Beyond the Sky - Session 14

After the questioning of Lord Ursan and discovering the whereabouts of the meeting place, the party head over to the destination, dropping off Twilalux at Adrian's residence, and escorting Jillia to the Red Lily.
The house described by Ursan seems to be close to the wall, a little isolated from the other houses, on a small hill. It seems to have darkened windows, and you can't see inside.
Arkune takes some time during the trip to change into her boarhide armour, weighing mobility and agility as more important in a cramped area.

Mikolotov: "Seems like quite a nicer house than most around here."
Adrian: "Also certainly an out-of-the-way location."
Arkune takes a brief look around, to check to see if the house looks recently inhabited.
Mikolotov: "Seems like just far enough from houses to have isolation, just close enough to make a quick getaway into the crowds."
Adrian tries to listen at one of the windows.
Night Eyes keeps her head low, shirking to a spot near the door.
Arkune: "Think anyone actually lives here full time? Or is it just a convenient place to hide?"
Valaire holds a finger to her lips in an inquisitive posture. Using her sleeves and one of Adrian's illusions, she currently resembles Jillia in her entirety.
Arkune takes a place opposite Night Eyes.
Adrian: "(Going in alone first?)"
Arkune: "It might look overly suspicious otherwise... Unless you think I'd pass for your guard?"
Adrian: "(I'm the one they'd be most likely to recognize anyway.)"
Valaire: "(So who is it that'll impersonate Ursan?)"
Mikolotov: "I could try."
Adrian: "(I can only disguise one of us.)"
Mikolotov: "(Perhaps just Milady Valaire will be enough.)"
Valaire: "(Just baggy clothes should suffice. I suspect they'll be paying more attention to 'Jillia' anyways.)"
Night Eyes: "(Ah, I can imitate the clothes, at least...)"
"(But, there is no way I could impersonate him. )"
Arkune: "(I'm afraid I'm not very good at mimicking voices either...)"
Adrian: "(With any luck, it's only a hired thug here, and they won't be well-informed. I'll try it, then.)"
Night Eyes nods, and tugs on her sleeve, her robe transforming into a heavy furskin coat and a hood covering her face.
Valaire: "(I can imitate Jillia well enough, but a man's is outside my range at the moment.)"
Mikolotov waits on one of the walls, out of sight.
Adrian: "(Not bad.)"
Valaire closely follows Night Eyes, adjusting her posture and demeanor to look timid and meek.
Night Eyes waits for Adrian, then knocks on the door.
Night Eyes casts a spell as she waits for the response, linking the group by a wind. [Message - Night Eyes, Valaire, Arkune, Adrian]
Man's voice: "Who is it?"
Night Eyes turns to Adrian.
Arkune: "(I'll hang ba-)" goes quiet as the man speaks.
Night Eyes: "(You should respond.)"
Valaire coughs lightly, speaking in a nearly perfect imitation of Jillia's voice.
Valaire: "Um, hello? I was told I was supposed to come here?"
Adrian: "This is where you wanted me to bring the girl?"
Arkune: "(I'll hang back, in case anyone tries to flee, and to keep my presence more subtle.)"
Man's voice: "The lady can come in, alone."
Night Eyes steps aside, and bows to Valaire.
Adrian: "Go on, then."
Valaire: "A-alone? You aren't going to... do anything, will you?"
Night Eyes: "(Glad I had this spell ready.)"
Adrian: "(Good thinking.)"
Night Eyes sits in the shadow, readying another spell. [Vanish - upon hearing approach]
Man's voice: "I had an idea or two about what to do, nothing that your other clients wouldn't do."
Valaire: "A-alright. So..."
Valaire tries the handle of the door.
Night Eyes rests her free hand on her rapier, drawing it.
The man approaches the door, opening it just enough for Jillia to get through with.
[Night Eyes : Acrobatics: 15+1+6]
Valaire gives a glance to Adrian, then slips through the thin opening in the door.
Strange Man closes the door as soon as she is through.
Strange Man: "Well, welcome to my abode, young lady."
Valaire: "So... what were you wanting to do? I'm told you wanted me specifically."
Adrian returns to outside the door, trying to listen in. [Perception: 18]
Night Eyes crawls behind the boxes to stay hidden. [Stealth: 21]
Strange Man: "Indeed I did."
Arkune stands beside Adrian, ready to move if he heads in. [Perception: 22]
Valaire: "Were you planning on any escorting? Me draped on your arm as you walk around town? Or did you just want to get to business?"
Strange Man: "Business would work out fine."
Strange Man strolls towards a door, opening it and beckoning the courtesan in.
Night Eyes: "(I can slip him up if needed.)"
Arkune: "(Should we move in if he follows her?)"
Adrian: "(They're able to signal us if needed.)"
Valaire: "I'll go slip out of these then, you can come in after about a minute once I'm undressed."
Valaire moves to walk into the opened room.
Strange Man lets her walk by, but walks in behind her, closing the door, and moving in close to her, looking into her eyes.
Strange Man: "I'd prefer for now if you kept them on, and kept your attention on me, for a few, exciting moments."
Valaire: "Anything you desire."
[Valaire: Will Save: 7]
(Valaire blacks out, after feeling intensely tired.)
Night Eyes moves up to tail the two, as they enter the room, keeping an ear against the door..
Arkune: "(Ready, Adrian?)"
Adrian: "(Ready when signaled. Valaire knows what she's doing, I expect.)"
Night Eyes: "(Adrian, Arkune - they've entered another room. No danger yet, no need to act.)"
Arkune: "(Okay.)"
The Strange Man comes back out of the room, opening the door quite quickly, Night Eyes managing to get out of the way just in time, only knocking against it slightly, before the door is closed again. [Reflex Save: 13+3]
Strange Man: "I should let her have time to get undressed."
Night Eyes slips under the table. [Stealth: 32]
Strange Man turns to where he felt something knock against the door, growing quiet.
Strange Man goes to his desk, taking out some paper and quill from the drawers.
And preparing to sit down at the desk to write a letter, he sees someone under where he would sit, and decides to stand up.
Arkune: "(You okay, Val?)"
Night Eyes: "(Damn. Spotted.)"
Strange Man: "I believe I only hired one girl today."
Arkune: "(Ready for a distraction, Nighteyes?)"
Night Eyes backs out of the desk.
Night Eyes: "What about last night?"
Strange Man: "Now, I expect you to look me in the eye and give me your reason for hiding in my room."
Strange Man stares down Night Eyes.
Adrian draws his sword, waiting for a chance to break in.
Strange Man: "Are you the lord, here to get in on the action?"
"I do not intend for that to happen."
[Night Eyes: Will Save: 13]
Night Eyes wavers, and falls to the ground.


[Night Eyes : Initiative: 22.03
Arkune : Initiative: 20.02
Mikolotov : Initiative: 13.01
Adrian : Initiative: 13
Valaire : Initiative: 10.03
Strange Man : Initiative: 4.02]

Arkune: "(Now?)"
Adrian: "(Now!)"
Arkune tries the door...
To no surprise, she finds the door to be locked.
Arkune draws out her thieves tools to disable the lock.
Arkune: "Sir Gruber, we're here to deliver your package!" calls Arkune, hoping to at least confuse the man until she can get the door open.
"(I figure he heard me trying the door anyway.)"
"(Might as well distract him too.)"

Mikolotov moves around, attempting to smash the window with his lance.
[Mikolotov : Lance: 8, Damage: 5]
Mikolotov successfully smashes the glass, but the lance strike leaves a few jagged pieces around the edges.

Adrian tries to climb inside through the broken window. [Climb: -2]
Arkune: "We'll be sending the package through the window presently, sir!" jokes Arkune.
"He just had to see her, didn't he?" she ponders to herself.
Adrian, in his haste, cuts himself on the jagged glass. [Damage: 3 Bleed]
Adrian runs across the room, sword drawn.
Adrian: "(Valaire, get out here!)"
"Don't think you won't be answering for this."
Strange Man looks straight at Adrian, focusing.
[Adrian : Will Save: 10]
Adrian stares at the man in surprise, then crumples to the ground.
Mikolotov: "Lord Adrian? What's happened?"
"Damn it, I think he's doing something to them, we need to get in there now!"

Arkune: "Damn it... Window it is," grunts Arkune, as she drops her tools to the grass near the door and heads for the newly opened path. [Acrobatics: 17+3]
Arkune attempts to dive through the window, rushing into the room.
Arkune draws her mace as she moves to stand face-to-face with the man, insectile wings of light blooming on her shoulders. [Smite Evil]
Arkune: "You'll go no further!"

Mikolotov climbs through the window hastily, not caring about the damage, moving to spear range as he takes out his shield, a white glow around his lance. [Smite Evil]
Mikolotov: "You're not going to get away from us now."
Strange Man: "Is that so?"
Strange Man stares at Arkune powerfully.
[Arkune : Will Save: 21+3]
Arkune: "That won't stop me... surrender before this gets messier!"
Strange Man backs away, towards the ajar window in the corner.
Strange Man: "I have ways of getting away."

Arkune tries to move to intercept him.  [Acrobatics: 22]
Arkune swings at the man, making sure to hit with slightly less than lethal force.
[Arkune : Heavy Club
Attack: 10, Damage: 18 Nonlethal]
The mace bounces off the man, making an audible metallic -pang-
Arkune: "Clang?"

Mikolotov steps forward, thrusting his spear into the man.
[Mikolotov : Lance
Attack: 10, Damage: 6]
Arkune: "What the fish are you?"
He unfortunately jabs wide, the attack missing him.
Strange Man: "You're not going to find out."
Strange Man steps to the side, pulling out a small scroll, and reciting an incantation.
Blue light swirls around him, and he quickly vanishes. [Dimension Door]
Mikolotov: "Dammit! He got away..."
Arkune: "Let's wake the others and see if he left anything behind."
Mikolotov: "I'll check the other room for Valaire."
Arkune walks over to Night Eyes, trying to gently prod her awake.
Mikolotov puts away his shield and weapons and goes over to the other room.
Arkune: "Hopefully she's unharmed."
Night Eyes groans, feeling around her.
Arkune: "Goodmorning, sleepyhead..."
Mikolotov walks over to Valaire,gently trying to shake her awake.
Mikolotov: "Hey, hey, are you okay?"
Arkune: "Battle's over already... Bastard used some magic to flee."
Night Eyes: "I failed..."
Arkune: "With luck he might have left some clue behind."
"Take a look while I get Adrian up?"
Arkune proceeds to do just that, working to rouse him from his slumber.
Night Eyes: "Why this time?"
Adrian wakes slowly and winces, covered in blood from his cuts by now.
Adrian: "What... what was that? What happened?!"
Arkune: "Well, he seemed more than human-"
Night Eyes pushes herself off the floor, trying to use the desk to lift herself up.
Arkune: "Welcome back to the world of wakefulness."
"As I was saying, he had a core of metal or something... Unarmored humans don't go clang when you hit them."
Valaire shakes her head, getting her bearings.
Night Eyes: "Not just an illusion?"
Arkune: "Which? The sound?"
Night Eyes: "His clothes."
Mikolotov goes back over to Lord Adrian, healing his wounds. [Lay On Hands: 3]
Arkune: "Perhaps."
Adrian: "Thank you... wait, metal? That makes no sense..."
Arkune: "Given how easily he teleported off, I suppose he was good at magic... Not that many mages go around wearing heavy armor, from my knowledge."
Arkune stands up as Adrian comes to his senses, looking around for anything out of place in the room beyond the motley group.
Night Eyes: "I don't think it was a spell that he was using..."
"I was ready for that."
Adrian: "Valaire, what happened on your side?"
Valaire shakes her head, and then sighs.
Valaire: "Some sort of magic. That's about all I know. I felt tired, and then the next thing I knew, the knight was waking me up."
Arkune: "I know a flash of fatigue hit me when he looked at me... shook it off fast though."
Valaire: "Did you kill him?"
Arkune: "I tried to strike him... Didn't hit quite hard enough, though."
Arkune takes a look at the desk for any relevant papers to the current situation.
Valaire climbs out of bed, looking around.
Adrian tries the other door, looking around in concern.
Adrian opens the door to find a small, bound and gagged girl.
Arkune wanders into the room to see how Adrian and Val are doing.
Adrian: "Over here!"
Valaire turns to Adrian, following him.
Arkune: "Is that her, Adrian?"
Adrian steps into the room and carefully cuts the ropes binding the girl.
Adrian: "It's her."
Arkune: "You okay, Val? Did he do anything weird to you?"
Valaire: "Who can say? I was out cold. The bastard could have felt me up for hours for all I know."
Genevieve wriggles out of the cut bindings, taking the gag off, and quickly embracing Adrian.
Genevieve: "Daddy, you're here!"
Adrian: "Genevieve, are you alright?"
Valaire looks into the room, before stepping out of line of sight of the door.
Night Eyes: "Ah, right..."
Valaire: "(Looks like that's the girl, but I would really not want her to confuse me for her mother...)"
Night Eyes nods at Valaire.
Valaire tugs on her sleeves to revert to her conservative dress.
Genevieve: "I-I'm okay, but..."
"Auntie Harriet, she..."
Valaire: "(He seems busy, so I'll probably just step out quietly.)"
Arkune: "Keep an eye out for if anyone approaches, okay Valaire?"
Night Eyes follows Valaire.
Arkune moves closer to see how Adrian is doing, peeking around the door.
Night Eyes: "It doesn't seem either of us were out cold long. I was unmoved, and I alerted the others."
Genevieve: "Auntie, the man hit her and she fell over..."
"I'm scared... is mummy okay?"
Arkune bites her lip, her hand clenched as she listens.
Adrian: "She's fine. I think your auntie... isn't. But she tried her best to protect you, and you can remember that, okay?"
Valaire: "I woke up on the bed, so I just know I was moved. My armor is still in place under the glamer, so he couldn't have done anything more than cop a feel, but..."
"Damn it, he didn't even pay."
Genevieve sniffs, and buries her face in Adrian's chest, crying.
Night Eyes: "He will. In blood."
Arkune: "Have you seen your auntie since?"
Genevieve: "T-the man looked at me and I got sleepy, then... then I was in this dark place and I couldn't move..."
Adrian: "Let's get you out of here now, okay? Just in case that dastard goes for reinforcements."
Genevieve: "O-okay."