The Maiden's Cruel Dance

[AlanBruce]

@Irraly: The man laughs as the Plane of Shadow morphs around both and creatures scuttle off in the distance as your cloaked master looks through his hood at you.

"To bring me off my high chair… Irraly, I had told you earlier that you aren't the first person to tell me this. A pair with far more skill did try. Once. And now, they remain loyal and quiet… for the most part. As for your mother? Andorra… I have had the pleasure of meeting her. She is unaware of your current whereabouts, unless you'd like for her to know? Hehehehe… That is another lesson you seem to have failed to grasp during your over extended tenure in the Fey Woods- Knowledge, drow. Knowledge equals power. Knowledge of others… that equals to immense power. And in that regard, my silver blade, I am unrivaled. As to my double in this reality? You are adorable. If there were someone like me here, this Plane would be already very different. No, like you, there is only one of Me. You are special because you are not only a drow, a race that has its uses, but also because you are immune to an entire school of magic- in this case, Enchantment. I am special…"

The cloaked man raises his hand as the shadows part ways and the sunset rays of the Prime Material shatter the landscape as the city looms at your feet, as you float beside the mysterious elf.

"…for many, many, other reasons. And now, this city. You are going to dance, Irraly. You are going to dance to my tune. This city is ran mainly by humans. Short lived, little humans, leading their short lived little lives. You are going to make a few a lot shorter. Follow me."

The man beckons with his gloved hand as you glide a hundred feet in the air as the man moves through the clouds like a shadow and beckons you to do the same as he signals you to stop and and points down towards a group of humans walking down a cobblestone street headed from the city and towards a luxurious palazzo by the sea.

The group is made of five people. Three are women, one, who is the center of attention of the group, is a beautiful female with raven hair and fair skin as she walks along with an expensive fur coat and noble attire. The other two are a red head and a brunette, which, although well dressed, cannot match the lavishness of the central figure. The brunette carries a small poodle on her arms as the two men a few feet behind her wear heavy cloaks and breatsplates as they keep a hand on the hilt of their rapiers and look around as they casually stroll.

The cloaked man chuckles as he points to the roofs in the building flanking the street.

"One, two… five. Yes. Five more, well hidden. He certainly cares for her safety. Very well, Irraly, this is what you are going to do…"

Immediaterly, the man in dark cloak and hood sighs as your senses become extremely acute, allowing you tod discern the heat signatures out to hundreds of feet as you in fact make out the presence of five armed figures on the rooftops tailing the group below.

"Don't get too attached, Irraly. It just so happens that I have access to magic that normally would not be available to other arcanists. My years of training have heeded very good results."

The man waves his left hand as if gesturing to the left and the woman on the streets below stops on her tracks and points to a narrow street as the two men walk up to her and they seem to argue for a few seconds before the woman says something, the men shrug and they take a left turn.

The cloaked figure looks at you and then at the group below.

"Oh, dear! She has decided to take the wrong turn home… What ever possessed her to do that? These streets are dangerous. Narrow alleys. Thugs. Random muggery. Just plain bad people…"

The man's tone changes from upkeep and sardonic tio a more serious one.

"These are your orders- kill the five men on the roof. Be as discreet as possible. Once they are no more, you will announce your presence with deathly grace and proceed to kill everyone in the group below. Everyone except for the young woman with the fur coat. You will knock her unconscious with your brute force. I want you to be seen by the group on the streets as you kill them. Am I clear? You will not speak, you will not use shape altrering spells to disguise your form- flight granted by me and your own limited spell repertoire should be enough to get the task done. It is important that they identify you as a drow, even if they are to die. You will just proceed to kill each and every man, woman, and dog in that group and then incapacitate the one wearing the fur coat. Make it a flashy dance, too. You do dance for the Dark Maiden, no? Now, you will dance for me. Make it agonizingly beautiful to watch. May each silver thrust upon their fair bare flesh be a once in a lifetime show. Once that is done.."

The man takes out a folded note and hands it to you as a red wax seal appears between its folds, sealing it up tight.

"..you will place this note on the body of the… red head. Yes. Place it on the red head's body. And no peeking on the note. That's why it's sealed."

The man floats in place as he watches the group enter the narrow alley and then turns his hooded head in your direction.

"Go, my silver blade. Show me what those years of training have heeded."

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=78375)

[Christine Daae]

What can I say, defiant till my death. Irraly shrugs to her controller as they walk threw the plane of shadows, as he brags about himself some more. Perhaps his very weakness was this power and relying on others, if you cut those out from under him he would have nothing to hold himself up. It seems like I hit a note that you would bring my mother into this, though I am sure you know that by doing so she would send her death squads to try and kill me. After all she no doubt thinks I died in the underdark years ago when I fled, telling her I was alive would only make her try to kill me more to erase the stain on her house. So as you said, knowledge of people is power, my mother taught me as much. And there are none who know her better then I and my brother. She would not think twice about killing me, nor of having him do it. And as I am a valuable asset to you, I can thus assume you will keep it a secret until the right chance presents itself for you to place another on that houses chair. Chess as you surface people call it is a game we know all to well below, I try to stay out of such games because no one understands who the true king is in a game of chess. I wounder if in all your power even you have realized in the real world who would be the representation of the king. Irraly points out as she looks down at the city he had described, he sounded bitter almost, as if something had happened here that threw a wrench in his plans, and by the fact he was using someone immune to enchantment he gave away that whoever the targets were, they would be skilled with the school.

Watching the scene unfold around her, Irraly remains silent in the clouds, not wanting to give away what she was thinking as she listens to him counting and paying close attention to the group below. When he finally directs his speech to her, and allows her to see heat signatures she turns to him. To think you have mastered a talent my race is said to once possess threw birth with magic. An interesting concept I will give you that, however I am sure Archadious could copy such a trick just the same. He has grown quite a lot, and if one were to underestimate him, well lets just say the last fool who did, ended up being sliced in half with a greatsword. As you said it was very messy, but it was the only way to lower the opponents guard long enough. A good ploy on his part. Risky, but non the less paid off. Irraly says as she listens then to her orders. So you want me to elimanate some of my best defensive magic from my book so that they can tell what I am. Very foolish and risky of you, after all a spell can expire at the right moment. But as you said I can not alter my from, now lets see. Irraly thinks as she looks down at the guards below to see who she should attack first.

With a target picked out, Irraly descends from the sky relying on the fact the guard would not be looking up to the sky to see her coming she swiftly casts an abjuration to protect her skin, before allowing her blade to come down hard upon the foe, not out of malice, but because she had to. He could not raise an alarm.

Move action to fly to z4
Swift to cast shield
Standard Attack [roll0] Damage [roll1] + [roll2] Electricity

If the above roll is a 36 or higher crit confirmation is below

[roll3] Damage [roll4]

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=78501)

[AlanBruce]

@Irraly: The cloaked man chuckles.

"Defiance… it baffles me, Irraly. I have been watching your many trials in the Fey Woods and beyond. Yet, you never acquiesce defeat, even when pit against insurmountable odds. A true mark of a hero, they say. Maybe that is why you are here now- because of that defiant heart of yours. Heart and mind that still attempts to suppress my inevitable control over you. Resistance is futile. But you will not bow your head that way, no. Your mother bred a fine weapon. Pity she lost it. What would you say if I told you that you were supposed to work for me? Hehehehe… but again, Providence smiles. The Dark Maiden watches and weeps as I twist the delicious loop holes around your awfully designed 'Code of Conduct'. Had you walked forth on your own free will, the Maiden would've taken your powers away. You would be useless to me and then, of course, had you denied to serve, I would have had no other choice than to put you down. But isn't life interesting, dear? Because of my power, you are still here, a valiant Paladin of Freedom. Nobody can raise an argument about your sacred code because nobody expected you to fall under a compulsion. Alas, here we are. Master and servant, trailing through the Shadow Realm. And you get to keep being a smite happy paladin afterwards! Really, you ought to be thanking me…"

On the matter of Archaidous, the man stops as he looks down at the people in the city.

"Archaidous Mithmironel? The 'Conjurer Extraordinaire'… last I saw him face to face, we weren't at even the same level. Literally. He was kneeling like some badly wounded animal, begging for his life. The only reason Archaidous has an iota of a chance to develop a spell that may come several lifetimes close to anything I can muster, is because of these petty little humans below. Imagine that."

When you bring the subject of chess to the table, the man chuckles.

"I am aware of the game. A big player myself. Right now, I'm moving my knight to finish off a few pawns, while the Queen is held in reserve to a very unwary King."

When you bring the subject of being seen and the whole story let loose, the man laughs.

"That is exactly what I want, Irraly! They will know something horrible happened here. They will know that a bloodthirsty drow assassin cut down innocent folk. Unless you hint that I would be caught…hehehhehee. No. That never happens. Remember, dear- loose lips, sink ships."

When you look at him and bring the subject of some of your best spells being shut down, the man goes in thought, before addressing you.

"Think for a second. You have after all trained as a wizard. Intellect is something that would be expected from someone with the degree of expertise in the arcane you possess. And I use the term very loosely… those men, on the roof. Why would anyone with a certain degree of reputation and fame be consigned to serve as patrol? They are, as I stated earlier, pawns. Little pawns playing their role. And in chess, the Knight always takes the pawns first. So go ahead, knight. However, there is no reason for them not to see you as a drow…yes. You have my permission to transmute your body as you wish, but only after the group on the alley has seen your true self."

You then descend as the man in the cloak and hood watches from above, arms folded as his dark robe flies against the cold wind.

The man below. The guard. The pawn. He is human. A man probably hired to watch over that lady on the street. An archer by his gear and bow. With a dark grey cloak to blend in with the tall chimney stacks and ornate roofs as he warms his hands against a chinney that spouts forth smoke from some oven inside the building.

Your obsidian hand covers his mouth as the blade runs through deep and fast, slicing his middle vertebrae and sticking out through his chest.

A quick muffle and whimper as you lay the guard against the chimney and watch the others as a cold wind blows through your silver hair and the man's blood runs down your hand and blade.

The others have not seen you. Whether because of your talents, or some artifice the man above has conjured to lull their senses into a lethal torpor.

You then watch the guard on the roof move a bit forward as the main group below has a casual conversation and one of the bodyguards walks ahead and addresses the female in a fur coat.

You get a better look at these two bodyguards. One has short dark brown hair and wears a light chain mail, with a bastard sword on the hilt.

The other wears court attire and a flashy red cloak. Unlike the other man, this one is quite handsome, for a human, with long blonde hair and dashing blue eyes. A single rapier hands lazily from his belt.

"My lady, your father will not like to know you have been around these parts. Please, Anselma. Let us return to the villa. We can take a shortcut and it will be like nothing happened."

The woman pets the poodle held in one of her courtesans arms and smiles as he looks at the guard.

"Oh, Luiggi. Stop being such a worrywort! I just… you know. Felt like taking a stroll around here. You and father and Emilio. I swear! I'd be in a convent to Berei right now if it were up to him! Relax! I want to see what's at the end of the street. Get a view from the Marina. What do you say, ladies?"

The women cheer as the poodle barks contentedly and Luiggi looks around at the roofs and pats his fellow guard on the shoulder as he instructs with his hand to have weapons ready as they resume their walk.

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=78508)

[Christine Daae]

It is indeed funny how things work then indeed as the one who was meant to trade me tried to kill me, and the one who wanted my business has to rely on magic for fear of what would happen if I ever were to break free of his spell. You may say idle threats all you want. But as you yourself said, I am one of a kind and may surprise you one of these days. As for my abilities, remember where they come from, keep referring to me as your servant and you the master and you see the powers will leave. Really is simple to break the code that you seem to say you know much about. Just remember every order you give is testing that fine line, and eventually I just may trip. And you would not want to lose your tool now would you, after all damaged goods are not worth your time. Why all those that fail you end up dead with no way back to the ward. Then again I know two such people who have failed to capture someone for you and yet both are still alive, I wounder if you have a soft spot for them. Irraly says plainly as they walk threw the plane of shadows.

You over estimate me. I am simply another pawn in the grand scheme, that can become anything or anyone on this board. You in your ignorance pretend to be the mastermind controlling the board, but are instead the queen, moving people exactly where you are told. If I were to guess I would say that shadow creature and one that shifts fourms are your knights. The assassins being your bishops. Who your rooks are still to be seen though. Unlike what you think, I know you are simply using this as a test to see where to place me on your board. And as such I will do exactly what is asked, nothing more, nothing less. Irraly says plainly, letting him know their game of words would be a deadly one. And if he wished to win he would have to become as cunning as a snake.

With the mission started Irraly takes no time in carrying out her orders, and as her blade sinks into the mans body she whisperers a single word. Sorry. With the body dead she lets the body fall gently onto the roof as she crosses his arms in a funeral like way before looking for her next target. And just as she got as closes as it seemed she would be able to go, Irraly vanished from sight, reappearing behind the man as her silver blade goes to pierce him, as her hand goes to his mouth, and her lips to his ear. Under. is what she whispers in this mans ear.

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=78629)

Attack [roll0] Damage [roll1] + [roll2] Electricity
Crit confirmation [roll3] Damage [roll4]

[AlanBruce]

@Irraly: The cloaked man stops in his tracks when you mention the Ward.

"I see… it would seem that a subordinate of mine spoke a tad too much. Not that it matters. None can access such a place. Not without my consent. And I know that your faithful elven friend, Archaidous, is in possession of a scroll, ill given to one of my subordinate's apprentices. I have known for months already. Do tell your precious Archaidous that he is welcome to use it, if he wishes to speak to me. I do not bite. As for threats? No, irraly. I never make threats. I make promises. A threat has the possibility of never coming to fruition. There is a margin for error. That is a fallibility I do not succumb to. As for those two you speak of, yes. Tools get broken, damaged, from time to time. I simply fix them, that they may have a better use next time. If the tool had a sharp enough edge to begin with, of course. So to your previous comment, drow, an idle threat from you is just that. Idle. It has no way of ever coming to fruition. Not a single chance. I can make you a promise, however: I can promise you that should you continue with your defiant tone towards me, I can make sure you never return to see your friends again and that they shall all be lost in the Ossian Way..shall we continue?"

Once on the prime, you compare the man to a piece on the chessboard and his many assassins as parts of the set.

The cloaked figure chuckles.

"Such is the scope of your vision, Irraly? You believe this is the entire mat? The game board? No, my dear. There is a far bigger game being played. And with your actions and those of your friends, you have begun to turn things in motion to my favor."

Once the first guard has been slain, you float like a shadow towards the next and, like before, you place your ebony hand over his mouth as the bl;ade pierces his lungs and the man kneels, never seeing his killer.

As a trickle of blood makes its way down the shingles and onto the street below, you watch your victims, blissfully unaware that two of their company live no more this day.

Sighing you grip your blade and look at the three remaining escorts on the roof.

Who shall die needlessly next?

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=78638)

[Christine Daae]

I will let him know, though I doubt he would use such a device without a promsie directly from you that no harm would come to him in any shape or form while he was there. After all repeating the same mistake over and over again is foolish, and going to your home without a promise that nothing will happen to him and he would be allowed to leave at any time. Irraly points out as he threatens herself and her friends, a risk she could not take with the cyst inside of her. If what you say is true about never making an error then why are these people in your way that you are having me remove them, and why did you leave the letter for me on the shores warning me to stop? Why did you kidnap the stag? Miscalculations can be considered errors after all. And what is the harm in telling me if you can simply make it so I can not repeat what I hear? Irraly says as she waits to see if he would fall for her bait, and if he did opening up a mental communication with Anzaril so she heard everything before he told her she could not repeat it.

I believe that those are the pieces on the board, not the board itself. After all you had agents in Justcrown, and from what Alex says also in Veluna and you yourself were in the estate posing as a teacher to Charlotte and Loretta. Now throw in you are sending me to a human city to no doubt start a war shows that the each individual square of the board is a place on a map. The question is what map, and what is your end goal. We know that you have been hunting the halfling due to paintings left behind by those who came before us, as well as Arrallae by the fact you sent Nerine and another to attack swans rest. Both of which have capabilities beyond mortal scope. What I fail to see is how you thinking capturing them will work towards your goal, and to that extent what these humans you wish me to kill have done to stop your plans, if even only slightly.

With the second guard down, Irraly moves from shadow to shadow across the roofs as her silver blade flashes before plunging into the next opponent.

[roll0] Damage [roll1] + [roll2] electricity
Critical if needed [roll3] Damage [roll4]

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=78880)

[AlanBruce]

@Irraly: The hooded man chuckles as you mention the promise to be made to Archaidous.

"Irraly, you never cease to amuse me. I did mention the power of a promise over that of a threat, but never did I say I was bound to make one. Archaidous is welcome to use the scroll he has kept in his pouch all these months. I simply said I won't bite. After all, why would I be in need of asserting something to someone who is, in a matter opf speaking, attempting to thwart whatever plans I may have? And I say attempting because, well. Let's be frank- neither he nor anyone in your company can do anything against me."

Regarding him ever making a mistake, the man shakes his head.

"These aren't mistakes you are sent to do, Irraly. They are safeguards. Safeguards that I need instituted so my client may not make mistakes. Part of the business I run. And the stag? What stag is that you refer to? I have yet to see a stag around here."

On the subject of his many agents and he posing as a teacher to the Brunhaussers, the man laughs.

"Right and wrong. I had people sent to Justcrown, yes. The halfling you met has attracted certain interest for quite some time. You ought to know the reasons why. As for Arrallae, she wasn't attacked to be taken, just to confirm something that I had a hunch on. You can thank your friend Luthon in Bludhaven for that. As for my end goal? Irraly, the pieces on the board do not ask such questions. It is beyond their capability to understand. They just move and strike when asked. I am actually doing you a favor by keeping you blissfully unaware."

Many answers. None which can be used against him…at least not yet.

Yet another unwary scout falls to your blade as you muffle his cries and the man kneels on the edge of the roof as his bow slides a few feet away, causing the man with long blonde hair and a cape to look in your direction.

The other man walks up to him as your main target walks ahead and the dog barks annoyingly loud.

"What is it, pooch? Afraid of these mean streets? Well, you shouldn't worry, no! Big bad Luiggi and Rocco are here. Nobody will dare mess with them. Ladies? Shall we keep walking?"

The two bodyguards converse in low voices as both look up to the roofs and keep a casual if accelerated pace with weapons drawn, just in case.

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=78905)

[Christine Daae]

I do not believe you are being completely honest with either of us any more. If we were not a problem, you would not have spent the resources you had at your disposal, no matter how pathetic they were to stop us, and in my case infect us so that you could control us. And while I will tell him the message I doubt he will accept. After all your words can be taken many different ways in that instant alone. Irraly points out as they make there way to the material plane.

So then you do make mistakes. And to make sure such a weakness is not shown, you cover it up. Though you have many that work for you, and do business with you, it is they who are your weakness? After all you do not do something for nothing, meaning this partner must be dancing to your song as well. And while you are giving him the idea of freedom of choice, you are simply steering them along a guided path you already have planned out. And if these people stayed in your way then your plan may fail. Just an observation from what you have said mind you, an observation. Irraly points out as she transfers all the information she had gained to Anzaril. And I would have thought it would be one of your people who went after it, interesting your dogs did not bark this time. Irraly says a bit surprised. After all she had been thinking with all the members in the woods one of them was tasked with taking the stag while another was tasked with killing Anzaril, and the remaining two with doing something with Arrallae which he confirmed. But it seemed he really wasn't aware, how odd.

As Irraly notices those below starting to catch on, or at least guess at what might be going on, she plans her next move carefully. With perfect Grace irraly once again moves in to kill the guard, but this time once dead she drops him on the opposite side of the roof so when he feel he would make a thud sound.

[roll0] Damage [roll1] + [roll2]

Crit [roll3] Damage [roll4]

[AlanBruce]

@Irraly: The cloaked man looks at you from beneath his hood and then looks down on the people below.

"I am not one to make mistakes. I am a wizard, as you have gathered, but I am also a businessman. As a wizard, I am driven to consuct empyrical research of what I am dealing with before I begin to conduct business. It is true that, after your chance meeting with the one you call Arrallae, all of you became supernaturally resistant. This did pique my interest and I wanted to test your skills. See what it was capable of doing. The results were more than satisfactory."

On the manner of weakness, the man chuckles.

"Oh no, Irraly. It is not I who shows weakness. You see, when you have been around Oerth as long as I, you learn many things. One of them is the fallibility of man, or elf, in your case. One only gets a chance to make one mistake. That is all it takes. After that, if you are unable to learn from it, then you deserve what you get. As for those people below? Layers, Irraly. A single thin layer that needs to be added for my client's success to be guaranteed. As for my…dogs, as you aptly put it: I could have one of them do this, but I already have a dog for the task- you. And no matter how much skill the others may have, you in this case particularly, fit the job quite nicely."

You fly across the rooftops and, always unseen, cover the fourth man's mouth with your hand as your electric blade goes through his back and make sure none below notice as you slide his body off the other side of the roof.

One guard remains… and after that, your appearance shall be known in this city.

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=78963)

[Christine Daae]

If you do not make mistakes, why take back the girl? She was a failed tool as you put it. She had no use, as was proven by her other partner who you tried to improve. The trinity as they called themselves were a failure. So by that logic all should have died correct? Yet only two befell that fate before from what I hear you and your favorite dog went to capture her. Was she a lose end you didn't expect? Irraly asks plainly, after all he had not told her to stop asking questions yet or stop talking, so it could be assumed she could ask as many as she wanted.

With only one guard remaining Irraly moves to the last rough to finish the job, she had to make sure they saw her below before she used any of her tricks. And so the man would fall in the middle of the road. Making all of them look up, and if they were quick enough, allowing them to see her. With her plan made, Irraly rushed foward, her silver blade leading the way, the sooner this was over with the sooner she would be back with her friends after all, and able to think about how to get free of his control.

[roll0] Damage [roll1] + [roll2]
Crit confirmation [roll3] Damage [roll4]

[AlanBruce]

@Irraly: The man floats a fw feet away from you and looks down at the city.

"I never make mistakes, drow. The same cannot be said about those I employ. As for the woman, she will play a part later on. Everyone plays a part in this game, as you so aptly put it. Just like you are doing so now."


Once the last scout has been disposed of, you toss his body onto the street and land in front of the group, covered in blood.

The women panic as the dog barks a high pitched annoying bark and the two men look around as the blonde one looks at the taller man who has his bastard sword drawn already.

"I couldn't hear the men, Luiggi. This must be the reason."

Luiggi raises an eyebrow as he looks at you.

"Ladies! Go knock on the houses here. Get shelter! Rocco, this is a drow. And where there is one, there are usually more. We'll deal with her first, then go and hunt the others."

The man takes a few steps forward as the blonde unarmored man swings his rapier about.

"You are making a big mistake, drow! Do you even know who you have crossed?"

Naturally, given your master's orders, you are unable to answer back, which infuriates the taller man as the women begin knocking on doors as the townsfolk, safe in their homes, peek through the windows, but dare not invite them in, lest they end like the poor soldier on the street.

Luiggi and Rocco take a few steps forward as Luiggi looks back at the women.

"Take to the alleys! We'll handle this one…"

Round 1

The blonde man stands in place and begins chanting a silent tune, as the other man, with a crackling bastard sword, rushes at you and this one turns ghostly blue.

21 damage plus 1 electric

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=78981)

Luiggi

Rocco

Irraly

[Christine Daae]

As the bodyguard demands doe her to answer she only gets more annoyed at the fact she had been told she could not. So his plan is to make the people of this town think a drow army is marching on them? Thus to weaken the defenses of another place perhaps? Irraly thinks to herself as the last two true victims of her blade stand before her. She wish she could say sorry, and tell them they were wrong, however the cyst inside her stopped her from doing any such thing. Then again it did not seem like they wanted to talk any longer Irraly noticed as the one in the back began to sing as the second one charged. Allowing his blade to hit her, and saving the powers of her cloak in case he was watching, Irraly feels the jolts of electricity pass threw her body. Not wanting to make the same mistake again however Irraly Jaunts backwards, using her anklets, before casting one of her innate abilities to stop the others from seeing clearly the battle that was raging outside.


Swift Anklets
Move to be near the ladies
Standard action to cast darkness on the stone near her feet CL 10 because it is an innate ability

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=78983)

[AlanBruce]

@Irraly: As the mysterious elf watches above, you click your feet together and in a purple haze move past the bodyguard and dance aroun in place, as your hair expels a sphere of absolute darkness.

The women panic even more as they stumble on the groun, the dog barks even louder and the buildings stand as mute testament of what is about to happen.

Round 2

From the darkness, the bard yells out to his companion.

Do it now! Get this darkness out of here!

Luiggi looks at the globe and musters his arcane will as a grove of green olive trees spring forth and a breeze blows through them as each fruit on the tree absorbs the darkness, revealing the women prone and the dog barking non stop as a few patrons peek from the second floor and bar their windows.

Dispel Magic on the Darkness

The blonde bard, wearing no armor, except for noble attire, glares down at you as he directs his rapier at your chest.

"It ends here!"

That's when the bard's rapier extends like a steel spiral in your direction, striking you hard in the chest.

8 damage

And then, he disappears.

Swift Invisibility

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=78984)

[Christine Daae]

As Irraly's darkness vanishes she looks down to the women prone on the ground. She could easily kill any of them at this very moment, and nothing would stop her, however it was only because she was ordered to do so, that she held her blade. No the other two would fall first, this way the women had a chance to flee, and with luck escape. And with few other options availble to her Irraly's blade is lit with a blue fire, as she charges, her courtblade dancing around with her hair before striking out.


Swift action Wraitstrike
Charge attack vs touch AC Damage [roll1] + [roll] 1d6 Electricity
If critical (29 and up) [roll2] Damage [roll3]

If Irraly is attacked this round she will use her immediate action, losing her swift for the next round to cast Deflect granting her a + 6 to AC making a total of 37AC for the turn

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=78985)

[AlanBruce]

@Irraly: Seeing as how these two men were the most immediate threats, you decide to run the tallest warrior first.

Luiggi spits blood as it falls on your silver hair and the proud warrior nearly loses his balance.

She's strong… but I cannot allow her to hurt these people.

Round 3

Unseen and unheard, a sudden strike from behind, nearly perfect in its execution reveals Rocco, the bard, who plunges his rapier deep into your liver.

12 damage

"Are you alright, Luiggi?"

Luiggi takes a step back and looks at you.

"A drow warrior woman who dabbles in the arcane? This is most unusual… but too bad for you- I have just the spell to deal with people like you."

Luiggi sidesteps and fires a single white ray that forms like a needle in mid air and seeks to drive deep into your mind.

Feeblemind

However, the Maiden's Blessings prove true, and your mind is protected from all enchantments, may you always be a paladin of Freedom.

Rocco looks at Luiggi, who goes pale.

"What's wrong? Did she resist it?"

The arcane warrior shakes his head.

"No… she didn't even try!"

That's when Luiggi's body suffers a radical transformation, as his entire self is covered in arcane energy that shines like the sun.

Luminous Shield

"You will pay for your attack on us, assassin!"

As the crackling energy radiates from the warrior, you feel a tremendous power weighing down upon you, that your attacks may be for naught.

Arcane Might: Will DC 20 or take a -4 to penalty on attacks, AC, and saves

Rocco watches his friend activate his hidden power and nods.

"It's that bad, huh?"

As for the fleeing women, a bank of solid wall appears at the end of the alley as the women bang their palms against it, to no avail.

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=78986)

[Christine Daae]

As Irraly feels the tip of a rapier pierce her liver, she looks to the foe who had been in hiding, waiting for his chance to strike. He was trapped now, so close to her, like a fly on the wall with no chance of escape. Thats when she watches from behind her the other warrior try to make her a fool, a simple enchantment she had seen used on Archadious and the others many times. It would prove to be useless here however, against her mind. And as their bodies pale she shakes her head no, making it clear such tactics would not work on her.

[roll0] vs DC 20 will save

[Christine Daae]

Irraly now knew why he wanted those below with her now dead, whoever his contact was no doubt would have a hard time against such enemies, if not for the maidens blessing she doubted even she would be able to resist the many abilities and attacks that had come her way. However this game was over, if she took much longer he would simply blow her up, and with that in mind her dance began. A dance of blood, and blade, and silver hair all mingled together. Irraly was positive in her abilities, and as such she did not fear for her own life because of these men, but for the one above who was watching.

[roll0] Damage [roll1] + [roll2] Electricity

Attack 2 [roll3] Damage [roll4] + [roll5] electricity

Swift action to use Arcane boost to add +6 damage to attacks for this round, while losing the spell blink.

[AlanBruce]

@Irraly: The warrior bathed in arcane light had attempted to reduce your fighting prowess.

Maybe, had the situation been different, he would've been a staunch ally to your cause and that of your friends…
But now, he would die. The cruel pupeteer above had mandated you to do so, as so it should be, as his blood spills on the cobblestone street like a weeping river as the women bang on the wall that has sprung from nowehere and cry for help and scream at the top of their lungs to an apathetic alley.

That's when the unarmored man strikes you in a soft spot and you unleash your fury on him.

The two brutal cuts have the blonde bard coughing copious amounts of blood as his vision is nearly blurred. This one has sustained a lot more damage than the other and he wears no armor to boot… yet he manages to stand.

"L…Luiggi… what are we going to do?"

His training whatever it was, did not prepare him to ever fight an opponent such as yourself.

Luggi, surrounded by arcane light looks at you.

"We end this menace to our House. I'll handle her. Just make sure that weapon of hers is not a problem anymore. Go help the others."

Round 4

The bard concentrates as his left leg nearly gives in from the punishment he has endured by your blade and a shiny coat of grease covers your blade, attempting to make it fall off your hands.

Reflex DC 16 or have blade fall

And then, with a grunt, the bard does a series of back flips and tumbles away from you.

The warrior in front of you, a few feet away and shimmering with arcane energy, intones a few words in draconic as his finger is pointed at you and a dark green ray strikes your chest , bypassing your drow resistance to magic…and making you somewhat weak.

-13 Str penalty

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=79039)

[Christine Daae]

Why wont you just sleep, it will make it so much easier for the both of us, do you really think this is what I want to be doing. Irraly says in her mind, knowing the other two could not hear her, but feeling that if she did not talk, even if only to herself she would go crazy. Watching the pork rinds Irraly tries to move her feet out of the way, only to see her blade become the target of the spell to late, and because of this, she tries with all her might to hold onto her courtblade, knowing if she were to drop it things would become a lot more difficult.

[roll0]

And if the grease was not bad enough the other was shooting a ray at her, having no other choice, Irraly uses her cloak. Wrapping herself in the shadows, the ray is smacked harmlessly away by some unknown force on the other side of the plane she had just come from.

Immediate giving up my swift to avoid the ray

[Christine Daae]

And once again Eilistraee watched over Irraly, proving to her that her goddess was still smiling down on her, as she wept. With renewed hope that she may be able to resist his orders soon, Irraly takes a step forward, hoping to finish off the man who fired the ray at her, as it seemed the other was simply a nuisance.



Attack 1 Damage [roll1] + [roll2]

Attack 2 [roll3] Damage [roll] 1d10+20 + [roll4]

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=79040)

[AlanBruce]

@Irraly: You hold on to your blade and use the shadow cloak to avoid the warrior's ray as this one looks on with much fear.

This is no regular assassin… who is she…urkkk

Luiggi never has a chance to finish his train of though as you move in like a shadow and strike him twice. The first cut going deep into his stomcah and then the second carving a perpendicualr angle towards his right shoulder, severing his sword arm in the process and showering the street, the walls of the building and yourself in human blood.

However, the power this man had emenated before has a serious backlash, as you are struck fiercely by his luminescent power.

44 damage, untyped

39 damage, untyped

The women look at Luiggi as he drops like an old sack of bloody flesh and their cries of fear and sorrow fall on deaf ears as the cloaked man above floats silently and watches.

Round 5

Rocco, badly wounded, watches his dear friend dead on the alley and looks at you, tears of anger in his eyes.

"We did nothing to you, you bitch! You will suffer!"

The bard tosses at you a familiar spell. One sued by Archaidous many times, as it attempts to blind you.

DC 17 or be blinded

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=79041)

[Christine Daae]

Badly wounded Irraly watches as the main target falls to the ground dead. May the goddess light your path, and explain to you the truth. Irraly says silently as she clutches her own wounds, which were starting to become quite sever. However she first needed to get a good distance between, and then a cloud of glitter came flying at her. Just like that Irraly had to rush to close her eyes in time or become blinded by such a simple spell, it was like she was with Silas's students once more. However the maidens dance would not be stopped as her hair whips away the magic from her eyes, making it seem to wrap around her body like a tight fitted dress.

Will save [roll0]

Knowing that one of her more powerful spells would no longer help her in this scenario, Irraly creates numerous images of herself, all sparkling as to confuse her attacker.


Swift Tenachious dispel [roll1] VS the other bodyguard
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]

Move action to move back a little
Standard action to cast mirror image for a total of [roll5] images

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=79045)

[AlanBruce]

@Irraly: You brush your silver hair in the way of the glittering sparkles and, although your body is doused with them, your eyes are freed from such blindness.

Then, you call forth an illusion and several images appear around you, each as glittery as yourself.

Round 6

Withe women panicking behind him, baging their hands against the doors of the many building and the wall itself that blocks escape, Ropcco looks at his comrade at your feet, dead and horribly cut, creating a pool of blood at your feet and the bard delivers every single ounce of hatred on you with a single stare.

I have no choice. I have to go in, but I must play this cleverly...

Then, you watch Rocco suffer a transmutation you have used yourself many times, as his skin becomes scaly and tough, resembling a troglodyte.

Alter Self

And then, like before, he disappears in a flash.

Swift Invisibility, roll a Listen Check

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=79093)

[Christine Daae]

Watching the man shift his form into one she herself used quite often, she knew if she did not dispel it he could potentially become a problem, as all her images raise there fingers up to dispel the transmutation she watches as he vanishes. That was fine, she would just make this entire field into the underdark then. She thought as all her images fired a green ray that slowly expanded until each one formed a different region of the underdark, and from hiding green darts were fired covering the entire area in a rain of death.

Tenachious dispel Cast infront of her so that its border would cover the entire area before her, yet not remove any of her spells

[roll0] Invisibility
[roll1] Alter self

As it is an area dispel it starts with the strongest spell first which I believe is alter self.

With the first spell cast, Irraly further protects herself by transforming herself into such a creature as well, this way he would have little chance to get through all of her defenses.

Alterself into a troglodyte

AC total 37
5 images to choose froml

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=79199)

[AlanBruce]

@Irraly: Although you aren't able to reveal this man's location, you are quite certain that whatever transmutation he cast on himself is long gone.

Now, to wait for his inevitavble reappearance.

Round 7

And it doesn't take long, as his blade attempts to strike a soft spot in yoru armor, giving away his location, but merely tapping your spaulders with his rapier.

Map (http://pyromancers.com/media/view/main.swf?round_id=79267)

[Christine Daae]

As Irraly's final enemy reveals himself a sad smile appears on her face. Had he only tried to flee he may have had a chance. Now even that small one was gone. And so Silver blade hungrily went to meet flesh for what she hoped would be the last time.



[roll0] Damage [roll1] + [roll2]

Attack 2 [roll3] Damage [roll4] + [roll5]

[AlanBruce]

@Irraly: As the bard's blade merely scrapes your body you turn to look at him and are uncertain whether to feel pity for him or yourself.

Maybe, had you been in his place and someone lethally hurt Violet, or Lysa, or Archaidous. Or anyone you have met so far, for that matter, you may have stood your ground. Made a statement.

But here, sadly, there is no statement to make. Not any this bard, butchered and bleeding and kneeling as his hand holds on to your cloak and then your metal boot in a final act of defiance against an insumrountable and cruel odd.

The only one here who has made a statement watches from the skies. Silent as the bard looks at you with blood soaked lips from his many internal wounds and attempts to say something, vaguely recognizable as…

Why?

What follows seconds later is a city's blind testament to horrific murder as you make your way towards the three women and their dog, who leaps off the red head's arms and barks at you in front of the three maidens.

It would be a a swift kick from your boot that would shatter the poodle's ribs and send him flying against the wall, splattering his body against it as his remains slid down towards the blood stained pavement.

The brunnette would be the first of the women to go, as she knocks frantically on a door, which wiill not open. The neighbors have deemed this a business not of their own. Nobody sees anything here. Nobody gets questioned as a result.

Life goes on.

Your blade impales the courtesan to the door as silver breaks flesh, bone, and wood with ease, leaving the woman standing against the door for a few seconds aftyer you retrieve the blade and then sliding down on the cobblestone street, staining the door in red.

The redhead and your raven haired target watch the slaughter as the red haired takes out a small conceale dagger.

"Anselma, I'll distract her. You run, you hear me. RUN!"

Anselma watches you walk towards both women, drenched in blood and with a crackling blade and stands motionless as the the red head looks at her with fiery eyes.

"GO!"

Lady Anselma attempts to run past you as your elbow meets her left side of the face, sending her against a wall and knocking the lights out of her as the red haired watches how easy it was to subdue her fiend and lunges at you with her dagger.

A wasted effort, as she strikes another of your copies and you pull her face close to yours as violet eyes fix on hazel ones and both shed a single tear as your blade snuffs yet another innocent's life as the last courtesan holds on to your body as in an embrace and then, without any will to keep her going, this one slides off your armored self and drops on the ground, leaving a rather large stain of blood at your feet.

You turn around and look at the slaughter. Both from the roof and here on the street.

It's scary. It's scary what you alone can do to a well armed group of men. One of which was clearly versed in the arcane. Perhaps this elf is right and you are a weapon…

You place the sealed envelope on the red head's bloody chest as the cloaked man descends and looks around.

"Bravo! You have done very well, drow. At first, I thought you'd need some assistance, but you were able to fend off both of these warriors and their retinue with ease. Although…must there always be so much blood afterwards? I cannot stand the sight or smell of it."

The man floats towards the knocked out woman and looks at her as he waves his hand to the right and so does her head, revealing the bruise.

"I would've preferred blunt trauma to the back of the head, but she is alive. So it works. Now…"

The man opens his palm and a golden eye with a purple iris manifests as it rises way above the buildings and then separates in many others as the cloaked and hooded elf materialzes a cup of warm tea and takes a sip from it.

A few minutes pass and the man finishes his drink as he looks around the alleys.

"I spy with my little eye… something that begins with the letter K!"

That's when a hulking figure emerges from the shadows. It looks humanoid in appearance, but dark skinned and bald, with a skeletal face and dark yellow eyes. The cfreature carries a massive greatsword in his back and wickeldly long claws that scrape the cobblestone streets.

His attire is clad in a black cloak, but needless to say, he does not wear heavy armor.

Know. The Planes

The hulking beast of a man, who could easily rip Alex apart on a good day, with all his transmutations on, kneels before the cloaked figure and bows his head.

"Master, you called. I did not expect you here. I can assure you everything goes as planned."

The cloaked elf looks at him and then walks a few paces away.

"You should not expect me to be anywhere, Klaus. For that would entail that you know what I am doing and where I am. And that would not be good for what I want to do, right?"

Klaus stands up and nods.

"Of course, master. However, if I may ask, who is this drow you have here?"

The elf looks at him through his hood and floats a few feet above ground.

"You may not ask. I, however, have need for your services, besides what you have been doing so far. How is she faring, by the way?"

Klaus looks up at his master and gulps.

"She is… fine. She wanders off from our sights sometimes, but always returns. We have confirmed she has no allies here, master. Betrayal is unlikely."

"Good. Not like she would be able to elude me for too long, anyways. Ok, see that woman? The one that isn't ran through by a blade and covered in blood? You are to take that sweet little human noble and reunite her with her long, lost love. Do you understand?"

Klaus grins as he effortlessly picks up Anselma and places her over his shoulder.

"Talk about a rude awakening. Consider it done, Master."

And just like that, Klaus and the woman are gone.

"The man descend s to ground level, but floats a few inches off the ground, so as to not stain himself as he looks around.

"You have to admit- it has its perks, no? Now, what is it you adventurers do? Ah yes- loot. Looting the fallen. Much like ghouls, who devour the remains of those they kill. Go ahead, then. You earned whatever you can scrounge: You did kill them in cold blood after all."

[Christine Daae]

As all of her targets were taken care of Irraly slowly lines them up in a row, saying a prayer over each before kissing their foreheads. If you do not like blood then why kill? It is a foolish notion, then again you don't get your hands dirty, you make others do the work for you and then complain about the mess, is that not right? Irraly points out as she slowly rises from her spot, looking down at the red head one more time, before placing the note beside her.

[roll0]

Irraly watches the newcomer and readies her blade, he may be another dog, however she had also not been told not to attack, at least not yet, as her body was still protected by many of its spells. Come doggy, go for a walk now for your master. Irraly says spitting at his feet, trying to provoke the one called Klaus, after all he was already giving her so much information. Why not try and milk him for as much as he was worth. After all he would be the one punished, no doubt there master would find it amusing, watching his new pet bark at those he had for longer.

Once this Klaus is gone and she is told to loot the bodies she looks up to him. You send me to some unknown place and expect me to take the belongings of your enemies, knowing that they no doubt fought on the side of good so that if I ever travel to this place I will be identified immediately as the one who killed these people. You may want to make that an order ifyou want me to carry it out, otherwise you can take the items for all I care, for their blood is on your hands not mine. I was the tool, you were the one wielding it.

[AlanBruce]

@Irraly: With the deed done, you place the sealed letter on the appointed corpse as you question the elf's notions.

"Foolish? No. You must understand, drow- to shed blood is a sign of weakness. It means that you had to struggle and fight and sweat to get the job done. Magic, Irraly, is, like you a tool to avoid just that. In this case, lamentably, blood is necessary. A lot of it, by what I can observe. In order for the message to be clearly sent."

You then verbally harass this Klaus and realize who you are addressing.

Klaus is an Astral Stalker. An outsider. An immortal being akin to devils, Astral Stalkers derive their name for being exceptionally good trackers and hunters both in their home world in the vast Astral Plane or in any reality. It is said that once a Stalker has set his eyes on a mark or marks, it will never let go. It is a relentless, cunning, agile creature…


And the elf seems to hold utter control over him.

Klaus looks at you as he stands up, towering over you.

"Be careful, drow. You do not want to anger me. Those who do, find their words cut short when they see their tongues wrapped around my claws, blood spewing forth from their mouths like a waterfall."

Klaus removes a side of his cloak and you can indeed see reduced humanoid heads. Mummified and bound together by silk string.

"I reserve this place for my worthiest catches. I wonder if you will make the list?"

The Astral Stalker brishes his claws against the cobblestone street, carving a path with ease as he walks up to you, only to have the elf raise his hand.

"Enough, you two! It's like I'm running a nursery! Klaus, you have your orders. Irraly, I tire of your voice. Stay quiet while I speak to your possible superior.

Once the outsider is gone, the elf looks at the bodies and listens to your arguments and shrugs.

"I know some of you wear armor confiscated from the fallen without even washing it. Suit yourself. It's not like I need what they have and you aren't really convincing anyone with your humble speech."

The elf snaps his fingers as both you and him find the entire alley rumbling and within a blink, you find yourself on the crow's nest of the Dauphin, whiuch is already in motion as the rain keeps falling on you.

Your copy gets up and looks at you as it flies next to its master.

"I imagine nobody came up here to disturb your guard?"

The copy points down at Archaidous below.

"Ahh yes. Of course. Ever the caring elf. Irraly, you have done… adequately. Not well. Not great. But for what was needed, you were indeed a very good tool. For the moment, you can stay up here and refresh your wounds if necessary. I want you to stop resisting Archaidous' Disobedience. You will gladly accept it from now on, since I have no use for you. You are welcome to give Archaidous my invitation, but I would advise about you going all vocal about where you have been and who you have seen and done, because, well…"

The man looks at the ship below and then at you as he and your copy begin to vanish.

"You know what loose lips do to ships… ciao!"

And just like that, both puppet and puppet master leave the Dauphin as this one sails cluelessly onward, unaware of who they had masquerading as you for the last hour or so.

We may now move this to the regular IC