--
01[14:40] <El-Cideon> OOC: will, everyone. This is a fear effect if it matters for anyone
[14:40] <@Santiago> OOC: you get a +1 to saves!
[14:40] <@Santiago> OOC: that save, specifically!
01[14:40] <El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7 Isabel
[14:40] <Luiza> roll 1d20+2+1
[14:40] <Rei-chan> 6,0Luiza rolled :6,0 1d20+2+1 --> 6,0[ 1d20=10 ]4,0{13}
[14:40] <Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+7 1,0Isabel --> 6,0[ 1d20=3 ]4,0{10}
[14:41] <@Santiago> roll 1d20+6
[14:41] <Rei-chan> 6,0Santiago rolled :6,0 1d20+6 --> 6,0[ 1d20=19 ]4,0{25}
[14:41] <Leona> roll 1d20+7 Leona
[14:41] <Morrison> roll 1d20+5
[14:41] <Rei-chan> 6,0Leona rolled :6,0 1d20+7 1,0Leona --> 6,0[ 1d20=8 ]4,0{15}
[14:41] <Rei-chan> 6,0Morrison rolled :6,0 1d20+5 --> 6,0[ 1d20=10 ]4,0{15}
[14:41] <Leona> OOC: ant is immune to mind-affecting, which fear is I believe
01[14:41] <El-Cideon> OOC: Should be. Otherwise, all but Santiago are shaken for 1 minute. http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering/conditions#TOC-Shaken
01[14:41] <El-Cideon> roll 1d20+12 vs Luiza 1
01[14:41] <El-Cideon> roll 1d20+12 vs Luiza 2
[14:41] <Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+12 1,0vs Luiza 1 --> 6,0[ 1d20=7 ]4,0{19}
[14:42] <Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+12 1,0vs Luiza 2 --> 6,0[ 1d20=9 ]4,0{21}
03[14:42] * El-Cideon changes topic to 'Santiago (25) > Leona = Morrison (22, shaken) > Luiza (16, shaken) > Isabel (13, shaken) > Glorivaineth (5)'
01[14:42] <El-Cideon> OOC: AC?
[14:42] <Luiza> OOC: dodging panache again, are the attacks simultaneous or one after the other?
[14:43] <Luiza> OOC: second hits
01[14:43] <El-Cideon> OOC: yell -> attacks, but shaken doesn't nerf AC anyway
01[14:43] <El-Cideon> roll 1d20+14 grab
[14:43] <Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+14 1,0grab --> 6,0[ 1d20=4 ]4,0{18}
01[14:43] <El-Cideon> roll 1d4+5 damage
[14:43] <Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d4+5 1,0damage --> 6,0[ 1d4=3 ]4,0{8}
01[14:44] <El-Cideon> OOC: think that boost means the grab misses again too. Santiago is up
[14:44] <Luiza> OOC: hits this time
01[14:45] <El-Cideon> Gloria's claws dig deep, and hold Luiza firmly in the reeking corpse's grasp!
01[14:45] <El-Cideon> OOC: Santiago is up. Luiza is grappled.
[14:46] <Luiza> "Why?!"
01[14:46] <El-Cideon> Isabel claps her hands over her head through that horrifying scream, but refrains from fleeing the scene as a normal person might. "I don't understand why this is happening!" she calls out to her dead mentor. "What are you?"
[14:47] <@Santiago> Santiago's tune reaches a zenith of apoplexy, and he rushes forward to administer an antidote to the remnants of Gloria's anger!
[14:47] <@Santiago> roll 1d20+7 charge, PA-1, if gloria is grappling isn't that like +4 or something
[14:47] <Rei-chan> 6,0Santiago rolled :6,0 1d20+7 1,0charge, PA-1, if gloria is grappling isn't that like +4 or something --> 6,0[ 1d20=3 ]4,0{10}
[14:47] <@Santiago> OOC: I guess that's moot
01[14:47] <El-Cideon> OOC: it is
01[14:48] <El-Cideon> Santiago's bold charge goes awry, as Gloria calls out in answer to Isabel's cry: "I am the answer," she roars, "to one last, fervent prayer!"
01[14:48] <El-Cideon> OOC: Leona and Morrison
[14:49] <Morrison> "Are you saying Gloria wanted revenge, so you reanimated her?" Morrison asks -- he doesn't stop shooting, shaken as he is, though!
[14:49] <Morrison> roll 2#1d20+8
[14:49] <Rei-chan> 6,0Morrison rolled :6,0 2#1d20+8 --> 6,0[ 1d20=14 ]4,0{22}, 6,0[ 1d20=17 ]4,0{25}
01[14:49] <El-Cideon> OOC: bravery! Both hit anyway.
[14:51] <Leona> "This is what happens when the militia doesn't do its j-job!" Leona mutters out, dropping her useless crossbow and bravely approaching the melee to try and relieve Luiza. "Vigilantiism!" she blurts out, brandishing her healing wand over Gloria while her ant continues trying to bite at her unabated.
[14:52] <Leona> roll 1d20+4 ant
[14:52] <Rei-chan> 6,0Leona rolled :6,0 1d20+4 1,0ant --> 6,0[ 1d20=7 ]4,0{11}
01[14:52] <El-Cideon> OOC: CL vs SR if you're using it on Gloria
01[14:52] <El-Cideon> OOC: also ant misses
[14:52] <Leona> roll 1d20+1 melee touch first
[14:52] <Rei-chan> 6,0Leona rolled :6,0 1d20+1 1,0melee touch first --> 6,0[ 1d20=5 ]4,0{6}
[14:52] <Leona> OOC: SR is moot I think
01[14:52] <El-Cideon> OOC: yep
[14:53] <Morrison> roll 2#1d8+4 sorry had to make sure shaken wasn't damage loss too
[14:53] <Rei-chan> 6,0Morrison rolled :6,0 2#1d8+4 1,0sorry had to make sure shaken wasn't damage loss too --> 6,0[ 1d8=2 ]4,0{6}, 6,0[ 1d8=7 ]4,0{11}
01[14:54] <El-Cideon> Gloria disdainfully sidesteps Leona's attempts, even as busy as she is holding Luiza. Morrison's arrows badly shake her, but she remains persistently and ragingly on her feet! "Vengeance is but a petty mortal motive," she screams. "Cleansing is divine justice!"
01[14:55] <El-Cideon> OOC: Luiza. You are grappled by a dead girl.
[14:56] <Luiza> "How are zombies divine justice?!" Luiza exclaims, voice laced with panic as she tries to stab the dead girl.
[14:56] <Luiza> roll 1d20+9+2+1-2-2
[14:56] <Rei-chan> 6,0Luiza rolled :6,0 1d20+9+2+1-2-2 --> 6,0[ 1d20=19 ]4,0{27}
[14:56] <Luiza> roll 1d20+9+2+1-2-2 crit?
[14:56] <Rei-chan> 6,0Luiza rolled :6,0 1d20+9+2+1-2-2 1,0crit? --> 6,0[ 1d20=9 ]4,0{17}
[14:57] <Luiza> roll 1d6+2+3+1
[14:57] <Rei-chan> 6,0Luiza rolled :6,0 1d6+2+3+1 --> 6,0[ 1d6=1 ]4,0{7}
01[14:57] <El-Cideon> OOC: yeah, regular hit. It's -4 DEX to her while grappling, not -4 AC. Too bad there.
01[14:59] <El-Cideon> This stab draws a grunt from the undead horror, as though some vital force was finally being sapped away from her, but she's not down yet! "Call it not necromancy, when it be divine visitation!"
01[14:59] <El-Cideon> roll 1d20+14 to maintain grapple
[14:59] <Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+14 1,0to maintain grapple --> 6,0[ 1d20=19 ]4,0{33}
01[15:00] <El-Cideon> This said, Gloria picks up Luiza, whirls around in a circle, and hurls her bodily across the yard directly at Morrison!
01[15:00] <El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8 vs Morrison there is a Luiza coming your way
[15:00] <Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+8 1,0vs Morrison there is a Luiza coming your way --> 6,0[ 1d20=17 ]4,0{25}
01[15:01] <El-Cideon> roll 1d4+7 also roll ref, both of you
[15:01] <Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d4+7 1,0also roll ref, both of you --> 6,0[ 1d4=2 ]4,0{9}
[15:02] <Morrison> OOC: 18 AC
[15:02] <Morrison> roll 1d20+7 reflex
[15:02] <Rei-chan> 6,0Morrison rolled :6,0 1d20+7 1,0reflex --> 6,0[ 1d20=10 ]4,0{17}
[15:02] <Luiza> roll 1d20+7
[15:02] <Rei-chan> 6,0Luiza rolled :6,0 1d20+7 --> 6,0[ 1d20=3 ]4,0{10}
01[15:02] <El-Cideon> OOC: Morrison halves damage and stays on his feet. Luiza takes full and is prone.
01[15:03] <El-Cideon> OOC: Santiago is up.
[15:03] <@Santiago> Santiago steps about to flank the so-called divine avenger with Leona's industrious ant, aiming a backhanded swing at her neck!
[15:03] <@Santiago> roll 1d20+7
[15:03] <Rei-chan> 6,0Santiago rolled :6,0 1d20+7 --> 6,0[ 1d20=13 ]4,0{20}
01[15:03] <El-Cideon> OOC: hits
[15:04] <@Santiago> roll 1d8+8
[15:04] <Rei-chan> 6,0Santiago rolled :6,0 1d8+8 --> 6,0[ 1d8=8 ]4,0{16}
01[15:06] <El-Cideon> Santiago's sword this time drives through the monster's rotting neck, and finally seems to sever it from whatever force drove it to murderous deeds. Glorivaineth tumbles to her knees on the flagstones, and some last sentiment wrenches its way out of that tortured frame in a single, despairing echo of a mortal voice: "Oh, Lethia! This isn't what I prayed for!" Then she falls motionless to the ground.
01[15:06] <El-Cideon> OOC: free act
[15:07] <@Santiago> Santiago takes a ragged breath, before glancing at the apprentice and muttering something under his breath with a wave of his hand.
[15:07] <@Santiago> OOC: charm person, will DC 15
01[15:08] <El-Cideon> roll 1d20+0 will?!
[15:08] <Rei-chan> 6,0El-Cideon rolled :6,0 1d20+0 1,0will?! --> 6,0[ 1d20=4 ]4,0{4}
[15:08] <Luiza> Luiza leaps back to her feet, ready to fight! But her relief at noticing that it is no longer needed is palpable.
[15:09] <Leona> "How horrifying..." Leona lowers her wand and backs off from the now decapitated corpse. Her ant twitches its antennae and remains on guard for further things in need of being crunched between its mandibles.
01[15:09] <El-Cideon> Isabel steps into the garden, tentatively, as if worried Gloria might rise again. But this doesn't happen, and her apprentice simply kneels by the fallen elf's side, weeping.
01[15:09] <El-Cideon> The apprentice Figueroa, meanwhile, beams silently and pliantly at Santiago, his savior!
[15:10] <Luiza> Luiza narrows her eyes at the beaming murderer, but her wounds hurt too much for her to make an issue of this personally. Instead, she slowly makes her way to Isabel, the combat high draining away.
[15:10] <Leona> Seeing the dire state of Luiza's wounds, Leona brandishes her wand again this time with more benign intent!
[15:11] <@Santiago> Santiago tromps over to the apprentice and crouches down in front of him. "It's time to hear your confession," Santiago declares. "You understand what this is all about, yes? That woman came back from the grave to avenge her death," he intones. "Her death at the hands of you apprentices! It's time to come clean about everything that happened." He lowers his voice. "Don't think she'll stay down forever if you don't."
[15:11] <Leona> roll 2d8+2 healz
[15:11] <Rei-chan> 6,0Leona rolled :6,0 2d8+2 1,0healz --> 6,0[ 2d8=11 ]4,0{13}
01[15:11] <El-Cideon> Isabel looks up at Luiza, wiping her eyes, and takes note of her hero's wounded state. "I-I bought some of these in case something happened on the road," she says, fishing a basic healing potion from her bag. "Please take it."
01[15:12] <El-Cideon> Rafael Figueroa nods energetically. "I understand everything, officer. I'll say whatever you need to hear!"
[15:12] <Luiza> "Thanks," Luiza says, accepting with a wince. "We freed her. I heard something-- it's good to know she didn't intend for this to happen, and is not chained to that broken body anymore."
[15:14] <@Santiago> "I want to know about every time you and your apprentice friends were messing with Ms. Gloria. You were quite nasty to her, weren't you?"
01[15:17] <El-Cideon> Isabel looks up at the other apprentice and scowls as he starts to recite his misdeeds. "Oh, that'll take a while, officer," he says with a companionable laugh. "I mean, most of it was harmless stuff, yelling pointy-ear and the like at her when she passed in the street, right? And Sergio left the dead cat on her doorstep, but I did think it was awfully funny. We'd had a lot to drink the night we clobbered her, but to tell you the truth, officer, when I sobered up I still figured she had it coming to her."
[15:17] <Luiza> roll 1d8+1
[15:17] <Rei-chan> 6,0Luiza rolled :6,0 1d8+1 --> 6,0[ 1d8=7 ]4,0{8}
[15:18] <@Santiago> Santiago nods soberly. "I'm going to get you to write that down for me," he says, rummaging around for some parchment. "And sign it, if you would!"
[15:18] <Leona> Leona's eyes narrow a bit at the pointy-ear bit but she busies herself with fussing over Luiza for now.
01[15:18] <El-Cideon> Rafael is all smiles. "Sure thing, officer! Anything to help." Then he dutifully sits down on a bench and busies himself writing.
[15:19] <@Santiago> Santiago snorts, and cleans off his sword before putting it away. "What a mess," he says, walking back to the others and pulling out his wand.
[15:19] <@Santiago> Then he puts it away, as injuries appear to have already vanished!
[15:20] <Leona> Leona recovers her crossbow in the meantime. "So what now? Shouldn't the actual Solfrina militia be here soon?"
01[15:21] <El-Cideon> "They might be," Isabel says. "We made an awful lot of noise. She--IT made an awful lot of noise."
[15:22] <@Santiago> "That's trouble," Santiago says, with a helpless shrug. "We can't count on them to do the right thing, knowing about Captain Arata's apparent complicity. Once we get his papers," he adds, jerking a finger at Rafael, "We should get out of here and try to bring our findings to the capital authorities."
01[15:23] <El-Cideon> "What--" Isabel struggles to voice an uncomfortable question, but one she shares with emotion before you get ready to leave. "What do we do with her body? This time, I mean."
01[15:24] <El-Cideon> Apprentice Figeruoa signs his confession with a flourish and hands it over to Santiago. "Here you go, officer. This should be all of it. Just give me a whistle if there's anything else you need!"
[15:25] <Leona> "I think she'd have to be burned," Leona says, glancing down at the headless corpse. "I think a lot of bodies might need to be burned if this sort of thing becomes common."
01[15:26] <El-Cideon> Isabel nods. "That's fine. It's probably better, really."
[15:26] <@Santiago> "You did good, son," Santiago says. "Now get out there and make sure everyone knows what you did. Just to be safe from her dire retribution!"
01[15:26] <El-Cideon> Rafael salutes, and dutifully marches out of the garden, through the house, and out onto the street to spread the good word!
01[15:28] <El-Cideon> A sharp cry echoes out across the street the moment you step out of the house: "HALT!"
01[15:28] <El-Cideon> The Solfrina Militia has assembled here while you spoke inside. Half a dozen musketmen kneel, ready to fire, while a pair of swordsmen flank the officer in charge. The captain himself is easily identifiable as the central figure in this squad: Bruno Arata wears shiny new chainmail, a fine cape, and carries his rapier in a lavishly decorated scabbard. He's of average height, with black hair, a meticulously maintained mustache, and a chiseled and unsympathetic cut to his features. He looks no older than any of you.
[15:29] <Leona> Leona dutifully halts. "We're with the Rocina militia, the disturbance has been quelled," she announces, for all that she's out of uniform.
[15:30] <@Santiago> They seem so organized and uniform compared to their provincial squad! "Captain Arata?" Santiago says, with the usual lack of a formal salute.
01[15:32] <El-Cideon> "No wonder they need to send noble sons to the rural provinces to put things in proper order," he says, half to his squad. "These country militiamen can't even figure out what town they're in!" He looks at Santiago, appearing as though he'd have been much happier with a salute. "Why are you in Solfrina?" he asks flatly.
[15:33] <Leona> Leona's expression turns dark, but she lets the more personable Santiago handle talking. Hopefully without them getting arrested on trumped up charges.
[15:36] <@Santiago> The real reason will just have to do. "We were asked to investigate the disappearance of one Glorivaineth's body, sir!" Santiago declares. "And we found it in here within a day of our arrival as we walked about to interview various persons of interest, sir! She was possessed by a vengeful wraith seeking justice for her murder and all complicit within it."
[15:40] <Morrison> Morrison slowly turns to look over at Santiago but doesn't say anything.
01[15:40] <El-Cideon> Captain Arata considers this silently for a moment. "That," he says at length, "is quite the tall tale." He scans over your group, spots Isabel in the rear, and his eyes narrow with visibly displeased recognition. "This little urchin talked you into this errand, did she? You'd do well not to listen to her further, troopers. She's a rabble-rouser, and I'd be pleased if you'd escort her out of Solfrina on your way home." Which, the captain's tone makes clear, he would like to be very soon indeed. "I am sure that at most what we have here is a case of a woman prematurely diagnosed as deceased and buried. It's not unheard of. No doubt any one of us would suffer from some derangement after escaping such a fate."
[15:42] <Luiza> "Then we'll just have to get going," Luiza says, turning to Isabel. "Let's go get our things from the inn."
[15:42] <Leona> Yeah, and she spontaneously grew claws so as to help dig herself up! But Leona keeps her mouth shut, as someone who can also grow claws when the need arises. "Yes, I think it's time to report back home," she agrees, keen to get out of there.
[15:43] <@Santiago> "Sir! No doubt you have more experience in burials, sir!" Santiago declares. "We'll be off then, sir!"
01[15:43] <El-Cideon> Isabel nods. "That's good," she says fiercely. "I don't want to live here anymore anyway! I'm moving someplace the law doesn't answer to any old twit just because he's a count's son!" Under her breath, she adds, "If there is such a place."
01[15:45] <El-Cideon> Captain Arata waves his squad out of the way, and they stand aside to let you walk down the street. To Santiago, he offers one last piece of advice: "And tell your bitch of a sergeant, if she sends her men here to meddle with our business again, the infraction will be reported to the Minister of War." He turns away in disgust and leads his squad inside to investigate the premises.
[15:46] <Leona> "Don't think there is, but Rocina isn't bad," Leona says, lips curling in disgust at Arata's final word. "Wouldn't have to meddle if they'd do their jobs, corrupt idiots," she mutters.
[15:47] <@Santiago> Once they're out of earshot, Santiago snorts. "What an insolent little shit," he says. "Let's leave before he thinks to arrange an accident."
[15:48] <Leona> "Good job keeping your cool there, Santiago," Leona says approvingly. "Don't think I would've managed it."
01[15:48] <El-Cideon> "I want to get out of town tonight," Isabel agrees, shaking a little and a lot less confident than when insuting the captain to his face a moment ago. "I'm tired, but I wouldn't feel safe sleeping here again."
[15:48] <Luiza> "We did have a perfectly good reason for being here officially," Luiza reminds Santiago. "Not that he would've believed it, but-- well, we can save it for the next visit." To Isabel, she says, "Nothing like that happens back home, so it's as good a place as any to start anew."
[15:49] <Leona> "It'll be a trek by starlight, but yes I'd rather get home tonight."
[15:50] <@Santiago> "I was pretty angry," Santiago admits. "I wanted to let him know we had his number."
[15:51] <Luiza> "Who's Lethia?" Luiza asks all of a sudden.
01[15:51] <El-Cideon> OOC: K:R if anyone wants
[15:51] <@Santiago> roll 1d20+6
[15:51] <Rei-chan> 6,0Santiago rolled :6,0 1d20+6 --> 6,0[ 1d20=12 ]4,0{18}
[15:51] <Morrison> "Oh, that's why." Morrison says with a small nod.
[15:54] <@Santiago> "An elven god," replies Santiago, starting down the street. "Not sure what they have to do with vengeance, or this sort of thing."
[15:54] <Leona> "I don't actually know much about elves," Leona is quick to put in before anyone can ask her.
[15:55] <@Santiago> "We could ask Bosque when we get home."
01[15:55] <El-Cideon> Isabel nods. "I read a little, but nothing I found talked about this ever happening either!" she adds with a touch of despair. "I just don't understand anything."
01[15:56] <El-Cideon> ~