CH. 7: The Viper's Nest

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Gregeddin and Gobax (Deserted Building, Guard Lounge)
Gobax patches the gnome up. He manages to stop the bleeding, although the gnome remains unconscious. A healing spell would bring him back to consciousness, but there's no way to cast one without the snakeman seeing it.

=======

(OOC: Gobax uses a healing check on Haahqae [TN 14] (1d20): 9, pass. He restores (1d3): 1 HP to Haahqae. Haahqae is stabilized at -7 HP.

Kendra Greylock (Temple of Takhisis)
"Preferably someone who can handle a bunch of drunken goblins and draconians, because that is mostly what your customers will look like," the priestess says. "The Baaz, especially, are rough and violent. More so when they have been drinking, and they usually are."

Felran and Ne-Chanz (High Hand Inn, 2F)
Felran and Ne-Chanz woke up late that morning in their room at the High Hand. They had stayed in last night, and stayed up quite awhile, discussing their options. Both had fled to Haven to escape the Dragonarmy for their own personal reasons. And then wouldn't you know it, the city was captured. They don't have the money to leave the city, and even if they did, where would they go? The army has swept through all of Abanasinia. For the time being, their best option is to just 'hide in plain sight' and try not to garner too much attention...because if the army ever figured out who they were...

The most pressing concern at the moment is money. While sharing a room has cut down on expenses, both are down to their last handful of coins and they won't last forever.

[TristenC]

Grubnick begins to move to Gregeddin but the Histachii are in the way. umm... could you have them move up into the stairs so I can reach the others? Once the Histachii move he goes the the square just south of Gregeddin and begins tending his wounds, muttering again.

1d20=16
[Ooc: crap. I still stopped the bleeding, right?]

After Gregeddin's bleeding stops (assuming it does) he moves to the lady...

[HorizonsDream]

"I don't know much about the...draconians, but I do know how to handle goblins," Kendra admits. "It might be beneficial to use someone that has weapon experience. No one is going to want a bunch of women that have been abused, so you are going to want someone that can enforce the rules."

[BishGada]

Tulbas falls to his knees. His high sense of hearing let him figure the whereabouts of the slithering creature, he turns his head towards it but looks to the floor. Not sure if speaking without being approached would be considered impertinence he waits for Leota or Belzor to speak. But he does cough quietly.
I wonder where this will lead me... This transformation might not be so bad... It seems the transformed people get some kind of immunity to spells, and might have other enhanced powers. Strange this Belzor didn't raise an army of empowered people all these years and cast off the Holy Guard long ago... I guess I'll learn his angle soon enough. With the twinkle of the light Tulbas thoughts trail off and his focus returns to the present.

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Gregeddin and Gobax (Deserted Building, Guard Lounge)
The Histachii step aside to guard the staircase and Gobax begins work on Gregeddin. He manages to stop the bleeding, but again the human remains unconscious for the time being. At least his injuries don't seem quite as severe as the gnome's.

Moving on to the warrior woman, he finds he is too late. She has already passed on, her injuries too severe. Even his secret clerical powers would do her no good now.

(OOC: Gobax uses a healing check on Gregeddin [TN 14] (1d20): 16, fail. Gregeddin is stabilized at -2 HP.)

Kendra Greylock (Temple of Takhisis)
The priestess chuckles derisively. "That's precious that you think that. I assure you, soldiers look for nothing more in their whores than a pulse and at least one hole." She straightens up. "Let me be clear here. When I say you need to be able to handle these soldiers, I mean keep them happy. Your job isn't to protect the girls, it's to enforce their servitude. The girls working for you will not be doing so by will, most likely. They will be desperate, broke or even blackmailed. You need to make sure their spirits are broken and that they do what they are told. That they don't try to run away or reject any soldier's desires, no matter how...disgusting. Do you understand?"

Tulbas Erogund (Unknown location)
Tulbas hears a hissing sound and then watches as a creature slithers into the light. It resembles more snake than man at this point. Although it has arms and hands, as well as a vaguely human head, the rest of its body is quite serpentine. Its entire body is covered in tough scales that shimmer in the candlelight. The way it moves from side to side is almost mesmerizing. It comes right up to Tulbas and looks down at him, sneering. "Fool...thisss isss an elf!"

Leota blanches. "I...I know, my lord. Does that matter?"

Belzor begins to move around them in a circle, as if pacing. "The ssserum only worksss on humansss. It isss desssigned for their physssiology. He won't even make a passssable Hissstachii." He snorts. "Where did you find him?"

"He was snooping around outside last night, my lord. Although he was surrounded by five acolytes, myself included, he managed to disable two of us and badly injure three others before we took him down," Leota explains. "He was sent here by the temple of...the Dragon Queen."

Belzor hisses. "They sssent a boy, alone? Sssomehow, I doubt that. Tell me, child...how many othersss are there out there looking for you now?"

[TristenC]

Well crap.
Grubnick goes through the motions of binding her wounds as if she were alive, muttering to himself in the goblin tounge. I wonder what the chances are that he'll believe I can't help her, true or not... desperate times...

Hoping against hope he uses the small iron rod, trying to hold it in the most reasonable way to make it look like part of his ministrations. Using the knowledge that the man spoke verbally to the Histachii, he prays there is no mental command of the things. Being as unobtrusive as possible with his casting... Hold Person directed at the rogue.

[ooc: If I need initiative the spell time is 5 so 1d10+5=13 wow. I really hope I didn't need that roll... Grubnick is also ready to chuck the bottle of lamp oil, the one he left on the floor by the woman when he took her maul, at the light source nearest the rogue if this doesn't work...
I was truly hoping it wouldn't come to this... I am targeting only the rogue, so he gets a -2 to his save because I really really need this to work.]

[Ooc: PS. What are the light sources in the room, btw...]

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra nods. "I understand. Would there be anything else that I would need to do other than ensuring that the girls do what they are told, and they stay where they are?"

[BishGada]

Tulbas shrugs, "As I already told Leota, I wasn't looking for you specifically. I heard about some disappearances around the old brothel and checked it out. Leota was kind enough to tell me you were responsible for the kidnapping and turned the kidnapped to Histachii in order to be kept alone to your religion." He pauses and then, "Tell you the truth I started to get used to the idea of the transformation and was expecting for it, but even not transformed I think I can be of service for you. I can mislead the priestess. And in the meanwhile I might be able to help with developing another serum that would work on elves."

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Gregeddin and Gobax (Deserted Building, Guard Lounge)
There are two sources of light in the room. Both are torches mounted onto the walls. There is one on the center of the north wall, not far from the archer, and the other is on the center of the south wall, not far from the unconscious Haahqae.

Gobax casts his spell, and Sirrion is with him, because the archer stops moving entirely. The Histachii remain where they are, not recognizing that something is wrong yet. The goblin calculates he has just over five minutes before the spell wears off, so he should make the most of it.

(OOC: Grubnick casts Hold Person at Rogue Archer. The Archer attempts to resist magic [20%] (1d100): 42, fail. He saves vs. spell [15] (1d20-2): 11-2 = 9, fail. Rogue Archer is paralyzed for 6 rounds.

Kendra Greylock (Temple of Takhisis)
"Just to make sure the customers are happy," the priestess says. "Once a week, we'd send someone to collect our share of the profits. Otherwise, you'd have a fair amount of independence in how you run the place."

Tulbas Erogund (Unknown location)
Belzor slithers right up to Tulbas. He is over ten feet in length, so he towers over the elf, even if Tulbas wasn't already kneeling. He looks right down at him, staring intently, never blinking. "Isss that ssso?" he asks.

"My lord, what do you wish for us to do with him?" asks Leota.

Belzor turns away from Tulbas, exposing his backside. "Keep him under guard at all timesss. If he isss sssincere, it will become clear sssoon enough. If he triesss to essscape...feed him to the Hissstachii."

"I understand, my lord," Leota says with a bow. Belzor then slithers back into the darkness.

[TristenC]

Thank you Sirrion. Somebody up there still likes me...
Grubnick drags Gregeddin over to haahque and away from the Histachii. Keeping an eye on them, he lays a hand on the human. Cure Light Wounds

Quietly to the bard, We don't have time for a lot of questions. Get whatever the gnome used to disappear and get out when I give you an opening.. Don't reach for any weapons until after you vanish. Do you think you can carry him?

[Ooc: I'm hoping all this only took about 1 min... Are the torches bolted down?]

[HorizonsDream]

"Hmm," Kendra says thoughtfully. "I'll have to think about it, naturally. I'll get back to you within a couple of days with my answer, if that is all right?" she asks as she stands from where she is sitting. "Though, who would I talk to if I decide I wish to join the your army instead?"

[djhyland]

Arulia scowls. "You do not need to continue to flatter me, even if you do not do so to mock me," she says. Even if she had any interest in this man, his obsequiousness has left her cold. But rather than turn away and leave him be, his attention has piqued her curiosity if not any amorous feelings. "I do not need your help at this time, but with all that you have to say, you seem to want something from me. Can I help you, or would you wish to find some other girl to flatter?" she asks.

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Gregeddin and Gobax (Deserted Building, Guard Lounge)
Gregeddin suddenly lurches into consciousness, coughing and sputtering as he look around in confusion. "What? Disappear?" he mutters, not understanding what Gobax is talking about. He gets to his knees and looks at the fallen Haahqae. "I think so...but he's heavier than he looks."

Gobax takes another look at those torches. They do not appear to be bolted down.

(OOC: Grubnick casts Cure Light Wounds on Gregeddin, automatically restoring him to 1 HP. Gregeddin regains consciousness.

With Gregeddin's STR, carrying Haahqae will put him in severe encumbrance, so his movement rate will drop to 1. He'll only be able to move 10 feet per round. It will take him 1 round to get upstairs and 5 rounds total to reach the front door, as a result.

One round has passed so far.)

Kendra Greylock (Temple of Takhisis)
The priestess stands up, as well. She snickers. "It is not 'my' army. The army and church are separate entities, even if we both serve the same deity. If you wish to join them, you'll need to speak to one of their commanders. Which one depends on which unit you wish to join."

Arulia Seroth (Harbor District)
The man seems taken back by Arulia's coldness. He appears puzzled, and she gets the impression he is not accustomed to being shot down like this. He looks down at his broken lute and scowls, as if it were somehow to blame.

He places the broken lute into his pack, then looks back to Arulia, smiling. "Right. Cut to the chase then. No more small talk. Well, we're both attractive people, surrounded by an evil army that might kill us or sell us into slavery for any perceived slight. The world may well be ending soon at this rate. So we need to seize what pleasure we can before the end. I have a warm bed at the High Hand, what say we get some drinks, give in to our animal instincts and shag like rabbits until we both pass out from exhaustion?" he asks crudely.

[djhyland]

Arulia shakes her head in disbelief. "I would rather not," she says. "But you are right--you are reasonably attractive. I'm sure that you'll be able to find someone else for your...animal instincts. Perhaps you should continue your search?"

Arulia turns her back on the man and walks away with as little hurry and care as she can manage, even though her instincts cry out for her to flee. She keeps her ears sharp (OOC: ha!) for any sound of his approach and her body ready to defend herself in case her jilting angers him to violence.

[TristenC]

Still whispering to Gregeddin, I know you're shook up, but think about it: he just appeared in the room, he has to have some way. I assume you've known him for a little bit, maybe he had something you knew about. Otherwise search his pockets....

Upon the human's comment about carrying the gnome, he mutters I was hoping to avoid this... With a serious glance at Gregeddin, he speaks firmly, I'm counting on you to keep him from doing anything foolish now. I'll do what I can for your other friend. Remember, I could have left you both here... Cure Light Wounds on Haahque. To the gnome, he says You two need to disappear, I'll make an opportunity for you to get out...

In a louder voice so the rogue can hear, he finishes his conversation with the two new allies Don't tell the temple about this place. Meet me tonight. If you don't hear from me, bring everything you can and burn this place to the ground. In a quick whisper to Gregeddin he says, High Hand inn. Tonight or early morning.

Standing, he walks to stand over the fallen warrior, adressing the rogue. I truly wish I could have helped her. Taking the oil flask and uncorking it he pours half the contents around the rogue and on his feet; careful not to get any on himself or the floor between the rogue and the stairs.

He maintains a close eye on the Histachii. Don't worry, he says calmly, this is just insurance. I'm not going to kill you if you don't force me to, snake-man. I need you to take a proposal to Belzor.

[OOC: sorry if I'm stretching what can be done in a round. Just let me know how my time is. Can I get a quick map of the Histachii positions, too?]