Arabesu's Eyes of the Lich Queen - IC

[Fangor the Fierce]

Trent nods to Rosa, sensing that she was not able to pass off the poison as well as he did. "You can have use of my belt. I have not used it, and it seems as though another is available to us. I will make use of one of its charges though, as I am in need of it from our previous encounter."

With that, Trent uses one charge of the healing belt of his own, and then removes it, handing it to Rosa for her own use. [sblock=Healing Belt 1 Charge]One charge of Healing Belt (2d8=8)

That should put me only down one hp, which I will heal during rest.[/sblock]
Trent does, however, note that the leader of this small guard seems to have other priorities. Sensing that perhaps there is a chance to gain some other advantage to their mission, he takes a chance on it.

"Rosa, can you and I talk with Verdin in private? Hightower can keep the others guarded for now, and Fenwick can help out as well with the guarding."

Trent hopes to get Verdin off to the side, away from the other poisondusk lizards and the bullies. Then, with some aid for Rosa, he hopes that they can come to an agreement.

"I am sure that your tribe would not take too kindly for letting us take this area so easily. Yet, from your talk, it doesn't seem that you hold allegiance to them, as you have obviously been elsewhere, and are not one to be so tied down to their laws. You have an advantage, and perhaps it would be a choice that may change your life. We can take the Temple, and clear out the rest of the inhabitants that attack us. Yet, if we had the aid of a guide, then perhaps that could go more smoothly, and your defeat might turn out to be simply a test of your worth."

Trent eyes Rosa, hoping that she knows where this is going. "You have knowledge, and skills, obviously, and to let them waste here in the jungle would not be kind. You know, we could always use a little help. And we reward our aid very well."

As if to show this, the then turns his gaze to Hightower, and the mess that the chain deals. "But as for our enemies. They are not so lucky. You have surrendered, and our terms are simple. Do not raise arms against us again, and do not bring harm against us by your words or actions. Simple enough. But, should you think there is more to think on, you know that we are sensible people, and listen to reason."

 

[moritheil]

Rosa buckles on the belt and invokes it, then steadies herself as poison courses through her veins.

Healing from Trent's belt (2d8=14)

Fort saves vs. poison with 2 AP spent (1d20 5=14, 1d6=3, 1d20 5=25, 1d6=3)

OOC: 17 and 28. I don't suppose Trent could use the Heal skill to aid my saves? Drawing the poison out of a wound or something should be able to affect the odds.

 

[renau1g]

Fenwick will be looking at the pile of spoils of battle and say to Hightower, "Hmmm, 4 potions, 4 of us. Perfect. I certainly have no use for anything else besides maybe the amulet. Good eyes Hightower, I am glad to be with you. "

 

[Arabesu]

Rosa is surprised that she feels as well as does when the poison tries to take hold. The luck of the gods is with her and she sloughs off the effects with only the initial impediment to her physical strength.

Hightower is not so lucky. One of the doses hits him full on and saps his vitality to the core. He retches. Vision goes blurry, and he swoons, but has not been so injured that he goes unconscious, although he feels nearly half as healthy as he did but moments before while raging.

OOC: Hightower takes 5 points of Con damage, which by my reckoning should put him at 21/29 hp. Luckily he has an odd con to start so its not as bad as it could have been I guess.

OOC: Rosa made both saves, the lower one because of her use of an action point.

 

[Fangor the Fierce]

Trent spies the power of the poison taking its toll on the big warrior, as he moves near to him. With a nod, he simply says, "It's good to have you around, especially with that chain of yours. I have but one charge left, but it would do you well..."

With that, Trent uses the charge left to heal up the wounds on Hightower. (If Hightower accepts, he can have 2d8 of HP healed. His call though)

Turning back to the scout, Trent hopes that the time he took to aid Hightower was enough for the scout to gather his thoughts and think on the proposal. Moving back to the discussion, Trent states his terms, to see if the scout would be willing to go along with them.

"In return for your aid, I would offer 25gp to help with our mission. If all goes well, then I would also ask you to think about the possibility of an extended partnership. But that can be discussed after we have completed our current mission. Deal?"

Trent procures a small bag of coins, twelve gold are set aside, as he holds them in his hand. "Half now, the rest, and a possibility of more treasure, for when we finish."

 

[renau1g]

Fenwick looks over questioningly as Trent offers the money to the lizard that had just been trying to kill them, but doesn't say anything. He'll discuss with Hoppy, but unfortunately the familiar also doesn't know what they're saying.

 

[Vertexx69]

Hightower accepts the heal gladly, then turns to the scout. "Let us be off to the place you mentioned earlier." He leans in to the blackscale and in draconic adds, "And if ever you raise sword or claw or bow against anyone here, my chain will find you again and again until you draw breath no more..."

 

[moritheil]

As Trent takes over negotiations with the poison-dusk, Rosa makes one last sweep of the area, checking for anything they missed, and helps pack the loot into bags. She then approaches Fenwick and tries to quickly summarize the deal for him.

Search (1d20 11=30)

OOC: If everyone starts leaving before her search is up, she won't tarry. She just wants to do something useful with her time while Trent takes over.

 

[Arabesu]

Saris and Faris return. The seem to be arguing, but from their expression it is apparent that they do not want to discuss why with anyone but them for now. They join in to the task of loading up the gear.
___________________________________________________________________________

As you gather your loot and head up the hill toward Verdin's cave, the Blackscale hisses under his breath menacingly, "Don't forget your pledge, puck."

"Ahem. Yes, what he is referring too," turning to explain to the rest of the party, "is that we agreed to a a pact when we first allied ourselves with these blackscales. So. I can't raise arms against them without violating that pledge. However, I suppose I can give you the information you need to defeat them, without actually participating..."

The blackscale surges nearly out of Hightower's grasp, "You traitor, when I get free you will wish..." but is quickly subdued by the golliath and the dragon shaman.

"Yes. Well. As I was saying. Oh, here it is." He leads you into a deep alcove midway up on the rising slope of the nearby hill. The cave entrance is sheltered by a large tree, with branches that extend almost to the access ledge. "Within the temple are several more blackscales, one of them is a high priest. Very dangerous. Each of those in the temple are spell casters. The entrance is guarded by a dragon-man named Varmystix, who leads a few more ordinary blackscales. This group has dabbled in the sublime way. While not as dangerous as the high priest, I would expect a difficult, if more straightforward fight. Varmystix is a skilled opponent and I have seen him burn petitioners to cinders for angering him."

"I have not been admitted into the temple. Thus, I can not give you the layout. Note, that I sent one our kind to alert the high priest. He WAS admitted to the temple under these special circumstances. So there is one more of my kind out there. Don't worry, he is inept at tracking, and will have a difficult time finding us. Once we are settled, I, and the sneakiest of you to escort me, will cover our tracks leading up here. I suggest you get some rest. Tomorrow aught to prove interesting."
____________________________________________________________________________

After a time, Saris and Faris approaches the rest of the party. Out of earshot of the two reptilians, they explain that they had received a sending from Sur'kil. Apparently a group of Emerald Claw soldiers seems to be heading on a course to some location due south of the temple of Ka'sha'zuhl. Saris, who had secretly asked to have Sur'kil investigate Emerald Claw activities through his contacts, is keenly interested in finding out what they are up to. Sur'kil has suggest that they alone, Faris and Saris, investigate this war-party and will be allowed to return part of the their fee when return, if they do not participate in the artifact retrieval. Soon, they take their leave, departing under the cover of darkness on Saris' very personal mission. "Perhaps we will meet again some day."

 

[renau1g]

Fenwick looks on with sadness as the two members of their adventuring party take their leave, being together for such a long time Fenwick always enjoyed the druids company.

"All good things come to an old chap, as father used to say." Fenwick thinks to himself. He'll turn back to the others and join them for some needed rest, if the coming challenges match what their guide told them the gnome would need to be at his absolute most ready.