A Witch's Tale IC III

[NeoSeraphi]

Rachel heads back to the Hanged Man and enters to find a woman being accosted at the bar by several men in armor.

Spoiler

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"Alright Isabela, we're waiting for our cut."

"Well Lucky, I'll tell you what. Since the information you gave me was worth nothing...that's what I'll pay you."

One of the men reaches for her and she grabs his arm, tossing him over to the wall. She smacks her head backward to hit the face of the man hovering behind her, and draws a dagger to bring it to the speaking man's neck. "Get out."

The men gather together and run away, leaving the woman alone to drink.

[Diachronos]

Rachel hesitates before approaching the woman. "Are you alright?"

[NeoSeraphi]

The woman sits up and gives Rachel a lecherous glance over. "Nice to see a fresh face here. Careful though. You're nothing but tits and ass to every bloke in this pub."

[Diachronos]

Rachel blushes. "I can handle myself..."

[NeoSeraphi]

"So I see. Well, if you ever need someone else to 'handle' you, give me a call. I'm Isabela. Previously 'Captain' Isabela, but that's not worth much without a ship. Actually, maybe you could help me with a problem I'm having..."

[Diachronos]

Captain? As in a ship captain? "What problem would that be?"

[NeoSeraphi]

"I've got some people who are on my back about something. I challenged the head of the mercenaries who are looking for me, a guy named Hayden, to a duel to sort things out. But I don't trust him to play fair. I want you to come with me tonight, and watch my back."

[Diachronos]

This doesn't sound like a good idea... "What do you expect me to do? Help you fight him?"

[NeoSeraphi]

"What? No! That's the point of a duel, innit? It's honorable, it's between two people to settle their differences. I just want you to come along in case he ain't so honorable and he brings some friends. If he does, you take care of the grunts while I handle Hayden."

[Diachronos]

Rachel frowns. She doesn't want to hurt anyone, but at the same time... she doesn't want to just abandon someone who might be in danger. "...Alright."

[NeoSeraphi]

"Wotcher! Thanks, love, really. Meet me in Hightown tonight."

Night falls, and Rachel needs to gather her group together to go to Hightown. Who will she call?

[Diachronos]

Rachel decides to bring Merrill, Auron, and Varric along with her to the meeting place.

[NeoSeraphi]

The group heads to the meeting place to find Isabela waiting around. "I've been standing here for hours and he hasn't shown up yet. I don't like th- argh!"

A woman and a few people with her step out of the shadows and charge forward. They draw their swords to attack the enemy.

[Diachronos]

Rachel steps behind Auron and begins summoning elementals to assist them.

Spoiler: Spell

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Summon Monster III to bring in (1d3)[2] earth elementals

[NeoSeraphi]

Isabela draws her twin daggers, while Auron grabs his sword and Varric ducks behind a pillar.

"Odysseus, can you draw their attention over here? I might be able to trap them if you get them to group up."

[Diachronos]

"I'll try." She retreats back toward Varric's position and launches a blast of cold at one of the men. Meanwhile, her two elementals move to Isabella's sides to keep the enemy from surrounding her.

Spoiler: Attack

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Hit: (1d20+7)[16]/(1d20+7)[9]
Damage: (1d6+3)[5]/(2d6+6)[17]

[NeoSeraphi]

Auron tries to attack one of the enemies, while Merrill gathers a bit of power from the earth to knock one of them back.

Isabela darts between the rock elementals and looks for an opening to deal with the larger woman.

Spoiler

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Auron: (1d20+10)[22]/(1d20+10)[21]
(2d4+6)[12]/(4d4+12)[24]

Merrill: Combat maneuver: (1d20+8)[25] vs CMD 20, if she succeeds she knocks the enemy back 10' and trips them.

Warriors attack elementals:

(1d20+5)[8]/(1d20+5)[24]
(1d8+3)[4]/(2d8+6)[12]

(1d20+5)[19]/(1d20+5)[16]
(1d8+3)[9]/(2d8+6)[15]

(1d20+5)[18]/(1d20+5)[19]
(1d8+3)[6]/(2d8+6)[13]

Miranda attacks Auron:

(1d20+8)[18]/(1d20+8)[28]
(2d6+6)[15]/(4d6+12)[20]

[Diachronos]

The men succeed in bringing down one of her elementals. The other one attacks, while Rachel tries to cripple one of the others with a spell.

Spoiler: Attacks

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Elemental: (1d20+6)[9]/(1d20+6)[13]
Damage: (1d6+4)[6]/(2d6+8)[13]

Rachel: casting limp lash on one of the other men attacking Isabela
Hit:(1d20+4)[16]
Penalty to Str, Dex, and Con: (1d6)[3]

[NeoSeraphi]

The man winces as the whip restrains him, and Isabela makes quick work of him.

Merrill manages to bring down the other man along with Rachel's summon.

Meanwhile, Auron and the tall woman are going head to head.

Spoiler

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Auron: (1d20+10)[12]/(1d20+10)[19]
(2d4+6)[9]/(4d4+12)[21]

Miranda: (1d20+8)[14]/(1d20+8)[12]
(2d6+6)[11]/(4d6+12)[28]

Their attacks are so even they clash against one another, and neither gives an inch as their swords strike. The two of them glare into each other's eyes.

[Diachronos]

Rachel points at the ground below Miranda, conjuring a patch of slippery grease.

Spoiler: Spell

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Grease!

[NeoSeraphi]

The large woman tries to stand straight.

Spoiler

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Reflex: (1d20+4)[19]

[NeoSeraphi]

The woman is sturdier than she looks! She launches another assault at Auron. However, before her attack can land, Isabela steps up behind her. She whispers something in the woman's ear, then leaves both daggers stuck in her back.

Miranda collapses to the ground and Isabela draws her bloody swords back. "Tch. Scouts. Search the bodies, we'll find some info surely."

[Diachronos]

Rachel checks on Auron and the others to see if they're injured before helping to search the defeated men and women.

[NeoSeraphi]

Auron is not doing so well. Thankfully, the elemental took the rest of the hits, but Auron is quite injured.

[Diachronos]

Rachel tends to Auron's injuries with her magic.

[NeoSeraphi]

Auron nods to her gratefully and Rachel searches the bodies. She finds 50 gold, a few weapons and armor that she can sell for another 50 gold, and a note. The note describes the plan to ambush Isabela, and instructs Miranda to come inform Hayden what has happened after the job ends. Hayden is waiting for her in the Chantry.

[Diachronos]

Rachel shows the note to Isabela. "What should we do? Should we go and find him?"

[NeoSeraphi]

Isabela nods. The group heads to the Chantry.

"Isabela...to what do I owe the pleasure?" a man in armor with a shield asks as he steps into view.

"Should tell your men to burn their letters next time."

"Oh, very clever. Heh heh. So, where's the relic?"

"I...I lost it."

"Castillion's not going to like that. And he was so patient with you after you lost that shipful of cargo..."

"They weren't cargo, Hayden! They were people! Women and boys, who didn't need to spend a life in chains!"

"Well, you need to get that relic for us. In the meantime..."

[Diachronos]

Rachel steps forward. "What relic are you talking about?"

[NeoSeraphi]

The two of them look at her in annoyance.

"Whatever. Let's deal with this then."

Isabela draws a knife from her belt and throws it across the room. It hits one of Hayden's guards in the face and she drops to the ground in an instant. Hayden narrows his eyes and draws his sword.