Ch. 1

Having failed to intimidate the Rynekels, Asterion attempts diplomacy. He bows, "Thank you for your time and your help. Vardos here will escort you to your home." the Kubi gestures to his trusted guard. "I insist, Lady Vestra, given Lord Keleem's condition. It would be for my own peace of mind that the two of you are safe." Asterion raises his eyebrow at Vardos, a signal that the guard fully understands: he is to watch Keleem's every coming and going.

After they leave, Asterion confides in his companions. "Keleem knows something. We must find out what. I trust Vardos completely in this but I am uncertain if he is up to the task. However I am loathe to separate the four of us again. We may need all our resources confronting this Alchemist. Come." He turns to Lia, "Show us the way, girl."

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OOC: I forgot to factor in my Cha modifier (+4) to the Intimidation roll in my previous post but I don't know if it would have made a difference.

"Lass, you needs no' take us 'ere yourself. Ye can jus' tell us where ta fin' this person. We'll take care o'the rest." Kirrian says to the girl. He stands between her and the door and looks up at her with a grimace.

Uhlskah relishes the next dark twist in this tale of woe. Turning to his new companions with a barely perceptible smile he raises an eyebrow, assuming someone else will take the lead, probably the Kubi.

"Master Kirrian, take your people and cover the rear exit. Ravastine, you're with them. Uhlskah, with me." Asterion says sharply. He moves forward, eyes flashing, without giving any other orders. As he strides forward with his rod clasped in one hand, a dark blade springs forth from the other. The Starshadow Blade is mesmerizing, seeming to be wrought from shifting light and shadow, as if someone had made it by folding molten dreams and nightmares in the forge of a star.

Asterion crouches by the trapdoor. He points down into the depths and whispers to Uhlskah, "Time to prove your worth, master drow."

Ravastine, after covering the back door, enters the house and slouches (as best she can in plate armour) near the backdoor, trying to keep an eye on the exterior as well as the trapdoor inside.

Visibly pouting at Asterion's domineering manner, but secretly excited to have been recognized by the Kubi and brought into the thick of the investigation, Uhlskah peers down the shaft. Absent mindedly he flicks the end of his right sleeve out, and his tarantula slowly crawls out onto the back of his hand.

Behind his mask of confidence, Uhlskah feels his neck muscles tighten in apprehension. However one look at the Asterion's stony gaze helps the drow to make up his mind, and he descends the ladder with surprising speed into the dark menagerie below.

I actually felt that 1 coming!

Ravastine rushes to the top of the stairs and hisses at Ulhskah. "You alive? Need help?" She tries to keep an eye and ear out for signs that anyone was alerted to the ruckus.

Asterion sighs. "With the amount of noise he's making I think there's no longer any point in trying to be stealthy. Master Shadowpool, if you and your people would be so kind, stand guard up here." To Ravastine, he says, "Come on, let's get down there." With that, Asterion drops down through the trap door.

Ravastine nods to Asterion and tries (she really does try) to be stealthy in her full plate armour. She follows him down the ladder, holding her massive flail out of the way, hoping not to step on anything important.

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OOC: Ravastine has an ability called Group Insight [+1 Insight and Initiative, allies within 10 feet], in case that becomes important.

Sprawled on the floor, Uhlskah cloaks himself in deeper darkness, as his keen drow eyes peer through the magical and mundane gloom to better see the creature.

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OOC using Cloud of Darkness (Minor Action, Close burst 1) Minor Action The burst creates a cloud of darkness that remains in place until the end of your next turn. The cloud blocks line of sight, squares within it are totally obscured, and creatures entirely within it are blinded until they exit. You are immune to these effects.

Ravastine peers into the sudden black cloud, expecting trouble. The ball of her flail drops ominously to the end of its chain, and she prepares herself. "Uhlskah?" she hisses.

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OOC: Reminder that you get +1 initiative if you're within 10' of Ravastine (and you're an ally).