Secret of mana IC thread

[tonberryking]

In another video game world, this may have been pure entertainment. Here, it's just about to be a scene of absolute carnage for one or both. The lioness, upon touching down, hurtles towards the monster bear with her sword and swings with all her weight behind the attack.

Spoiler: OOC/rolls

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(1d20+12)[20]
[roll3d6+19[/roll]

[Alhallor]

Rina's mighty saber cleaves into the horrendous looking bear and leaves a deep wound.

Spoiler: Bear damage

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(3d6+14)[27] Bardic music bonus included.

The beast retaliates with a mighty roar and Rina feels like her bones creak and want to take on another shape again.

Spoiler: Rina

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Make a Fortitude save against 20 but you get a +4 Bonus against it. Should you fail you turn into a fish.

Up on the tower Rince gives Coldhand a scroll. "Together now."

Spoiler: Spells

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Rince:(1d20+5)[11] Acid Damage (2d4)[5]
Coldhand: (1d20+4)[23] Acid Damage (2d4)[7]
Rince ongoing Acid Damage: (2d4)[5]

Terryn looks shocked, not even able to respond when Coney talks to him, but flinching when she nuzzles him gently. When she jumps and changes places he's shocked! "Mother, no!" When he sees her in the throng of the enemy's he jumps down the platform and try's to run towards his mother.

Spoiler: Jump check

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(1d20+22)[42]

Alrik rushes towards the gate "Let's open it, there are only three more there! Leave the big ones to the others!"

When Coney appears before the cultists the Sword-wielder is slighty off balance for a moment, when a look of pure hatred falls down upon her. "That was your mistake, beast!" Coney is attacked by the three cultists and the caster throws another missile at her. Seemingly never tired of doing that.

Spoiler: Attack on Coney

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Cultist 1 attack (1d20+8)[19]
Cultist 1 Damage (2d6+4)[14]
Cultist 2 (1d20+8)[18]
Cultist 2 Damage (2d6+4)[13]
Sword wielder attack 1(1d20+11)[27]
Sword wieder Damage 1 (1d6+5)[7]
Sword wielder attack 2(1d20+6)[12]
Sword wielder Damage 2 (1d6+5)[8]
Magic Missile Damage (1d4+1)[2]

The big giant guy rips the wool away from his eyes and try's to punch Mart down.

Spoiler: Attack on Mart, and attack from Mart and Rem

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Hit (1d20+21)[35]
Damage (1d8+13)[15] and (1d6)[5] Cold Damage
Mart attack 1: (1d20+14)[31]
Mart Damage 1: (2d6+7)[17]
Mart attack 2: (1d20+9)[10]
Mart Damage 2: (2d6+7)[12]
Rem attack 1: (1d20+11)[24]
Rem Damage 1: (2d6+5)[11]
Rem attack 2: (1d20+6)[11]
Rem Damage 2: (2d6+5)[11]

Spoiler: Updated map

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Rabiton

[Toliudar]

Coney

The little rabite reels under the cobined assault of the swordsmen. Clearly, Rina had made this look easy. The literal burst of good fortune that Thaum had shared at the beginning of the battle may literally have saved her life, and she manages to roll aside from two of the strokes that reached out to her. One sword blade struck home, but she would live.

Perhaps the same could not be said of these cultists.

One of Coney's ears waves Terryn back and she literally rolls back out of the reach of the cultists' blades and lets loose her final fireball. They were so close that her flames virtually licked at her own whiskers as well. As the smoke cleared from her own blast, she wept real tears for the denseless loss of life, and called out to any survivors.

"I have killed too many fools today. Put down your blades, and let us work this out together."

Spoiler: OOC

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Phew! Thanks to the Recitation, Coney's AC is at 20, and so she took only one hit, I think.

Free action: 5' step north to J33

Standard action: casting fireball, focused so that it misses her but hits the four cultists south of her. (7d6)[34] fire damage, Reflex 19 for half.

And then some talking.

[tonberryking]

The werelion lets out a strangled noise like a gasp of air...

Of course, this may not work out too well for the her, her teeth clenched tight as a vice, except with a dull pop she disappears in a puff of magiucal dust, in her place a large trout gasping for air.

...This plan doesn't pan out the way the bear may want, however, as with a sudden roar that should not come from a fish, fins sprout claws and an explosion of fur and mass erupt from scales, leaving Rina just the way she was before now. Only she is right and truly furious.

Spoiler: OOC/rolls

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(1d20+14)[19]fort save

If this fails I spend the turn turning back into my murder form with a control shape:(1d20+10)[16]

Attack: (1d20+12)[26]
(3d6+14)[26]

[WindStruck]

Larimar smoothly glides through the air as if riding an invisible surf board. He pulls an arrow out and nocks it, trying to decide which target to hit. Who or what was most troublesome? The giant guy? Or the even more giant bear? Hm. Probably the bear considering it just demolished a home like it was made of toothpicks!

Spoiler: Fly by shooting!

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Attacking the bear!

attack 1: (1d20+13)[27]
damage 1: (1d6+4)[8] + (1d6)[1]

attack 2: (1d20+13)[30]
damage 2: (1d6+4)[8] + (1d6)[4]

attack 3: (1d20+8)[23]
damage 3: (1d6+4)[10] + (1d6)[6]

all nonlethal damage

[Ridai]

Coney disappearing, Rina appearing, Coney now outside, Rina getting turned into a fish and turning back again, Mart getting clobbered again, Terryn jumping outside, among various other things. Filtering through the chaos, Thaum tries to keep a clear head. Another healing droplet is sent to Mart, just as the healer heads straight to the wall and onto one of the platforms, doing the same for Coney to reinforce her against the punishment starting to rain down on her.

Spoiler: Actions

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By my count, Coney has lost 9 HP due to the one successful attack and the magic missile.

Standard Cure Moderate Wounds on Mart, curing (2d8+29)[43] HP. All excess healing is turned into THP.

Move from R27 to O29 (onto one of the platforms to be able to see what is going on outside)

Swift Close Wounds on Coney, curing (1d4+25)[27] HP, all excess healing is turned into THP.

[Alhallor]

The giant man suffering hit after hit getting through his defenses begins to glow with a strange light. "No! I'm not done here! I..." And then he suddenly disappears. Leaving behind a confused Mart and Rem.

Coney's last fireball clears away the last of the remaining cultists, even felling the swordsman.

The giant bear. Wounded heavily by Rina and Larimar, alone on the battlefield sinks his head down and seems to admit defeat.

When Terryn arrives at his mothers side and the other villagers come out, there are no more enemies. Just a scorched road and a lot of dead or nearly-dead cultists. There is no cheering and no cry's of Victory. The villagers just began to look after the ones that wanted to kill them and look for survivors. The Nemesis owl has slinked down to one of the protrusions of the tower, still breathing with Aned watching over it, should it suddenly spring back to life.

[Ridai]

With the battle concluded, Thaum's second battle starts. He rushes to the main gate, taking quick stock of the situation. He spots Larimar at the tower and shouts over "Larimar! Are you or someone up there heavily wounded?" He also points up to the top of the tower for further emphasis, the other hand glowing with healing energies. If the answer is mostly in the negatory, Thaum turns around and charges out onto the charred battlefield. Every single body is checked, trying to channel a tiny bit of healing into each to stabilize them. If the healing energies cannot take hold, life has already left them. Once he reaches the place where most of the troops were cut down by the fireballs, he uses the last of his greater reserves to heal as many as possible in as little time as possible, then checking all bodies as he did before that he could not affect with the spell.

"Do not make me regret healing you!" rings across the battlefield.

Spoiler: Actions

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Thaum attempts to use his Touch of Healing (worth 12 HP before the spell below, 9 HP after, up to half max HP of the target) on each fallen enemy. If he can actually use it, the target is alive and gets stabilized by the healing (and probably wakes up). If it can't be used, the target is dead. Once he is surrounded by the largest concentration of bodies possible, he uses his last 4th level slot to cast mass cure light wounds for (1d8+33)[39] each, then he does his Touch of Healing thing for any remaining bodies.

Diplomacy to make any survivors stand the flip down (1d20+20)[23]

[Toliudar]

Coney

Coney's impulses mirror Thaum's. As soon as her fireball fells the last few cultists, she is bouncing forward. She gestures back to her son to assist her in this.

"We have wounded out here, and we may be able to save them! Terryn, start by gathering up their weapons."

Coney moves to check on the ones furthest away first, assuming that others will come forward to check on the ones closest to the walls. If any figures start to stir thanks to Thaum's healing energy, she calls out as loudly as she can:

"Stay on the ground, and aid will come to you. We do not want to hurt you. Standing will be seen as a show of defiance. Stay down, where you are!"

After all, Coney wants them to be alive, but she doesn't want them running off into the woods to cause havoc another day.

Spoiler: OOC

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Coney's immediate priority is to take up a kind of guard position past the point of the furthest fireball, to discourage any cultists from trying to get up and run away. If need be, she will use Grease to force a fleeing cultist to stop, or a lightning strike if that doesn't work.

Diplomacy check (rushed, so -10) to convince the cultists to follow orders. (1d20+12)[21].

[Alhallor]

Terryn gives his mother a short ear-hug and then begins to gather weapons with the other villagers. For now they bring them into the store and after quickly checking with the group they bring everything that looks especially strange to Rince's Tower.

Some of the cultists are receptive to Thaum's healing energies. A lot of them are not. Especially strange are the robed figures who definitely get healed but don't even flinch when brought back from the brink of death. Some of the freshly healed may be compulsed to stand up and run away or fight again but Coney, who must seem like the embodiment of rabite destruction for them, manages to at least convince them to stay silent for the moment.

The freshly healed (10 of the weapon wielders and two of the robed figures) get bound by the villagers (they seem to know some good knots.) Mart identifies one of the surviving women as Friselda, a Lieutenant of sorts (the ones who have followed Mart with his little expedition back in Wendel recognize the women too.)

Both Friselda and the swordsman who survived, stare daggers at they're captors but at least don't seem to want to run away or fight at the moment.

Alrik with three others surround the giant bear who seems heavily wounded but still alive. Alrik glances at Rina.

"Hey big girl, that was pretty impressive what you did out there, when we have them all tied up, we should get a drink together, don't you think?"

[WindStruck]

Larimar finishes floating down atop one of the houses. Responding to Thaum he says, "Well, Rince and Coldhand had a bit of mishap with some acid, but they're okay for now, I guess..."

Eying the cultists being healed and rounded up, he keeps an arrow (or three) on stand by in case some people need a sharp reminder to follow instruction.

"I'll shoot you if you try to run. And I'll surely run faster than you, too. So don't even think about it!" he says menacingly.

Spoiler: roll

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intimidate: (1d20+9)[20]

[Ridai]

The many corpses were to be expected, but it still is so much senseless death. Thaum looks at the field and sighs. There is an upside to the massive expenditure of healing in the past few days. It is like a muscle for Thaum, the more he channels Undine's mana, the more it grows inside of him, and he can feel he has crossed another threshold. But he would still prefer if he did not have to use his healing magic at all due to a lack of need for it.

Right, his job is far from over. Thaum swiftly heads back into Rabiton. He glances over to the bear and the people around it. "Keep it calm, I'll tend to it in a moment!" And right after, he heads up the tower (healing Larimar and anyone else whoever else may be in need of healing on the way) to tend to Rince, Coldhand, and Aned. Afterwards, it's back down and over to the bear, afterwards spending whatever remains of his healing on the villagers and captives.

As he passes Rina, whether or not she is still in her beastman form, he touches her shoulder, giving her a reassuring squeeze. "You did good, Rina." Not in the least seeming perturbed by her transformation.

[Toliudar]

Coney remains on guard outside of the town, keeping an eye on the surviving cultists as they're trussed and brought in, and on the dead ones that are later loaded onto wagons. She's also keeping an eye out for the giant, just in case he decides that a second round is in order. Only when the battlefield is clear does she bounce back into Rabiton to console her children, confer with her colleagues, and stare at the biggest bloody animal she has ever seen.

[Alhallor]

Rince is very thankful for the healing. Coldhand is a bit fidgety but totally alright. The enormous bear, despite being heavily wounded, doesn't need an application from Ridai's healing hand.

Spoiler: Thaum

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The bear is definitely above half hit points.

Right on cue when everything is taken care of, there are a few riders outside of the village and behind them a sizable number of soldiers, proudly showing the banner of Valsena. (Two crossed swords, with flying sparks.)

[Ridai]

Being still in full work mode, Thaum greets the Valsenan troops almost automatically.

"Welcome. Thanks for answering the request, you just missed the somewhat short-lived siege. No losses for Rabiton outside of property damage, at least that I am aware of, but for the cult, well..." The healer gestures to the charred battlefield, the captive cultists, and the corpse cart.

[WindStruck]

"Hi. Yeah. Might have been nice if you showed up a little earlier to talk them down or cut them off if they tried to escape, but.." Larimar says, bobbing his head and gesturing around in agreement with Thaum. "None of them were really in a flighty mood."

[Toliudar]

Coney bounds over to join the others in chatting with the cavalry, but has nothing to add at the moment.

[Alhallor]

The outriders get slower when they approach the village and survey the scarred battlefied. The horses have heavy barding, and the riders are also heavily protected by armor. When the village is reached there is a bit of shuffling and someone strots forward on foot, wearing only a light leather armor, keeping his hair under a cap and despite his relatively small stature he seems to exude an aura of confidence.

He hears Thaum's rapport and nods shortly. He scowls at Larimar's words, but still gives a small smile. He leans forward and speaks.

"I'm sorhry that we were tooh late buht I'm happyh that thereh seemed toh be noÂ… Heavyh loss of lives forh good Rabitonh." He seems to have a slight hard to guess accent. "Brevet Majorh, Borson." He gives a short military greeting and the others of the outriders follow suit. Andrew shuffles forth, though it seemed that he would most likely do the seasoned heroes do the talking he piques up.

"Good to have you Major Borson, I'm the burgomaster of Rabiton, Andrew. As you can see we could hold on with some help but we have no way of handling the survivors. As you can clearly see they attacked us and I'm sure you have ways to make that certain. Could you perhaps handle the survivors and if it isn't too much to ask, could you let some man here for additional protection."

Borson goes inside Rabiton and surveys the situation. His eyes flutter for a moment when he sees the bear but there is no further reaction.

Spoiler: Sense motive: 15

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He seems to be totally unfazed.

Spoiler: Sense motive: 20

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He seems slighty put off by the bear.

Spoiler: Sense motive: 25

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He is a bit surprised about the bear, but you're sure that he has had stranger captives.

"Ih, would be happyh to help youh with the survivars but Ih fear the protection must beh done by a separateh contract. Myh hands areh tied. Protocol and all that." He gives some orders and the soldiers are going to handle the survivors and bring them onto carts, that come in after the riders. They are handled rough but not cruel. Borson talks with another soldiers who seems to be wearing a heavy robe with stitched on rings from a chain shirt and then says to Andrew. "Youh may give him a place to stay and youh can talk about theh specifics. Though Ih fear youh still have toh pay for theh help we gaveh you today."

[Ridai]

Following inside, hearing the exchanges about contracts, Thaum's eyes glance back and forth between Andrew and Borson for a moment. He is keeping his thoughts to himself for now. "Say, if it is not prying too much, how much was agreed upon for the original contract, and what does a protection contract usually go for, for a village this size, that is?"

[WindStruck]

"Hey, I mean no offense! I'm sure you got here as fast as you could. Just wishful thinking, you know?"

Larimar turns to Andrew and says, "I feel like that guy won't be back for a while. At least as long as we can keep his bear away from him. We took out many of his lieutenants. Still, I guess a little extra protection would be wise. It's not like we'll be here forever!"

Then after a revelation he blinks. "Oh. You had to pay for them to come? Hmm... Well, we could probably help cover that cost. And maybe some of this stuff from the battle could be salvaged to help make up for it too."

Larimar is willing to offer up to 100 gold pieces from his own pockets.

[Alhallor]

Borson faces Thaum and he grimaces for a moment. "That is theh thing, thereh was noh contract. It was an emergency call." Hi's voice takes on a kinda dull tone, like he repeated the following information quite often.

"As an emergency there is a flat cost of 200 gold, followed by 10 times the soldiers. make that 300. Followed by any other thing, like danger compensation, magic compensation and extreme natural Environment." His voice changes again to a more lively tone.

"That means weh look at ah cost of 500 Gold for theh little Village. If ah contact would haveh been established beforehand, thereh would have been ah clause that prevent paying in case weh would haveh been too late." You realize that he missed counting himself.

Andrew seems to become paler and paler when the realization of paying dawns on him and he looks at Larimars offered money with thankful tears in his eyes. He visibly swallows his pride and says "Thanks. I still can't say how I'll be ever able to repay you all. And yes, I'm sure we could trade in some of the equipment of our attackers as compensation?"

Borson smiles genuine for a short time. "Yes, that mayh be theh best." After looking over the mundane equipment of the attackers, it seems that the cost of the help would definitely be covered by that, including the cost of a new house for Coney's children. Andrew gives Larimar his money back. "Thanks a lot, but I think you may need it more. You should have gotten a heroes reward for what you have done, but I fear we can only offer you hospitality for now."

[Toliudar]

Coney

Coney weeps as Borson recounts the bill that he's about to saddle Rabiton with. Extreme natural environment? It's hardly Rabiton's fault that these people don't have proper fur covering their bodies. Still, handing over a share of the gear from the cultists does indeed seem like the simplest solution.

Trying to turn this to their advantage, the rabite grandmother tilts an ear at Borson.

"It seems possible, depending on the outcome of conversations with the surviving cultists, that we will find ourselves troubleshooters with a dearth of trouble to shoot. I believe that the outcome of this battle speaks to our credentials, young man. So, if there are any difficulties in Valsena that might best be dealt with by a small group with a particular set of skills, we could talk about that."

[Ridai]

Thaum's brow furrows deeply. He holds up a finger for a moment, telling them to wait there, then returns with an iron shield, holding it for Borson to see.

"This is a magic steel shield. I have not identified it, but as we know, this means this thing's market value is at the very least 1150 gold. If you charge 500 gold for bringing your soldiers out here in expectation of extreme danger, you are going to take this and leave soldiers, capable soldiers, protecting Rabiton and training this village's own defenders, for a long time. Since Rabiton can defend itself well and further cult attacks are not necessarily likely and the seasons of the forest do not change, this makes the assignment much less dangerous, and not your entire regiment is needed, and battlements can easily be added to the walls, giving you significant defensive structures. They can tell you to leave at any time, and should reinforcements be needed but they do not arrive in time, they are not getting saddled with the cost again. And the contract will be written in plain language people can understand."

[WindStruck]

Larimar chuckles and says, "Wait, hold on. Danger compensation?? If this is an emergency call, you don't think there would be any danger at all? But let's face the facts here. None of you encountered any danger here, did you? Or magic? And the weather here is very nice. Are you really going to scam these people for 'extreme weather' who live in the Summer quarter of the Four-Seasons Forest??" He scoffs, almost unable to believe the bullcrap he's hearing.

Diplomacy: (1d20+1)[8]

[Alhallor]

Borson looks at Coney and furrows a brow. "Well, Valsena has ah standing army for ah reason, including individualized specialistsh but I saw how cahpable youh are. I can definitely talk toh some people if youh are looking for work."

When Thaum returns with the shield Borson listens to Thaum's explanation and takes the shield, holds it up, going into a defensive stance and nods slowly, before giving it back. "Myh hands areh bound by myh superiors but I will assign myh ten best men to further fortify theh village, assess the situation, report back... And set up ah proper contract, but I'm sure most of it can be done with just this shield, if you really decide to give this away. Valsena is always interested in items likeh these toh give to promising students of war youh see. If the magician here is capable of identifying it I will add the component and the spellcasting cost towards the payment that Rabiton has already delivered."

Borson looks at Larimar with a kinda sad look.

"That's exactly whyh I only riddled you with the base cost… Ih'm sorryh for being unclear."

[Ridai]

"I am quite certain I want to pay for the defense contract with this shield, yes. It appears we have an accord. I'll ask the local wizard to identify this, then you can take it as payment, along with the identification costs. And hopefully it will keep someone safer as well." At that, Thaum's expression lightens up to a pleasant smile. Borson seems like good people, within the (slightly bendable) boundaries of his duties.

"If any of you need treatment for anything, I'll see what I can do after I am done with the wounded! No charge!" Thaum calls out to the mercenaries as a whole. Professional courtesy, if you will. Afterwards, Thaum gives Borson a brief respectful nod and heads back up the tower, asking Rince to identify the steel shield and the deal it is involved. "The full costs will also go towards the defense contract, so you'll get something out of this as well, hopefully."

Thaum, speaking of identification, stops for a moment. He knows how expensive identification is and there is quite a bit to identify, so saddling the good wizard with hundreds of gold in costs does not quite sit right with Thaum. "Rince, do you happen to know if Valsena has some magic item shops? What are the chances of them carrying an artificer's monocle?"

[WindStruck]

Larimar shrugs and says, waving the whole situation off, "Oh, well, if the shield covers it, fine. Also yeah, we may be interested in some work. Though.. got to make sure there's nothing else pressing going on..."

Larimar glances at the others, trying to recall all their other objectives. Let's see. One wild goose chase to find Jerry. Another wild goose chase to find this Dark Rabite. And yet another to find that cult leader. But maybe Mart knew something..

Hmm, Larimar couldn't help but think he was forgetting something.

[Alhallor]

Spoiler: Windstruck

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You can't discern the stone-faced wall of emotionlessness that is Borson. He seems as unreadable as a mountain.

"Let's doh that, then." Borson shakes hands with Ridai and observes the rest of the work.

The mercenaries seem a bit surprised at Thaum's offer. One actually limbs towards him. "Fell from the horse… It got startled by something."

Spoiler: Thaum

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The leg is already fixated but you can do it a bit better. It's not broken but keeping it still for a while will definitely help. You don't have to roll a check.

Thaum finds Rince heavy at work, preparing several glasses of wine with mystical spices, while Coldhand does his best to mortar some pearls. He piques up when Thaum enters and offers him some spiced wine (without a dusted Pearl) "Here, you look like you need some. It's good that I can get compensated, the pearls can get quite expensive. Mostly because there are none here. You know as a wee lad I did do some diving myself, not that this is possible here." Rince smiles for a moment but Returns to Thaum's questioning.

"There are quite some shops at Valsena, but because of they're policy you have to either be granted access by the shop or from another costumer. I can write you a recommendation for two. "Grimblys hedge magic shop", is good for small alchemical stuff and spell components. I wanted one of these monocles for myself and Coldhand when I was at "Mordigar's grand discoveries" but they didn't had one at the time." Coldhand stops in his work for a moment looks stunned at Rince but then continues working, a big smile on his face.

Rince procures two sheets of paper, writes a recommendation and hands them towards Thaum. "There is also "Altena's and Valsena's magic cooperation company." There have a lot of magic, it's even rumored that they have some artifacts in they're vaults but are the most exclusive shop. Good luck getting in there."

[Toliudar]

Coney

Confident that Thaum and Larimar have the negotiations well in hand, Coney excuses herself and finds her children - predictably, in the shattered remains of their home. For a time, she simply holds them, murmuring soothing sounds, until it seems likely that they are ready for more.

"We'll speak to the others, to the townsfolk. You were both there on the front lines, defending Rabiton, defending this place where rabites and humans live in harmony. We will find money and help to make a new and even bigger home for you. Because I fully expect grandchildren from one or both of you someday. Understood?"

Coney approaches Mart, not to confer on anything of great importance, but simply to hug him, to thank him for his courage and great kindness.

"You are a hero, sir, and a great defender of the lives of innocents. I can't thank you enough for what you did here today."

Coney then asks for Rina's help:

"Rina, you and I are likely seen as the most dangerous of the town's defenders, because of what we did with the mass of attackers outside the walls. I'd like to use that. I don't want to use actual violence, even threats, but having you there will - I hope - reduce the likelihood of someone trying to cause trouble. Will you join me?"

Assuming that the mighty warrior is willing, they go then to assist with whatever preparations are being made to house the prisoners - perhaps in a warehouse or corner of the town walls. Making use of the overwhelming grief that Focalor brings to all who bind with him. Coney lets that grief out, sharing it with the prisoners and perhaps accentuating the feelings of despair that might already be suffusing them. And then she murmurs a simple enchantment.

Might as well start with the toughest nut. Coney speaks first with Friselda, who is presumably still bound in order to limit any magical abilities she may have.

"Friselda, my name is Coney Massing. I am the oldest rabite that I know, and the one who nearly killed you when you tried to kill us. It is my belief that you have been gravely misinformed about rabite-kind, and that given time, we might better come to understand one another, to speak as person to person. You taunted and threatened Mart after he came to that same realization. But now you are here. Your grand plans are collapsed. You are abandoned by your leader. And you face a choice."

She looked around at the other prisoners.

"You all face a choice."

Coney refocused on Friselda, and arranges with Rina to take her to another room for a private conversation.

"You can cling to your hatred, and face misery and isolation. Or you can talk with us - about this group you are a part of, what you fear, what you aspire to - and take a step towards a future of peace and freedom. I bear you no ill will, and if you were ever a friend of Mart's, then I am happy to give you the benefit of the doubt for the sake of that noble man. The choice, for now, is yours. What do you say?"

Spoiler: OOC

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Coney is activating Focalor's Sadness, an aura that gives -2 to attacks, saves and skill checks to adjacent creatures. She'll cast guidance, to give herself +1 to her next skill check. And then she'll start diplomacy-ing Friselda as much as she can. My hope is to work towards a willing shift towards a new attitude - if not friendly, at least willing to cooperate - without directly using magical compulsions on these folks.

We can either play this out, or assume that this is the start of a couple of hours of conversation about the cult, its goals and philosophy. Eventually, and only once a subject is warmed up, Coney wants the identify of the leader, the location of their headquarters, and any details known about future plans.

So, to start with, Diplomacy on Frieselda. Not sure how to factor in the Aura of Sadness, so I'll just roll without it: (1d20+24)[33].

[Ridai]

May as well show he actually means his offer. The examination of the Valsenan soldier's leg goes by quick. "The bone is intact, and your leg will fully recover soon. Avoid putting too much weight on it until it feels better." As Thaum adjusts what has already applied to the leg, he comments on it having been done decently, but imparts a handy rule of thumb to tell if it is positioned and fitting properly.

----

Up in the tower, Thaum thanks Rince for the letter of introduction. With the monocle being so rare, it would not be prudent to plan on acquiring one in the near future. "Thank you. I will see what is available there, though I doubt I will set foot in the joint magic company." The further he stays away from Altena, the better. Still, it does not sit right with him to just dump the identification cost on Rince, so he sets down a bag with 400 gold in it on the table. Most of the money Thaum is currently carrying with him.

"I know you offered to identify the various magic items free of charge, but it sounds unfair to have you pay for all that and have us just leave with all the valuables, when you and Coldhand did a lot in this battle, and found a way around the owls' condition. I would like to offer you your pick of the magic items, though we would probably need to talk about it as a group, as I already used the shield for the contract without asking."

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Later on, Thaum is busy patching everyone up, followed by helping with clean-up. Coney seems to be reaching out to the prisoners, and at the moment, there is not much for him to add, the rabite matron having matters well in ear. If Thaum still has higher reserves of Undine's magic left after treating people, food for the many additional mouths is created to ease the burden on Rabiton's resources, and what reserves he still has afterwards is spent on make whole spells to help repair battle damage and begin reconstructing destroyed buildings and walls.