Part 3: Hidden Enemies and Unexpected Allies: Session 12

[15:31] <@Daroskt> *****Second Darkness*****
[15:31] <@Daroskt> ~~~Chapter 1: Shadow in the Sky~~~
[15:32] <@Daroskt> -Session 12-
[15:32] <@Daroskt> Combat Resumes. 3 thieve up on the Catwalks, Daroskt badly injured, 4 bouncers dead, Saul unaccounted for.
[15:40] * Katarina turns, running back to Daroskt and dropping her falchion. She quickly picks up her bow, positioning herself in front of Daroskt and in the line of fire, before knocking two arrows and firing them at two separate thieves.
[15:43] <@Daroskt> Katarina's first shot embeds itself in the Catwalk harmlessly, but the second catched a thief right between the eyes, causing him to fall from his perch to the floor below with a thud.
[15:45] * Valnar_Quartzheart starts to run towards the catwalk so that he can get into melee range of the enemies up there.
[15:47] <@Daroskt> Valnar ends up in the kitchen, just shy of the stairs up to the upper level.
[15:53] <@Daroskt> The thieves in the catwalks are torn between the wounded enemy and the one who can shoot back. However, a dead enemy is one that can't run up the stairs and kill them, and their advantageous position gave them needed cover against the archer. They each let an arrow fly at Daroskt
[15:54] <@Daroskt> One shot misses entirely and the other glances off the Half-Orc's buckler.
[15:55] <@Daroskt> A third arrow flies from the rafters, catching Daroskt by surprise... only to embed itself in the floor.
[15:56] * Daroskt givesa brief sigh of relief at his fortune, then ducks behind the podium for some cover while quafing a potion.
[15:57] <@Daroskt> The potion helps a little, but Daroskt's wounds are still pretty nasty
[15:59] * Daroskt grumbles about the ineffectiveness of whoever brewed the potion after tossing the bottle aside
[16:02] * Katarina aims up to those remaining in the catwalk, firing one more arrow at each of them.
[16:03] <@Daroskt> Katarina's arrows, though strong, still snag more Catwalk than person
[16:03] * Valnar_Quartzheart runs up the stairs so that he can get into a fight with the remaining enemies.
[16:04] <@Daroskt> On his way up the stairs, Valnar runs right smack into Saul and Hans, both of whom were retreating down the stairs.
[16:05] * Valnar_Quartzheart "Well Hi boys."
[16:06] <@Daroskt> Saul has his rapier out, but instead attempts to slip past Valnar while barking at Hans, "Hold him here!"
[16:07] <@Daroskt> Saul, with a surprising show of agility for someone his age, slips past the bulky dwarf effortlessly.
[16:08] * Valnar_Quartzheart raises his weapon in an attempt to chop this man down.
[16:10] <@Daroskt> Hans takes a grievous blow and staggers back against the stairwell
[16:13] <@Daroskt> Saul continues his flight down the stairs, but instead of heading out the back door, he heads down the other flight of stairs towards the Gold Goblin's sublevel
[16:14] <@Daroskt> Hans drops his weapon and slumps against the stairs, clutching his axe wound, "Not getting paid enough for this." However, Hans partner, Bayer, appears at the top of the stairs, his sword still drawn.
[16:16] <@Daroskt> The thieves in the catwalks, their shots at Daroskt blocked by the podium concealing Daroskt, turn their bows on the other archer.
[16:19] <@Daroskt> Katarina takes a shot right to the stomach, and another to the shoulder, a third missing by a rather wide margin.
[16:20] * Katarina cries out in pain, clutching at her wounds to stop herself from doubling over.
[16:20] * Daroskt really wishes he had a spear or something to throw at the guys in the rafters, but failing that, slips out of his cover and makes his way to Katarina, using his remaining healing energy to heal her rather than himself. He wasn't about to let his first real friend bite the dust while he cowered
[16:23] * Katarina takes a deep breath as Daroskt heals her wounds. She gives him a short, appreciative smile and turns her sights back to the catwalk, firing another duo of arrows.
[16:23] <@Daroskt> Katarina's twinshots once again embed themselves in the catwalks. She might want to considering picking single targets
[16:27] * Valnar_Quartzheart moves to the top of the stairs and beings to put his weapon so that he can hit Bayer's stomach.
[16:29] <@Daroskt> Bayer falls back from the blow, not quite dead, but as close as his partner is to it. His sword clatters away and he doesn't even try to go for it. "Damn."
[16:32] <@Daroskt> The trio of catwalk archers line up on the now uncovered Daroskt. They weren't about to let someone with healing powers go unshot if they could help it, especially when he was already badly hurt
[16:32] <@Daroskt> Their hasty shooting however manages to hit neither ground-bound target.
[16:33] * Daroskt looks at the arrows that didn't hit him. "Take care of yourself Katarina, but I am -not- going to let Vancaskerkin get away with this betrayal. Chip, keep her safe." He then turns and runs towards the stairs.
[16:35] <@Daroskt> Neither Hans nor Bayer attempts to attack Valnar further
[16:36] * Katarina nods and fires another duo of arrows at separate theives, hoping that one of the two would hit a target.
[16:40] <@Daroskt> Another of the thieves takes an arrow to the face and falls. His knee catches on the railing and he just sort of dangles limply there.
[16:42] * Valnar_Quartzheart moves to one of the remaining thieves on the catwalk, and readys himself for a devastating attack.
[16:42] <@Daroskt> The thief yelps in surprise before being silenced by an axe to the throat.
[16:43] * Daroskt is easily able to track Saul's flight to the lower level of the Goblin and hurries after him alone.
[16:46] <@Daroskt> Chip dutifully stays at Katarina's side as instructed, but with only one thief left, he kinda wants to make sure his master doesn't have to stay alone too much longer.
[16:47] <@Daroskt> The last thief in the rafters turns and fires at Valnar, being recently recruited and less than familiar with the Dwarf's superior protection
[16:47] <@Daroskt> His shot bounces harmlessly off Valnar's armour
[16:49] * Katarina picks up her falchion and slings her bow over her shoulder, running after Daroskt's trail.
[16:50] * Katarina gestures for Chip to follow, as Valnar could take care of the last thief.
[16:51] <@Daroskt> Katarina can easily see which way Daroskt went chasing after Saul, given the haphazardness of the latter's retreat, but Daroskt is almost 200ft ahead of her.
[16:52] * Valnar_Quartzheart looks to the stupid thief that had just tried to hit him and decides to return the favor.
[16:55] <@Daroskt> The thief takes a heft blow, knocking his bow clean out of his grasp as he sprawls over the catwalk. He attmpes to crawl away from Valnar, not quite dead but having nowhere to go
[16:57] <@Daroskt> Daroskt arrives in the lower level and sees that Saul has joined up with Bojask in the arena area above the sandpit. Saul has his rapier out and smirks at the wounded Daroskt coming alone. Bojask, stinking of ale as always, has a throwing axe in hand.
[16:59] * Daroskt draws out his Scimitar and growls, "Time to end this Saul. You made your biggest mistake when you betrayed me. I will not suffer that again." He then quickly quaffs another potion to ready himself for the fight.
[17:01] * Katarina continues running, desperate to reach Daroskt.
[17:02] <@Daroskt> Chip charges alongside Katarina, but because he's small, falls behind.
[17:05] * Valnar_Quartzheart though he knows that he is a long way off from his friends, there is no reason for him to be where he is and begins to run to where his friends went to.
[17:07] <@Daroskt> Saul smirks and makes the first move, lunging at the still wounded Daroskt with his rapier.
[17:07] <@Daroskt> Daroskt catches the blow on his buckler.
[17:07] * Daroskt smirks, "Not good enough old man."
[17:10] <@Daroskt> Bojask throws the hatchet in hand at the Half-Orc before moving to stand side-by-side with Saul, pulling out a battle-axe as he moves.
[17:10] <@Daroskt> The thrown axe catches on the scales of Daroskt's hide armour, but doesn't penetrate them.
[17:11] * Daroskt smirks. It seemed that fate was on his side as he aims to bring down Saul himself, ignoring the less important drunken axeman.
[17:14] <@Daroskt> Saul sneers but says nothing as he's lightly wounded.
[17:15] <@Daroskt> Daroskt feels a sting on the back of his neck as Old Scratch, the imp from their first night at the Gold Goblin appears behind him, snickering cruelly as he stings the Half-Orc
[17:15] <@Daroskt> Daroskt begins to feel a bit woozy as the imp's sting was poisoned.
[17:19] * Daroskt curses, "Little hellspawn. I forgot you still work here."
[17:19] * Katarina continues forward, stopping as she reaches Daroskt, falchion in hand.
[17:23] * Valnar_Quartzheart continues to move towards his friends.
[17:24] <@Daroskt> Saul smirks and, using the advantageous positioning of his bodyguard and imp servant, moves in to skewer Daroskt.
[17:26] <@Daroskt> Daroskt is quite thoroughly skewered and grunts painfully, blood trickling from his mouth.
[17:27] * Daroskt casts a glance at Katarina, "Do not... let his betrayal... go unpunished..." the Half-Orc passes out
[17:28] <@Daroskt> Bojask sees a keen opportunity and takes it, swinging his axe toward's Daroskt's unprotected neck
[17:29] * Katarina responds to Bojask's open defenses, swinging her falchion to catch his blow, and maybe take off his arm.
[17:31] <@Daroskt> Bojask takes a deep cut to the shoulder, but the momentum of his swing still carries his blow at Daroskt
[17:32] <@Daroskt> Daroskt's head flies clean off and his body slumps to the floor
[17:33] <@Daroskt> Old Scratch flies up to Katarina for another poisonous sting
[17:34] <@Daroskt> Old Scratch manages to get a hit, making Katarina feel very woozy
[17:36] <@Daroskt> Things are looking a little bleak for Katarina when suddenly, Chip bounds over her shoulder and crashes into Bojask, knocking him backwards towards the railing of the Sandpit.
[17:37] * Katarina shakes her head, trying to clear away the woozy feeling. Her eyes fill with sadness and hate as she turns on Saul, slashing at him with a powerful blow from her falchion.
[17:37] <@Daroskt> Bojask tumbles backwards into the sandpit
[17:37] <@Daroskt> Bojask lands on his neck, snapping it in the fall
[17:39] <@Daroskt> Katarina's frantic swing misses.
[17:39] * Valnar_Quartzheart continues running for his friends.
[17:39] <@Daroskt> Saul, no longer having support from Bojask, attempts to stab Katarina, with a followup swing from his stump-blade-key thing
[17:41] <@Daroskt> Saul manages a glancing blow with his Rapier, but the backswing fails to penetrate
[17:41] * Katarina grimaces and holds steady.
[17:42] <@Daroskt> Old Scratch sees his master's bodyguard take a tumble and turns to look Katarina directly in the eyes, mouthing words in infernal.
[17:43] <@Daroskt> Katarina can feel the Imp trying to charm her into dropping her weapon, but manages to shake it off
[17:44] * Katarina blinks away the thought, taking another powerful swing for Saul, attempting to cleave through the man and into Old Scratch.
[17:45] <@Daroskt> Katarina can't manage a hit on either of them
[17:47] * Valnar_Quartzheart continues the run, and finally arrives to his friends, or what is left of them.
[17:48] <@Daroskt> Daroskt is beheaded, but Katarina, though roughed up, is hanging in there.
[17:48] <@Daroskt> Chip leaps up to get rid of the imp problem
[17:49] <@Daroskt> Old Scratch is cleanly gored by the boar, nearly being knocked right out of the air
[17:50] <@Daroskt> Saul, seeing his advantages dwindling quickly, attempts to jump down into the sandpit below
[17:51] <@Daroskt> Saul rolls fairly gracefully, only to be met by the snarling of Pigsaw, Bojask's wrestling boar. "That imbecile! Why the HELL did he let that damn big loose down here?!"
[17:51] <@Daroskt> *damn pig
[17:52] <@Daroskt> Pigsaw tries and fails to gore Saul.
[17:53] <@Daroskt> Old Scratch looks at his wounds and Saul's predicament, "Can't be a servant if my master's toast." he curses in infernal and then vanishes
[17:56] * Katarina drops her falchion, quickly drawing her longbow as she moves to the pit's edge. She scowls as she looks down at Saul, firing two arrows towards his chest.
[18:00] <@Daroskt> Katarina's attempts to shoot rapidly again proves difficult, as she manages to hit neither Saul nor the pig
[18:01] * Valnar_Quartzheart looks to the pig and begins to ready his attack, and hopes that he can have some bacon tonight.
[18:02] * Valnar_Quartzheart moves into the pit as he is thinking about the bacon and attacking.
[18:04] <@Daroskt> Valnar actually manages to tumble down into the pit withotu hurting himself
[18:06] <@Daroskt> The Pig takes a blow from the axe, but this only seems to piss it off
[18:06] <@Daroskt> Saul seems content to let Valnar fight the pig as he begins to sift through the sand as though searching for something.
[18:08] <@Daroskt> Pigsaw attacks Valnar
[18:08] <@Daroskt> The raging pig can't get through the dwarf's touch armour
[18:10] * Katarina smiles, though not out of kindness, as she sees Saul leave the hectic battle. She readies her bow, firing another barrage of two arrows towards Saul.
[18:12] <@Daroskt> Katarina's shots both manage to strike true, pinning Saul to the floor, with a thunk as the arrows come out the other side, as through striking wood.
[18:12] <@Daroskt> Saul passes out and bleeds
[18:13] * Valnar_Quartzheart continues his fight against the pig, aiming his weapon for a very powerful attack.
[18:14] <@Daroskt> Valnar's might blow breaks off one of Pigsaw's tucks and cuts a mighty gash across his face. However, the tenacious pig is down but not out, and again tries to gore the dwarf
[18:14] <@Daroskt> The goring tusk is handily deflected by Valnar's shield
[18:16] * Katarina turns towards the boar, firing a single shot its way.
[18:19] <@Daroskt> Katarina's shot skewer's the foul tempered boar, dropping it
[18:19] <@Daroskt> Chip, meanwhile, has seated himself next to Daroskt's body, nudging it with his nose.
[18:21] <@Daroskt> -Combat Ends-
[18:21] * Valnar_Quartzheart walks over to saul sitting him upright, so he can look at him.
[18:21] <@Daroskt> Saul is unconscious and bleeding profusely from his arrow holes, but is still drawing ragged breath
[18:22] * Valnar_Quartzheart flicks Saul in the forehead, "Hey, you little vermin, can you hear me in there?"
[18:22] * Valnar_Quartzheart looks to Katarina, "Who killed him?
[18:22] * Katarina slings her bow over her shoulder and calls down to Valnar, "End him." She turns, drinking a potion as she looks to Daroskt's corpse.
[18:23] * Valnar_Quartzheart "I don't know if killing him would benefit us the greatest, he has information we need."
[18:23] <@Daroskt> Saul continues to bleed
[18:24] * Katarina frowns, turning back to Valnar as her eyes start to tear up. "I-If...I-If y-you don't kill him, I-I w-will."
[18:25] * Valnar_Quartzheart "No, he will die in time, but not right now."
[18:25] * Valnar_Quartzheart gives Saul a healing potion.
[18:26] * Valnar_Quartzheart holds Saul down.
[18:26] <@Daroskt> Saul sputters and coughs, blood and a bit of spilled potion dribbling from his mouth. He has nowhere near enough strength to even try lifting the heavy dwarf off.
[18:26] * Valnar_Quartzheart "Why hello, you little devil."
[18:27] * Valnar_Quartzheart "I feel you owe me some information."
[18:27] * Katarina scowls and moves over to Daroskt's body. Pamodae... she can heal Daroskt. She gives Chip a hopeful smile, attempting to pick up Daroskt over her shoulder along with his... head.
[18:29] <@Daroskt> Saul scowls and says nothing
[18:34] * Valnar_Quartzheart "Quiet type eh?
[18:36] <@Daroskt> Saul spits out some blood, "My revenge will soon be complete, with or without me."
[18:36] * Valnar_Quartzheart "Oo, How so?"
[18:40] * Katarina continues to trudge towards the temple of Calistria with Daroskt's corpse.
[18:40] * Valnar_Quartzheart stays with Saul, to see what information he can get out of him.
[18:41] <@Daroskt> Chip follows in her wake, helping to support the heavy corpse.
[18:43] <@Daroskt> The House of the Silken Veil is a fair distance away, and it takes Katarina a couple hours to drag Daroskt there without the use of a cart. Upon parting the veil, she is, as before, hit with the powerful scent of exotic incense. She gets some looks from the temple patrons and 'clergy', but most of them seem shocked that a corpse has been brought into their brothel
[18:43] <@Daroskt> Saul continues to say nothing.
[18:44] * Katarina looks around frantically for help, moving further into the temple. "L-L-Lil? P-Pamodae?"
[18:45] <@Daroskt> Lil is at the middle of the stairs and quickly makes her way down to Katarina, "Goodness. What happened to him?"
[18:45] <Katarina> "S-s-s-saul. P-pamodae c-can heal h-him, y-yes?"
[18:46] <@Daroskt> Lil looks at the corpse, particularly the missing head, "Did you bring his head? I'm not certain Shorafa can fix an incomplete corpse."
[18:46] * Valnar_Quartzheart "Oo, come now Saul, I feel after all we have been through you should owe me this little bit of return."
[18:47] * Katarina nods weakly, pulling out the head sadly.
[18:47] <@Daroskt> Saul spits some more blood in the Dwarf's face. "I owe you nothing. If you're not going to kill me, you could have the decency to stop sitting on me."
[18:48] * Valnar_Quartzheart "hmm, And give you the chance to get out of here?"
[18:48] <Valnar_Quartzheart> decides that Saul is right, and gets off of him.
[18:49] <@Daroskt> Lil nods, "Okay, that could work. Come with me." She helps Katarina carry him up the stairs. "I'm kinda surprised about the turn of events with Saul. Shorafa only just heard a little while ago about the ambush last night, and was looking into it. She doesn't like to go uninformed."
[18:50] * Katarina nods and keeping moving upwards. "S-so, sh-she can h-help him..." She smiles lightly, seemingly relieved. "G-good..."
[18:51] <@Daroskt> Saul sits up, but seems wary.
[18:51] <@Daroskt> Saul doesn't try to make a move for his weapons.
[18:52] * Valnar_Quartzheart "So Saul, Why go against us, you know how strong we are as a group, and still you try and kill us."
[18:53] <@Daroskt> Upon reaching the top of the stairs, Katarina and Lil are met with Shorafa, who is currently sitting next to a massage table. The table's occupant is another tiefling with pale purple skin and actual cloven feet. She seems to be -thoroughly- enjoying having her hooves massaged. Shorafa looks to Katarina and tilts her head, "I have heard you ran afoul of Vancaskerkin. I can't believe I thought for a moment he might actually have change
[18:53] <@Daroskt> -I can't believe I thought for a moment he might actually have changed. I hope your vengeance against him was sweet?"
[18:54] <@Daroskt> The other tiefling seems distracted by the massage, and is, if Katarina cares to notice, stark naked.
[18:54] <@Daroskt> Saul sneers, "Exactly. I had to cut you loose before you became a threat to me. Looks like I waited too long."
[18:55] * Katarina shakes her head. "N-not if D-daroskt is d-dead." She looks to the other tiefling and blushes, looking away and instead at Daroskt. "Y-you... y-you can h-heal him?"
[18:55] * Valnar_Quartzheart "And why would we become a threat to you?"
[18:56] * Valnar_Quartzheart "We worked for you, we never wanted harm to come to you."
[18:56] <@Daroskt> Shorafa motions for Katarina to set the body on a table for examination, offhandedly casting a spell to stop the lingering blood spurts from his neck.
[18:57] <@Daroskt> Saul frowns, "Like I care what you wanted. You were a means to an end, nothing more."
[18:57] * Valnar_Quartzheart "And what end is that?"
[18:57] * Katarina does as instructed, heaving the body, and head, onto the table. She stares worriedly down at the table after, as if waiting for Daroskt to wake up.
[18:58] <@Daroskt> Saul says nothing more
[18:59] * Valnar_Quartzheart sighs, and sits next to Saul, "Now, I may not know why you did this, but Maybe you can help me understand."
[18:59] <@Daroskt> Shorafa looks the body over and tsks, hmms and looks ponderous. "I do have a spell that can restore life to the deceased, but there are some... restrictions."
[18:59] <@Daroskt> Saul continues to say nothing. The angry scowl on his face shows that the inquiries are only angering him
[19:00] * Katarina raises an eyebrow and her shoulders start to sag. "R-r-restrictions?"
[19:01] <@Daroskt> Shorafa nods, "I am not so strong as to be able to raise a fraction or part of a corpse to full life. The fact that his head is missing... complicates the matter. Normally it is impossible, with my power, to restore life to an unwhole corpse. And it will be difficult to reattach his head while his body is deceased."
[19:02] * Valnar_Quartzheart "Well, I still don't understand why trying to kill us, Don't you think that we could have helped you with any problem that you had?"
[19:02] <@Daroskt> Saul says nothing
[19:03] <Valnar_Quartzheart> decides that he might as well end this man's miserable life, "Well, I''m sorry that it had to come to this," Raises his weapon aimed to chop off his head.
[19:04] * Katarina blinks, not understanding. "B-b-but, you c-can do it?"
[19:06] <@Daroskt> Shorafa ponders. "I can make the attempt at least. However, there is the matter of both payment and components. First of all, I usually charge a fee for the use of my spellcasting services, or those of my clerics. I would in this case be willing to give you a generous discount to honour your revenge against Vancaskerkin."
[19:06] <@Daroskt> Valnar knocks Saul back down to death's door, the wounded old Crimelord unable to put up a fight.
[19:07] * Katarina nods. "R-right, a-anything. H-how much?"
[19:08] <@Daroskt> Shorafa nods, "As well, I require, either a diamond or diamond dust, worth five-thousand gold pieces."
[19:08] <@Daroskt> SHorafa shrugs, "Or a number of smaller diamonds if that's what you can find."
[19:09] * Katarina blinks. "F-f-f-five... I-I, w-we... I-I d-don't h-have that m-much..."
[19:10] <@Daroskt> Shorafa nods, "You have ten days, I think, to get them then. Fortunately for you, I do have a means to preserve his body for that duration. Unfortunately, after that, he will be beyond my aid unless you can find a more powerful cleric. In that case though, it would likely be more expensive still."
[19:11] * Katarina nods. "O-okay. Th-then you'll keep h-him here? Th-then we c-can bring the m-materials?"
[19:13] <@Daroskt> Shorafa nods, "Yes. You pay for the reposing, and I'll consider it a downpayment on the raising. While you are gathering the funds, I shall see about attaching his head in a way that will maximize the chance of success."
[19:17] <Katarina> "O-okay. I-I'll b-be b-back w-with the funds." She waves, turning to head back to the Goblin for gold.
[19:18] <@Daroskt> The tiefling high priestess notes, flicking her tail, "I would advise against a moneylender by the way, unless you are truly desperate. Before you go though, I must charge for the repose and storage. It is nothing personal, but like any temple and business, mine does require upkeep."
[19:19] * Katarina opens her backpack and coin-purse. "H-how much?"
[19:19] <@Daroskt> Shorafa flicks her fingers. "Two-hundred."
[19:20] * Katarina hands over the stated amount, heading back to the Gold Goblin unless interrupted once more.
[19:22] <@Daroskt> Lil looks to Shorafa as Katarina leaves, "Pity. I was kinda hoping Saul and them would bring down Zincher and I could go free." Shorafa shrugs and casts her spell on Daroskt's body. "Zincher treads on thin ice anyways, although with Saul out of the way, power may shift again. We should stick to our own devices for now."
[19:22] * Valnar_Quartzheart begins to look for Katarina, wondering where she went.
[19:24] <@Daroskt> -End Session-
[19:28] <@Daroskt> Rewards: 1 CR 4, 3 CR 2, 6 CR 1, 2 CR 1/2, 2000 Experience Each