An Unchanging Reality (Take two)

[meemaas]

Dromets attack hits home and hard. As he tears a great gash into the man attacking Grock, the man collapses in a heap instantly. The archer steps back and fires two more arrows, this time focusing both of them on Eophyn, but with poor aim, both arrows passing above her head. The first swordsman twists to try and distract her, swinging his blade in towards her side at the same time.

Spoiler

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The Guard is down. Possibly dead. You don't have time to tell in combat.

Archer vs. Eophyn (1d20+5)[13]
Damage (1d8+1)[9]

Archer vs. Eophyn (2) (1d20+5)[16]
Damage (1d8+1)[3]

Swordsman vs. Eophyn (1d20+6)[19]
Damage (1d8+4)[5]

As Eophyn slides away from the swordsman, protecting her flanks, she swings in deep, her blade cutting a noticable gash through the mans armor.

Spoiler

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Serp is up next.

No response from the yelling. Yet.

[Man on Fire]

Serph fires another arrow at the archer and takes cover.
"Why don't you pick on somebody your size?!"He yels at the enemy, hoping to draw his attention.
He thinks he mut be crazy to do so.

Spoiler

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(1d20+5)[21]

[meemaas]

Serps arrow digs deep into the mans chest, causing him to stumble for a second. As he staggers, Grock takes advantage of it to leap towards him like a monster, his spear lunging forward into the archer with animal-like ferocity. As he charges past one of the swordsman, the swordsman takes a quick swing at him, before turning and lunging after the gnoll to protect his ally. As the swordsman strikes Grock, he just roars with rage, standing strong as though he had yet to be struck.

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Grocks Charge vs. Archer (1d20+8)[21]
Damage (1d8+5)[9]

Swordsman 2 AoO on Grock (1d20+7)[8]
Damage (1d8+4)[6]

Swordsman 2 move and attack vs. Grock (1d20+7)[21]
Damage (1d8+4)[8]

Random roll (1d100)[2]

As if in response to Serp yelling, someone turns the corner a little ways down and sees the fallen guard (possibly dead) at Dromets feet. With a look of shock on his face, he starts screaming. "GUARD KILLERS IN THE ALLEYS, HELP!!" And immediately takes off running away from the party.

[shugyosha]

Eophyn

It looked like things were going to get worse quickly. She spun quickly with her blade close to her body.

Spoiler

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does she get an AoO against the guard who attacked Grock?

(1d20+7)[15] attack
(1d10+1)[2] damage

[Man on Fire]

"Not what I had in mind." Serph says, an then shoots another arrow at the archer.

Spoiler

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(1d20+5)[23] dmg (1d6)[5]

[stanleyindraven]

"We knew something like that could happen. Let's finish this quick and get to the queen." Dromet seems less concerned about the accusation than the problem at hand.

[meemaas]

Eophyn takes a quick swing at the man running out of her reach, however it falls short. As the man strikes Grock cleanly, an arrow flies past his head, striking clean into the chest of the archer. As the Archer stumbles, he suddenly coughs up blood. A blade is seen pushing out of his chest, as a man who had not been seen before pulls it out, letting the body fall to the ground. The man is wearing black clothes, and carrying a weapon that appears to share the same consistency as the archers weapon.

The remaining swordsman engaged with Eophyn turns and starts to run, turning a corner along the alleys immediately.

Spoiler

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You are welcome to an AoO, Eophyn. The Archer is down for the count.

[Man on Fire]

Serph aims another arrow at the man with strange weapon, but doesn't fire yet.
"And who are you supposed to be?"

[shugyosha]

Eophyn

She takes a last minute strike at the fleeing soldier.

Spoiler

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(1d20+7)[9]
(1d0+1)[2]

She was about to chase after the soldier after she missed widely but the presence of a new combatant she readies her guard. However, she waits for him to make the first move... hopefully answering Serp's question.

[meemaas]

The man takes up a defensive stance, keeping his weapon more towards the remaining swordsman than the rest of the party. Grock moves to cut off his possible escape route, while the newcomer speaks up. "I'm an ally. We've gotta get you to the palace before the guards come."

[stanleyindraven]

"Let's go then," Dromet replies as he looks around.

[Man on Fire]

"Why should we trust you?" Serph asks, while gettign closer. When he's close enough, he grabs mysterious archer's bow. It's not like guy's gonna use it anyway.

[shugyosha]

Eophyn

SHe loops her blade before swinging at the last guard.

Spoiler

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(1d20+7)[20] to hit
(1d10+1)[3] dam

[stanleyindraven]

Dromet will swing his blade to bring down their final foe.

Spoiler

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Attack (1d20+9)[20]
Damage (2d6+8)[18]
Furious Focus/Power Attack

[meemaas]

Dromet and Eophyn both lunge in and make short work of the remaining swordsman. As he collapses to the ground, bleeding like the others, the man smiles a little and holds his hand out towards Dromet. "You shouldn't trust me. I have plenty of baggage of my own to weigh me down, but we both share the same enemy, and we both want the same thing. To clear our names and protect the lands we have loved since we were children. At least, i assume thats what you wish."

As Serp reaches for the bow, he finds that he cannot take a solid grip on it, and as the archer's breathing grows weaker, the bow in turn fades as though it were never really real to begin with.

Serp, Perception DC 25

Spoiler

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Should you pass the check, you notice that he is wearing a remarkably fancy pair of bracers.

As Serp fails to grab the bow, the man speaks again. "We better get going quick. There's a secret passage back that way that'll bring us straight to the castle, and we should try to get there before more guards catch up to us."

Spoiler

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You are all welcome to a sense motive check. You are also welcome to a perception check if you'd like to scan the bodies quickly, or else take the time to loot them thoroughly.

[shugyosha]

Eophyn

She knew Serp's inclination and began to help him search the bodies quickly.

Spoiler

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(1d20)[14] sense motive
(1d20+8)[27] perception

[Man on Fire]

"One moment." Serph says and kneels next to the body, looking at it carefully. "If you wanna trust me, say how I get my hands on this bow, mister "I have very similiar sword ad guy who killed you, but you shoud trust me anyway"."

Spoiler

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Perception (1d20+9)[25]
Sense Motive (1d20+10)[24]

[meemaas]

Eophyn

Spoiler

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You search the bodies but find little besides their weapons and armor. You do find that the original guard you had been following was wearing a fancy ring, possibly magic, but everything else is pretty mundane.

Serp

Spoiler

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You find the Archer's bracers very interesting, but like the others, there is little of interest on him.

You believe that the man addressing you is lying about his identity, but otherwise is telling the truth.

The man drops his sword, watching your gaze follow it as it dissolves into the air. "It's a rare gift, to be able to do this. And most outside the Gestorn Royal family with the gift have been brought in by the kingdom to train as one of the King's personal guard. I was once a member. I followed the old king. Before his death, that is." He catches his breath. "We gotta get moving quickly." He looks antsy, continually glancing in each direction as he talks.

[shugyosha]

Eophyn

She grabs a ring from one of the guards and then says, "Let's go."

On the way when the stranger is not looking she'll give a warning nod to Dromet.

[Man on Fire]

Serph quickly removes braces from Arche's body and hides them for later.
"I belive you. For now. Okay guys, lets go."

[meemaas]

The man waves the party on, and starts off back the way they had originally come. As the party follows, warily to be sure, Grock keeps himself in the middle of the pack. The man turns a corner, leading the party down to a dead end all of a sudden. As the party can hear the growing noise of more people searching the back alleys, the man pulls up a trapdoor on the ground and waves them all in. "This is a back way into the palace. Come, quickly."

[shugyosha]

Eophyn

Along the way if she sees Grock hurt she will cast a healing spell on him.

Looking at the trap door she decides she'll go first. After all it was her decision to bring Grock here.

[Man on Fire]

"Wait, I'll go first." Serph says. "OI still don't trust this guy. Sorry." Last word he says to the man. He then goes down, looking for any possible traps, while he's at it.

[spoiler]Perception (1d20+9)[15][/spoilerr]

[meemaas]

Serp heads into the trapdoor first, but try as he might, he can't find anything suspicious. As he makes it down the stairs, he finds a sealed door with the royal seal on it, and a distinct lack of any kind of handle to open it with. After the others follow in, Syntax pulls the trapdoor shut behind them and places his hand dead center on the seal. "There are a few of these passages in town to the palace. Only those accepted by the queen can open them, although i can't say that i understand how." As he speaks, the seal glows bright white, and begins to open on its own, the two sides pushing backwards from his hand. He then heads off down the tunnel, waiting to make sure everyone else follows him.

[stanleyindraven]

Dromet will signal to Eophyn and Serp to go ahead so he can bring up the end.

[Man on Fire]

"So hat's your story?" Serph asks, relaxing and following the man.

[shugyosha]

Eophyn

At the mention of the queen and how special the door is, she begins to scan it for magic and then she'll take a good look at Syntax, just in case.

Spoiler

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detect magic
(1d20+5)[16] spellcraft on the doors
(1d20+5)[25] spellcraft on Syntax

[meemaas]

Eophyn

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The door has an overwhelmingly powerful magic aura on it, powerful enough that you can't ascertain for a second anything in detail about it.

Syntax on the other hand, merely has a few magic auras on him, along with one that doesn't correspond to magic, but more to the psychic power you that Deladion possessed. The items glowing magically include his belt, his vest, a pair of boots, and two rings.

Were you intending on trying to identify any of this, or is this good enough?

With Grock in between Serp and Dromet, Dromet bringing up the rear, the man relaxes too, and begins to talk. "I don't know what all i should tell you. I don't want to lie to you. But i don't want to tell you the truth. Just know this. I'm on your side. The Queen trusts me. And I need your help."

[shugyosha]

Eophyn

She notes where the magic is coming from for later. Right now she has other things to worry about. "What do you need from us?" she asks.

[meemaas]

Syntax, leading the way, speaks quietly. "I believe i can stop the war. But I can't do it myself. We can speak more of it soon."