<SillyDM> Alright, now if I recall...
<SillyDM> ~~Session Starto~~
<Rubio> "NO PRISONERS!"
<SillyDM> When we last left our heroes, they were knees deep in the dead and facing off against a small horde of goblins in the remains of the Glassworks.
<Tia`> "Etan! Um, don't step on those puddles, they're--" The small, kimono-clad girl behind Quinn starts to warn Etan, but then stops abruptly, her eyes suddenly going very wide.
<Tia`> "...M-Master." She reaches out to grab Quinn's wrist.
* Tia` sends some telepathic messages to Quinn.
* Quinn_Akeron takes a deep breath and lets it out with a quiet curse.
* Etan barely seems to even hear, sidestepping and... Vanishing, only to pop right in front of the goblins ahead with a bright flash of light and lunges wildly at two of the goblins. "Out, OUT!"
* Tia` watches Rubio as he sets off next, unsure about whether she should say something out loud - but like that, the hero is already across the room.
* Rubio sidesteps the traps laid and rushes forward, sliding into place beside one of the goblins to cut off their escape.
* Tia` takes a breath, and with another quick CRACK, teleports onto a nearby workbench.
<SillyDM> The two goblins shout something unrecognizeable and run for the exit
<Tia`> "...Too far." She mumbles, but all the same, repeats her earlier trick, pulling a pair of inky blots from her sleeve and throwing them at the ground under the goblins! When these spread across the floor though, they seem somehow weaker than the earlier pair, and not only do the goblins shake off their effects handily, but no new swarm of butterflies comes out, as the old swarm crumbles into black dust behind her.
* Rubio swipes at the little beast as it runs past, but curses loudly as it ducks under his blade.
<Rubio> "After them!"
<Tia`> "They've escaped visibility, master. --For all of us."
<Quinn_Akeron> "I'll circle around. Just in case. I'd like you with me, Ti-- Aster, but use your judgement." Quinn picks her way over the floor and straight out through the south wall, searching for the best place to cut off goblinny escape routes, should they end up this way.
* Etan grinds his teeth and runs after them. "You can run, but you can't hide!" he shouts into the glassworks.
* Rubio barrels through the doors as they swing behind Etan, looking around like a hound on the hunt before making ready to kick open the nearest door.
<Rubio> "Kill any you find!  Not a single one of these vermin makes it home!"
* Aster` | There's the loud sound of the front door being pushed open along with quiet but hasty footsteps towards the south.
* Aster` pushes through one door, and then another, panting as she arrives opposite Quinn with a wall between them.
<Aster`> "M-Master..." She's shaking, staring half-blankly ahead of her. "I-I'm sorry... it's because of my negligence that... that Ameiko---"
* Quinn_Akeron pauses only briefly on her way through the wall and down the hall to give Aster a reassuring pat on the head. "We'll talk about this, sweetheart, but now isn't the time. I'm sure you did your best, and you're going to *keep* doing your best until we find her again. For now, make we're making sure nothing green leaves the building."
* Rubio turns toward the sound of Etan's hurried steps, and grins as he notices the door.  "They're going to get it for leading us on this dance!" he snarls, adding out a shout of "AKERON, THEY'RE IN THE BASEMENT!" before he rushes in after the other man.
* Etan 's head pivots around until he notices the northern door is open, and he makes a dash for it. "The basement! Cornering yourselves for me!"
<Tia`> "Or perhaps, setting up an ambush..." Tia blinks.
* Rubio rushes down and stands at Etan's side, covering his back as he scans the area as best he can.
<Tia`> "Whoosh." Tia is quicker on Rubio's heels than expected, as she takes a shortcut through the wall and plummets directly down onto the stairs, landing without much trouble.
* Aster` , meanwhile, dutifully keeps watch as Quinn patrols.
* Rubio turns to the noise, bristling visibly at the surprise, but gives her an approving nod as he realizes it's not a goblin.
* Etan runs down a hall to the east, turning a corner... Right into a goblin! He takes a stab, but whiffs with the goblin.
* Rubio takes advantage of the goblin's swift dodge, and puts himself right in its path, stabbing forward into its body and out through its back.
<Tia`> "There's a... tunnel here? A long one..." Tia calls back through the door.
<Tia`> "Check the other rooms, I'll follow and keep in touch with Aster."
<Rubio> "Right--come back if there's trouble."
<Tia`> So says the girl who had been saying she was Aster the whole time so far.
<Tia`> "...Eh." Tia stops. "Apparently... Mochi has noticed something that has a 'tough' kinda impression."
* Quinn_Akeron finishes cursorily sweeping through the various rooms and steps back into the hallway in front of Aster. "Looks like it's clear. Let's join your sister and the others. Before something ELSE goes terribly wrong, and we're not there to save them."
<Aster`> "Tia has apparently discovered a long tunnel in the basement." Aster frowns, "Leading.. somewhere distant."
* Etan continues his rush down the hall, moving to the first door to throw it open. "None of you here..."
* Rubio cries out "Got one here!" as he spies another goblin and runs towards it.  "Get the stairs!"
* Tia` thinks over the groups options, doubles back, and sets another two puddles to block off the obvious escape route.
<Tia`> "Stairs gotten."
<SillyDM> The lone goblin swings at Rubio without much success
* Quinn_Akeron clatters noisily down the stairs, tripping over her own shoes at the bottom and stumbling into the wall. Haha well at least nobody could see her fall down!
* Tia` was standing right there and could see. She doesn't mention!
* Tia` is sure it's part of a plan.
* Quinn_Akeron was inside the wall for the embarassing part, that's what she meant V:<
* Etan moves to the southern door when he hears the call from the one of the twins. "Something's in... Locked!"
<Quinn_Akeron> "I'll get it!" Her voice is weirdly muffled and echoey, but still comprehensible.
<Tia`> "I'll return to the tunnel." Tia nods.
* Rubio takes a wild stab at the goblin, his fury working against him as the creature ducks out of the way.
* Aster` finally makes her way down the stairs!
* Rubio splits the goblin from chops to nave in a swift blow!
<Rubio> "Now, what was that about a locked door?"
* Etan winces at the scorch mark he left on the wall from a stray bolt of electricity, but turns, weapon sheathed, to the door. "Reeked of sweat, something's in there... Did the blind one run by?"
<Aster`> "Master is investigating." Aster arrives on Rubio's heels. "Has everything else in the basement besides the tunnel been explored?"
* Rubio nods to...whichever of the sisters stands down the hall from him as he swipes off his blade and sheathes it, kneeling before the locked door and going for his tools.
<Aster`> "Master Quinn is investigating." She says slightly firmly in response to Etan.
<SillyDM> There's a muffled sound of struggling from behind the locked door, but it settles down shortly
<Rubio> "Everything alright there, Quinn?"
<Quinn_Akeron> "Ugh! No! Get in here!"
* Rubio throws down his tools and yells to Etan "Etan, need your shoulder!"
* Tia` sprints back down the tunnel as fast as possible!
* Etan hisses, and gets into position. "On it!"
* Rubio stumbles a few steps as Etan manages to strike right at the door's weak spot, straightening and ripping his sword from its scabbard.
* Etan stumbles slightly when the door gives, ready to draw in the general direction of whatever was in there.
<SillyDM> The door falls to the floor inward revealing a bound and gagged Ameiko on the floor, a naked Quinn, and a bipedal bestial creature holding Quinn roughly above its sizeable member
<SillyDM> Etan recognizes the creature as a Gnoll
<Aster`> "Master!!"
<Etan> "BY CAYDEN'S MUG!"
* Aster` doesn't even think twice about the why or what. The moment the scene enters her eyes, there's a loud, vicious crack as she vanishes from the air behind Etan and Rubio, appearing again in front of them with her blade ready and slicing it clean through the enemy's neck!
* Rubio drops his sword and falls to a knee beside Ameiko, taking her in his arms and checking her for wounds, his pounding heart drowning out his thoughts as he murmurs "Mei, please, be safe..."
<SillyDM> The gnoll loses all strength as Aster decapitates it, dropping Quinn roughly onto its member before collapsing to the ground in a heap as the blood begins draining from its body
* Aster` also doesn't even think twice before stabbing it again, just to be safe.
<SillyDM> Ameiko, besides being naked, is mostly fine.
* Aster` breathes in and out deeply, as the sword dissolves out of her hands into a spread of glowing particles.
* Quinn_Akeron squeals in shock and pain, scrambling away from the dead thing as it falls, scooting along the floor to huddle against Aster's legs
<Aster`> "...M-Master-" She turns, and flinches at the sight-
* Rubio holds her tight, taking his outer coat off and draping it over her before he turns to Quinn.  "Oh, Gods...Akeron, hold on, I've got...I can heal, if you need..."
* Etan wavers, his previous fury fizzling out at the scene. "W-wha-" he stammers, cautiously stepping forward. "You need any help with that?"
<Aster`> "I--" Lost for words, she's frozen again, before quickly crouching down and channeling negative energy into Quinn's body as fast as she can, as Tia still stands blankly in the corner, staring.
* Rubio claps a hand over his mouth for a moment before turning to the gnoll corpse and taking up his blade again, stabbing it down into the thing's back to let off a bit of steam.
<Rubio> Gripping the hilt helps him focus for a moment.  "We find who did this.  We geld the bastards."
* Etan grimaces, giving the corpse a kick before moving to help Quinn up. "No need for one of them, at least... But the one behind it /WILL/ pay."
* Rubio leaves his sword for a moment, looking to Ameiko and then looking about the room for any sign of her clothes.
* Quinn_Akeron offers up a wan, shaken smile, taking Etan's hand and pulling herself to her feet. She opens her mouth as if to say something, but what exactly it is she wants to say escapes her, and she closes it again.
<SillyDM> Her clothes are in the corner, but they look like they were torn off
<Rubio> And Quinn's, come to that.
<SillyDM> Quinn's clothes, on the other hand, are in a corner in a pile, placed relatively neatly
* Rubio gathers up whatever he can of Ameiko's clothes and hands Quinn hers, offering them to Aster if Quinn doesn't seem ready to accept.
* Aster` 's eyes go wide as a look of realisation and horror hits her, looking like she's ready to fall over from the shock.
<Aster`> "M-Master--" She drops to her knees so abruptly it's almost as if it was involuntary- "I'm--"
<Aster`> "I have absolutely no excuse." She hangs her head. "If I- If I had not let Ameiko leave--" She stammers,  "If I-- you would not have--"
* Rubio thinks for a moment.  Wasn't Mei at the...?  He shakes his head--there's time for that later.  He busies himself looking about the room--if Ameiko ended up here, there must be some reason for it.
* Etan shakes his head, chuckling nervously and shooting a look back to Rubio and Ameiko. "Does it look like you can rouse her? Worst case I think I have a... Blanket or two if we need something better."
* Aster` can't form a sentence properly. Not only was this completely her failure, but it was Quinn who paid the price for it, in full.
<Rubio> "'Let her'?" he asks, looking at Aster.  "She wasn't...?"  He shakes his head and returns to work.  "I'll try in a moment."
<Aster`> "I--"
* Tia` | Mochi hovers in and begins chewing at the Gnoll's body.
* Rubio hastily drags open or overturns whatever he can find, before taking a knee by Ameiko and taking his dagger out, going at her bonds to try and free her.  "Mei," he says gently as he shakes her shoulder.  "Mei, can you hear me?"
<SillyDM> Ameiko lets out a soft groan and turns over into Rubio
* Rubio loops an arm around her shoulders, whispering out a quiet prayer.  He can't find thankfulness in his heart, but he praises the Inheritor all the same.
* Quinn_Akeron again opens her mouth, but the words still won't come. She can only kneel down with Aster and, with a choked cry, grab her in a squeezing hug
<Rubio> "She's coming around--we should get them both somewhere safe, and inform the Sheriff's men."
* Etan tentatively holds out a hand, before backing out of the room. "A solid plan, there's one other room, I'll check it while you wait for her to come around."
* Aster` lets herself be hugged but doesn't return it - every moment Quinn isn't okay only drives the shock in more.
<SillyDM> The final room in the basement is storage, containing glassware, windows, and other finished goods
<Rubio> "Aster.  Tia."  He stands, holding Ameiko in his arms.  "We need to go.  We need to get Quinn help--we need to get her out of here.  Can you take her, or do you need Etan to help?"
<Rubio> He tries to speak firmly, clearly, and calmly, but feels like he's talking through a mouthful of cotton.  His stomach still hasn't calmed from the sight of Quinn being assaulted and Ameiko on the ground.
* Etan frowns, taking a step in to briefly check the room, turning away to grind his teeth. "Gone, they're all gone... Didn't even check..." he mutters, heading back to the others.
<Aster`> "...Please, let Etan assist." Aster stares forward at the floor of the room, looking past Quinn. "I... cannot, on my own..."'
* Quinn_Akeron takes a deep breath and gives Aster one final aching squeeze. "Rubio's right. The job's not done yet. I.. We can.. Later. We gotta get her home."
<Aster`> There is something even odder about the scene around Aster, that may take a moment to notice - all the motion and energy of objects caught up in the ethumion's aura that was always there, no matter how slight - is missing. Not a single object around her moves. It's almost as if it were the opposite - that there was some unseen, quiet pressure holding them still and smothered.
* Rubio nods.  "Etan, help Quinn.  We're getting out of here."  He pulls Ameiko to her feet, and looks back a moment.  "Could one of you girls kindly get my sword?" he asks quietly.
* Tia` glances towards the sword. Mochi hovers over and engulfs the blade, moving along it to clean the blood off.
* Etan moves over to Quinn, offering her an arm. "Let's get you back... Should I get anything out for cover, or you good?"
* Rubio takes a steadying breath and starts walking back towards the glassworks to gather their comrades from their sentry positions and contact Sheriff Hemlock.  Father Zantus too--the tunnel, and the beast, both smack of something far worse than goblins.
* Tia` is still in shock, but has more composure between the two, and idly reaches her hand out as she steps towards the sword. She catches it as it flies into her real hand - a bit too roughly, her wrist jerking hard from stopping the momentum.
<Quinn_Akeron> Ah-- Cover, right. She throws her cloak around her shoulders, tying it in front, and takes the profferred arm. "Thank you."
<Rubio> As the group moves back into Sandpoint, Rubio falls into step beside the twins.  "What...exactly happened, at the tavern?" he asks carefully, turning towards them.
* Etan chuckles nervously, moving slow at first with her, before he starts to mutter to himself. "Gone... So many of them gone..."
<SillyDM> And so our heroes return to the surface with Ameiko in tow, unharmed in body but unconscious, leaving the bloody Glassworks for the sherrif's office to report on the massacre.  What adventures await them next?  Will Aster overcome her failures?  What secrets will Ameiko reveal?  Find out next time.
<SillyDM> ~~Session Endo~~
<Rubio> "Everyone who suffered for this..."  For my failure, he adds silently, "We'll pay them back a hundred fold."
* Aster` is still looking empty as she trails behind, and can't even reply to Rubio, but Tia at least manages to fill him in.
<Tia`> "Aster says that Ameiko received a note while she was attending to customers..." She explains softly, not turning her head either, "Nothing unusual, but a while later, she left the Dragon of her own accord."
<Tia`> "There was no mind magic at play, and people saw her walking consciously up until Water Street."
* Rubio swallows, his throat dry.  "...You came to help."  He offers.  "You did nothing wrong."  As they re-enter the tavern, he places Ameiko on her bed and walks to the common room, standing beside the fireplace with a hand bracing himself.