Reasonable Prices [IC]

[Prehysterical]

As Borris tends to Agnar's wounds, a war is going on in Azur's mind.

A darker, more practical side, says that it would be better if Agnar had died in a fire caused by the fight with the mephit. Retribution would be served, both for the people and for his own wounded pride.

On the other hand... Azur's mind goes back to the image of Agnar's concerned brother. His fists clench resolutely. No. I am not a demon. I will not take his family away.

Swallowing his pride and bursting out into the street, Azur yells, "Help! Help! We need a healer! Someone is dying!" He continues to run down the streets, hoping for anyone that can help.

[Plerumque]

People begin to congregate, rushing out of the nearby shops and peering from the windows, looking curiously at Agnar's shop and the yellow-eyed man calling for a healer. After a few minutes, someone runs up gasping for breath and says that he's a medic. "What's wrong?" he asks. "Who's hurt?"

[Prehysterical]

Grabbing the man by his arm, Azur starts to lead him toward the forge.

"Agnar the smith. He's bleeding badly. If he doesn't get help soon, he might die."

[Plerumque]

The man grimaces when he sees the smith. He gently removes Borris' makeshift bandages, stuck to the dwarf's back with blood, and winds real ones around the wound. That done, he almost reverentially withdraws a slender wand from a sheath at his hip and touches it to Agnar's back- once, twice. Agnar begins to stir and moan, and the medic sighs. "He'll still need long-term care, but he should be well enough to transport now."

[Prehysterical]

"Make sure to post guards by his bedside. He was working with the fire mephit, and who knows if he is still dangerous."

Turning to Borris, he says, "Shall we continue the hunt, or did you want to rest?"

[Plerumque]

The doctor nods and silently withdraws, and a few minutes later the dwarf is being carried out on a stretcher.

[Erik Vale]

Borris furrows his brow in thought.
"The others are minor annoyances, I think we need to deal with any blow back from this first, and find out what we can from Agnar. Should he have not been being threatened into cooperation, he may know where the others are hiding."

[Plerumque]

Spoiler: Borris

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The medic directs the men holding the stretcher to make their way across town, to a small building with the holy symbol of the god of healing displayed above the door. "I expect it will take some time for him to regain consciousness," the medic says, as Agnar is lowered onto a cot. "I can let you know when he wakes up, if you wish."

Spoiler: Azur

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Jord is in the same room as when Azur left, a gilt-edged tome open on his desk. Without looking up, he says, "You're back. Without your companion, I note. I hope you bring a story of success?" He turns the page.

[Prehysterical]

"Borris is fine. He is escorting the traitor Agnar to the infirmary. And yes..."

Walking forward, he dumps the ashen remains of the mephit on the desk. He is careful to keep it away from the tome that Jord is reading.

"The fire mephit will trouble you no longer. I wanted to come in and make a status report. I will seek my friend out and we shall see about ridding you of the rest. We might need to give the town wizards time, however. It was their magic that allowed us to locate this one, and I would rather wait a day than spend the next three pounding on doors throughout the settlement."

[Erik Vale]

Spoiler: Borris

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Borris Nods
"Thank you. I shall be back with coin to pay for this, and to watch him."

Borris steps outside, memorizing the place before heading back to the guild, keeping a careful eye for landmarks.

[Plerumque]

Jord examines the slab of rock that remains, noting that the swirls in the rock form the clear visage of an anguished face. "Very well. I shall get your reward." He stands up and unlocks a chest behind him. Over his shoulder, as he rummages around, he asks, "Agnar was working with them? I would never have thought it." Shaking his head, he turns, handing Azur a small sack of coins. At that moment, a knock sounds on the door. "Come in," Jord says impatiently, and Borris enters the room.

[Erik Vale]

Borris bows his head slightly after he enters.
"Good day Jord. Azur, I've memorized where Agnar is resting but the healers doubt he'll be up any time soon. I've heard some healers have potions that can bring a man from the brink of death to wakefulness quickly, to expensive normally but it should save some time should he have been actively working with them."

[Plerumque]

Jord lifts an eyebrow. "You are asking me to pay for him to be healed? I think not. It is your task, and the cost to pay a healer should be covered in your fee if that is how you wish to spend it. You may also find someone downstairs willing to help you out. Prove to me that you are resourceful."

[Prehysterical]

Azur turns to regard Borris.

"That shouldn't be necessary. I doubt that Agnar was capable of summoning all of these things. I'll bet there are others in the settlement who brought forth their own little elementals. It's likely the only thing you will receive from that dwarf is a lot of hot air.

I vote that we go back to the wizards and ask for their assistance again. I'm sure they'll be happy to let us fight these things for them. All they have to do is point the way."

[Plerumque]

Jord chuckles drily at Azur's pun. "Well, don't let me keep you, then. I already gave your partner the reward, Master Stablehand. Try not to spend it all at once. I wish you much luck, and please remove this specimen from my desk as you leave." He turns back to his book.

[Erik Vale]

"Jord, I'm not quite that foolish, I intended to pay. However if you're fine with the Wizards Azur, I think it's time we informed them of their success."

[Prehysterical]

"Indeed. Let's go see them."

Lifting the slab of rock off of the desk, Azur says to Jord,

"We'll be back with another trophy soon enough. See you then."

[Plerumque]

Outside, the day is clear and sunny, with a few minstrels plying their trade for coin on the city streets, notes rising into the sky. People go about their business, talking and laughing and haggling. Then the winds begin to stir, first stirring the leaves, then whipping cloaks and hair, then tearing away pieces of paper and lighter objects. People look around, noting the clear sky, as the winds continue to increase and some of the smaller citizens have to hold on to something to avoid bring blown away. Then, an impish creature swoops down, cackling with mad glee, as the winds in its wake cause chaos and confusion. It pauses for a moment before Azur and Borris, beckoning with a twiglike finger, before zooming off again. It perches atop a nearby roof, grinning with needle teeth at the pair.

[Prehysterical]

Dropping the rock in disbelief, Azur gives a predatory grin of his own. Chains are soon in hand as he regards the mephit.

"Going to make this easy on us, are you? Why don't you come down and play?" Azur's eyes flash dangerously.

[Plerumque]

The commoners scatter at the sight of the mephit and of Azur's chains. The mephit tilts its head, smile widening, and leaps down from the roof with catlike grace, twisting in midair and beating its wings so it careens down the street.

[Erik Vale]

"So, you'd be a friend of burny, and not to happy with his current state."

Borris takes the time to look around for any Mephits trying to sneak up on them.

Spoiler: Spot

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(1d20)[13]

[Plerumque]

The mephit doesn't reply, but makes a rude gesture as it continues to fly. It is now about forty feet away, and rapidly gaining distance. Meanwhile, Borris finds no traces of an ambush.

[Prehysterical]

Realizing that the little fiend is about to lead them on a wild goose chase, Azur runs after the mephit and swipes up with his chains.

"Oh no you don't, you little bastard!"

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Attack roll 1: (1d20+6)[8]
Damage roll 1: (2d4+5)[12]
Crit Confirm 1: (1d20+6)[22]
Crit Damage 1: (2d4)[7]
Attack roll 2: (1d20+6)[15]
Damage roll 2: (2d4+5)[8]
Crit Confirm 2: (1d20+6)[22]
Crit Damage 2: (2d4)[6]

[Plerumque]

Both chains miss as the mephit weaves as part of its flight path, but continues to fly instead of turning and defending itself, allowing Azur to get another strike while its back is turned.

Spoiler

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Attack of Opportunity!

[Prehysterical]

The chains keep swinging as Azur seeks to bring the mephit down.

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Attack: (1d20+6)[18]
Damage: (2d4+5)[9]
Crit Confirm: (1d20+6)[9]
Crit Damage: (2d4)[2]

[Plerumque]

Azur lands a solid blow, opening a gash along the mephit's pale blue skin, but it continues to fly.

[Erik Vale]

Borris begins to follow at walking pace, throwing up his hands to the creature, causing a burst of sparkling practicals to form around it.

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Following at 30ft/Round, Casting Glitterdust for DC 14 Will vs Blind for two rounds

[Plerumque]

Spoiler

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Will Save - (1d20+3)[18]

The mephit flies through the cloud of particles, only a few of the golden sparkles adhering to its skin.

[Prehysterical]

Azur surges forward to keep up with the mephit, chain whirling in his fists.

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Double move

[Plerumque]

The mephit leads Borris and Azur on a merry chase through the city, flying through cobbled streets and past glass windows, scattering passerby wherever it goes. It dodges one way and the other, twisting and turning through the maze of passages that make up the city's market ward, until it finally flies through a sequence of long, deserted tunnels that culminate in a dead end. There it turns, holds up its hands as Azur stalks forward with its chains, and in a voice that doesn't sound like a mephit's at all, it says, "Wait."

Spoiler

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You can make your two attacks, but after the first blows the mephit will be double and triple moving to keep ahead.