Aldaroth - Kingdom of Gornalad IC

[Hypersmith]

As Japheth backs up to crash into the door, Arsnic halts him for a moment to try and unlock the door, then - when his key doesn't work, he bends to try and use his own set of picks to get through. Expecting trickery from the lock this time, he resists the lock's attempts to push the pick out, and with a light final click manages to pull the door open to a dark empty hallway. Ahead of you is a short hallway that opens up to a simple living space - a wooden table, slightly akimbo as though someone had run into the corner. From the space spread three more doorways - a kitchen, another hallway with two closed doors down it, and a third, closed door leaving the living space you can't see behind.

[Tallytrev813]

...Someone's been here Arsnic starts. He motions for the group to follow, and he starts down the hallway carefully, being sure not to create unnecessary creeks on the ground. Shade follows, seemingly able to...crawl down the walls now? He looks at Shade, and Nods, and whispers something...

Spoiler: If you understand Elvish

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Shade, get the book while i check on Isara...

Arsnic stops the group at the first door.

My Cellar is in here, one second...

He looks to Shade, and Nods again. Arsnic draws his bow as Shade heads to the end of the hallway, opening the door leading to his Bedroom.

[Hyperbolic sine]

"I thought the door just hated you and magically locked on its own." Devon replied, in a half sarcastic and half joking whisper, to Arsnic's "someone's been here" remark. He visually checked the kitchen for anyone hiding there, then, as the others entered the hallway, he approached the third doorway, straining his ears to pick up any sound on the other side.

Never leave your back open.

Spoiler: OOC

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Perception (1d20+9)[16]

[TheAxeman]

Billy will dart into the room and head for Arsnic
What do you need me to do?
And will wait for his command

[Hypersmith]

Spoiler: Devon

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Devon gets a clear visual of the kitchen - it's a small space, with little space for anyone to hide inside - you do catch that there's a trapdoor in the corner, with a barrel pushed carefully off it, leaving it rather awkwardly in the middle of the kitchen. As you turn to leave, you notice something troubling - the shadow of a man who isn't there. There's someone invisible in the room.

Spoiler: Billy

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As you approach Arsnic, you feel the vibrations again - the elf is in the kitchen.

Arsnic lets Shade into the room by cracking the door open, then proceeds towards the kitchen - as he steps across the threshold, a voice suddenly rungs out from the seemingly empty room, the lilting tone of a spellcaster.

Spoiler: Arsnic

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You'd never mistake your own father's voice, though it sounds hostile

Spoiler: ooc

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Devon and Billy have a moment to act before the spell completes, Arsnic and Japheth are caught off guards.

[Hyperbolic sine]

Ah, clever.

It was, in a way, hiding in plain sight - and it would have worked, considering the kitchen had pretty much gone ignored. Too bad Devon knew all (or, well, most, at least) tricks in the book.

After noticing the extraneous shadow, he turned away as if he hadn't...but as the first arcane syllabe left the mysterious enemy's mouth, his whole figure seemed to melt with the shadows in the dimly lit room; he reappeared an instant later where he thought the person's back was (the shadow's origin point gave away the man's location, and it was probably safe to assume he would be casting while facing the targets), his stiletto drawn and ready to stab.

Up to that point it had been little more than muscle memory, a standard reaction practiced time after time; now, though, powerful magic coursed in Devon's veins, and as the blade was thrust forward his shadow seemed to come to life, rising from the floor and taking on substance as it echoed its master's actions; it was but an instant before it returned to normal, as if it had only been a trick of the eye, but if the attack connected then the wounds left behind would tell an entirely different story...

Spoiler: OOC

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Bonus Action: Shadow Step behind the man.
Action: Attack. Killing Shadows activates! +2 to hit and damage.

#1 (1d20+9)[10] for (1d6+6)[10] piercing damage. Advantage for Shadow Step cancels disadvantage for invisible target. And still misses.
#2 Lower of {(1d20+9)[27] (1d20+9)[18]} for (1d6+6)[8] piercing damage.

If either hits, spending a ki point to use Stunning Strike; Con DC 14 vs Stunned.

[Tallytrev813]

Arsnic lowers his bow, his eyes widen.
F....father...?
He drops his guard is disbelief.

[MinotaurWarblad]

Watching the rear, Japheth turns just in time to see one of his companions stabbing into empty air. Confused, he furrows his eyebrows.

[TheAxeman]

Billy confused by the current situation decides not to attack for fear of it actually being his father. He instead uses his full movement (220 feet) via feline agility to run the whole house and check for anyone else being their, as this is not the woman they had come to look for.
Eh, Ill be right back.

[Hypersmith]

Devon's first stab misjudges the litheness of the figure, making no impact. The second swings true, and he feels contact but no give. His stiletto bounces with a clash of sparks, the impact highlighting a fluid pane of force that cracks as he strikes it. With no flesh to strike, there's no opportunity to outpour the temporary paralysis into the invisible man.

Spoiler: ooc

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Devon - ki point for stunning strike refunded.

With the fist bouncing off and Billy moving away to search the house, the spell completes as Arsnic speaks and - there's no apparent effect. The wizard springs into view, a high elf with waist length blonde hair, wearing rather impractically long blue robes. He's about Arsnic's height, holding a staff topped with a single floating gold orb, and a palm that spins to face Devon, his sharp blue eyes thinning with hostility and sparking with held force. He speaks, heavily accented common.
"Back."

Spoiler: ooc

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If you want to continue combat we'll roll initiative.

He continues, speaking much faster in Elven, eyes still on Devon.

Spoiler: Elven

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"Are you even my son?"

His voice comes slightly muffled to those outside the kitchen.

Spoiler: Billy

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As you sweep through the house, you find no other signs of life besides your companions and the elf in the kitchen. As you approach to enter the kitchen in your search, you bump into a pane of force in the doorway.

[Tallytrev813]

Arsnic motions with his hands to hold to the group,

Wait! ...Father what are you doing here? You shouldn't be here, especially not now.

Arsnic draws back his bow.

(Elvish)<<Why are you in my kitchen, and Where is Isara?>>

He peaks around the Elf, into the kitchen - trying to see if the Cellar door is open. He does not, however, take aim off of the Wizard.

[MinotaurWarblad]

Japheth looks at the elf, then at Arsnic, then back at the elf.
He shrugs, keeping his shield arm ready but leaving his sword pointed down.

[TheAxeman]

Billy will return and press against the pain of force, attempting to pass through it. He will attempt to strike it and if he is unable to reenter the room he will simply let the others know
Hey uh there's no one else here. Your wife isnt here Arsnic. Also, I can't re-enter the room, as far as I can tell. So I'll wait here.

[Hyperbolic sine]

After it became clear the man had no immediate hostile intentions (and he seemed to be Arsnic's father?), Devon called off his assault, but he kept his weapon ready to strike in case things went south.

[Hypersmith]

Spoiler: Elven

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"Don't take that tone with me - aren't you ashamed, with her in that shape? And what of yourself, and these people? Have you turned to such dark pursuits?"

[Tallytrev813]

Spoiler: Elven

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I'm...correcting it. Tonight. Where is she? Where is Isara?

[Hypersmith]

The elf narrows his eyes harshly, turning to look at Arsnic closely.

Spoiler: Elven

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"Why are you evasive? You aren't comforting me with such vagueness. Can I trust that the pursuits I allowed you to chase under my roof, in the shadow of the Tree, have not gone too far, after seeing her shape? No. I will not tell you where she is."

[Tallytrev813]

Spoiler: Investigation

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(1d20+6)[16]
Checking if it's an illusion

Spoiler: Elven

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Father! Now is not the time for this! I have means to correct this, events beyond my control...or even yours...have taken place! I have always suspected you allowed me, despite what mother's wishes, to pursue this life. Do not do this.

She is with CHILD!

[Hypersmith]

The elf's eyes bulge uncharacteristicly.

Spoiler: Elven

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"She is in our care. Taken home. I do not think I was wrong in raising you as I did. But if events are indeed out of your control - better we take care of her than you. What is your plan, and who are these people?"

To those who do not speak elven, the exchange has clearly been emotionally charged at least, but the latest few words seem to have somewhat diffused the rising tension. The pane of force remains, and Devon notices a large portion of the man's attention remains on him.

[Tallytrev813]

Arsnic looks back at the others, then back to his father.

COLOR="#800080"]<Common<[Father, you’ve always looked out for mother. For me. For your family. I must do the same.>>[/COLOR]

He lowers his bow, and stands up straight., raising his empty arm as he slides his long bow smoothly over his shoulder.

Shade flaps in, carrying a large green tome-like book, handing it to Arsnic as he lands on his shoulder. Arsnic places the book in his bag, and pulls out an empty vial.

<<You must give Isara, and my unborn child, this...>> Shade’s neck pouch shrivels in a pulsating manner, as though he’s heaving.

A familiar looking red substance, thick, splashes into the vial.

Arsnic quarks the top, and holds it out to the Elf.

<<This will cure the immediate issue, but will create another-less urgent-one. I am working on a solution, but for now this is the only option. If you are to keep your daughter in law and your Grandchild safe, this is our option this far.

[Hypersmith]

The elf takes the vial, holding it gingerly.

Spoiler: Elven

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"I will take this with no promises. I have many, many years over you Arsnic. I have techniques of my own."

He raises his hands, ritual array springing into them as he begins casting another spell.

Spoiler: Elven

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"We will keep an eye on you."

[Tallytrev813]

Mikial takes a moment to collect himself before turning to his party.

Let’s go...

He states, his mind is clearly elsewhere

[Hypersmith]

Spoiler: Elven

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"I have more to say. But perhaps privacy would be better."

As the elf finishes speaking, the magical array in his hands flashes and he disappears out of sight. The panes of force disappear a few moments after, should anyone test where they were.

[Hyperbolic sine]

Devon kept his guard up for a moment after the elf disappeared, then relaxed (relatively speaking, of course) once it was clear he was gone. He looked at Arsnic.

"I take it your wife's no longer here?"

[Tallytrev813]

...No. she’s likely not.

Arsnic headed to the cellar to have a look for himself.

This is a day I hoped would never come on many different accounts.

Arsnic began running the numbers in his head, debating whether heading to the Enchanted Forest was something that needed to happen down the road.

[TheAxeman]

There's no one else here Arsnic. I don't particularly know what was said but do we need to go elsewhere to find her now?

[Tallytrev813]

No, at least not yet. My father is...stern, but kind hearted. He’ll care for here for now in some ways perhaps I cannot. Fighting him would have been fruitless, not only because I suspect she is already long gone, but because we may not be much of a match for him now. This will require further thought and planning. I appreciate the sentiment though. For now - let’s get out graves squared away...

[Hypersmith]

Descending the cellar, indeed the room is devoid of life. This is where the most signs of the forced entry are visible, with the device used to restrain Arsnic's wife clear in the back of the cellar, space cleared around the buckled contraption for where she must have once been. There are a few items askew, and a box of what appears to be moss on it's side, and a fine yellow powder spilling out of a sack in the corner.

Spoiler: Arsnic

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You can collect 122gp worth of alchemist's supplies from here.

[Tallytrev813]

Arsnic gathers up some supplies and quickly and discretely brushes the yellow powder behind a table.

Alright, lets do what needs to be done and get this evening over with...
He scowls, appearing displeased with the recent events

[MinotaurWarblad]

Japheth had quietly listened to the whole exchange, and when Arsnic mentioned his wife was pregnant, he flinched visibly.
As Arsnic collects the alchemical supplies, Japheth says, ”Before we are buried, I would extend invitation to visit my abode. Especially you, friend alchemist. I know something that may help, if you’re up for it.”